Discovering Almonte: Riverside Mills, Puppetry and a Different Side of Ontario

There's a beautiful section of the Mississippi River in Almonte, Ontario that quickly makes you feel as though you've stepped back in time. The river snakes between old stone mills and tumbles over the falls before reappearing beneath a railway bridge. Take a stroll down Mill Street for an even more picturesque scene. The industrial area gives way to charming shops and a well-preserved clock tower.

Almonte is easily walkable and home to many points of interest. Permanent art installations are located throughout, as are the historic mills that helped shape the town and its woolen industry. Almonte's main street is the location of many outdoor festivals and puppet shows.

Spend an afternoon in Almonte to get a sample of all the activities this town has to offer and to get a taste of Canada's history. Here's a short, but well-rounded, town itinerary. Take a book, see a movie or browse Betinia Ontario Casino Games.

Find Old Town Hall (14 Bridge Street) for a Great Starting Point

Almonte Old Town Hall is a beautiful, historic building and a great place to start your tour of the town. From here, you can visit the Riverwalk for even more picturesque scenery. You can view the river from this vantage point.

The route takes you past the sites of former factories including the Mississippi Iron Works, Thoburn and Victoria Mills. Take a break at the Victoria Mills lookout to see how closely the factories were built on the banks of the river, which provided power for the factories. The river helped shape the development of the community. The rail line and the falls add points of interest to this scenic walk.

Along the way, look out for the Millworkers" Staircase, built in 2021, which provides access from the river to the former mill site and the Textile Museum. The portion of the Riverwalk connecting to the old mill area and the Textile Museum gives a good view of the river and provides a connection to the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail. The old railroad bridge helps connect the trail and offers another view of the river.

The Almonte Riverwalk guide explains the various access points and helps visitors plan the most convenient access and exit points along the trail. There are lots of places along the trail that offer benches for resting or taking in the view.

The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum

At 3 Rosamond Street East, the Textile Museum is housed in an 1867 annex of the former Rosamond Woolen Company. The large windows of the former mill, exposed beams and high ceilings make the Museum large and airy.

The Wool Hall Gallery hosts a permanent exhibition that illustrates the history of woollen production in the area as well as the lives of the mill workers. The riverside mills tell a fuller story.

The Norah Rosamond Hughes Gallery provides the opportunity to highlight more recent textile work. From October 17 to December 20, 2026, the gallery is scheduled to host the exhibition "Three Generations." The exhibition is a collection of fibre work by Judy Nakagawa. Set in the old mill, the exhibition demonstrates the ability of an old industrial textile work space to showcase a completely different body of textile work.

The museum is only open afternoons (1-4pm) on Wednesdays to Sundays. Visit the website to check the exhibition schedule.

Things to See Along Mill Street

Take your time and really see everything on Mill Street from the old shop fronts to the carved stone work and decorative arches along the old buildings. Many of the old mills along the river shaped the community and helped give Almonte its character.

A stop at Almonte's Old Post Office, completed in 1891, is worth the time. The design by Thomas Fuller, who also worked on the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, gives it a sense of importance and presence beyond that of a standard Post Office. Notice the arches and stonework which are characteristic of the Romanesque Revival style. The clock tower provides a focal point.

Next visit Almonte's Old Town Hall, another fine example of architecture, and the setting for a number of meetings and performances. Stopping in for a performance will give you the chance to see the interior of the Hall.

As a bonus, after you've taken in all of the history and art in Almonte, take some time to check out the statue of Almonte's most famous son, James Naismith, near 73 Mill St. He's the inventor of basketball.

Art in Historic Buildings and Along Paths

Find art at Sivarulrasa Gallery, 34 Mill Street. With exhibits showcasing contemporary art by Canadian artists, the gallery is a great complement to the historic streetscape of Almonte’s Main Street.

You'll have to look a bit harder for Almonte's outdoor art. The Alameda Art Walk at 155 High Street is a good place to start, as are a number of smaller art installations along Almonte's main street. Once you're tired of looking at Almonte's Main Street, take a stroll down the Almonte Alameda. It connects to the rail trail and provides a scenic route through Almonte.

For a more reflective stop, see The Seven Gifts at 272 Spring Street. The installation incorporates the teachings of the Anishinabek Algonquin Seven Grandfathers. It was created with Traditional Algonquin Anishinaabe Elders and representatives of different faith communities. The installation explores our relationships with each other, the lands and waters. To learn more about the installation, look at the sign.

Public art encourages people to explore new parts of a town, including local side streets.

Puppets Took Over the Main Street

Almonte was a mill town in Ontario, Canada and is not the place most people would expect to find an international festival of puppetry. However, puppetry has become an important element of Almonte's culture. The Puppets Up! Festival takes place every two years. Before the first festival, local organizers and artists were encouraged by Noreen Young in 2004. The first festival took place in 2005.

The festival spreads performances across Almonte's compact downtown, using intimate venues, streets and parade routes.

The 2026 iteration of the festival featured 13 troupes and over 70 performances. The festival took place on August 8 and 9. Visitors are encouraged to contact the festival organizers for specific performance dates before planning a trip.

The events are the main draw, but the rest of the year you can still get a sense of what the town is like during the big show. When you wander Mill Street you can begin to imagine how the performance spaces might fit into such a small main street, and how a long procession might pass by the shops you've stopped to admire.

Two Other Options: Ancient Rocks and A Walking Labyrinth

If natural history is more your style, find Metcalfe Geoheritage Park on Almonte Street. The park contains a collection of 22 specimens of various rocks representing examples of geological processes. Some of the rocks represent conditions of ancient sea floors from 490 to 440 million years ago. Some of the rocks date back 2.5 billion years, to the Precambrian.

Among its displays are sandstone samples with embedded ripples. There are also samples of gneiss, a granite-like metamorphic rock. Other signs describe ancient mountains, seas and glaciers. For the amount of space the park occupies, the geological history it represents is quite extensive.

The other option is to visit the Almonte Wellness Trail. The trail is made up of various parks, public spaces and trails, which all offer opportunities for walking, gathering or reflection. The Tree of Life Labyrinth offers a meandering path for meditation. The Gathering Place, located on the banks of the Mississippi River, offers a picnic spot. There are also fitness stations along the Wellness Trail to add more activity to your day.

All of these detours offer a great opportunity to appreciate public spaces, as well as the history of the region.

Make a Day of It at Your Own Pace

A day in Almonte starts at the Old Town Hall and the Riverwalk. Walking and biking trails follow the river. Take the Millworkers" Staircase or the rail trail connection if you like. Once you've walked and taken in the sights enough for the time being, take Mill Street to check out the old post office. On your way, you can stop for some food and take in more of Almonte's beautiful architecture.

The Textile Museum is a great add-on to your day, as it opens at 1 pm. The Textile Museum explores the town's textile history alongside changing exhibitions. You can plan your day around the museum and the art stops that interest you most.

Have a backup plan. There are a ton of outdoor activities in the area. If it's nice out, you can hike the Wellness Trail and explore Geoheritage Park. When the weather is not so nice, you can spend your time at the museum and check out the displays and exhibitions there. If there's a concert or show, plan your day around that and give yourself enough time to relax and take in the event.

Tips for Taking a Trip to Almonte

Almonte is in Lanark County (Mississippi Mills) and is a short drive from the west end of Ottawa. Take March Road and Highway 417 to get there. Once in town, enjoy the many sites by walking. You can park along the river and pick up the Riverwalk which connects the old mills and takes you through public art and other points of interest. Parking is available at many points and the museum also offers parking.

Create an itinerary around attractions with timed activities. The Textile Museum is great to use as an itinerary anchor as it is only open Wednesday to Sunday afternoons. Plan to attend performance or exhibit openings of your choice during the year. Check the Riverwalk for directions to the stairways and choose a more accessible section if mobility is an issue.

The timing of events can change the reasons for a return visit. The town offers a variety of events during the year. Celtfest is held in the summer and a variety of concerts are held during the Folkus Concert Series at the Old Town Hall during the winter. The Textile Museum offers the Fibrefest program as well. Check confirmed event dates before shaping your itinerary.

If you are thinking of extending your stay in Almonte, also consider the Everyday Tourist's article, Nature Day Trips from Ottawa, for more activities.

To really see the details of Almonte that people tend to miss, especially if you've been before, you really have to experience it at a slow pace. Look closely at what you can see on your short walk through the area. Almonte is unique because of how much there is to see and do in a small area. You may happen upon the Clock Tower, catch a puppet show, and then see a million year old rock. Waterfalls and other fascinating area sites are within easy walking distance.