Ottawa
Weekend Events & Festivals in Ottawa: August 23 to 25, 2019
A weekly digest of what’s on this weekend in Ottawa including free fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, sports and exhibitions.
More To Do
I. Family & Kids Activities
The Capital Fair
See the National Capital Highland Games! Eastern Ontario’s Largest Mid-way, Free Live Entertainment, The Rise to Fame Talent Contest for young entertainers, the Fair-Play Dance Battles, the Demolition Derby, Doo Doo’s Dance Party, Draft Horse-Pull Event, the Arm Wrestling Championship, Agricultural Exhibitions, Petting Zoo, Ultimutts Dog Show, Monster Trucks Shows, Cultural Events, a Medieval Village, our many Food Vendors, and much, much more!
August 16 to 25, 2019
Rideau Carleton Raceway, 4837 Albion Road, Ottawa
$5
Casino Lac Leamy – Sound of Light at the Bytown Museum
An intimate fireworks event synchronized to music. Enjoy a spectacular display of pyrotechnics from the shore of the Ottawa River at the Ottawa Lock Station. Live the experience to its fullest and enjoy 5 nights of pyromusical art with music from exceptional points of view at the Bytown Museum.
August 10, 14, 17, 21, 24 | 7:30 PM -10:00 PM
Bytown Museum, Canal Lane, Ottawa
$10 to $12
Lumière Ottawa
Lumière is a fun, free, family-friendly festival with a magical atmosphere for all to enjoy. With lantern making workshops throughout the year and on the day itself, it’s an invitation to express your creativity and truly become a part of the festivities. Costumes are encouraged to add to the fun!
Saturday, August 24, 2019 | 5-10PM
Stanley Park 183 Stanley Ave, Ottawa
Free
Trainfest
The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario is holding its tenth annual Trainfest! At this festival we celebrate the rich history of the railway, of not only Smiths Falls but across the country. Vendors, exhibitors, and special guests will showcase models, wares and train memorabilia while the museum will showcase guided tours, and will even be offering train rides! So come on down to the Railway Museum with your friends and family for a truly unique experience. This year will have a theme, the 1940’s! Staff will be in period clothing and re-enactors from the Swords and Plowshares Group will put on a unique show.
August 24 and 25, 2019 | 10 AM – 4 PM
Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street West, Smiths Falls,
$5 to $10
Monkeying Around With Music!
Get ready to rock and roll! Join us for a morning of musical mayhem with Ottawa’s Monkey Rock Music. Little musicians and parents or caregivers will have a blast singing along, exploring instruments, and playing musical games!
Sunday August 25, 2019 | 9 AM – 10 AM
Chapters Kanata, 400 Earl Grey Dr Unit 1, Kanata
$15
You may like:
Outdoor Movies
Annual Dog Movie Night – “Best In Show” PG13 on Friday, August 23, 2019 at 7:30 PM – 11 PM @ Parkdale Park, Ottawa
Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 8 PM – 11 PM @ Dovercourt Recreation Centre, 411 Dovercourt Avenue, Ottawa
Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill
Combining bold digital technology with the architectural splendour of the Parliament Buildings, Northern Lights illuminates Canadian stories of nation-building, partnership, discovery, valour, pride and vision at the heart of our country.
July 9 to September 8, 2019
Parliament Hill – 111 Wellingston St., Ottawa
Free
The Changing of the Guard Ceremony
The ceremony is among Ottawa’s most recognized military traditions, and is a summer attraction which has welcomed thousands of visitors to Parliament Hill for more than 55 years. The Changing of the Guard is a parade representing the changing of the guards posted at Rideau Hall, the official residence the Governor General.
July 3 to August 24, 2019 | 10:00 AM
Parliament East Lawn
Free
General Activities
At the library
Ottawa Public library offers plenty of free activities to choose from for all ages including toddler story times. Plan ahead to attend some of the free activities in the following weekends:
Details and link for registration.
2.By Ottawa Recreation – Drop in Programs
WATER FUN in the City – Details
- Beaches: East Ottawa: Petrie Island Beach, 727 Trim Road, 613-824-5704
West Ottawa: Britannia Beach, 805 Carling Avenue, 613-820-1211
South Ottawa: Mooney’s Bay Beach, 2926 Riverside Drive, 613-248-0863
Central Ottawa: Westboro Beach, 745 Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway, 613-792-3875
Lifeguards are on duty from June 15 to August 25, 2019, every day from noon to 7 pm. - 20 indoor pools, nine outdoor pools and three wave pools
- 56 wading pools and 127 splash pads
3. Movies
Family Favourites Cineplex: Visit participating Cineplex theatres near you and watch a family favourite film each week for only $2.99. | Saturdays at 11:00 AM.
Landmark Theatres — Every Sunday, kids can get out of the house, a movie ticket and Snack Pack (popcorn, drink, choice of candy treat)
4. Summer Family Mornings
Join us for FREE activities, games, musical guests and more, for children of all ages. | 10:00 AM @ Peter A. Herrndorf Place 1 Elgin Street Ottawa
5. Free Nights at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Free Admission to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum — including the animal barns, exhibitions, and demo kitchen. Meet a rabbit, groom a calf or participate in an ice-cream making demonstration! Wednesday, August 21 | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
More To Do
II. Live Music
EDM/ Concert Tours/Week day Concerts this Week
- Summer Concert Series on Thursdays | 12:30 PM @ Agora Minto-Orléans Outdoor Plaza, Ottawa
- Summer Free Concerts on Thursdays | 6:00 PM @ Peter A. Herrndorf Place (NAC) 1 Elgin Street Ottawa
- Dj Celeste at Climate Action Party on Wednesday August 21, 2019 | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Roku Bar Bites, 610 Somerset St W
- Rob Thomas: Chip Tooth Tour on Friday, August 23, 2019 | 8:00 PM @ Canadian Tire Centre
Nostalgia Music Festival
The Nostalgia Music Festival is a four-day event that features quality tribute bands, nearly as good as the originals, to magically recreate the music of our youth. No expenses were spared in creating the best experience possible and delivering high production value in an extremely fun filled environment.
August 21 to 24, 2019
LeBreton Flats, Ottawa
$50.00 to $120.00
Hopped and Confused Beer Music & Food Festival
Enjoy great Canadian bands and discover Mill Street beers along with the fabulous food – what a way to spend the dog days of summer! Mill Street Brewery and Dine Alone Records are bringing back again the Hopped and Confused Festival to the Ottawa Mill Street Brewpub.
Lineup: July Talk – Weaves – Alexandra Maillot – NOBRO- Sloan – Born Ruffians -Cleopatrick – Taylor Knox
August 23 to 24, 2019 | 05:00 PM to 11:00 PM
LeBreton Flats, Ottawa
$40 & up
III. Live Theatre & Related Events
- The Sunday Funnies on Every Sunday | 08:00 PM @ Lieutenants Pump, 361 Elgin St. Ottawa
Cirque Du Soleil’s Alegría
Alegría is the nostalgic story of a monarchy that has lost its king. The Old Birds, who resist change and cling to old values, hover around Mr Fleur, a tricky and power-hungry man who proclaims himself king. Fleur and the Old Birds, with their outdated ideas, struggle to maintain power in a world they no longer understand. On the other hand, the Bronx, the strong and confident next generation, embrace modernity and strive to topple their oppressors to build a flourishing new society.
August 1 – September 1, 2019
Under the Big Top, Zibi Site, Gatineau
$66.75 & up
Theatre Under the Stars – The Bonds of Interest
The Bonds of Interest is a brilliant comic intrigue about two con artists who swindle an entire town of crooked merchants, powerful elites and grasping pretenders, all of whom will stop at nothing to get rich quick. This clever satire takes aim at the corruption and insatiable greed flourishing in a modern money-driven world.Parental guidance suggested for children under 12.
July 25-August 25, 2019
Strathcona Park, 25 Range Road
Ottawa
$6 – $15
Come From Away
The true story of the small town that welcomed the world. Broadway’s COME FROM AWAY has won Best Musical all across North America! The New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran night, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. ON 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12, their stories moved us all.
August 20 to September 8, 2019
National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin, Ottawa
$59.75 – $149.75 +charges
OUTERBRIDGE – Clockwork Mysteries
A professionally orchestrated theatrical production with over 20 custom-designed illusions and world-class lighting and set design, “OUTERBRIDGE – Clockwork Mysteries” is a high-energy magical adventure for both adult and family audiences. Recognized as one of the most creative and dynamic shows of its kind, critics have hailed Ted and Marion Outerbridge as “champions of magic” (Bergedorfer Zeitung, Hamburg, Germany) and “a visual feast” (Jinhua Daily, China). Details
Saturdays, June 29 -August 31 | 7:30 PM
Station Theatre, 53 Victoria Ave. Smiths Falls
$15-$30
III. Sports & Related Events
Ottawa Fury FC
vs. Saint Louis FC
August 24, 2019 | 2:00 PM
The Stadium at TD Place
Lock & Paddle “Light Up The Night”
Participate in the first ever Lock & Paddle “Light Up The Night”. The annual Lock ‘n’ Paddle event, which sees paddlers fill the Lift Lock with canoes and kayaks each summer returns with a colourful lighted paddlecraft parade and multiple lockages. The paddlers will decorate their canoes and kayaks with glow sticks, lights, reflectors or anything that can light up the night! These decorated vessels will then parade from Lock 20 – Ashburnham up the canal to enter the world’s highest hydraulic lift lock, where they will be lifted 19.81 m into the night sky! Details
Saturday, August 24th, 2019 | 05:00 PM
Peterborough Lift Lock -Lock 21, 220 Hunter Street East, Peterborough (~3 hrs from Ottawa)
Free
Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival
The Festival above all is a weekend of fun on the majestic Gatineau River.
August 23 to 25, 2019
211 rue Henri-Bourassa, Maniwaki
Capital Pride Run
5km run and 2.5km walk
August 24, 2019 | 10 AM – 12 PM
Tunney’s Pasture, Ottawa
NOKIA Sunday Bikedays
Enjoy summer Sundays cycling along car-free roads, and experience the beauty of Canada’s Capital Region in a fun and environmentally friendly way. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of more than 50 kilometres of scenic parkways in the heart of the Capital Region. Parkways in Ottawa and Gatineau Park are car-free and open exclusively to cyclists, in-line skaters, runners, walkers and people with mobility aids.
Sundays | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Various Parkways, Ottawa
FREE
IV. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
More To Do
- Yoga on Parliament Hill on Wednesdays | May 15 to August 28 | 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
- Lunchtime Yoga on the Terrace on Fridays, Jul 5 – Aug 30 | 12:00 PM @ National Arts Centre
- The “Keep On Keeping On” Speaker Series on Wednesday August 7 to Wednesday August 28, 2019 @ Carleton Memorial United Church, Ottawa
Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light
The 24th edition of Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light returns to international competition by presenting five unforgettable fireworks evenings on the incredible site of the Canadian Museum of History. Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light is also a unique gastronomic experience inspired by the numerous flavours of our country.
August 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 2019 | 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Canadian Museum of History, 100 Rue Laurier, Gatineau
$10 to $25
Capital Pride Festival
Capital Pride creates opportunities to celebrate, advocate, educate and connect people, respecting the full diversity of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Canada’s capital region.
August 18 – 25, 2019
Pride Prom on Fri, Aug 23 | 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM @ Sandy Hill Community Centre, 250 Somerset St. E
Nature Nocturne: Bursting with Pride on Fri, Aug 23 | 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM @ Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod Street
Rogers Street Festival on August 24 -25 | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM), 2019 @ Bank StreetBank Street from Gladstone to Somerset, Somerset Street from Bank Street to O’Connor
Drag Show Extravaganza with AQUARIA on Sat, Aug 24 | 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM @ TD Main Stage, 340 Somerset Street
Parade on August 25, 2019 | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM @ Starts at Bank St. and Gladstone Ave.
Family Pride on Sun, Aug 25 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 [email protected] Dundonald Park, 516 Somerset Street
Various Venues, Ottawa
Free & Ticketed
House of PainT Festival
Three days of poets, rappers, MCs, DJs, graf writers, mural artists, street dancers and more! This year’s festival puts extra emphasis on elevating the many talented artists and creatives that make up the House of PainT community. We’re stepping up with feature showcases and masterclasses, open ciphers and new collaborations, challenging conversations and all-out celebrations. Don’t sleep- see you under the bridge.
August 23 to 25, 2019
Brewer Park, 100 Brewer Way, Ottawa
Free & ticketed events.
Ottawa Greek Festival
The Ottawa Greek Festival is an annual event that features live Greek music, traditional Greek dances, excellent Greek Cuisine, cooking demonstrations, Greek language lessons, craft and cultural exhibits, souvenirs, raffles, children’s activities, Church tours and ecclesiastical displays.
August 15 to 25, 2019
1315 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa
Free
Palestinian Festival Ottawa
Ottawa’s Palestinian-Canadian festival is a landmark event showcasing the cuisine, language, music, fashion and dance of the Palestinians while sharing the cultural achievements of a people that originate from the land know for being the cradle of religions and the crossroads of civilizations for millennia.
August 23 to 25, 2019
Marion Dewar Plaza, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa
FREE
Outaouais Gourmet Festival
Come and enjoy the culinary expertise of producers and food processors of the Outaouais region . It’s the perfect occasion to discover new products and to meet with the people behind these delight.
Sunday, August 25, 2019 | 10 AM – 5 PM
Hendrick Farm, Chelsea
Free
Salsa outdoor dancing
Free Sunday Night Dancing Under the Stars Salsa Social open to everyone.
August 25, 2019 | 7 PM to 10 PM
Lansdowne Park Horticulture Building, 1015 Bank Street, Ottawa
Free
Ottawa Podcast Festival
Join for the FIRST EVER Ottawa podcast festival!
August 24, 2019 | 1 PM – 10 PM
LIVE! On Elgin, 220 Elgin Street, Ottawa
$20
North Lanark Highland Games
Celebrate the Scottish culture and heritage of the Ottawa Valley at the 36th annual North Lanark Highland Games in Almonte, Ontario. Twenty pipe bands, a hundred dancers and champion heavyweight athletes combine to present what is recognized as one of the Ottawa Valley’s premier summer events. With Mini-Highland Games and free admission for kids 11 & under, and the picturesque Mississippi River as the backdrop, the Almonte Games have a reputation not only as having the prettiest site but also as being the friendliest Games on the Ontario circuit.
Saturday, August 24th 2019 | 9 AM – 6 PM
N.L.A.S. Fairgrounds, Almonte
$15 to $17; Children under 12
Sweet Picnic Tea on the Veranda
Come and enjoy afternoon treats on the picturesque verandah of Laurier House. Sip tea and indulge in treats on Saturday afternoons between 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in June, July and August.
Saturdays, July 01 to August 24, 2019 | 1:30 PM. – 4:00 PM
Laurier House National Historic Site, Ottawa
$16.00/person includes site entry
The “Haunted Walk Experience”
Your guide will lead you on a 90-minute moonlight walk through this former prime minister’s magnificent property, where you’ll explore King’s secluded getaway and learn more about his passion for spiritualism and the supernatural. Your Haunted Walk guide will also share some favourite ghost stories from the grounds and the surrounding area. Bring your bug spray, and dress for an evening stroll in the woods.
Saturdays, July 6 to October 19, 2019 | 8:00 PM
The Mackenzie King Estate, Gatineau Park, 72 Barnes Road, Chelsea
Adult: $21.75
Youth (17 and under): $18.75
We do try to make the listings as accurate as possible, but there might be oversight errors/Events might be cancelled or postponed without any notice. Verify all details from concerned Event Websites/officials.
To add events to this list – Submit Event.
Thanks for the list!!! It really helps me plan my activities with my kids on the weekend.
Wow wish I had found this site much sooner. So many great events happening in Ottawa this weekend. Thanks for providing this list.
To allay any confusion–when you click on “details” under “Shakespeare in the Park–A Midsummer Night’s Dream” there is an error suggesting that the play is “Cymbeline.” That was last year’s Bear production! This year’s show is, indeed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Join us for one of our final three performances, Aug 2, 3, & 4!