OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: December 18-30

_ Our crowdsourced list of the best events in Ottawa this week. _

** Saturday, December 20: Bayshore Park Community Oven Open Bake Day ** Here’s your chance to try Ottawa’s first outdoor community bake oven. The Bayshore Park Community Garden and Oven is inviting people to bring their own ingredients and use the oven to bake pizzas, breads and slow-cooked dishes. Noon-9 p.m. _ – Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _ ** Saturday-Sunday, December 20-21: Jim Bryson’s 15th Holiday Type Shows. ** What better way to get into the holiday spirit by taking a drive to the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield to catch Jim Bryson’s annual holiday concert? There is no better way. Just go! _ – Ryan Bresee , CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me _ ** Sunday, December 21: A Very Ayler Christmas at the Raw Sugar Café ** Free of syrup and full of zest, a group of Ottawa-Gatineau’s talented improvisers and jazz musicians have been mashing up Christmas Carols and the music of jazz icon Albert Ayler each December for the last eight years. This Sunday evening, they’re back again, treating your ears to the most unexpected – and fun – music you’ll hear this holiday season. _ – Alayne McGregor , OttawaJazzScene.ca _ ** Sunday, December 21: highJinx Grand Christmas Party ** A great excuse to check out and support this wonderful local social enterprise! highJinx are hosting an Open House event on December 21 from 1-6pm to show you their new location, create some cheer for their Neighbours and celebrate the Community! There will be special guests, music, treats and crafty vendors! Bring a food item for the Food Pantry and get a ticket to win a lovely foodie prize basket full of PEI Preserves! Tour the Furniture Bank and see their magic workshop! _ – Laura Gauthier _ ** Sunday, December 21: The Shortest Day of the Year at the National Gallery ** Join the Canadian Film Institute and the National Gallery of Canada on the shortest day of the year to watch some great, family-friendly short films in the Gallery’s auditorium. The program will start at 11am for an hour-long screening for kids (8 and under) that includes the presentation of several fun, easy to watch classics such as “The Cat Came Back”. Families with older children will enjoy the 1pm screening with classic films such as “The Sweater” and the Academy Award winner “The Danish Poet”. _ – Glen Gower _ ** Ongoing: Take a Hike! ** Spend some time in the great outdoors during the holidays. Stretch your legs and explore the beauty of nature from the walking and snowshoeing trails in Gatineau Park and Ottawa’s Greenbelt . At Stony Swamp, stop by the Wild Bird Care Centre (noon-3 p.m., weather permitting) and buy some seed to feed the chickadees in the forest. _ – Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _ ** New Year’s Eve, December 31: Mad Hatter’s NYE Ball ** The Mad Hatter’s New Year’s Ball is the place to be in the National Capital this December 31st 2014! Expect a lavish evening of larger than life entertainment, live band, hatter appropriate cirque performances, confetti blasts, spectacular cocktails and food, staff with flare, DJs, dancing and the maddest tea party you could ever imagine. The Mad Hatter’s New Year’s Ball will be sure to knock your socks off. _ (Sponsored) _ _ For more events, check out ottawastart.com/events/ … and have a great week! _