Things to Do This Mother’s Day Weekend in Almaguin & Beyond (May 2026)
Whether you’re looking for a proper outing with mom, something to keep the kids busy so she can have a quiet morning, or just a reason to get outside, here’s what’s happening around the region this Mother’s Day weekend and the week ahead.
Magnetawan Leekfest — Saturday, May 9
Magnetawan Community Centre & Grounds | 11 AM – 4 PM | Free
This one is right in our backyard. Leekfest is a full community day in Magnetawan — free potato and leek soup, live music all afternoon, local vendors, food trucks, a kids’ zone with face painting, balloons and games, and a foraging workshop with the Canadian Farmstead. The outdoor stage runs from noon through 4 PM with Brett Baker Country and Filthy Rich and the Empty Pockets performing.
It’s free to attend and family-friendly from start to finish. If you want to do one thing locally this weekend, this is it.
Coughlin’s Carnival — Saturday, May 9
Stewart Coughlin Riding Ranch, 129 Riding Ranch Road, South River | 11 AM – 2 PM | $10/person
Stewart Coughlin Riding Ranch is hosting their spring carnival, and it’s a good one for families with younger kids. Entry is $10 per person and includes a pony ride, petting farm, face painting, and yard games. There’s also food available — popcorn, cotton candy, BBQ, and drinks at very reasonable prices.
Sandhill Nursery — Mother’s Day Weekend, May 9 & 10
Sandhill Nursery | sandhillnursery.ca
If you’re heading toward Muskoka this weekend, Sandhill Nursery is running some solid Mother’s Day promotions. Four-inch perennials are $3.99 (reg. $5.99), hanging baskets are 2 for $50–$150 depending on size, Boston ferns are $26.99, and outdoor pots and cabin items are 30–50% off select styles.
They’re also hosting a Build-a-Bouquet experience — a hands-on flower arranging activity open to all ages, pre-registration required. The Rusty Rake food and drink spot is open with mimosas for mom and $4 mom-osas all weekend. Check sandhillnursery.ca for registration details on the bouquet workshop.
North Bay Public Library Spring Book Sale — Saturday, May 9 through Wednesday, May 13
271 Worthington St. E, North Bay | Sat May 9: 10 AM – 3:30 PM | Mon–Wed May 11–13: 10 AM – 8:30 PM
If your Mother’s Day tradition involves a stack of books and a cup of tea, the North Bay Public Library’s Spring Book Sale runs all week. The library auditorium fills up with donated books across every genre — it’s a solid browse for adults and kids alike. Cash, debit, and VISA accepted.
North Bay is about an hour from the centre of Almaguin, making it an easy day trip, especially if you combine it with lunch on the waterfront.
Sunday’s in the Park — The Maker’s Market — Sunday, May 17
North Bay Waterfront | 11 AM – 3 PM
The Maker’s Market runs select Sundays from May through October at the North Bay Waterfront, and the May 17th market is the first one of the season. Local makers, artisans, and vendors set up along the water — it’s a good way to spend a Sunday morning with the family, pick up something handmade, and enjoy the lake views.
If you missed the Mother’s Day weekend but still want to do something special, this is a nice option the following Sunday.
Port Sydney Community Wide Yard Sale — Saturday, June 6
Port Sydney, Ontario | 8 AM – 2 PM | Map: $2 donation
A little further out but worth putting on the calendar — the 25th Annual Port Sydney Community Wide Yard Sale. You buy a map for a $2 donation and then work your way through participating properties across the community. It’s a well-established event in the Muskoka area and draws a good crowd every year.
Port Sydney is south of Huntsville, so this one is a straightforward drive for most of Almaguin.
Sprucedale & District Horticultural Society Plant Sale — Saturday, May 16
Hope’s Cover Farm, Emsdale | 9 AM – 2 PM | Cash only
The SD&DH annual plant sale is a local staple. Perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs, and flowers — all from gardeners who know this climate. If you’ve struggled to find plants that actually survive a short-season Almaguin summer, this is a better starting point than a big box store.
Cash only, so come prepared. Hope’s Cover Farm in Emsdale is easy to find and the selection goes quickly in the first hour.
Why Almaguin Is Such a Good Base for All of This
People sometimes overlook this when they’re comparing where to live or buy — Almaguin sits between two urban centres in a way that gives you the best of both. Huntsville and Muskoka are to the south. North Bay is to the north. Both are within an hour of most of the region.
That means weekends like this one, when there’s a lot happening across the area, you can genuinely pick and choose. A Saturday carnival in South River. A Sunday market on the North Bay waterfront. A plant sale the following weekend in Emsdale. All of it accessible without a long haul.
People come for the lakes, but they stay because of how liveable the area actually is.
If you have questions about living or buying in Almaguin, we’re always happy to talk. 705-380-3136