Looking for fun activities in the Ottawa area? Check out these options over the next seven days, starting on Thursday, August 20. Be sure to verify details with the organizers as plans can change at any time.
NEW | Experience Wild Colour, a limited-time exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Nature! Explore the science of colour in nature through nearly 200 specimens, colourful spaces and hands-on fun for all ages. Kids 17 and under visit free this summer.
ONGOING | Connect with the land and animals at Mādahòkì Farm. Meet the rare Ojibwe Spirit Horses, Canada’s only Indigenous horse breed, through the Trail of the Spirit Horse, guided encounters and Mishtadim Equine Assisted Learning.
For Capital Pride…
- Saturday, August 29 | Celebrate Capital Pride weekend with Lez Go at a lively evening of billiards, connection and community in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Held at Dooly’s.
- Saturday, August 29 | Celebrate Ottawa Capital Pride Weekend aboard HOTT DECK, a unique daytime dance event that transforms a two-level paddle boat into an open-air venue on the Ottawa River.
- Saturday, August 29 | Celebrate Capital Pride with Intersection: Ottawa Pride Edition, a vibrant dance party where Afro, Latin and Middle Eastern sounds come together in an energetic and inclusive atmosphere. At the 27 Club.
- Saturday, August 29 |Celebrate the independence of El Salvador with Salvadoran Festival of La Pupusa, art, culture, and sport. Family-friendly.
- Sunday, August 30 | Celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community at the annual Pride Parade in downtown Ottawa.
- Until Monday, August 31 | Join in diverse celebrations of Ottawa's 2SLGBTQ+ community in parks, streets, clubs and other sites across the city for Capital Pride.
For festivals and city-wide events…
- Ongoing from Thursday, August 27 | Experience SoundScape, a month-long celebration of music, art and creativity set beneath Ottawa’s historic Plaza Bridge.
- Friday, August 28 | Don’t miss Broncs & ‘Tonks, Ottawa's premier rodeo and country music event featuring bull riding, bronc riding, Dean Brody and The Reklaws at Ottawa Stadium.
- Saturday, August 29 to Sunday, August 30 | Experience the world through food, culture and community at the Taste of Ottawa two-day festival celebrating the diverse traditions that make Ottawa unique.
- Until Monday, August 31 | Celebrate Ottawa’s history through a large-scale outdoor experience that transforms farmland into interactive landscape art, the Corn Maze Festival held at Saunders Farm.
- Starting Wednesday, September 2 | Every year in late summer, FMG brings the Ottawa-Gatineau region to life with an electrifying music lineup, performances for all ages, fireworks, and an amusement park.
For fans of performances…
- Fridays and Saturdays | Enjoy live entertainment at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa. FREE!
- Thursday, August 27 | Feel the rhythm of Latin music every Thursday at an energetic dance night filled with vibrant beats and a lively atmosphere at Casino du Lac-Leamy.
- Friday, August 28 |Enjoy summer evenings filled with live music at Orléans Unplugged, an outdoor concert series showcasing local talent in the heart of the community. FREE!
- Saturday, August 29 | Experience Evenings at Zibi, a vibrant waterfront series that brings together food, art, music, and interactive programming in a scenic riverside setting.
- Starting Tuesday, September 1 | Set sail on a wildly hilarious theatrical adventure with Titanique, a musical comedy that reimagines the legendary love story of Titanic through the unforgettable music of Céline Dion. Held at the Casino Lac-Leamy.
For arts, culture and a good time…
- 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!
- Various dates throughout the week | Discover local produce, artisanal products and more at Beechwood Market, Elgin Market, Metcalfe, and Nepean. FREE!
- Thursdays through Saturdays | Experience the energy of summer at Metcalfe Plaza, a vibrant downtown gathering place filled with art, music, and cultural programming. FREE!
- Thursday, August 27 | See Ottawa from the water with a collection of specialty cruises that pair scenic views with festive and memorable experiences with Ottawa Boat Cruise.
- Thursday, August 27 to Saturday, August 29 | The Chef’s Table is an exclusive farm-to-table dining experience featuring curated menus from top Canadian chefs, presented alongside live music on the elegant patio of the National Arts Centre’s 1 Elgin Restaurant.
- Friday, August 28 | Open to all levels: public yoga classes on the lawn under the moonlight. FREE!
- Friday, August 28 | Catch the action at Atlético Ottawa at TD Place, where the crowd roars and every goal fuels the city’s soccer fever.
- Saturday, August 29 | Explore Indigenous knowledge and creative expression through a Forest Teaching workshop inspired by the teachings of Algonquin Elder Albert Dumont.
- Saturday, August 29 ; Wednesday, September 2| 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, August 29 to Sunday, August 30| This Archaeology Month, take part in public archaeological digs in Leamy Lake Park and Phillippe Lake. FREE!
- Sunday, August 30 | Join the roaring crowds at TD Place Stadium at Lansdowne as Ottawa’s REDBLACKS battle for a chance at the Grey Cup.
- Starting Wednesday, September 2 | Savour an extraordinary culinary experience at Nordik Spa Village Chelsea’s Chef’s Table, an intimate evening that brings together exceptional cuisine, local ingredients and warm hospitality in a stunning natural setting.
- Wednesday, September 2 | Ottawa’s iconic summer lunchtime activity returns. Join local yoga instructors for a one-hour outdoor yoga on the lawn of Parliament Hill. FREE!
