March Break Activities, Events and Camps in Ottawa

1. Orpheus Presents Catch Me If You Can The Musical 

Catch Me If You Can follows the adventures of Frank Abagnale Jr., a suburban kid in the early 1960s who leaves home before graduating from high school and parlays a gift for telling tall tales and forging checks into an around-the-world spree. Doggedly pursued by FBI agent Carl Hanratty, Frank manages to pose as an airline pilot, an emergency room doctor and a lawyer, and wins the heart of nurse Brenda Strong along the way. Narrated by Frank as if his story is a television special, Catch Me draws audiences in to his web of relationships with his parents, FBI agent Hanratty, and eventually his girlfriend and her parents. Details

2. Princess Dance Party

A fun celebration for all superheroes and princesses in support of the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada! Join us for an evening of superheroes and royalty! This event features delicious snacks, a dance party, VIP Dinner, music, princess beauty parlour, superhero hair styling, entertainment, lots of princesses, superheroes…and so much fun. It’s the perfect way to end your March Break with the kids! Details

3. Sky-High Magic

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum proudly presents Sky-High Magic. Enjoy incredible and uplifting magic shows in the Museum’s theatre. Thomas Cadabra and his elusive friend Snowball are full of tricks and surprises. Together, they will delight children ages 3 to 6 from beginning to end. With his contagious energy, Thomas delivers a story full of surprises, humour, short magic tricks and active audience participation. Details

4. Playing Through History

These special, all-ages March Break activities explore the evolution of play, inspired by the future Canadian History Hall’s three signature galleries: Early Canada (up to 1763), Colonial Canada (1763–1914) and Modern Canada (1914 and later). Discover traditional First Peoples games such as ring-and-pin, string games, lahal, and hand-shadow puppets. Try skittles, and see how the game has changed from the version popular in New France. Help decorate a large, Victorian-style dollhouse, make your own doll to take home, and try colonial toys such as a Jacob’s ladder, jacks, and spin-tops. Visit the Discovery Zone for a selection of innovative new games, Mega Bloks® building projects, play workshops, and more.  Details

5. The Wonderful World of Play

How to describe the simplicity of play? What does it mean to play? When do we as adults “grow up” and stop playing as we did when we were children? There are no answers to these questions in which can be expressed in words. Well, maybe some words… Come on down and check out what internationally played theatrical circus clown, Adam Zimmerman and professional improv artist, Mike Kosowan can do. They promise an evening full of playful discoveries of their own stupid geniuses right in front of your very eyes.  Details

6. Annual Lego Contest 2017

Use your LEGO® building blocks to create an aircraft– any aircraft you would like, whether you have seen it in person, read about it, or imagined it. Be sure to come visit the Museum’s collection for inspiration. Details

7. March break at the Museum

Reptile Bingo: Play bingo and discover the numerous reptiles highlighted in our Natural History Notebooks. Reptile Zone: Don a reptile tail and try some shadow theatre. Make a reptile mask. Relax under a heat lamp in a “basking” area. Build a long snake out of Lego. Step inside a giant, inflatable leatherback turtle! Details

8. March Break: Imagine. Create. Play.

Drop-in to the museum any day this week and use your imagination as you create and play with your family. Guided and self-guided activities are available for adult visitors and families. Details

9. Time Travellers

Solve a mystery from Nepean’s past by completing puzzles, playing games, and making a craft. Participants will explore a new time period each day. Activities are intended for children ages 6 to 9 years old. Details

10. Magical Mythical Monsters Family Craft Day

Legends will be made & creatures will be created – all in the name of crafting greatness! Dress as anything mythical. Activities are geared to children ages 4-11. Details

11. Winter Carnival

In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, the NCC is organizing a winter carnival for newcomers to the Capital to discover the joys of winter. Learn to play ball hockey, Snowshoe in the forest, Slide down a snowy hill, Sample traditional winter treats. Details

11. Maple Syrup Fun

12. Stanley Cup Tribute 

Ottawa is the place to be for all things related to the legendary Stanley Cup in 2017! From a special gala event to a concert, to a brand new monument, it seems that the city just can’t get enough of this timeless award. March 17: Head to Lansdowne’s Aberdeen Pavilion to meet some NHL alumni and have your picture taken with the Stanley Cup. And in the evening, a Stanley Cup 125th Anniversary Tribute Concert will take place at Canadian Tire Centre. On March 18, 2017, there will be a ground-breaking ceremony for a new Stanley Cup monument that will be installed at the corner of Sparks Street and Elgin Street. The monument will include a chalice and a hockey puck-shaped bench set up on an ice rink. Details

13. Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour 

This tour is the ultimate hockey fan experience, making stops in communities across Canada, making stops in communities across Canada. Enjoy fun free programming while Hometown Hockey hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone broadcast live! Details

14. March Break Drop-in Activities

OAG presents free morning drop-in activities for kids aged 5 – 11 during March Break. Join us for a different daily art exploration inspired by works of art in the OAG collection. Details

15. March Break Melt Down

Dress yourself as an explorer and discover the history of Ottawa with the help of a map. Be careful… you will have obstacles to overcome! Details

16. Behind the Lens

In the past, taking a picture of someone was hard work! People had to stay still for minutes and setting up the camera took even longer. Join a staff member from the Nepean Museum at an Ottawa Public Library location near you for an outreach program that explores what it was like to be an early photographer! Make a pinhole camera, examine historic camera equipment, and discover what we mean about a picture being worth a thousand words. Details

17. Stories with Anne of Green Gables

Join Cumberland Heritage Village Museum as we act out and illustrate some of our favourite stories from the Anne of Green Gables books. Create your own props and take them home share the story with your family.  Details

18. March Break at the Library

From Lego Block Party to making puppets, there is plenty to see and do at the library. Details

19. Barnyard Break

Join us this spring as we celebrate all things maple during our annual Barnyard Break! In addition to our various animal demonstrations, join us for special features such as cooking with maple syrup and maple taffy on the snow. Plus, young visitors can listen to a classic children’s story and get creative with a Canadiana-themed craft. Details

20. Sugar bush

Visit the historical farm site, see all kinds of animals on the farm site, have taffy on the snow,  warm up at the bonfire while waiting for the wagon ride that will take you out to the sugar bush.  Details

21. Family Pinball Party

Bring the kids and Grandma too! Show them all your radical Ms. Pac Man skills. We are always family awesome before 9pm Wed – Sun but we thought it would be fun to open our doors way earlier on the Wednesday of MARCH BREAK for some good times. Details

22. Science Workshops

Round up your kids or grand kids and become scientists with Scientists in School and Lee Valley Tools!  Details

23. Family Movies

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24. March Movie Break

They’re out of school, now get them out of the house with a March Movie Break at Landmark Cinemas! Select family flicks are just $3.00 and $1.00 from each March Movie Break ticket sold goes to Kids Help Phone. Plus, you’ll receive $16 in “Thanks for Helping” SAVINGS at Boston Pizza and Landmark Cinemas. Details

25. Funhaven March Break

With over 40,000 square feet of laugh-out-loud fun, Funhaven is Ottawa’s destination for March Break. With a world-class Laser Tag Arena, the latest high-tech Mini Bowling Lanes, Video and Prize Games, Simulators, crazy fun Bumper Cars, Mission Impossible style Laser Frenzy and a jungle gym with built-in Ballocity cannons….. there’s no break from FUN at Funhaven! Details

26. Activities at local Stores

Home Depot offers free classes/workshops for kids to build things using a hammer & glue like bookends, planters and more.

27. Spring Break Headquarters

Monday, March 13, 2017: Qixels™ Craft Day
Build your own design one Qixels at a time! Blast it with water, let it dry and create your very own pixel world of monsters, warriors, ninjas and more!

Tuesday, March 14, 2017 : Klutz® Craft Day
Join us as we introduce an exciting new line from the experts at Klutz: Klutz Jr. Young crafters are invited to let their imaginations run wild, as we transform egg cartons into barnyard animals!

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 | Hasbro™ Gaming Day
Try out some of our classic and new favourites from Hasbro Gaming including Fantastic Gymnastics, Toilet Trouble, Jenga and Operation.

Thursday, March 16, 2017 | Hats Off to Dr. Seuss™
Celebrate 60 years of Dr. Seuss’ Cat In the Hat by making your very own paper-bag hat. Plus, join us for a Hat Toss!

Friday, March 17, 2017 | Come Play‑Doh® With Us
Serve up colourful, pretend meals with Play-Doh Kitchen Creations — where the best ingredient is imagination

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