The 22nd annual Pakenham Maple Run Tour returns to Mississippi Mills this weekend, offering residents and visitors a free, self-guided opportunity to explore local art and heritage. Taking place on April 4 and 5, 2026, the event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and features approximately 30 Ottawa Valley artists spread across seven unique locations in and around the village of Pakenham.
This year’s tour coincides with Ontario’s annual Maple Weekend. Because the surrounding Lanark County is officially designated as the Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario, visitors can connect their art tour with the region’s deep-rooted maple syrup heritage. Destinations are marked with green maple leaf signs to help guide travellers through the countryside.
The tour stops are designed to be destinations themselves, showcasing a variety of heritage and local sites. Featured locations include a historic one-room schoolhouse at the Cedar Hill Schoolhouse, Farmgate Cider, Cartwright Springs Brewery, and Fulton’s Sugar Bush, a sixth-generation family-run maple operation.
Visitors can view and purchase a wide range of works, including pottery, woodturning, jewellery, landscape painting, and artisanal foods. New to the tour this year is Kaija Savinainen, a professional painter based at Willowcreek Studio in rural Mississippi Mills, who is known for her bold, vibrant paintings of the natural world.
The tour has been a spring tradition for over 20 years, continuing to highlight the diverse creative talent of the region by welcoming new participants annually. More information on the artists and a map of the tour stops can be found on the official event website.
