Looking for fun activities in the Ottawa area? Check out these options over the next seven days, starting on Thursday, July 2. Be sure to verify details with the organizers as plans can change at any time.
Ongoing | Relive defining moments in our history by discovering monuments across the region that honour our heroes.
Ongoing | Discover Indigenous culture, storytelling, and connection to the land at Mādahòkì Farm this summer. Open to individuals and families, Visitor Experiences offer immersive, hands-on activities designed to inspire learning, reflection, and fun for all ages.
Ongoing | This summer, The Glebe BIA invites you to explore the neighbourhood one meal at a time with their Wine & Dine the Glebe passport challenge. Pick up a passport at any participating restaurant and start collecting your stamps. Visit five of the seven restaurants and you’ll be entered to win the grand prize of over $1,000 in local dining! The challenge runs all summer long.
For festivals, performances and city-wide events…
- Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5 | Celebrate Ottawa River Paddlefest, a dynamic outdoor festival that brings together paddling, community, and nature around the Ottawa River.
- Saturday, July 4 | Celebrate the Japanese community this summer at Natsu Matsuri, the Summer Festival at the Sandy Hill Community Centre. FREE!
- Saturday, July 4 | Celebrate summer at the Eddy Street Festival—a lively, family-friendly event in the heart of Vieux-Hull. FREE!
- Until Saturday, July 4 | Don’t miss the Gatineau Comedy Festival, featuring comedians such as Laurent Paquin, Les Grandes Crues, Patrick Groulx, Mehdi Bousaidan and more. Presented in French.
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 2 |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!
- Sunday, July 5 | The Heart of Orléans Market is a vibrant local marketplace celebrating community, culture, and creativity in the heart of Orléans. FREE!
For sports fans…
- Ongoing | Join fellow sports fans and catch professional baseball games from the Ottawa Titans at the Ottawa Stadium.
- Friday, July 3 | Join the roaring crowds at TD Place Stadium at Lansdowne as the Ottawa REDBLACKS battle for a chance at the Grey Cup.
- Saturday, July 4 | Catch the action at TD Place and cheer on Atlético Ottawa.
- Sunday, July 5 | Cheer on the Ottawa Rapid FC, Ottawa’s women’s soccer team at TD Place.
- Wednesday, July 8 | Show your support for the Ottawa BlackJacks at TD Place.
For arts, culture and a good time…
- Ongoing |Step into a prehistoric adventure at Jurassic Kingdom, an immersive outdoor dinosaur experience set among natural park landscapes. Held at Wesley Clover Parks.
- Starting Wednesday, July 1 | See soldiers in scarlet uniforms and bearskin hats perform precise drills to military music during the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill. FREE!
- Thursday, July 2 | 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!
- 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!
- Friday, July 3 | Experience the sound of one of Canada’s most iconic rock bands, Our Lady Peace with a live performance that showcases decades of music and influence at the Hard Rock Ottawa Hotel & Casino.
- Saturday, July 4 | Spend your Saturday evening on the beach with volleyball, an intro salsa lesson, and dancing at Beach Volley & Salsa at Britannia Beach. FREE!
- Saturday, July 4 | 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 4 | Vibrant sound sculptures invite visitors of all ages to explore music through play, experimentation, and shared expression at Dome-ocracy at the Canadensis Garden.
- Saturday, July 4 | Vibrant Experience a lively country-themed celebration on the water, where music, dancing, and summer vibes come together along the Ottawa River at the Ottawa Country Hoedown & Boatcruise.
- Until Sunday, July 5 | 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 5 | Start the day with a peaceful wellness experience on the water, combining yoga, meditation, and the calm of a sunrise setting aboard Ottawa Boat Cruise
- Sunday, July 5 | Explore the origins of Ottawa through a guided walking tour that brings the history of Bytown to life, starting from the National Gallery of Canada.
- Tuesday, July 7 | Enjoy a refreshing outdoor fitness experience with a series of mat Pilates sessions set against the iconic backdrop of Parliament Hill. FREE!
- Wednesday, July 8 | Explore downtown Ottawa through an Indigenous walking tour led by artist and educator Jaime Morse. FREE!
