Things to Do to Celebrate 2025 Father’s Day Weekend in Ottawa

Celebrate this special day with Dad: gift him a memorable weekend of togetherness and enjoy some of the events taking place in and around Ottawa.

For more ideas:

Things to Do this weekend in Ottawa

I. Father’s Day Brunch/Dinner/BBQ

Plenty of restaurants around Ottawa are offering dine-in services along with takeout and delivery options, some specifically crafting a Father’s Day menu for the special day. See the list for a selection of restaurants ranging from classic steaks, hearty comfort food, to amazing, unique brunch options to celebrate Father’s Day at home with quality dine-in food.
Or head out to a sunny patio in Ottawa to enjoy the beautiful weather and some amazing food and drink.
Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show features over 70 songs from all-Canadian artists including music from Paul Anka, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, the Bare Naked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber and many, MANY more. While you’re enjoying the show, our performers serve our famous, all-Canadian meal. Take Dad to enjoy a dinner served by a singing Mountie?
Afternoon Tea in the Dining Car at Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario: Enjoy finely cut sandwiches together with freshly baked scones served with fresh cream and strawberry preserve, followed by a delectable selection of afternoon teacakes and pastries.

II. Shop For Last Minute Gifts

OHS Auxiliary Garage Sale: This Father’s Day weekend, support a great cause at the Cityview/Ryan Farm Community Sale! The OHS Auxiliary is hosting a garage sale to raise funds for Ottawa Humane Society animals—shop for treasures and help furry friends in need!
June Breeze Market: Celebrate Father’s Day at the Shenkman Arts Centre Outdoor Market! Enjoy a fun-filled day with over 30 local vendors, free entry and parking.
Kanata North Book Fair: Dive into Canadian stories at Fresh Blue Ink—an afternoon celebrating local literature! Browse unique titles across genres, including hard-to-find gems, all at great prices.
Britannia Village Community Art Crawl: Stroll through historic Britannia Village and enjoy a one-day arts crawl featuring local artists, musicians, and makers.

III. Family Fun

Cirque de Paris: This Father’s Day, step into the magic of Cirque de Paris, presented by Europe’s famed Bouglione family! Enjoy a 90-minute spectacle of aerialists, clowns, and jugglers—plus an interactive pre-show, fun activities, and treats for the whole family!
PBR: Canada Cup Series: Experience the adrenaline of the PBR Ottawa Classic! For one night only, watch Canada’s top bull riders battle fierce 1,800-pound bulls in an action-packed showdown—part of PBR Canada’s record-breaking Cup Series tour.
Father’s Day at Upper Canada Village: Treat Dad to Father’s Day at the Village! One of the largest living-history museums in Canada, Upper Canada Village invites guests to step back in time to 1866 and experience 19th-century rural village life.
Museum Fun Day at Nepean Museum: Families are invited to explore their community’s history through creativity and play in the museum’s MakerStudio and beyond. From bubble-making and chalk art to a scavenger hunt and vintage board games, we’re ready to celebrate all the museum has to offer. Stay tuned for a full line-up of activities.
European Union Cultural Fair: Enjoy live music, dance, food tastings, and interactive workshops at the Canadian Museum of History. Explore the richness of European culture with the whole family in a stunning riverside setting!
In Time – Father’s Day Challenge: This Father’s Day, race against time in a 60-minute interactive adventure at the museum! Join Live History for a thrilling mix of escape room fun and live theatre as you uncover secrets, solve clues, and rewrite history—together with Dad!

IV. Go Fishing for Free

Go fishing with Dad for free! OFFE is a province-wide opportunity for Canadian residents to fish Ontario licence-free.

V. Take-In Festival with Dad!

Orléans Pickleball Festival and Family Fun Fest: Enjoy tournaments, beginner workshops, games, and vendors. Meanwhile, kids will love inflatables, balloon art, face painting, and more. Grab a bite from food trucks and enjoy a fun-filled day at Pierre Rocque Park!
Italian Festival (Father’s Day Italian Picnic): This Father’s Day, start a new tradition at Ev Tremblay Park with a family-style Italian picnic! Enjoy live music, lawn games, and delicious food—bring your own, grab takeout from Little Italy, or order a curated picnic box from Di Rienzo’s.
Fiesta Cubana Fest: Celebrate Father’s Day weekend with Cuban flair at this vibrant two-day Salsa Festival! Enjoy live Latin bands, dance workshops (no experience needed!), Cuban art, delicious food, and cocktails—all in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. A cultural experience everyone will love!

Ottawa Fringe Festival: Celebrate diversity, creativity and innovation at the Ottawa Fringe Festival. With a mind-blowing lineup of 58 shows and over 350 performances, this year’s festival is set to be a psychedelic extravaganza.
Festival Franco-Ontarien: Experience the largest francophone celebration in Ottawa at the Festival Franco-Ontarien. Enjoy concerts, street art, and entertainment showcasing Franco Ontarian culture. With unique shows, evening programming, exhibitors, food, and a cultural route, this festival offers an unforgettable experience for all.

VI. Or a Car Show

Antique Car Show: Spend Father’s Day exploring antique cars at the nearly 200-year-old Billings Estate National Historic Site. Perfect for any car fanatic, the show will feature a variety of antique cars and their owners who will be available to chat and tell stories about their cars.
Father’s Day Market & York Street Car Show: Explore classic and custom cars, shop handcrafted goods, and enjoy great food and family fun in a lively, community-focused atmosphere—perfect for a memorable day with Dad!

VII. Take a Train Ride

Take a train ride in our vintage caboose, then explore a unique display of historical WWII military vehicles from the Swords & Ploughshares Museum, along with vintage and collector cars from local Antique & Classic Car Clubs. Take a look at some vintage cars and then go for a wagon ride behind an antique Massey Ferguson tractor. Enjoy the museum exhibits and grounds with coffee and donuts available for purchase! And don’t miss our gift shop with many gift ideas for Dad.

VIII. Cheer Ottawa’s Home Teams

Ottawa Titans Baseball Club: Treat Dad to an unforgettable afternoon with the Ottawa Titans Baseball Club! Relive those ballpark memories and enjoy a fun game day together. Presented by Beyond the Pale Brewing Co.—it’s the perfect way to say thanks, Dad!
Atlético Ottawa: Celebrate Father’s Day Weekend by taking Dad to see Atlético Ottawa in action. Watch them compete against Valour FC in the Canadian Premier League. @ The Stadium at TD Place, on June 15
Ottawa BlackJacks: Watch Ottawa BlackJacks compete against the Niagara River Lions in the Canadian Elite Basketball Association. @ The Arena at TD Place on June 15
Ottawa Rapid FC: Cheer on Ottawa Rapid FC in their inaugural season of the new Canadian women’s pro league—the Northern Super League!
Ottawa REDBLACKS: Kick off the home season under the lights at TD Place. Enjoy $6 pre-game drinks, rally the crew, and bring the energy—because REDBLACKS football starts now, and it starts loud! June 13.

IX. Enjoy Live Theatre & Live Concerts

Attend these shows and have a lighthearted evening with Dad:

Osgoode PorchFest: Celebrate Father’s Day weekend at Osgoode Porchfest! Enjoy live music, dance, over 60 performers, a family block party, Food Truck Alley, beer garden, artisan market, and the Osgoode Car Show—fun for the whole family, all weekend long!
37 Postcards: This Father’s Day, enjoy a night of laughs with “The House of Blue Leaves”—a quirky comedy by Michael McKeever. Follow Avery Sutton as he returns home to a hilariously off-kilter family full of wild surprises. Directed by Riley Stewart, this heartwarming chaos is perfect for a fun, unforgettable evening!
Star Trek vs Star Wars: Experience a cosmic concert as the Ottawa Pops Orchestra presents Star Wars vs Star Trek! Enjoy iconic scores and the world premiere of Child of the Stars—an epic musical showdown perfect for sci-fi loving dads and families!

X. See Ottawa From Up Above

Enjoy the views of Parliament and downtown Ottawa from above with Dad on Ottawa BiPlane Adventures! Strap on your aviator’s cap and goggles and get a bird’s eye view of Parliament Hill and downtown Ottawa, or travel back in time as you soar serenely aloft the Gatineau River, viewing historic Gatineau Park, the Chelsea River dams, and the original river-logging route that helped found the City of Ottawa.

XI. Go on an Orchid Day Trip

Take Dad to Purdon Conservation Area! Each spring, some 16,000- 18,000 Orchids blossom, inviting guests to explore this unique wetland, native to the large Showy Lady Slipper Orchids. A site of such size is rare to come by in Canada, and it is regarded as the largest in the country. So, it’s a must-see for any nature lover!

XII. Go Hiking or Visit Nature Areas

There are numerous opportunities throughout Ottawa to enjoy nature.

Late Spring is a great time to explore Ottawa’s gardens. Enjoy a stroll outdoors with Dad.

Enjoy a leisurely walk with the family at any of these locations:

25 of the Best Hikes in and Around Ottawa

20 Family Hikes and Walks in and Around Ottawa

100 Adventures in Ontario Provincial Parks

15+ Waterfalls to Visit in and Around Ottawa

25 Must Visit Nature Attractions and Nature Hotspots in and Around Ottawa

25 Places to Go Backcountry Camping in Ontario

XIII. Go on a Family Ghost Walk

Ottawa Ghost Walks offers ghost tours for small groups.

Listen to the most chilling ghost stories from the area and be led by lantern light to some of the spookiest haunted spots, including the Bytown Museum, the Fairmont Château Laurier, and Ottawa’s haunted high school. You’ll never look at the city and these buildings the same again! A tried and true favourite for all ages by Ottawa Ghost Walks.

XIV. Enjoy Ottawa Waters

Enjoy canoeing & kayaking in ponds, lakes & rivers as Ontario Marinas, boat clubs, and public boat launches are open for recreational use.

Go paddling at Ottawa waterways, including Rideau Canal, Rideau River and the Ottawa River. Dows Lake Marina is open for rentals, including canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and paddleboats.

Rent a boat and explore the Rideau Canal.

Pirate Life Ottawa: Have little ones at home? Go on a boat trip with the whole family. Pirate’s Life provides an interactive ‘pirate life’ theatrical experience with a boat cruise in a look-alike pirate ship.