Address:

239 Deer Run Road, Pakenham
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Event Details:

Like a breath of fresh air, the Pakenham Maple Run Tour on April 6 and 7 will refresh and energize after a long winter. A tour like no other, Maple Run is a unique blend of art, fine craft, interesting and heritage buildings and spectacular spring scenery. Art and fine craft are the roots of the tour, but the Maple Run venues are a tour all by themselves for their history, their architecture, or their function. To top all that off, it takes place in maple syrup country, so a trip to a sugar bush can be part of your day out of the house. Following the entire route of the Maple Run tour is easily done in a day, since the tour stops are open from 10am to 5pm. A car will be a requirement since the route covers about 40km. Maple Run, a self-guided free tour, truly offers something for everyone in the family.

A select group of artists and artisans from the local area, as well as the Ottawa Valley and across Ontario, will present a wide array of artistic expressions. So wide that our advice is to take a deep breath before you read this list aloud! There will be ceramics, wood carving and turning, jewelry, baking, leatherworking, landscape painting, watercolours, photography, weaving, felting, handmade soaps, miniature quilts, mosaics, fabric sculpture, paper art, children’s literature, basketry, honey products, clothing design, natural skin care, animal portraiture, textile designs, art glass, and artistic blacksmithing.

Stop 1 is Farmgate Cider with its beautiful reconstructed heritage post and beam cider barn. Located just off the 417 at the Kinburn Side Road, Farmgate hosts the tour’s largest group of artists. Here you will find basketmaking, pottery, animal portraiture, natural skin care, watercolours, woodturning, garden sculptures, and artistic blacksmithing. Cider tasting (cold or hot) and sales are a must!

Back in the pretty heritage village of Pakenham with its unique stone bridge, a cluster of 4 tour stops will welcome you. Visit the charming Keepers Coffee Bar, located in the sunshine yellow house and offering eclectic upcycled tea cozies and hats from a local artisan, as well as coffee, pastries and snacks, vintage items and plants. Paddye Mann’s clothing design studio, in a heritage stone building, will give you a whole new look, with custom designed clothing from this award-winning designer. The sunny and welcoming Pakenham branch of the Mississippi Mills Library hosts an Ottawa Valley landscape painter, a paper artist, and a children’s book author. St. Andrew’s United Church, built of local stone in 1897 and featuring a rare sanctuary design, offers a perfect spot for a light lunch, as well as 6 artists presenting miniature quilts, weaving and felting, handmade soaps, artglass jewelry, and fibre art.

Heading west from Pakenham, travel to the base of the Pakenham “Mountain” and visit a ceramic artist and a vibrant tie-dye artist at Cartwright Springs Brewery. While there, you can of course enjoy a tasting – the brewery is known for offering fine craft brews and even bottled maple sap! - as well as pulled pork on a bun and wood-fired pizza 

The warm and entertaining Chris van Zanten studio offers you demonstrations of the fiery art of glass making – an experience of colour and drama.

Visit our 8th tour stop, the heritage Cedar Hill Schoolhouse, while on the way to Almonte or Fulton’s Sugar Bush. Step back in time and visit this one-room schoolhouse which still retains its school maps, blackboards, and bell. The Schoolhouse will host 6 artists presenting leatherworking, hand painted pottery, gemstone jewelry, baking, honey products and wildlife photography.

Venue Name:

Cartwright Springs Brewery

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