Rainy day in La Petite-Nation? Here's what to do indoors

You rented the cottage for the week, you brought the kayak, and it's been pouring since Tuesday. It happens. Before you open the third 1,000-piece puzzle, know that there's plenty to do indoors in La Petite-Nation. More than most people think.

Here's our list for grey days, from museums to cafés to artists' studios.

Museums

Quebec Folk Art Centre, Plaisance

Our first pick, by a mile. Self-taught makers from all over Québec who turned wood, fabric, metal and everyday objects into art. Sculptures that move, larger-than-life characters, a lot of humour. Kids and grandparents both get something out of it.

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until Thanksgiving. From October 12, 2026 to May 14, 2027, it's by reservation only. A rainy November day just needs a phone call first.

Pioneers Museum, Saint-André-Avellin

The village's story, from the seigneury days to the 21st century, told through more than 1,000 objects and 600 photos. There's farm machinery in the shed and nearly 150 rare 19th-century novels. It's a summer-and-fall museum, so check opening hours on their website first. If the rain lets up, the 22-stop heritage walk starts at the door.

Centre d'exposition Napoléon-Bourassa, Montebello

The regional art centre puts on four exhibitions a year in visual arts and fine crafts. Free, wheelchair accessible, open Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free parking on rue Notre-Dame. Right now and until November 15: Mishtamishk 2, installations by Innu artist Sonia Robertson.

Manoir-Papineau, Montebello

You don't need sunshine for the Manoir-Papineau. Louis-Joseph Papineau's house is open from mid-May to Thanksgiving, and in the fall that means Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ideal for a soggy September weekend.

Historical Society exhibit, Mulgrave-et-Derry

For history buffs: in the presbytery of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, photos and keepsakes from the German and Irish families who opened up the township. By reservation, June to September only. Details here.

Studios and galleries

La Petite-Nation is full of artists, and plenty of them open their doors. A few we like:

• Jean-Yves Guindon gallery-studio, Saint-André-Avellin. The watercolour painter of local country scenes, with a small museum on his 42-year career and a shop of cards and prints.
• Galerie Béliveau-Tse, Montebello. Contemporary painting and photography. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Juan Manuel Vasquez studio, Montebello. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, 1 to 5 p.m.
• La Shed qui tourne, Montebello. Ceramist Suzanne Ryan gives classes so you can try the wheel. A rainy day with your hands in clay? Honestly, not a bad day.
• Galerie La Biquetterie, Chénéville. Portraits, gardens and flowers by Colette Duhaime.

Lots of others welcome visitors by appointment. They're all in the directory:

Make something yourself

• At Studio Libérez vos couleurs in Thurso, in the old English elementary school: watercolour, zen art, Christmas cards, often on Saturday mornings.
• Wööl, the wool emporium in Montebello runs workshops on site. The shop is owned by the founder of the Twist fibre festival.
• La Jument Verte in Val-des-Bois holds workshops year-round and open music jams. Its shop sells work by 32 local artists.

Cafés where you can linger

Café Passe ton temps in Saint-André-Avellin is the answer to "the kids are bouncing off the walls." More than 100 board games, as many puzzles, knitting, wood painting. Toddlers welcome.

Café des orties, in the Manoir de Ripon, has board games and art on the walls, with organic local food. The Le Deuxième chapitre used bookstore and thrift shop is in the same building. You come for a book and leave with a jacket.

In Chénéville, Fabrik has a reading corner and games, with a crafts shop in the same house.

Libraries

People forget about these. The Montebello library has a toy library and an "art hive" with supplies to create freely, Tuesday and Thursday 2 to 6 p.m. The Val-des-Bois and Bowman library lends passes to the big Ottawa-Gatineau museums. If you have a card, that's a free outing.

At night: a show

Rain eventually makes you thirsty.

• Le St-André, Saint-André-Avellin: half pub, half venue, mostly Saturday nights.
• Le Bankeur, Montebello: microbrewery with a stage, several Saturdays a month.
• Salle Desjardins, Papineauville: comedy and music September to April, plus the Cinémaboule film club every other Thursday.

And one Saturday night a month from October to March, there's disco skate at the Complexe Whissell arena. It never rains in an arena.

Shopping, dry

• La Destination de Noël, Ripon: a Christmas shop open all year, vintage and rustic decor made with local artisans.
• La Dent sucrée, Saint-André-Avellin: exotic candy and hard-to-find imports. Kids glue themselves to the jars.
• Le Brasse-Camarade, Saint-André-Avellin: craft beer, sausages, cheese. Enough to make a rainy night at the cottage a lot less dull.

Local tip: call before you go. Lots of studios and small museums work by appointment or change their hours after Thanksgiving.

PlaisanceSaint-André-AvellinMontebelloRiponChénévilleThursoVal-des-BoisPapineauvilleMulgrave-et-Derry

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