(Pembroke) - The 2011 Rural Ramble in the Ottawa Valley is getting ready to celebrate rural living. Showcasing four weekends of exploration, agriculture, history and arts, this year’s event begins September 10th and runs every weekend until October 2nd.

Organized by the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (OVTA), the Rural Ramble is a free, self-guided driving tour set against a backdrop of beautiful fall colours. This year’s event will showcase many natural and human-built wonders of the region, the various agricultural and rural operations of the scenic countryside, the rich history and heritage of Ottawa Valley residents, as well as the area’s vibrant arts and cultural communities.

“This is the second year with the new extended Rural Ramble format, and we are pleased to see so many new sites participating,” noted Lauren McIllfaterick, OVTA Communications Coordinator. “The 2011 Rural Ramble promises to be exciting with more sites, new prizes and contests, and no admission fee to the public.”

Each year, more than 2,000 visitors flock to Renfrew County to enjoy the fresh air and glorious fall colours while experiencing some of the best of what the Ottawa Valley has to offer. With an unprecedented 41 sites participating this year, there are lots of new things to see and do, including:

• Feed the chickens, pot-bellied pigs, goats and buffalo at Pinto Valley Ranch
• Enjoy “Steam Engine Corn on the Cob” at Renfrew’s McDougall Mill Museum
• Observe the history of plowing, from horse drawn to tractor, at the Renfrew County Plowing Match
• Take home a free Whitewater Premium Candle Co. “pumpkin soufflé” tea light from Simple Things
• Discover the story behind Canada’s only Feudal Lord at Waba Cottage Museum & Gardens
• Learn dog tricks and enjoy agility demonstrations at Cricket’s Canine Country Club
• Immerse yourself in Celtic Culture at Kippen Road Tartan Weaving
• Participate in creative tie-dye and poetry workshops with Rri-joice Tie Dyes and Literacy Plus at the Bonnechere Caves

Some of the returning favourites on the Rural Ramble are the Peruvian alpacas at Ballintotas Alpacas, soap making demonstrations at Opeongo Mountain Meadow Soap, Art on the Beach at the Moose on the Beach Restaurant, blacksmith demonstrations at Arnprior Museum, and maple syrup making at Mapleside Sugar Bush.

An exciting addition to the 2011 event is the Rural Ramble passport. Rural Ramble passports are included in the event guide. Ramblers’ are encouraged to fill out the passport with a signature from a staff or volunteer at each site they visit. Completed passports can be dropped off at the last site visited each weekend and they will be entered into a draw for a prize pack featuring unique gifts from participating Rural Ramble sites and valued at over $500.

The passports also include a spot for Ramblers to vote for their favourite Rural Ramble site. The site with the most votes (one per weekend) will be named “Rural Rambler’s Choice”. “The passport and the Rambler’s Choice Awards are fun examples of ways event organizers are working to keep the annual festival fresh and new,” added McIllfaterick.

This year’s event is free to the public which means there are no bracelets to buy, however fees may apply for certain activities (refer to the official event guide for further details). A distribution list of where Rural Ramble event guides can be picked up is available on the Rural Ramble Facebook Page www.facebook.com/ruralramble.

Special thank you to this year’s sponsors: myFM Radio, The Renfrew Mercury, The Arnprior Chronicle, The Eganville Leader, Best Western Renfrew, The Whitewater Cobden Sun, Penny’s Fudge Factory, MacDonald Fuels, M&R Feeds in Renfrew, Ottawa Valley Living Magazine, KI Pembroke and AECL.

The OVTA is the Ottawa Valley’s official destination marketing organization, proudly representing more than 215 tourism businesses and suppliers, comprised of attractions and events, accommodation, dining and retail establishments, rafting companies and outfitters, artists and galleries, as well as media and industry suppliers.