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:
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.
- Father’s Day Brunch Cruise: A scenic brunch cruise gives Father’s Day a calm waterside glow, pairing family time with sweeping views and an easygoing onboard meal. Dad can relax, take in the panorama and enjoy a gentle escape where conversation, comfort and open-air beauty turn brunch into a memorable celebration on the water together. @ Hull Marina, 160 Laurier Street, Gatineau
- 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?
II. Shop For Last Minute Gifts
- Father’s Day shopping gets more fun at 613flea, where Lansdowne Park’s Aberdeen Pavilion becomes a lively treasure hunt with 140 vendors. Browse handmade gifts, baked treats, vintage clothing, antiques, vinyl, comics and food while finding something personal for Dad from Ottawa makers, collectors and creative small businesses.
- Turn Father’s Day shopping into an evening browse at Urban Art Collective’s summer night market, where local vendors, handmade goods and seasonal treats create a relaxed way to find gifts, meet makers and enjoy a community atmosphere with Dad or while picking up something special for him to enjoy later.
III. Family Fun
- Tractor Jam: Father’s Day can roll into the countryside at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, where Tractor Jam brings tractor pulls, touch-a-truck fun, antique machines, show vehicles, food and community spirit together. Hosted with the Carleton County Junior Farmers, the event also supports Carefor Hospice Cornwall in Randy Woods’ memory.
- 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.
- Kinburn Celebrates 200 Years of Bytown: Kinburn’s Bytown bicentennial celebration gives Father’s Day weekend a small-town summer feel, with antique vehicles, live music, bouncy castles, face painting, exotic animals, food trucks, local vendors, beer gardens and fireworks. Families can explore history with the Fitzroy Township Historical Society while enjoying a lively community gathering together in Kinburn style. June 20 @ Kinburn Community Centre, 3045 Kinburn Side Road, Ottawa
- Hunt Club Park Community Association Summer Festival: For families celebrating Dad, Hunt Club Park’s Summer Festival pairs neighbourhood fun with Ottawa 200 spirit. Horse-drawn wagon rides, reptiles, mermaids, a bouncy castle, face painting, wading-pool play, pathway safety tips, library history, karate demos, games and Scout-served treats create a cheerful community day full of kid-friendly discoveries. June 20 @ Elizabeth Manley Park, 1261 Blohm Drive, Ottawa
- Stittsville Multicultural Festival: Celebrate local diversity through performers, exhibitors, food vendors and organizations. Families can explore cultures, meet neighbours, collect passport stamps for prizes and enjoy activities for all ages, making it a warm outing for Dad and anyone who loves connection together. June 20 @ Village Square Park, 6000 Abbott Street, Ottawa
IV. Take a Cocktail Class Together
- White Lotus Society Cocktail Class – Dad can sip his way through a White Lotus-inspired cocktail class blending travel, flavour and playful mystery. Guests craft drinks rooted in Hawaii, Italy and Thailand, enjoy light bites from Chef Paul Knights, pick up mixology tips with Matt Kyazze, and collect rewards while intrigue bubbles beneath the surface. June 20 & 27 @ SFR Distillery, 767 Silver Seven Rd Unit 23
V. Take-In Festival with Dad!
- Ottawa Jazz Festival: For dads who love live music, Ottawa Jazz Festival offers a soulful Father’s Day outing filled with jazz, blues, soul and experimental sounds. From The Soul Rebels and Bob James to Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, Dálava, Leenalchi and more, the festival blends global talent with Ottawa’s cherished summer energy and vibrant atmosphere.
- Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival: Celebrate Dad through culture, movement and community at the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, where performances, pow wow traditions, drone show Indigenous foods and hands-on activities create a memorable family outing. Browse the marketplace, meet Ojibwe Spirit Horses, try workshops, axe throwing and Inuit Games, and experience stories shared across generations.
- Italian Festival: Celebrate Father’s Day with Italian flavour as Italian Week’s grand finale brings food, entertainment, art, culture and community together. Families can explore the Lambretta and Vespa Community Activation Village, discover Italian scooter culture, enjoy hands-on activities and visit the expanded Kids Zone for a lively day out.
- 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.
- Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival: For Father’s Day, bring Dad to the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, where Challenge Cup races, cheering crowds and waterfront flavours come together. Enjoy BeaverTails, frozen Quenchers, halloumi bites and beachside picnic moments while teams paddle with energy, friendship and community pride across the lively shoreline nearby.
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!
- FCA Ottawa Ferrari Festival: For car-loving dads, Ottawa’s Italian Car Parade and Ferrari Festival brings Preston Street alive with rare Ferraris, exotic Italian marques, static displays and engine roar. Families can explore Corso Italia, watch cars in motion, enjoy dining nearby and chase a charity dream ride that adds meaning to the celebration together.
VII. Take a Train Ride
Take a train ride in a 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. June 21 @ Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario
VIII. Go Fishing for Free
Go fishing with Dad for free! OFFE is a province-wide opportunity for Canadian residents to fish in Ontario licence-free.
IX. 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.
- Ottawa BlackJacks: Make Father’s Day a courtside thrill with the Ottawa BlackJacks as they face the Saskatoon Mamba in Canadian Elite Basketball League action. Fast-paced plays, home-court energy and loud fan moments create an exciting outing for dads who love basketball, competition and the rush of live sports. @ The Stadium at TD Place, on June 21
- Ottawa Rapid FC: Bring Dad into the home-crowd excitement as Ottawa Rapid FC faces AFC Toronto in Northern Super League action. @ The Stadium at TD Place, on June 21
- Ottawa REDBLACKS: Whiteout brings Father’s Day energy to TD Place with rivalry football, rally towels and roaring crowd moments. Wear white, join the pre-game party on Exhibition and settle in for a game-day rush of noise, pride and hometown spirit against the Toronto Argonauts in action. June 20 @ The Stadium at TD Place
X. Enjoy Live Theatre & Live Concerts
Attend these shows and have a lighthearted evening with Dad:
- Candlelight Concerts: Give Father’s Day a glowing soundtrack with Candlelight concerts at Knox Church, where familiar hits are reimagined in a warm, candlelit setting. Tributes to Phil Collins, Fleetwood Mac, Céline Dion, TOOL, The Beatles and ABBA offer dads and families a memorable mix of nostalgia, atmosphere and shared live music together.
- Pressure: At Ottawa Little Theatre, Father’s Day can take a gripping turn with this WWII thriller about leadership, weather and impossible choices before D-Day. Conflicting forecasts force Eisenhower to weigh risk, responsibility and human cost, creating a tense stage experience for dads drawn to history, strategy and real-life drama onstage.
- Rock Of Ages: Turn Dad’s outing up loud with Rock of Ages at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, where 1980s Sunset Strip dreams roar through big vocals, guitars and arena anthems. Sherrie and Drew chase fame and love in a high-energy musical packed with Styx, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, Poison and more nostalgic fun.
- Legends: For a grown-up Father’s Day night out, Legends brings Ottawa cabaret into a world of myth, folklore and storytelling. Aerials, pole dance, burlesque and dance explore legends from across cultures, blending movement, theatre and allure into a bold stage experience that lifts familiar tales into thrilling new territory for Dad.
- Sinatra symphonique : Marc Hervieux: Give Father’s Day a Manhattan glow with Sinatra symphonique, where Marc Hervieux, Mia Tinayre, Sam Champagne and the FILMharmonique Orchestra revive classics like “My Way” and “New York, New York.” Brass, strings and swing create a polished orchestral tribute for dads who love timeless crooner elegance and stylish night out. June 20 | 3:00 PM @Theatre du Casino du Lac-Leamy
- Michael Blaustein: Laughter can lead the Father’s Day plans with Michael Blaustein, whose viral standup clips and Stiff Socks podcast following have made him a fast-rising comedy name. His Taste Me Tour brings sharp stories, quick crowd energy and one last chance to catch this set live with Dad for a fun night out. June 20 @NAC
XI. 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.
XII. 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!
XIII. Go Hiking or Visit Nature Areas
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:
XIV. 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.
XV. 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.
XVI. Go Golfing
Ottawa area golf courses are open. Book a tee time!
XVII. Explore Nearby Areas
- Road Trip From Ottawa to Kingston: Drive the Rideau Canal National Historic Site
- Towns to visit in Eastern Ontario
- Explore Pembroke: A Riverside Gem with Historic Firsts and Scenic Views
- Discover 11 Islands on the Long Sault Parkway
- 20+ Reasons Why You Should Visit Perth
- Highway 7 Road Trip: Must-Visit Places Between Peterborough and Ottawa
- 25 Outdoor Adventures in the Ottawa Valley
- 25 of the Best Things to Do in Lanark County This Summer
- 25 of the Best Things to Do in Renfrew County This Summer