Ottawa-area residents are embracing one of the quirkiest home decor trends in recent memory: the porch goose. Carlos Card, owner of Chaiya Home & Garden Decor in Merrickville — a charming village just over an hour south of Ottawa — says demand for the vintage lawn ornament has completely taken off, prompting him to order a shipment of 800 goose outfits to keep up.
The Goose Is Loose
For the uninitiated, porch geese are concrete or plastic goose statues typically displayed near the front door of a home. The real fun comes from dressing them up in seasonal outfits — think tiny raincoats, holiday sweaters, graduation gowns, and Canada Day gear. The trend originally peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, then quietly faded from the cultural landscape for a few decades.
Now they're back, and Eastern Ontario is all in.
Card says customers have been snapping up both the geese themselves and the little costumes at a pace he's never seen before. The shop, which carries a wide range of garden ornaments, seasonal décor, and home accessories, became something of a destination for goose enthusiasts almost overnight.
Why Now?
Like so many retro revivals, the porch goose renaissance seems to be fuelled in part by social media. Photos of elaborately dressed lawn geese have spread across Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, inspiring homeowners to track down their own feathered sentinels. There's also a certain warmth to the tradition — neighbours notice, visitors smile, and it's a low-stakes way to add some personality to your front step.
For a region like the Ottawa Valley and Eastern Ontario, where community spirit runs deep and front-porch culture is very much alive, the porch goose fits right in.
A Day Trip Worth Making
Merrickville itself is well worth a visit for Ottawa residents. The UNESCO-designated heritage village sits along the Rideau Canal — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and is packed with independent boutiques, antique shops, studios, and cafés. It's a popular day-trip destination, especially in summer, and Chaiya Home & Garden Decor is a well-known stop for anyone hunting unique finds.
If you're thinking of picking up a porch goose (or twelve outfits for the one you already have), now's the time. Card's shipment of 800 goose costumes sounds like a lot — but at the rate they've been selling, don't count on them lasting the season.
How to Visit
Chaiya Home & Garden Decor is located in Merrickville, Ontario, approximately 70 kilometres south of Ottawa. The village is easily accessible via Highway 43. Summer weekends tend to draw larger crowds, so an early arrival is recommended if you're combining the goose hunt with a full day of exploring Merrickville's shops and waterfront.
Source: CBC Ottawa
