Lace up your corsets and put on your chainmail, friends! It’s Ren Faire Season!
It was a long haul, but we have made alterations to my beloved tinker cart that will make it easier for me to bring it to more events this year! We have it permanently mounted to a trailer (the “trailer trash wedding”, as my dad called it) and have made a brocade skirt to cover all the modern tech. It’s slightly lower than it was originally (which makes it easier to display even more stuff!), but also now boasts internal storage and a bench, along with a ton of new shelving and a better closure system for easier set up, tear down, and travel. Last year we held up traffic at two events for over 40 minutes trying to winch the beast on and off a larger trailer: now we simply drop and go! From being a Netflix set piece over 15 years ago to travelling the roads as a real tinker’s cart, she’s had an interesting journey!
First on the list is the Glengarry Renaissance Festival this coming weekend (May 30-31) out the other side of Ottawa in the town of Maxville. This event is amazing. Thousands of costumed vendors and attendees, medieval sword-fighting and jousting, live theatre, comedy shows, birds of prey, and even a mermaid! Tickets for this show are $20 in advance on their website www.faires.ca or can be purchased at the gate. Dressing up is optional but highly encouraged (or your can shop for your perfect fantasy/Renaissance attire there!)
We are now only 2 weeks away from the 2nd Annual Goblin Market!
This is the Hobbit Hike’s sister event, on the same days at the same place. All my event volunteers are also fantastic vendors and purveyors of beautifully handcrafted goods, and will be setting up in the woods for the public on June 13th and 14th from 1-4pm! We’ll have fantasy portraits by the incredibly talented Kelsea Shore of Wool Witch fame, a Hobbit Hole photo booth, and on Saturday there will be a variety of mushroom art pieces hidden around the site for the annual Game of Shrooms art scavenger hunt (a worldwide phenomenon that started during the pandemic and continues to gain traction).
Costumes are also highly encouraged (but not necessary) for this event, and entry is free with your kind donation to the Renfrew Food Bank.
One ticket has become available for the full weekend of the Hobbit Hike. Tickets sold insanely fast, so if you have serious FOMO and still want to come, send me an email ASAP to snag the returned ticket! Accommodations are also available for an additional fee, and tenting on the land is free.
Griefcat in Almonte and the Forager Bee connection
In addition to being the absolute animal behind every aspect of Forager Bee, I also lead a cheese-based cult. I post a ton of memes and videos on my cult page, and one day I came across a song from some internet comedians I always get a kick out of called “I miss you, cheese”. I posted it, and then I got a message from them. This is a big deal. These gals got famous after appearing on America’s Got Talent some time ago, and with over 100,000 followers, they’re essentially internet comedy royalty. I got chatting with them about all the weird things I do and the account runner, Louisa, excitedly asked if we could do something together.
They’re now coming up for their first-ever Canadian tour, and playing an exclusive show at the Hobbit Hike! They’re ALSO playing another local show at Ottawa Valley Coffee in Almonte the night before, and I am so so excited to have these ladies here.
Grab tickets to see GriefCat’s first Canadian tour, an intimate and hilarious one-night-only show at Ottawa Valley Coffee in Almonte on Friday, June 12th at 7pm !
You can snag your tickets for only $25.00 for their OVC Almonte show DMing Ottawa Valley Coffee on Instagram with the link below!
New Recipe
Wild Leek & Dryad Saddle Burger with Grilled Hosta
Father’s Day Foraging Tour
Mom had her chance, now it's dad's turn! Impress your hunting/fishing/hiking/running/backyard beer buddies with increased knowledge of wild edible plants and fungi and and have a morning to remember with your kids at this year's Father's Day foraging tour! $40/pp, kids under 18 free as always, tickets available now on the website www.foragerbee.ca under the Events tab
Sunday, June 21st
10am-12 noon
Renfrew
Note: this event is in fact open to all, not just dads and kids!
Cirque de Bizaar night market June 27th
I’ll be bringing the cart! From the Facebook event page:
Summerween Night Market: Cirque de Bizaar
Step into a world where the sun never sets on the spooky season.
Why wait for October? Join us at Walter Baker Park for a one-of-a-kind evening where the magic of the carnival meets the whimsy of "Summerween." Our Cirque de Bizaar theme brings a theatrical, fantasy-inspired twist to your local night market, featuring a curated collection of creators, oddities, and live performances.
What to Expect
The Bizaar Marketplace: Shop over 45 local vendors specializing in bizarre goods, taxidermy, tarot readings, LARP, handmade jewelry, incredible artists and upcycled fashion.
ACE Entertainment Parking Lot Fair:
Adjacent from the market is the fair! Rides, sweet treats, and circus-y atmosphere to match the vibe. You can check it out before or after you visit Cirque de Bizaar.
Circus & Stunts: Be amazed by stilt walkers, aerial performances, sword swallowing, and a comedy performance!
- Ottawa Circus School: Youth Troupe Aerials (4:30pm-6:30pm)
- Vex Scandal - Clown Drag Artist, Comedy Skit (7:15pm)
- Kaylie Kreatrix - Stilt walking and sword swallowing (7:30pm)
Summerween Vibes: Think jack-o'-lanterns in the grass, summer breeze in the trees, and the perfect excuse to wear your favourite fantasy or "spooky summer" attire.
Curated Food & Treats: Grab a bite from our select food vendors while you wander through the enchanted grounds.
The Details
Location: Walter Baker Park, Ottawa, ON.
Date: June 27th, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Admission: FREE!!
About the Organizers
This event is brought to you by fellow small business owners - Val Waines (Cozy Plum Girl) and Dharyan Walker (Dharbear Prints). We are dedicated to building vibrant communities through immersive and unforgettable event experiences.
RSVP now to join the circus.... if you dare!
And finally: this month marks ONE WHOLE YEAR of Golden Gatherings in Golden Lake!
I want to take the opportunity to tell you all about how absolutely wonderful this community hub/shop is (and how much I love Jessica.)
I feel beyond blessed to be a vendor with Golden Gatherings. Jessica gives her undying support on the regular, always sharing inspiration and letting me know which of my items are performing best. Golden Gatherings is more than a physical shop. It's a community of like-minded people, striving together to support one another and make the world a better and cheerier place. If local small business is a forest, then Golden Gatherings is the mother tree: sharing sustenance, information, and resources to help the entire ecosystem thrive.
If you haven’t been there yet, plan a trip and bring cash: you won’t leave empty handed!
And that’s a wrap on June happenings! Hope to see you out at one of the markets or in the woods for the Father’s Day foraging your (which is in fact open to the whole family, we don’t discriminate!)