Looking for fun activities in the Ottawa area? Check out these options over the next seven days, starting on Thursday, May 8. Be sure to verify details with the organizers as plans can change at any time.
For fans of festivals, sales and shows…
- Friday, May 9 to Monday, May 19 | Welcome spring at the Canadian Tulip Festival. With some exciting programming and events, this a celebration to not miss! FREE!
- Thursday, May 8 to Tuesday, May 13 | Don’t miss out on a 5-day extravaganza of the finest quality theatre, dance and music for young audiences in our community at the 40th anniversary of the Ottawa Children's Festival held at 1525 Princess Patricia Way.
For your next big find…
- Saturday, May 10 | Meet local farmer-florists who are bringing an array of beautiful blooms from the Ottawa Valley to the Ottawa Flower Market. FREE!
- Saturday, May 10 | Browse the regularly scheduled 613flea marketplace in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne and discover your next favourite local business or vendor. FREE!
- Sunday, May 11 | Explore over 85 local vendors year-round at the Lansdowne Farmers’ Market every Sunday. FREE!
- Sunday, May 11 | Visit York Street in the ByWard Market for a Mother’s Day Market with 30+ vendors offering handmade goods like home decor, jewelry, cider, spices and more! FREE!
For arts, culture and a good time…
- Friday, May 9 | The 2025 summer season for the Rideau Canal tours and Ottawa River tours starts!
- Saturday, May 10 | Cheer on Atletico Ottawa as they take on Valour FC at TD Place.
- Saturday, May 10 | Get ready for The Great Canadian Comedy Caravan! Enjoy a star-studded lineup of top comedians, including Rick Currie, Mike Paterson, Jim McNally, Alastair McAlastair, and Todd Reid, hosted by Matt Watson. At the National Arts Centre.
- Saturday, May 10 to Sunday, May 11 |During NCC Weekend Bikedays, you can bike, walk, run and in-line skate on several car-free parkways in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. FREE!
- Sunday, May 11| Happy Mother’s Day! Ottawa has so many great ways to treat every mom to something special. Here are a few ideas to inspire you to celebrate Mother’s Day all May.
- Sunday, May 11 | Walk or run 1K (for kids under 12) or 5K past hundreds of thousands of blooming tulip beds and the Rideau Canal / Dows Lake and raise funds for the Canadian Tulip Legacy at the Mother’s Day Flower Fun Run.
- Tuesday, May 13 | Make sure to catch an incredible music show from the Chamberfest Concert Series this spring.
- Wednesday, May 14 | The Pow Wow Workout is 45-minute high-intensity exercise program that will incorporate powwow dance steps from different styles of powwow dance and the sounds of contemporary and traditional powwow music into a simple, follow-along workout. At the National Arts Centre. FREE!
