Looking for fun activities in the Ottawa area? Check out these options over the next seven days, starting on Thursday, April 30. Be sure to verify details with the organizers as plans can change at any time.
NEW! | Enjoy a unique dining experience in Parc Omega’s new immersive restaurant Omegabon, where you can dine up close to arctic foxes and bears in a carefully landscaped natural environment.
For sports fans…
- Saturday, May 2| Cheer on the Ottawa Rapid FC, Ottawa’s professional women’s soccer team at TD Place.
- Tuesday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 6 | Join fellow sports fans and catch professional baseball games with the Ottawa Titans at the Ottawa Stadium.
For fans of festivals and expos…
- Sundays | Explore over 85 local vendors year-round at the Lansdowne Farmers’ Market. FREE!
- Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3 | Check out the Ottawa PoutineFest and Mac My Cheese where more than 30 poutine vendors take over Ottawa and offer up their take on Canada’s dish. Get your curd on! FREE!
- Friday, May 1 to Monday, May 4 | Attend the celebration of the finest new and established writing from across Canada and around the world at the Ottawa International Writers Festival.
- Saturday, May 2 to Sunday, May 3 |Check out ORAPEX, Ottawa’s national stamp show, with 40 stamp dealers and many philatelic exhibits. At Nepean Sportsplex. FREE!
- Saturday, May 2 to Sunday, May 3 |Celebrate one of Canada’s most iconic treats at the Canadian Buttertart Festival & Competition. FREE!
- Sunday, May 3 | Discover the art of clay at the Ottawa Clay Festival. Explore stunning handcrafted ceramics, shop for unique pottery, and meet local artisans. At Horticulture Building at Lansdowne. FREE!
- Tuesday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 6 | The MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival features an award-winning lineup of Canadian authors and illustrators.
- Wednesday, May 6 | Celebrate Ottawa’s bicentennial with The Literary Feast 2026, a unique cultural and culinary gathering that blends food, wine, and literature.
For culture and a good time…
- Fridays and Saturdays | Dance the night away at Club Aléa in the Casino du Lac-Leamy with its lineup of talented DJs!
- Friday, May 1 | Experience an intimate live performance from acclaimed singer-songwriter Leith Ross on the I Can See the Future Tour, held at the Bronson Centre.
- Friday, May 1 | Make sure to catch an incredible music show from the Chamberfest Concert Series. Held at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre.
- Friday, May 1 | Comedian Zarna Garg brings her acclaimed stand-up show Million Dollar Excuses to Ottawa. At Algonquin Commons Theatre
- Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3 | Check out Jane’s Walk, a coordinated series of neighbourhood walking tours given by locals who care passionately about where they live, work, and play. FREE!
- Sunday, May 3 | Celebrate Friday, May 1 to Saturday, May 2 | Dive into the beloved story of a mermaid who dreams of life above the sea in this family-friendly ballet adaptation of The Little Mermaid. At Meridian Theatres.
- Saturday, May 2 | 613flea is an ever-evolving marketplace that brings together Ottawa’s creative and sustainable communities. Held in the historic Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park. FREE!
- Saturday, May 2 | Enjoy an evening inspired by the romance of Italy with this immersive couples’ art and dining experience at Nonna's Emporio Locale.
- Saturday, May 2 | Wanderlust is a fully improvised theatre experience following two friends on an unpredictable road trip across Canada. At Arts Court.
- Sunday, May 3 | Cycle along fully supported, traffic-free urban routes (15K, 35K and 70K) and enjoy Ottawa’s scenic beauty and top landmarks while raising money for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
- Sunday, May 3 | Mexican heritage at the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in ByWard Market! Dance to live music, savor mouthwatering cuisine, and admire vibrant folkloric art beneath dazzling “papel picado.” FREE!
