Winter in La Petite-Nation, from cross-country skis to snowmobiles
Free ski trails behind the high school, 40 km groomed by volunteers for $15, hundreds of kilometres of snowmobile and ATV trail. Your winter guide, club by club.
Seasons
Winter in La Petite-Nation
Christmas markets and holiday events in La Petite-Nation
A parade of lit-up tractors, a pine forest full of lights in Ripon, Montebello's European-style market and turkey bingo. Our guide to November and December.
Ice fishing in La Petite-Nation, where you can and where you can't
No, you can't drill Lac Simon in January. The four lakes where trout stays open all winter, Duhamel's turnkey package and the rules to know before you pack the auger.
Winter carnivals and festivals in La Petite-Nation
Pancakes served by the town council, a glowing igloo, a torchlit walk to a bonfire and 160 km of cross-country skiing. In La Petite-Nation, winter gets celebrated outside.
Our tips for visiting Parc Oméga
Twelve kilometres by car among elk, bison and wolves, plus walking trails, a heritage farm and tube sliding in winter. How to get the most out of Parc Oméga.
20 things to do with kids in La Petite-Nation
Bison outside the car window, a pirate ship, splash pads, trout in Lac Vert and sled dogs. Twenty ideas to keep the kids busy in La Petite-Nation, summer and winter.
Staying active as an adult in La Petite-Nation, from curling to pickleball
Drop-in pickleball at the Dôme, curling in Thurso, badminton in Chénéville, Tuesday walks in Ripon. The clubs and schedules for adults who want to get moving this fall.
Events
Community
Disco Skate
Saint-André-AvellinOctober 10, 2026Skating to music at the arena, costumes welcome. A Saturday-night outing that works for teens and parents alike.
Culture
Traditional Dance Evenings
Saint-SixteOctober 16, 2026Live musicians and a caller, and the figures get explained on the spot. No experience needed. Capped at 70 people, so book online.
Concert
Ripunk shows
RiponOctober 24, 2026The Ripunk collective brings alternative music to Ripon: punk, funk, nu-metal, poetry and emerging art. October 24, 2026: Dekora and…
Market
Montebello Christmas Market
MontebelloNovember 27–29, 2026The region's big European-style Christmas market in front of the church: 40-plus growers and makers, a dozen shops along the main street…
Market
Chénéville Christmas Market
ChénévilleDecember 5, 2026More than 40 vendors, a singer, a photographer and a Grinch to make the kids laugh.
Concert
VioleTT Pi : Mythologie de la dérape
RiponDecember 12, 2026VioleTT Pi brings guitars, drums and electronics to the Place du Marché. Small room, loud show. Worth seeing in person.
Community
Optimist Club Christmas stockings and turkey bingo
ThursoDecember 13, 2026Two December traditions in Thurso: the Christmas stocking giveaway, then the Optimist Club's turkey bingo.
Sports
Canadian Ski Marathon
MontebelloFebruary 5–7, 2027Classic cross-country skiing over 15 to 160 km on trails groomed for the weekend. The 2027 edition is being planned around Montebello.…
Sports
Montebello Fatbike Festival
MontebelloFebruary 26–28, 2027Three days of fat biking on the Montebello Vélo de Montagne trails, starting from the Château. The big one is the Fat Papineau challenge…
Culture
Exhibitions at Centre d'exposition Napoléon-Bourassa
MontebelloOn now until November 15, 2026The MRC's art centre runs four exhibitions a year in visual arts and fine crafts, always free. Until November 15, 2026: Mishtamishk 2…
Music series
Market Fridays
RiponFridays, show at 6:30 p.m.Supper at the market bistro and a concert on Friday night, with styles that change week to week. Saturday shows get added now and then.
Music series
Salle Desjardins show season
PapineauvilleSeptember to April, mostly Fridays and SaturdaysComedy and music in a 357-seat hall at Louis-Joseph-Papineau high school. Les Productions Les 2 Vallées book plenty of tryout shows…
Culture
Cinémaboule
PapineauvilleEvery other Thursday, 7 p.m.The Petite-Nation film club screens a movie every other Thursday at Salle Desjardins, plus a few nights at Ripon's Place du Marché.
Music series
Shows at Le St-André
Saint-André-AvellinMostly Saturday nights, fall lineupA pub with a real stage. Lots of tribute nights (AC/DC, Tragically Hip, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd) plus known names like Bernard Adamus…
Music series
Shows at Le Bankeur
MontebelloSeveral Saturdays a monthMontebello's microbrewery doubles as a music room: tributes, rock, duos. You drink beers named after the old Petite-Nation seigneury while…
Music series
Friday singer nights at Café Bistro Léo
ThursoEvery Friday at 6 p.m.A singer-guitarist every Friday night at Café Bistro Léo in Thurso. An easy way to end the week.
Food
Sugar Season at Chez Ti-Mousse
PapineauvilleDaily, late February to late AprilAll-you-can-eat sugar shack meal with the full classic spread, and you can bring your own wine. The kind of outing you do with a crowd at…
Holiday
Noël des Pins
RiponEvery night 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., late November to December 24 · 2026 dates to be announcedA Ripon couple turns their house and pine woods into a lit-up trail with a dozen life-size Christmas scenes. On weekends it can draw 350…
Market
Val-des-Bois Christmas Market
Val-des-BoisBefore the holidays · 2026 dates to be announcedA fixture on Val-des-Bois' calendar, often run together with Bowman. The date goes out in Le Valboisien and on Facebook.
Holiday
Lighted Tractor Parade
PlaisanceEarly December, a Saturday night · 2026 dates to be announcedTractors covered in Christmas lights parade through Plaisance. It pulls thousands of people every year, so bundle up the kids.
Holiday
Christmas Magic
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkIn December · 2026 dates to be announcedSaint-Émile's Christmas activity for village families, run by volunteers.
Outdoors
Torchlight Snowshoe Walk
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkOne winter evening, date set by the municipality · 2027 dates to be announcedA torch-lit snowshoe outing run by Saint-Émile's recreation department. A village thing, put together by volunteers.
Holiday
Trees of Hope
MontebelloHoliday season through early January · 2027 dates to be announcedOutaouais businesses decorate Christmas trees in the Château's great hall and visitors vote for a favourite. Money raised goes to the…
Festival
Ripon Winter Carnival
RiponMid-February, one weekend · 2027 dates to be announcedThree days that get the whole village out. Supper and a show at the market Friday, a parade and spaghetti supper Saturday, then free…
Festival
Thurso Winter Carnival
ThursoLate February, run by the Knights of Columbus · 2027 dates to be announcedThurso's winter carnival, put on by the local Knights of Columbus. The lineup goes up on the event's Facebook page a few weeks ahead.
Community
Lac-Simon Winter Party
Lac-SimonA Saturday in February · 2027 dates to be announcedSkating and sliding to music, a lit-up igloo, a DJ and fireworks to close. Free hot chocolate, coffee and popcorn. No alcohol sold on…
Outdoors
Kids' Ice Fishing Day at Lac Croche
MontpellierA Saturday in February, from 8 a.m. · 2027 dates to be announcedAn ice-fishing morning to get kids hooked, run by Montpellier with Chénéville and Lac-Simon. Free permits for ages 6 to 17, a free hot-dog…
Outdoors
Bowman Forest Torchlight Walk
BowmanA Saturday evening in late February · 2027 dates to be announcedA walk by torchlight to the Cèdre shelter, with a bonfire waiting at the end. 2026 was the 8th year. Simple, pretty, and fine for kids.
Things to do
IllustrationFarm
Les sapins du rang Ste-Madeleine
Saint-André-AvellinPick your own balsam fir at the farm and have a hot chocolate by the fire. A December tradition for plenty of families.
IllustrationShop
La Destination de Noël
RiponA Christmas shop open all year, with vintage and rustic décor made with local artisans. Christmas market in November.
IllustrationRestaurant
Rendez-vous du chevreuil
DuhamelSmall chalet-style restaurant in the village serving Canadian comfort food. In winter you can watch deer and wild turkeys out the window. Closed…
IllustrationService
Biffrentals Aventure
DuhamelSea-Doo rentals on Lac Simon from mid-June to September, and guided side-by-side tours year-round.
IllustrationAttraction
Gatineau Sled Dogs
Saint-SixteDogsled outings in the Saint-Sixte river valley, summer and winter, pulled by Seppala Siberians, a heritage breed.
IllustrationLodging
Auberge et Club de golf Héritage
Notre-Dame-de-la-PaixYear-round pine log inn with 30 air-conditioned rooms, four of them apartments, reception halls and an 18-hole course.
IllustrationSugar shack
Cabane à sucre Chez Ti-Mousse
PapineauvilleAll-you-can-eat sugar-shack meals, maple taffy on snow, weekend music and horse-drawn sleigh rides.
Attraction
Parc Oméga
Notre-Dame-de-BonsecoursThe drive-through safari: moose, elk, bison, wolves and bears along a 10 km road. Open all year.
IllustrationLake
Lac de la Ferme (pêche blanche)
DuhamelTwo kilometres south of the village, and one of the few lakes around where you can ice fish for brook trout. Bring folding chairs; the log shelter…
IllustrationLake
Site récréotouristique du lac Croche
MontpellierA stocked lake 14 km from Montpellier with a wood-heated shelter. Better yet, trout fishing stays open in winter here, December 20 to March 31.
IllustrationLake
Lac Mulet
MontpellierLinked to Lac Croche by trail. Unusual for the area, trout stays open here through the winter.
IllustrationLake
Lac Vert
Val-des-BoisThe little lake right in Val-des-Bois village. Stocked every year, no gas motors, and open for trout summer and winter.
IllustrationOutfitter
Pourvoirie Légendes des Bois
DuhamelAn exclusive-rights outfitter north of Duhamel, open all year. Trout in summer, ice fishing in winter, and deer, moose and bear come fall.
IllustrationOutfitter
Pourvoirie de la Lièvre
BowmanCabins on the Lièvre with a boat ramp and game storage. Walleye, pike and bass in the river, and dogs are welcome at no charge.
IllustrationPark
Centre touristique du Lac-Simon (Sépaq)
DuhamelSépaq's centre at the top of Lac Simon. In winter it runs a ready-to-go ice-fishing package on Lac de la Ferme: you show up and the holes are…
IllustrationButcher
Débitage B&B (Brazeau et Bouwman)
LochaberA game-cutting shop on 7e Rang in Lochaber, certified under Chasseurs généreux. Call ahead before you show up with the animal, especially in peak…