Festival open house
Stratford, Ont.
If you've ever wanted to peek behind the curtains at the Stratford Festival, here's your chance. The festival's annual open house takes place Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can go backstage at the Studio Theatre and the recently renovated Avon Theatre, see the rehearsal halls and orchestra pit and even get to stand centre stage. A shuttle will take visitors to the Costume Warehouse, which houses a massive collection of costumes, props and sets. After the tour, guests are welcome to try on Festival costumes back in the Avon Theatre's Chalmers Lounge.
Cost: Free, but reservations are recommended.
When: Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Stratford, Ont.
How: To make a reservation, call the Festival box office at (800) 567-1600 or (519) 273-1600.
Pregnancy retreat
Bancroft, Ont.
Expectant couples in need of a break can sign up for an upcoming pregnancy retreat organized by Grail Springs Spa of Bancroft, Ont. Billed as "The Mother of all Spa Experiences," the retreat is designed to guide the mother-to-be and her partner along the path to parenthood, while also offering an opportunity for relaxation and diversion. Three interactive workshops facilitated by pregnancy author Ann Douglas have been planned. These sessions provide insight into the many changes brought about by pregnancy and offer practical strategies to prepare for the joys and challenges ahead. A "Yoga for Two" workshop and a "Pregnancy Massage" session have also been planned. In addition, participants will have access to the spa's facilities and full range of treatments.
Cost: From $449 a couple, including two nights' accommodation in one of the spa's luxurious guest rooms, workshop fees and continental breakfast. Spa treatments, meals and taxes are extra.
When: April 8-10.
Where: Bancroft, Ont., about two hours northeast of Toronto.
How: For more information, call (877) 553-5772 or visit the Web site at http://www.grailsprings.com.
Cultural tour
Montreal
Next weekend, you can celebrate the arrival of spring with a cultural trip to Montreal. Leaving Toronto at the end of the workday on Friday, participants will travel by chartered highway coach for the two-night trip, which includes a guided tour of the city's neighbourhoods. Conducted on Saturday morning and led by a local guide, this tour provides visitors with orientation and essential information about the city's main features. Participants also get a museum pass that gives them free access to 25 museums and galleries. Art lovers can visit the prestigious Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Canadian Centre for Architecture, and the Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montreal; history buffs can choose the Montreal Museum of Archeology and History and the Centre D'Histoire de Montréal. Accommodation has been arranged at the four-star Le Meridien Versailles-Montréal, a stylish hotel on Sherbrooke Street.
Cost: $289 a person plus GST, based on double occupancy.
When: The trip leaves Toronto at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28, and returns at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 30.
Where: Montreal.
How: For more information, call (416) 599-8747 or visit the Web site at http://www.weekendtrips.com.
Francesco Contini is the general manager of weekendtrips.com
