FIELD NOTES

Hit the great outdoors, take in a play or concert, and get in the holiday spirit this winter

BY JOHANNA BERNHARDT

Chill factor

One of the best ways to embrace winter is to get outside – and get moving – as the thermometer drops.

Lace up your skates on outdoor rinks across Headwaters. The Caledon East Community Complex has a permanent outdoor rink, and there are several more across the rest of Caledon. In Orangeville skate at half a dozen rinks at parks including Orangeville Lions Club Sports Park and Island Lake. Erin offers skating at Victoria Park while the Town of Mono has three rinks, including one behind the Mono Community Centre. Visit town sites for more info.

Get up close and personal with wintery magic by snowshoeing at Mulmur’s Mansfield Outdoor Centre on designated snowshoe trails on the expansive property. When you’re done, warm up by a wood-burning stove at the lodge. (For more info see Headwaters Nest on page 86.)

At Monora Park cross-country ski over 36 forest trails with the Mono Nordic club. Bring your own skis or use their members-only affordable rental program. Kids aged five to ten can join JackRabbits to learn fundamentals, and visitors can drop in for a daily trail pass with access to over 16 kilometres of trails.

If you’d rather someone else do the work, watch for horse-drawn wagon rides at local tree farms. At Hockley Valley Farm rides are available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends during the pre-Christmas season.

And for something a little different, consider winter archery. The Archers of Caledon offers five-week beginner archery lessons for kids and adults. Learn the basics on an Olympic-style recurve bow in their indoor facility. Once they’ve completed those lessons, archers have access to 14 outdoor targets on the 30-acre property. Longtime archer and head coach Mark D’Cunha says the pandemic brought an increased interest in the sport and believes archery can be very therapeutic.

Interested in something mentioned here? Find links to social media pages and websites at Field Notes on inthehills.ca.

Crafty Christmas

Local floral workshops are a way to make your home merry and bright – and learn something in the process. At Suzanne Gardner Flowers in Orangeville, create your own “kissing ball,” a 19th-century symbol of love traditionally hung from the ceiling during the holidays. Or try their floral centrepiece workshop to create the perfect holiday showpiece –December 7 and 14, respectively.

Spend the morning with Caledon’s YS Floral and Farm in their country store, where rustic meets whimsy. Craft a fresh arrangement for your Christmas table and enjoy refreshments and a light snack on December 10 or 11.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Coldest Night of the Year

Join over 300 pedestrians in Orangeville as they raise both compassion and funds on February 25. Coldest Night of the Year supports local organizations that provide help for people experiencing hunger, hurt and homelessness. Step outside the comfort of your home and sign up online for this family-friendly winter charity walk hosted by the Orangeville Food Bank.

www.visitcaledon.ca

www.morethanjustbaskets.ca www.pearhome.ca

The sound of music

The Rose Brampton is primed for the sounds of the season. Up first is Celebrate Light, a concert featuring Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas holiday tunes performed by the Rose Orchestra and choral guests on December 3.

If it’s Christmas classics you’re after, head to Christmas at The Rose with the Brampton Concert Band. This annual Christmas show features a collection of merry hits on December 10.

The third generation of the celebrated musical family, the Leahys, hits the stage with A Next Generation Leahy Christmas on December 17. They’re sure to bring down the house with Celtic-inspired music and a foot-stomping good time.

Tickets, please!

Get ready for Christmas cheer at Theatre

Orangeville with The Last Christmas Turkey by Dan Needles and Clive VanderBurgh. A sister and brother take in a stray turkey not knowing it was supposed to be dinner at the local church Christmas supper! Dan Needles feels certain, “It’s a special gift this Christmas to be able to sit in a room full of people and laugh together about how people from unlikely backgrounds can find connections to each other and the land under their feet.” The play runs November 30 to December 23.

The Leahy family presents A Next Generation Leahy Christmas.

WATCH FOR IT Paint it orange

The Town of Caledon and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) are unveiling an orange crosswalk at the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness. The crosswalk commemorates the Indigenous children of the residential school system as well as their descendants, serving as a permanent reminder of the ways we can work toward reconciliation.

Christmas markets

Shopping local for the holidays just keeps getting easier. From November 30 to December 11, visit the Holiday Treasures show at the Museum of Dufferin in Mulmur with over 60 vendors including makers of jewelry, woodworking, pottery and art. (See pages 75 and 88 for a few of the locally made picks.)

Sip a witchy-themed cocktail while you shop for crochet items, framed insects and more at Wickedly Weird Christmas Market on December 3 at the Alton Legion. Peruse the gift possibilities at The Alton Mill Arts Centre’s seasonal shows, open houses and always-stocked galleries, including Rare Threads, Noodle Gallery and Gallery Gemma — and book your photo session with the Grinch (and Femke Photography), offered on weekends until December 11.

Head to Mistletoe Mountain at Mount Alverno Luxury Resorts December 2 to 4 to see a winter wonderland unfold.

The built environment

Museum of Dufferin features an exhibit of the work of award-winning Czech architect Martin Rajnis until January 29. For over 20 years, Rajnis has created innovative structures made from glass, wood and steel designed to complement the natural world – and embody sustainability.