More To Do
I. Family & Kids Activities this Weekend in Ottawa
1. AERO 150
Aero 150 is a once-in-a-lifetime aviation spectacle. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, those beloved and winged ambassadors of Canada, kick off their 2017 show season right here in Gatineau by hosting La Patrouille de France, the world-famous jet aerobatic team of France’s Armée de l’Air. The opportunity to see two of the planet’s top jet aerobatic teams performing on the same day is one not to be missed. Details
The Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport, 1717 Arthur-Fecteau Street, Gatineau
2. kick IT
Four- to ten-year-olds can let loose on the dance floor in the coolest joint in town! Need new moves? Learn the slickest steps from our enthusiastic in-house dance crew, The Flava Factory, Ottawa’s only street dance crew. Details
Centrepointe Theatre, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa
3. YMCA Healthy Kids Day®
YMCA Healthy Kids Day encourages kids and families to stay active, connected and healthy with our annual community-based, FREE family event. We celebrate making fitness fun by introducing kids and families to an array of YMCA programs that teach healthy behaviors and healthy ways to play. Local businesses will also be on hand, offering information on keeping your family healthy and happy. Details
II. Live Music
1. The Best of Steely Dan
Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Boulevard, Ottawa
2. Ilam
ILAM delivers a style of music filled with different musical spices and a great portion of sensitivity. Combining a rhythmic blend of reggae and blues with inclinations of Afro-folk, crossbreeding accents of pop or rock . His voice evokes the depth and power of nomadic people in a mesmerizing and urban atmosphere. Details
NAC Back Stage – National Arts Centre- 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
3. The Writes of Spring
Tim Baker, Amelia Curran, Donovan Woods, Hawksley Workman. The Writes of Spring is a night of music and conversation. Details
NAC Theatre- National Arts Centre-1 Elgin st, Ottawa
4. GigSpace Jazz MicroFest
GigSpace celebrates Ottawa’s stellar jazz community with a three day MicroFest.Enjoy a quiet, intimate venue with great acoustics & seating for forty-five. Details
GigSpace Performance Studio, 953 Gladstone Ave.
Ottawa
5. Ron Sexsmith
Ron Sexsmith’s status as one of the greatest songwriters of his generation has never been in doubt, even from the moment he released his self-titled major-label debut album in 1995. His career arc since then has in some ways been a study in how that pure ability has been handled in the studio. Details
NAC Theatre – National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
6. Show Tune Showdown
Show Tune Showdown™ is a musical theatre performance game show with a unique blend of singing competition, and Name That Tune with loads of Broadway glitz thrown into the mix. Three teams of four singers representing different arts organizations sing a selection of Broadway or off-Broadway show tunes in front of three local celebrity judges. Details
Centrepointe Theatre, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa
7. W.A. Mozart
Under the direction of Maestro Michel Brousseau, invited soloists, the Société Philharmonique du Nouveau Monde choir and orchestra will present Mozart`s masterpiece, The Great Mass in C minor. Details
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, 385 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
8. Ottawa Jazz Orchestra
The Ottawa Jazz Orchestra marks the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation with an all-Canadian program. Featuring a unique 14-piece chamber jazz ensemble performing a special arrangement of Oscar Peterson’s Canadiana Suite arranged by trumpeter Rick Rangno along with tributes to many other Canadian jazz composers and musicians arranged by Rick and bassist Adrian Cho. Details
NAC Back Stage – National Arts Centre – 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
9. Hommage to Schubert
Ruby Jin and Ioulia Blinova perform a piano-in-four hands concert of military marches, dances and the “Grand Dup’ Sonata in D major by Schubert. Details
Glebe St. James United Church, 650 Lyon Street South
Ottawa
10. A Piano Recital By Candlelight
The piano has never sounded as angelic and glorious as it will on that evening! Under the fairy-like fingers of the great Chilean-Canadian pianist Alejandra Cifuentes Diaz, masterpieces, and nothing but masterpieces, will come to life before you … in a church illuminated solely by candles! Imagine the ambiance, the atmosphere! Details
Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper Street, Ottawa
11. Ottawa Youth Orchestra
The Ottawa Youth Orchestra, under the direction of John Gomez, will play Capriccio Espagnol by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Symphony No.2 in B Minor by Alexander Borodin, and music by Edward Elgar, Henri Vieuxtemps and Alexei Lebedev featuring the winners of the OYO Concerto Competition. Come to experience the youthful energy and artistic excellence of one of Canada’s top youth orchestras! Details
St Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, 310 Saint Patrick Street, Ottawa
13. Canada 150′ Spring Concert
Presenting music from across the country, both serious and light-hearted, and featuring the premiere of a brand new arrangement of Ontario’s own “The Black Fly Song” . Reception following concert. By: Ottawa Brahms Choir and Harmonia Choir of Ottawa Details
St. Thomas the Apostle Church
2345 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa
III. Theatre & Performing Arts
1. Compagnie Hervé Koubi
2. 1979
On the eve of his minority government’s defeat in a non-confidence motion, Prime Minister Joe Clark seeks a moment of peace in the privacy of his office … or at least he tries. Enter every political powerhouse of the era to set plans off-course in a fast-paced satire about a fascinating time in Canadian politics. Details
3. The Book of Mormon
The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jon Stewart of The Daily Show calls it “a crowning achievement. So good it makes me angry.” Details
4. Kill Me Now
Incendiary Canadian playwright Brad Fraser (Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love) makes his long-awaited return to the NAC with Kill Me Now, a gritty black comedy leavened with profound humanity. Widower Jake Sturdy cares for his severely disabled teenage son Joey until unexpected news leads to an astonishing role reversal. Devastatingly funny and defiantly unsentimental, Kill Me Now finds hard truths and irreverent laughter in every limb, joint and thought in the hopelessly fragile human body. Details
5. Ottawa Storytellers
Granny Jamieson, born in 1900 into a small, poverty-stricken, coal-mining town outside Glasgow, used her indomitable spirit and overactive imagination to transform her life story into one of daring adventures, romantic entanglements and more than one encounter with the Royal Family. Join Norma as she shares a few incredible stories she heard as a child. Details
6. Outside Mullingar
Tony Award nominee for Best Play. Anthony and Rosemary have spent their entire lives on their adjoining farms in rural Ireland. Anthony’s father, an ailing widower after a piece of disputed turf, threatens to disinherit his childless son and leave his family farm to American cousins. Rosemary’s mother, a tremulous widow is just trying to keep a leash on her fierce daughter. These two eccentric souls will need to overcome bitter familial rivalries and their own stubborn pride, resolve a generations-old land dispute, and fight their way towards solid ground and some kind of future. Their journey is heartbreaking, funny as hell, and ultimately deeply moving. Written by Pulitzer, Oscar, and Tony winner John Patrick Shanley (Doubt, Moonstruck). Details
Ottawa
7. girls!girls!girls!
A gritty drama written in response to the events surrounding the brutal murder of Reena Virk in Victoria, British Columbia and the Columbine Massacre in Colorado, USA. Four young teenagers seek revenge on the winner of a gymnastics competition and go on a hunt to obtain her red ribbon. Details
8. Russell Howard
Russell Howard, one of the UK’s most successful stand-up comedians, returns to North America with a brand new show which promises to deliver more of his trademark blend of upbeat musings and razorsharp wit. Don’t miss the chance to see this unique comedian, star and creator of the award-winning hit BBC TV show, Russell Howard’s Good News. Details
IV. Sports, & Related events
Stars on Ice
Four-time World Champion Kurt Browning, 2014 Olympic Silver Medallist Patrick Chan, and two-time Olympic Silver Medallist Elvis Stojko will headline Canada’s premier figure skating tour in this season’s all-new show. Joining the trio will be more of Canada’s skating superstars including Olympic Bronze medallist Jeffrey Buttle, reigning two-time World Champions Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford, Canadian Champion Kaetlyn Osmond and more! Details
Sunday, April 30, 2017 | 4:00 PM
Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata
$25 to $140
V. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
1. Latin American Film Festival
The event features only contemporary Ottawa premieres, gleaned from the screens of such festivals as Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, and Chicago to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Latin America.
Details
2. The Ottawa International Writers Festival
From politics to poetry, science to music, history to thrillers, we celebrate the full diversity of the word and the gifted writers who guide us in our exploration of the world.Details
3. Inside Track Savings Event
Enjoy informative, exciting seminars on popular home improvement & savings topics: Have fun in a relaxed environment while learning from our manufacturers, Meet factory representatives for a unique opportunity to get expert advice, Get the Inside Track on Supplier Costs for over 1,000,000 products for the home. Details
DirectBuy, Ottawa Design Centre, 1392 Cryville Road
Ottawa
4. Ottawa Guild of Potters Spring Sale
Not only will you find a wide selection of local, handmade pottery but you will also learn how we make it. You will see wheel and hand building demos and talk with our potters about our creative process. We will also have information from several community and private studios who offer classes so you can try your hand at clay. Details
Saturday, April 29, 2017 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, April 30, 2017 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Horticulture Building- Lansdowne Park, 1525 Princess Patricia Way
5. Carleton Memorial United Church Ham Dinner
The dinner is a fundraiser in support of our Carleton Memorial United Church’s general fund. There will be musical entertainment after dinner! A vegetarian option (in place of ham) could be available for the same price when arranged in advance.Details
Carleton Memorial United Church, 740 Melfa Crescent
6. Palooza Beer Pong
The 5th annual Palooza Beer Pong Festival is the world’s largest beer pong Tournament. Palooza is set to break the Guinness World Record for world’s largest beer pong tournament. Teams of two from across Canada will meet in the nation’s capital to compete. Palooza will feature multiple big name DJs, a Celebrity MC, Celebrity judges, 2000 attendees, 1000 beer pong teams and 100+ beer pong tables. The room will be filled with dancers, beer, food, beer pong at a 12-hour party!Details
Aberdeen Pavilion – Lansdowne Park, 1525 Princess Patricia Way
7.Ottawa Motorama
Classic & Custom Car Show! See the best in classic and custom automobiles. Speak to vehicle owners. Learn what is involved in buying and restoring these vehicles. Meet exhibitors who can provide the products and services you need.Details
EY Centre, 4899 Upland Dr.Ottawa.
$ 8 – Ages 7 to 17 (youth)
FREE – 6 and under
8. PoutineFest
Grab a fork and be part of the Poutine Fest! Join us on Sparks Street for 4 fabulous days of Fries, Curds and Gravy! Three blocks of artery clogging goodness! There’ll be trucks from across this great land! The patios will be ready along Sparks Street, the beverages flowing and entertainment including musicians and street performer all day and all night long. Details
Sparks Street from Bank St. to Elgin St., Ottawa
9. Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival
An exploration into the worlds of visual and cinematographic art as the Toronto International Film Festival’s official Ottawa partner for the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival National Tour. Join us for a unique film festival experience, where cinema and conversation unite. Details
National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
10. Chocolate Affair Gala
Help support the Distress Centre by joining us for the 10th Annual Chocolate Affair Gala. The night includes a four course chocolate infused dinner, sweet treats by local chocolatiers, a silent auction, a raffle and more!!Details
Trillium Ballroom, Shaw Centre, Ottawa