Spring is here and you can feel the refreshing energy in Carleton Place!
Whether you’re a local discovering a new cafe, or a tourist searching for a fun day trip, add adventures in Carleton Place to your spring bucket list.
Make the Information Centre your first stop when exploring downtown. Located at 170 Bridge Street, our staff are ready to curate the perfect itinerary of things to do and see, special for you.
We also have a public washroom, free maps, bike rentals, souvenir shop, host the Captain A. Roy Brown Exhibit, and more. Municipal parking available.
Hotels&Lodging
The Grand Hotel
7 Bridge Street, Carleton Place
613-492-1566
thegrandhotelcp.ca
Comfort Inn & Suites
355 McNeely Ave, Carleton Place 343-321-3363
choicehotels.com
The Old Mill Manor
104 Old Mill Ln, Almonte 613-257-9477
oldmillmanor.com
The Carriage House
5 Star - Guest Favourite Airbnb
Motels, Airbnb and other lodging available.
Call 613-257-1976 or email tourism@cpchamber.com if you have 35 minutes from Ottawa
1 hour 35 minutes from Kingston 2 hours 40 minutes from Montréal
4 hours from Toronto
outdoorexperiences:
Walkingtrails
Find history and views of the river on the many trails in and around the town. Most trails are typically less than three km and suitable for most. This spring, we recommend the Mississippi Riverwalk, Riverside Trail, and O-Kee-Lee Trail. Look out for blooming flowers and wildlife.
cycling
Spring is a great time to explore Carleton Place by bike, with quiet trails and fresh air! Ride along scenic rail trails, stop in to local cafés, or take in the views along the Mississippi River. The Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (OVRT) and Trans Canada Trail intersect in town, making it a perfect starting point for longer rides through Lanark County and beyond. Starting in May, you can rent a cruiser style bicycle from the Information Centre for group adventures! Challenge yourself with the Cycle MORE route.
Photography fishing
Anglers will find ample opportunities to cast their lines from the shoreline or by boat. The area is home to species like walleye, bass, pike, crappie, and bluegill. Fishing spots are available, including those near Riverside Park, where annual fishing competitions add excitement. Fishing poles can be borrowed at the Information Centre downtown or visit Baitcasters for all your fishing gear needs.
Between our heritage downtown and nature trails, photographers and photo enthusiasts of all kinds will enjoy the heritage and nature sights of our town. Capture historic downtown architecture and natural riverside settings. Use the Self-Guided Walking Tour, available for free at the Information Centre, as your guide.
chooseyouractivity
Carleton Place welcomes motorcyclists and enduro riders during riding season! Ride the Highlands offers an adventure route called The Gravel Crusher that loops through Town and is perfect for checking out historic downtown or enjoying a meal on a waterfront patio.
golfing
Golf enthusiasts can tee off at three local courses offering picturesque views and wellmaintained greens: The Canadian Golf & Country Club, Mississippi Golf Club, and Scottish Glen Golf Course. Plan your stay or dining options in Carleton Place and tee up!
birdwatching
Enjoy spring migrations along the Mississippi River and Lake shores. With some 200 species that call Lanark County home, you’re sure to find some interesting birds here. The Mississippi RiverWalk, Riverside Trail and O-Kee-Lee Nature Trail are good starting points. Visit Parrot Partners in Carleton Place for a fun, hands-on aviary tour where you can meet, train, and learn about parrots. Book a private aviary tour at learning.parrotpartners.org.
Paddling
Explore the home of the oldest racing canoe club in Canada. Launch from Centennial Park across from the Canoe Club, and head upriver toward the lake or downstream to the bridge and municipal dock, where you can check out downtown and grab a bite to eat. Upriver there are many bays and wetlands to explore, as well as a couple of creeks on the north side of the lake. Great fishing, too! Self serve kayak rentals and stand up paddleboards are available at Centennial Park starting May 1st.
This spring is a great time to uncover the rich history of Carleton Place! During your visit, experience a blend of indoor and outdoor historical experiences for both sunny and rainy day trips. Perfect for couples, families and history buffs!
Begin your journey at the Information Centre and learn about the historical significance of The Moore House and peruse the Captain A. Roy Brown exhibit (WWI fighter pilot). Make sure to pick up a Self-Guided Walking Tour brochure and get ready to start your excursion.
Start with Tour 1 and make sure to stop at the Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum, open Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, free admission. Opening on May 24, the Findlay Foundry exhibit at the Museum will display many stoves and items produced at the legendary Foundry, and you can learn about the family and workers that operated it. After exploring the Museum, enjoy a peaceful picnic in the labyrinth and Victoria Gardens.
As you stroll through the historic downtown on the second tour, keep an eye out for informative plaques and vibrant murals depicting the town's history. Enjoy shopping at retail stores in historical buildings, especially The Real Wool Shop, tucked in the Canadian Co-Operative Wool Growers. This grading warehouse was one a CPR roundhouse but now grades and markets over 3 million pounds of Canadian wool a year.
For all of May, downtown Carleton Place will be celebrating our local history and heritage with Roots & Revival, a placemaking event by the Downtown Carleton Place BIA.
The Lanark County Art & Heritage Map is also available at the Information Centre, sharing art galleries, museums, and where to find public art throughout Lanark County, including Carleton Place!
visual arts scene
Home to over 180 gifted artists, Arts Carleton Place (ACP) is dedicated to representing and empowering local talent. With their art shows and the opening of the new Art Hub Gallery downtown, show your support as ACP celebrates its 20th anniversary this year! To learn more, visit artscarletonplace.com.
Travelers from near and far also flock to the Carleton Place Gallery, a curated gallery focusing on high - quality art, carefully selected to provide a meaningful and engaging experience for visitors. Visit cpgallery.ca to explore their hands - on workshops and more.
The Carleton Place Collective is another great spot to unleash your creativity! Check out carletonplacecollective.com for workshops, classes, and events.
While exploring Carleton Place, keep an eye out for the numerous murals depicting the town’s history. Make it a tour using visit.carletonplace.ca/murals as your guide.
live entertainment
Founded in 1973, the Mississippi Mudds continue to bring music, dance and drama performances to the community. Get your tickets now, for their Groundhog Day Musical, May 1-10, by visiting mudds.ticketsplease.ca.
Yuk Yuk’s Comedy, located at Final Score Sports Bar, is serving up laughs with their comedic talents. Visit yukyuks.com/carletonplace for shows this spring.
live music
The Carleton Place Gallery’s Art House Music Series showcases award-winning artists like Lynn Miles in a relaxed gallery setting. Tickets are available for the monthly shows through ticketsplease.ca.
You can also enjoy live music at local cafes, pubs and restaurants at: St. James Gate: Fridays 7pm-10pm Waterfront Gastropub: Wednesdays 8pm-11pm (open jam), Thursday to Sunday 8pm-11pm, Saturday and Sunday 2pm-5pm
Don’t miss a very special May 4th Star Wars themed, Spring Concert by Carleton Place & District Community Band from 2-4pm, at the Carambeck Community Centre.
Tickets are still available for the Bywater Call concert, a seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock band from Toronto. Enjoy food and drink downtown before the show! Purchase tickets by visiting online.carletonplace.ca.
springtimebrews
It’s been a long winter... but in Carleton Place, springtime brews are being enjoyed as we speak! Quench your thirst with locally crafted brews at Stalwart Brewing Co. and Braumeister Brewing Co., where quality and craftsmanship take center stage.
Stalwart Brewing Co. offers a diverse range of craft beers and seltzers, handmade pub pies, free pool, an outdoor street patio, Pints Against Humanity and legendary taco nights.
Braumeister Brewing Co.’s brewery and beer garden is conveniently located along the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail, making it a great stop, especially for cyclists. Following traditional brewing practices, Braumeister provides a consistent brew of some of the finest European beer styles, locally.
MAPLE
It’s maple syrup season in the Maple Capital of Ontario, Lanark County! Use Carleton Place as your home base while you explore Lanark County sugar bushes or support local maple producers by purchasing their products at Carleton Place businesses.
Find maple products at these local businesses:
The Granary Bulk & Natural Foods
Blended Beverage Bar
Freska Cafe & Eatery
Foundry Collective & Coffee Bar
The Good Food Co
Holey Confections
Maverick's Donuts, Carleton Place
The Beckwith Butcher
The Cheddar Stop ft. Ottawa Valley
Fudge
April 11-21, Downtown Carleton Place Downtown EggVenture downtowncarletonplace.ca
April 30, 6:30pm, Foundry Collective Coffee Bar Trivia Night foundrycollective.ca/events/
Month of May, Downtown Carleton Place Roots & Revival downtowncarletonplace.ca
spring events
Full calendar list of events here
May 7 - September 17, Anderson’s Independent Parking Lot Carleton Place Cruise Nights Facebook @carletonplacecruisenights
May 1 - 10, Carleton Place Town Hall The Mississippi Mudds: Groundhog Day, The Musical mississippimudds.ca
May 3, 11am-3pm, Market Square Pavillion 3rd Annual EarthFest visit.carletonplace.ca/festivals
Downtown Shopping & Dining Guide
May 3, 10am-3pm, Zion Memorial United Church 4th Annual Art for Aid Fundraiser and Indigenous Celebration of Culture artforaid.ca
May 4, 2-4pm, Carambeck Community Centre Carleton Place & District Community Band: Spring Concert Facebook @cpadcb
May 8 - 11, 11am-8pm, Riverside Park PoutineFeast poutinefeast.com
May 10, 8:30am-12:30pm, Market Square Pavillion Opening Day & Mother’s Day Farmer’s Market carletonplacefarmersmarket.ca
May 16, 7:30-10:30pm, Carleton Place Town Hall Carleton Place Welcomes: Bywater Call online.carletonplace.ca
May 24-October 11, Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum Exhibit Opening: “Findlay’s Foundry: Moulding Our Town” cpbheritagemuseum.com
May 24, 1:30pm & 6:30pm Coastal Boardwalk Fashion Show destinationcoastal.ca/coastal-boardwalk
May 24, 8:30am - 11:30am, Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum Spring Plant Sale cphorticulture.ca
May 24, 4-7pm, Market Square Pavillion Ride for Dad Bike Night visit.carletonplace.ca/events-calendar
May 27, 6:30pm, Foundry Collective Coffee Bar Trivia Night foundrycollective.ca/events/
May 31, Carleton Junction Movie in the Park visit.carletonplace.ca/events-calendar
