Looking for fun activities in the Ottawa area? Check out these options over the next seven days, starting on Thursday, July 9. Be sure to verify details with the organizers as plans can change at any time.
Friday, July 10 | Don’t miss Ottawa’s Champagne & Sunset Cruise — cruise the Rideau Canal from 8–11 PM with a complimentary glass of bubbles, live jazz by Entropy Entertainment, golden-hour views, and a fully licensed bar on board. Tickets start at $54. 🥂
For festivals, performances and city-wide events…
- Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 19 | Don’t miss Bluesfest, one of the world’s top 10 outdoor music festivals with over 200 acts at LeBreton Flats.
- Saturday, July 11 | Celebrate Ghanaian culture at Ghanafest, a vibrant outdoor event filled with music, food, and lively performances held at 100 Brewer Way Park. FREE!
- Starting Wednesday, July 15 | Experience the vibrant flavours and rich culture of Lebanon at the Ottawa Lebanese Festival! Held at Saint Elias Centre. FREE entry before 5:00pm.
For marketgoers in search of finds…
- Various dates throughout the week | Find the best fresh produce, baked goods, crafts, hot meals and more from friendly producers in different neighbourhoods at the Ottawa Farmers’ Market at Lansdowne, Main Street, Westboro, Barrhaven and Orléans! FREE!
- Thursday, July 9 |Stroll through the Hintonburg Night Market to pick up local eats, treats and all things handmade. Sit back, relax, eat and be entertained by local musicians, buskers and entertainers. FREE!
For arts, culture and a good time…
- Ongoing | Join fellow sports fans and catch professional baseball games from the Ottawa Titans at the Ottawa Stadium.
- Ongoing | Discover Ottawa's best wineries, breweries, and cideries with the Ottawa Tasting Passport. Enjoy six tasting experiences and support local beverage producers.
- Ongoing | See soldiers in scarlet uniforms and bearskin hats perform precise drills to military music during the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill. FREE!
- Wednesdays | Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just starting out, everyone is warmly welcome at City Hall Salsa. FREE!
- Thursdays and Fridays| Laurier House National Historic Site and Working Title Kitchen invite you to enjoy decadent pastries, delightful desserts, and high tea on the veranda of this historic home.
- Thursdays through Saturdays |Experience the energy of summer at Metcalfe Plaza, a vibrant downtown gathering place filled with art, music, and cultural programming. FREE!
- Thursdays | Enjoy outdoor movie nights in the South Court every Thursday at sunset. Bring your own chair or grab a seat onsite at Lansdowne Park Movie Nights. FREE!
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays | Spend your sunsets with us as inspirational artists share their musical visions of culture, identity and tradition at the Wood Terrace Series. FREE!
- Thursday, July 9 | Enjoy complimentary evening admission to the Canadian Museum of Nature and explore fascinating galleries featuring dinosaur fossils, Arctic ecosystems, Canadian wildlife, minerals, and more. FREE!
- Thursday, July 9 | See Ottawa from the water with a collection of specialty cruises that pair scenic views with festive and memorable experiences with Ottawa Boat Cruise.
- Friday, July 10 | Dance to live DJ sets, float under the stars, join the foam party, and catch a spectacular drone light show over the water at Night Waves held at Calypso Park. Ages 21+.
- Saturday, July 11 | Enjoy storytelling, participatory art, and interactive activities reflecting Ottawa’s growth from 1826 to 2026 at Visionary Voices – Bytown to Now: Ottawa’s Voices Community Celebration. FREE!
- Saturday, July 11; Wednesday, July 15 | Hop on a historic bus tour through the streets of Ottawa and uncover the vibrant tapestry of Black history in the capital and across Canada. Starting at the YMCA.
- Saturday, July 11 | Explore downtown Ottawa through an Indigenous walking tour led by artist and educator Jaime Morse. FREE!
- Until Sunday, July 12 | Step into a prehistoric adventure at Jurassic Kingdom, an immersive outdoor dinosaur experience set among natural park landscapes. Held at Wesley Clover Parks.
- Sunday, July 12 | Show your support for the Ottawa BlackJacks at TD Place.
- Until Sunday, July 12 | Experience two weeks of top-tier show jumping competition offering unforgettable moments for horse lovers, families, and adventure seekers at the RBC Summer Tournaments at Wesley Clover Parks.
- Sunday, July 12 | Chat with car owners and see partially restored, restored, and un-restored vehicles from before 1940 at the Vintage Vehicle Experience at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum.
- Tuesday, July 14 | Cirquonscient returns to Strathcona Park with evening Faerie Pop-up picnics featuring circus arts and aerial acrobatics. FREE!
- Tuesday, July 14 | BIM (Benin International Musical) brings together five musician‑vocalists who share stories of the African continent and its histories through a powerful blend of sound and storytelling, at the National Arts Centre.
