Many people in Canada and the United States celebrate Christmas Day on December 25. The day celebrates Jesus Christ’s birth.

People celebrate Christmas Day in many ways. It is often combined with customs from pre-Christian winter celebrations. Many people decorate their homes, visit family or friends and exchange gifts. In the days or even weeks before Christmas Day, many people decorate their homes and gardens with lights, Christmas trees and much more.

It is common to organize a special meal, often consisting of turkey and a lot of other festive foods, for family or friends and exchange gifts with them. Children, in particular, often receive a lot of gifts from their parents and other relatives and the mythical figure Santa Claus.

The original meaning of Christmas is a special church service, or mass, to celebrate the birth of Christ. The story of the Nativity, or the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, are particularly important in religious celebrations of Christmas. However, many traditions that are around today have their roots in pre-Christian winter festivals. These include the importance of candles and decorations made from evergreen bushes and tree, symbolizing everlasting light and life.

Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving, completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath, Christmas music and caroling, lighting a Christingle, viewing a Nativity play, an exchange of Christmas cards, church services, a special meal, pulling Christmas crackers and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore.

Date:

December 25, 2020

Join us for breakfast.

Date :
December 19, 2020

Event location :
Delta United Church
36 King St, Delta ON

Contact :
613-928-3458

Pack up the family and head down to Foley Mountain Conservation Area to explore, adventure, play, and learn in the forest! All ages of children welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Program will run rain or shine. COVID-19 protocols will be in place. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED – contact Rebecca at rebecca.whitman@rvca.ca.

For more event info, please visit the Facebook Event page.

Date :
December 19, 2020 from 10 to 11:30am

Event location :
Foley Mountain Lane
Westport, Ontario K0G 1X0 Canada

Contact :
613-273-3255 or 

https://www.rvca.ca/conservation-areas/fee-required/foley-mountain-ca

STEVE MARRINER
Working with Jimmy Bowskill in all forms of management and bookings. TV and radio interviews/appearances. Session work, soundtracks and sideman work. Jimmy is quite possibly the most talented and diversified players on the Roots and Blues scene, mastering a number of instruments from electric to acoustic guitars, mandolin, fiddle, pedal steel and stand up bass and he has perfect pitch powerful vocals.

Canada’s Youngest Juno Nominee ever. Jim has won a number of Blues Awards, Music Awards and Maple Blues Awards.

“I played with him at this big festival in Canada called ‘Nakusp.’ He’s got a great feel. He reminds me of Paul Kossoff [Free], who we sadly lost all those years ago. He’s almost the spitting image of him which is incredible.”…Paul Rodgers, leader of Free, Bad Company, singer for Queen and The Paul Rodgers Band

“Great Guitar playing with a lot of feeling and expression in all styles from ZZ Top inspired Blues/ Rock to Peter Green, his country “finger pickin” or Power Rock.”…Guitar Magazine

“He plays in the top league with Peter Green, Stevie Ray Vaughan or Jeff Healey”…Breakout Magazine, Germany

The potential for big success is existing and Blues/Rock is in need for flesh blood”…Slam Magazine, Germany

“Bowskill has developed into one of this country’s most versatile roots and blues musicians. Not only is he a gifted guitar player, but he is equally as comfortable on the mandolin and fiddle (as well as other instruments, I don’t let him near the piano!). Did I mention he sings like a bird as well? What a talent!”…Lance Anderson, Juno Award Winning producer, keyboardist and associate of Oscar Peterson.

“I’ve known Jimmy since he appeared busking out front of Healey’s and Jeff invited him in to play with us. He was 11 years old and already sounding great I’ve had the pleasure of his friendship and playing on the same stage many times. Over the years it’s been great watching him grow up and see his musical abilities expand over time. Great guy and musician. I look forward to sharing the guitar spotlight with him again in the future.”…Pat Rush, Electric Guitar and Slide Guitarist with Johnny Winter

STEVE MARRINER
Steve Marriner is a dynamic and powerful performer. His incorporation of various styles of blues, roots and soul come together to form an original sound that is both deep and genuine.
Steve has toured internationally and performed at prestigious festivals, concert halls and music clubs throughout Canada, The US, Europe and Australia. While he currently dedicates most of his time to fronting the acclaimed roots sensation “MonkeyJunk”, Steve can often be found performing intimate solo shows and joining other artists as a dynamic sideman.
During breaks between tours, Steve has developed a sterling reputation as a studio musician and producer. He has an extensive discogrpahy and has recorded with the likes of Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds), Harry Manx, Richard Bell (The Band, Joplin), Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar, Grady), Paul DesLauriers, Steve Dawson and David Gogo. Not yet thirty years old, he has already produced ten full length studio albums. The man doesn’t stop.
Originally renown for his prowess on the harmonica, Steve has become a multi-instrumental force in recent years adding bass, guitar, drums, and keys into the mix. He’s won multiple Maple Blues Awards for Harmonica Player and Male Vocalist of The Year. As well as a 2012 Juno Award for Blues Album of The Year with MonkeyJunk.

Rate: $70

Date :
December 10 & 11, 2020 from 6 to 10pm

Event location :
The Cove, 2 Bedford St.
Westport, Ontario K0G 1X0 Canada

Contact :
Seamus Cowan – 1.888.COVE.INN

http://www.facebook.com/jimmy.bowskill.9%20www.facebook.com/stevemarrinermusic

Grab your “sticks”, your project, and head to the Elgin Community Hall to share your enthusiasm for hand work & reading. All ages, abilities, and types of needle craft projects are welcome. Space limited to 15 people, please wear a mask and physical distance.

Date :
December 4, 11, 18, 2020 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Event location :
Elgin Community Hall, 47 Main St, Elgin, ON K0G 1E0, Canada

Contact :
lauralee@rlpl.ca or call 613-359-5315 during desk hours

Dave Balfour is a real and vivacious musical personality! He reels you in! He has been the MC of Stewart Park Festival in Perth for 18 years and hosted the Wednesday night jam at O’Reillys in Perth for over 10 years, bringing in a mix of young and old local talent each week. Each week Dave and guests would play a for a few hours of acoustic magic and mayhem with weekly new material keeping musicians on their toes. This larger than life man, with a sweet soft voice will have you tapping and humming along to your favorite tunes from the likes of Dave Matthews Band, Little Feat, U2 and The Beatles. He has played with Dog Day Afternoon (with Jamie), Guthrie House, Bald Like Dad and more.

Jamie Campbell has quite a prolific past in the music business as well. He is a member of Fireweed with Gary William Rasberry & Rob Unger. Voiceplay, guitarwork and a mutual love of all things acoustic fire the songs that we write and perform. Fireweed’s reputation for heartfelt, intimate live shows is wide-spread and well-known. They’ve performed at Blues Skies Music Festival, Summerfolk, Stewart Park Music Festival, the Ottawa Folk Festival, Mariposa, Hillside Music Festival, Skeleton Park Music Festival and the Amherst Island Folk Festival. He was also a member of acclaimed Quebecois performer Roch Voisine’s touring band! A high accomplishment for sure. Most recently, he has been playing the co-lead with Miss Emily Fennell and Doug Reansbury is a sensational tribute to the music of Carole King and James Taylor called You’ve Got a Friend featuring the best in Kingston’s musical veterans in Zak Colbert on bass, Ken Hall on keyboards, Duncan Holt on drums and James Wannamaker on sax. Always a packed house, this band will play The Cove again on Fri.Sept.7.2018!

Date :
December 3, 2020 from 5 to 8pm

Event location :
The Cove, 2 Bedford St.
Westport, Ontario K0G1X0 Canada

Contact :
Seamus Cowan – 1.888.COVE.INN – http://www.coveinn.com/

BINGO Doors open at 6:00pm:  Elgin Lions Hall – Thursdays ; Westport Legion-Upper Rideau Branch 542 – Mondays

BRIDGE every Tuesday at 1:00pm at the Elgin Municipal Complex.  Info 613-359-6192.

EUCHRE

Delta Legion every Friday at 7pm (Pat Philips 613-928-2712).
Elgin Municipal Complex Community Room on Mondays at noon (Doug Summers 613-359-5744)
Westport Upper Rideau Branch 542 – Thursday evenings (Joan Thompson 613-273-5613)

CHAFFEYS LOCK COMMUNITY HALL MARKET SQUARE every Sunday from late May to October.  Local craftspersons and artists.

CLOGGING – at the Newboro Community Hall every Wednesday evening at 7pm and at the South Elmsley Municipal Complex (OPP Offices on Hwy 15) Thursday afternoons from 2-4pm. This is a fun way to exercise and expand your dance talents! Classes are $2 a class. Sponsored by the Newboro Recreation Committee. Cal Dorothy for details 613-272-8053.

COMMUNITY SHOPPING BUS sponsored through the Portland Seniors Club leaves for the local shopping mall in Kingston every 2^nd Tuesday of the month.  Call Vicki at 613-272-2676 to reserve your seat.  Cost $15.00 return trip.  Not just for seniors!  All ages welcome.

COFFEE DROP-IN: Throughout the Township come and enjoy a bit of social fun! Bring your latest craft project, a deck of cards or just yourself.  Children are welcome.  Donations appreciated.

Delta United Church:  Monday mornings from 8am to 10:30am  (Pat Philips 613-928-2712)
Elgin Municipal Complex Community Hall:  Friday mornings from 9:30am (Linda Carr 613-272-2227)
Morton – Morton Mug:  Tuesday mornings (Linda Gamble 613-876-3884)
Newboro Community Hall:  Wednesday mornings from 10am to Noon (Joan 613-272-2393)
Portland Community Hall: Thursday mornings (Betty James 613-272-2461)

COMMUNITY FARMERS BREAKFAST every 4^th Tuesday at the Harmony Lodge in Philipsville starting at 8:00am. Sponsored by the Philipsville Masons, everyone is welcome. Contact Ross Hawkins for information 613-359-5833.

DELTA McMUFFIN LIGHT BREAKFAST every Saturday morning from 7:30am to 10am at Delta United Church. $5 will get you coffee with an egg & English muffin and a chance to meet your neighbours. Everyone is welcome. Call Arvin Riskie for info 613-928-2091.

COMMUNITY LUNCHES

Elgin Municipal Complex:  1st Friday of the month – 11:30am to 12:30pm soup and sandwiches. Pay-What-You-Can ( Linda Carr 613-272-2227)
Portland United Church:  4^th Tuesday of every month – noon to 1pm (613-272-2002).

SPAGHETTI DINNERS

Elgin Lions Hall:   2nd Friday of the month – combines their very popular Quiz Night with the spaghetti dinner (teams of 6 start the game at 7pm)
Portland Legion: 1st Friday of every month
Westport Upper Rideau Branch 542:  3^rd Friday of the month

PARKINSON SUPPORT GROUP meets the last Thursday of every month at 1:30pm at Rideau Community Health Services, 2 Gould Street, Unit 118, Smiths Falls.  Contact margaux.wolfe@parkinson.ca

New members are always welcome.

Members paint on wood, fabric, glass, paper, tin and canvas with acrylics and water based oils, use spackling compounds, interesting textures and different brushes and stroke techniques.

Date :
November 10, 2020 from 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Event location :
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
17 Spring St, Westport, ON

Contact :
Contact: Barbara McBride
Phone: 613-273-6405

https://www.rideaulakes.ca/

Virtual Story Time with Laura Lee – Parents/caregivers with their young children are invited to a live Rideau Lakes Public Library story time. Join Monday & Thursday @ 9:30am on Zoom. Bring along your enthusiasm and 2 tapping sticks “wooden spoons or small real sticks” for story, songs & rhymes.

Laura Lee is on holiday (November 1 – 7) so she will send a YouTube video for your family to enjoy

Date :
November 5, 12, 19, 26, 2020 from 9:30am – 10:15am

Event location :
Online Youtube event

Contact :
For more information or to receive the invite link contact Laura Lee – lauralee@rlpl.ca

‟Lutes is a fine roots/blues writer, one of those gems you find by chance as you’re going through a town and he’s going through a town and you just want a beer and he gives you the show of the year.” – Bob Mersereau, CBC.ca

A writer whose work has included ghostwriting for a former U.S. president, speechwriting for a former Canadian Prime Minister and writing books on subjects from DIY to sports to travel, Rob Lutes has always known his true calling and spiritual home was songwriting.The fluently bilingual, New Brunswick-born, long-time Montreal resident is a former Kerrville New Folk and ISC award winner, and a Maple Blues, Canadian Folk Music Awards and Lys Blues nominee. In 2015, he was runner-up in the Toronto Blues Society’s Cobalt Prize, a national award for Contemporary Blues Composition.

Since the release of his first album Gravity in 2000, Lutes has steadily built a collection of exquisite songs that inhabit the intersection of blues, folk, Americana, and the contemporary singer-songwriter genre. A masterful fingerstyle guitarist with a soulful voice, he is also known for the intensity of his live performances.Lutes has released six full-length albums, including 2009’s acclaimed Truth & Fiction, which earned him a CFMA nomination for Songwriter of the Year and 2013’s The Bravest Birds which spent seven months in the Roots Music Report top 10 and hit #1 on the EuroAmericana Chart.

He performs solo, in duo with Quebec guitar legend Rob MacDonald, and in full-band format.In early of 2016, as part of the new Montreal group Sussex, he will release Parade Day, a love-letter to the jazz and blues of the 20s and 30s featuring some of Montreal’s finest musicians.

“Rob Lutes will soon be counted amongst the ranks of the best in the industry. Insightful and meaty like Bill Morrissey, the aforementioned Rogers and Lucy Kaplansky, he is also gutty and gritty like Greg Brown or Chris Smither. A rare talent that keeps getting better with each project released, one listen will prove he is more than a passing fancy; this guy is here to stay.”
– Matt Large, Montreal Folk Festival AD

$20.

Date :
October 29, 2020 from 5 to 8pm

Event location :
2 Bedford St.
Westport, Ontario K0G 1X0 Canada

Contact :
Website: http://www.roblutes.com/