Ottawa 
Colonel By Day Long Weekend Events & Activities in Ottawa: Friday, July 31 to Monday, August 3, 2026
Visiting Ottawa this August long weekend? Here is a list of events taking place in the Capital city this weekend, including free, fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, sports and exhibitions.
More To Do
I. Family & Kids Activities
Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Lemay
Opening of the site: 6:00 pm
Start of the fireworks show: 9:15 pm
- July 29 – Opening Night
- August 1 – Canada, Represented by Orion Fireworks
Canadian Museum of History, 100 Rue Laurier, Gatineau
$8.50 – $41
Open Doors at Rideau Hall
Visitors can discover the State rooms of Rideau Hall at their own pace. Open doors weekends at Rideau Hall will also provide the public with an opportunity to visit both greenhouses and private gardens, which are not open to the public during regular tours. Details
August 1 to 3 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Dr, Ottawa
Free
Rideau Hall Storytime
This outdoor family activity is hosted in collaboration with United for Literacy. Volunteers invite visitors to settle in under the Reading Tent to read books and participate in fun literacy activities. Details
August 1, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
Free
Family Hour at Escape Manor
Pay for 3, the rest play FREE with our Family Hour discounts all summer long ☀️ This offer is open to anyone to enjoy on escape rooms with 6 people or less! Play an experience that the whole family can enjoy at a discounted rate 🎉 Details
July 2 to August 31, 2026
Manor Lounge, 292 Elgin Street, Ottawa
$30-$90
The Corn Maze Festival
Get lost in our spectacular Ottawa 200 corn maze, discover fun exhibits along the way, and learn about the people, places, and agricultural roots that helped shape our city. It’s a fresh new way to experience the farm this summer – and we can’t wait for you to see it! We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Ottawa Tourism in helping bring this exciting new experience to life. Details
August 1 to 31, 2026
Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Rd, Ottawa
17 to $22+fees
Emancipation Day Celebration
Join us at Upper Canada Village for a day of reflection, education, and celebration of Emancipation Day. This significant event commemorates the historic abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834 and honours the enduring journey towards resilience and triumphs of Black communities, and equality and justice. Details
Saturday, August 1, 2026 | 11:00 am – 3:30 pm
Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Rd 2, Morrisburg
Regular Admission
King Street Promenade
The King Street Promenade transforms Downtown Prescott into a pedestrian street party stretching from Edward Street to George Street. Catch FireGuy’s high-energy circus performances, cool off at one of three Foam Parties, watch Northern Rhodes transform raw wood through live chainsaw carving, explore giant inflatables and children’s activities, and more! Details
Saturday, August 1, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
King Street, Prescott
Free
Colonel By Days
Celebrate Ottawa’s rich history and the legacy of Lieutenant-Colonel John By with a weekend full of engaging activities, live performances, and family-friendly fun at the Bytown Museum! Details
Monday, August 3, 2026 | 11am – 5:30pm
Bytown Museum, 1 Canal Lane, Ottawa
Regular Admission
Findlay Creek Community Fun Day
Celebrate the community and Ottawa’s 200th anniversary. The event features inflatables, a Monkey Rock performance at 11:30 a.m., a Nerf zone and face painting from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Junkyard Symphony at 1:30 p.m., birthday cake, a selfie wall and more!
Monday, August 3, 2026 | 11am – 3pm
Diamond Jubilee Park, 2810 Findlay Creek Drive
Free
Canada Strong Pass
Enjoy free admission to Parks Canada sites and free admission for children aged 17 and under, 50% off admission fees for youth aged 18 to 24 to provincial museums until September 7, 2026.
- Parks Canada National Parks and Historic Sites
- National Museums: Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Canadian Museum of History, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian War Museum and National Gallery of Canada.
- Upper Canada Village – Morrisburg
- Fort Henry – Kingston
- Fulford Place — Ontario Heritage Trust — Brockville
U-Pick Flowers
Green Corners has planted snapdragons, cosmos, calendula, and sunflowers for you to pick this summer season. Pick your own flowers to make a bouquet of seasonal blooms! Varieties of flowers change through the season, but there will always be a variety of colours and flowers in bloom. Details
July 31 to August 3, 2026
Green Corners, 1259 York’s Corners Road, Ottawa
$7 – $25
Down On the Farm
Lots of animals to see, feed and touch. Hay play structures to climb and explore. The kid’s barn has some fun play areas and the famous corn sensory table. Bring some snacks and enjoy the picnic and play area. Relax and enjoy the fresh farm air while you explore and play down on the farm. Details
Thursday – Sunday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Log Farm, 670 Cedarview Road, Nepean
$12.99
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Fun at Little Animal Farm
Visitors can interact with furry friends and enjoy farm-related play structures and activities like the trike corral, corn maze, and basketball wagon. Puppet shows featuring animatronic characters entertain every half hour in the Century Old Barn. Details
Monday, August 3, 2026 | 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Valleyview Little Animal Farm
4750 Fallowfield Road, Nepean
$15(plus tax) for everyone age 2 and older.
II. Live Music
Ottawa Chamberfest
Friday, July 23 to Sunday, August 2, 2026
Various Venues, Ottawa
Varies
Cole Swindell
Before launching his own recording career as a country artist, Cole Swindell built a strong reputation as a songwriter, penning hit singles for artists such as Craig Campbell, Thomas Rhett, Scotty McCreery, and Luke Bryan. Signed to Warner Bros. Records Nashville, Swindell has released four studio albums and thirteen singles, eight of which have reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs and/or Country Airplay charts, with five additional Top 10 hits. Details
Saturday, August 01, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa, 4837 Albion Road, Ottawa
$66 & up
NOICE! A Night of Inuit Excellence
Two stages. One night.
Club SAW becomes a circumpolar takeover. The indoor stage and open-air courtyard run in parallel from opening til late, moving from traditional drumming into electro-pop, experimental throat singing into hard rock, Arctic soul under post-sunset light, and a closing DJ set that pulls contemporary Inuit pop and classic Inuit songs onto the dance floor. A lineup of seven Inuit artists holding three JUNO nominations, a Polaris Prize nod, the Sobey Art Award, and a Canadian Screen Award between them. This is truly a night spent in excellent company.
Saturday, August 01, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Club SAW, 67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa
$40 & up
Mac Saturn
Mac Saturn brings Detroit’s soulful rock and funk swagger to Canada with a groove-heavy live show built for dancing. Powered by Motown-infused rhythms, classic rock grit, R&B hooks, and magnetic frontman Carson Macc, the band channels vintage energy into modern, high-octane performances, delivering sweat, style, and undeniable Rust Valley rock and roll spirit on every stage across Canadian summer venues. Details
Saturday, August 01, 2026 | 7:00 PM
The 27 Club, 27 York Street, Ottawa
$27.75 & up
Royale Lynn
Royale Lynn brings Ontario-born, Nashville-made grit to Canada with a fearless fusion of hard rock, metal, and country storytelling. Powered by ceiling-scraping vocals, raw emotion, and breakout anthem “Six Feet Deep,” her live show channels Black Magic-era intensity, mental-health honesty, and small-town fire into a cathartic, high-voltage performance built for fans of heavy songs with heart and edge every night. Details
Sunday, August 02, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Club SAW, 67 rue Nicholas Street, Ottawa
$31.25 & up
III. Live Theatre & Related Events
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
June 29 to August 15, 2026 | 7 to 8:30 PM
Various Venues, Ottawa
By Donation
Appearing This Evening
It’s opening night of Henry VIII, Wives VI, but the leading actor hasn’t arrived! In true community theatre spirit, a substitute is roped in; the cast and crew step up, and hilarity ensues – until police arrive to investigate the mysterious disappearance and everyone in the company appears to have a motive! A love letter to the stage by an Ottawa playwright and OLT actor! Details
July 15 – August 1, 2026
Ottawa Little Theatre, 400 King Edward Ave, Ottawa
$10.00 – $32.00
R&J and Joni
This world-premiere adaptation of Romeo and Juliet brings Shakespeare’s words together with the timeless music of Canadian icon Joni Mitchell in a fully staged musical. Audiences will experience a new way of seeing and hearing one of the most famous plays in the English language, with a unique musical perspective. Don’t miss this world premiere! Details
July 16 to August 8, 2026
Kinsmen Amphitheatre, 101 Water St W, Prescott
$20-39
Mirandolina | Theatre Under The Stars
At the center of this sharp-witted comedy is Mirandolina, a fiercely intelligent innkeeper who has no interest in surrendering her independence to the parade of wealthy men competing for her attention. But when a smug nobleman arrives, determined to prove himself immune to her charms, Mirandolina decides to teach him a lesson he won’t forget. Full of flirtation, deception, physical comedy, and theatrical invention, Mirandolina is a fast-paced battle of wit and ego under the stars. Details
July 23 – August 16, 2026
Strathcona Park, 25 Range Rd, Ottawa
$0-38
Mamma Mia!
A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago. Details
July 28 to August 2, 2026
Southam Hall, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
$83 & up
Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show
Our two-hour show features all-Canadian music from Maritime folk songs to modern pop. Come be serenaded by our singing Mountie, hockey player, Anne of Green Gables, Klondike Kitty, and many other special guests. This high-energy, family-friendly production features over 70 songs from Canadian artists including Paul Anka, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, the Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber, and many more. Details
Various Dates, Until December
Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Theatre, 330 Kent Street, Ottawa
$27.95 to $99.95
III. Sports & Related Events
Ottawa Titans Baseball Club
vs Brockton Rox. Details
July 31 to August 2, 2026
Friday, July 31 | Theme Night (Taylor’s Version), Fireworks Show
Saturday, August 1 | Circus Night
Sunday, August 2 | Cappy’s Birthday
300 Coventry Road, Ottawa
$15 to $24
Ottawa REDBLACKS
Friday, July 31, 2026 | 7:30 PM
The Stadium at TD Place, 1015 Bank Street, Ottawa
$24 & up
IRONMAN Canada
Designed for both first-time and experienced competitors, the course features a scenic river swim, a bike route that winds through vibrant city streets, historic embassy row, and picturesque rural landscapes, followed by an energetic run through downtown Ottawa. The journey culminates with an unforgettable finish at Major’s Hill Park, beside the iconic Fairmont Château Laurier and just steps from Canada’s most celebrated landmarks. Details
August 2, 2026
Various locations, Ottawa
Free to Watch
Kaleidoscope Kayaking
Hop in one of our Oru Inlet folding kayaks and enjoy the serene waterway, surrounded by the enchanting glow of LED lights adorning your boat! The lights create a spectacle of colours that dance along the canal’s surface! This two-hour guided adventure gives you a breathtaking view of the spectacular Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy fireworks show. Details
July 29 & August 1st: 8pm – 11pm
Rideau Canal, 3 Waverley St, Ottawa
$199 & up
IV. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
Vegans Who Snack Food and Art Festival
A night of vegan snacks and shopping! Experience a vibrant marketplace with over 50 thriving small businesses offering a delightful array of ready-to-eat snacks, groceries, treats, ice cream, shopping, art, self-care products, flowers, and much more! Immerse yourself in a captivating atmosphere where talented live DJs, meticulously selected by Homo Phono, will curate the perfect soundtrack to elevate your market experience. Details
Friday July 31, 2026 | 5pm-9pm
Parkdale Public Market, 366 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa
Free
The Great Indian Carnival
Sunday, August 2 | 11 AM – 8 PM
Strathmere, 1980 Phelan Road West, Ottawa
$23.68 & up
Glengarry Highland Games
Thousands of people find themselves drawn each year to Maxville to witness an outstanding display of music, dance, sports, fiddling, pageantry, and tradition. There are so many great events at the Games aimed to please any Celtic fan. Some people come for the music, some for the fiddle, some for the dance and others to watch the heavyweight events. Details
July 31-August 1, 2026
34 Fair St, Maxville
$30
Fireworks Over the ByWard Market
Watch the Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy light up the sky from Ottawa’s best sky lounge. Perched above the ByWard Market, Rooftop puts you at eye level with the skyline while the international fireworks competition paints the night. Details
July 29, August 1, 5, 8, 12 and 15.
Seating from 7:30 PM
Starling | Rooftop Ottawa, 54 York St, Ottawa
$25 per person
Magic Men
Magic Men Australia brings the Canada Tour to life with a high-energy male revue packed with choreographed dance, themed acts, audience interaction, and feel-good party vibes. Featuring international performers and social media star Will Parfitt, this adults-only night out blends charisma, comedy, and spectacle for an unforgettable celebration of confidence, fun, and live entertainment across Canada from coast to coast. Details
Friday, July 31, 2026 | 7:30 PM
The Bronson, 211 Bronson Ave., Ottawa
Varies
The Zouk & Lambada Marathon
Get ready to dance all day and into the wee hours of the morning! Enjoy a whopping 40 hours of social dancing with a friendly and welcoming crew of local and international DJs, talented dancers, and plenty of new faces to meet. Take breaks to refuel with snacks or catch a quick nap before hitting the dance floor again. Details
July 31 to August 2, 2026
Tabaret Hall, 550 Cumberland Street, Ottaw
Varies
Ottawa Psychic & Crystal Fair
Some of Canada’s Top Psychics, Mediums, Astrologers, Aura Photo Booth, Rune Reading, Healers. Tea Leaf and Palm Readers. Lots of beautiful crystals and hand made jewelry. $3000 in Door Prizes. Details
July 31 to August 2, 2026
Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue, Nepean
$10
613flea
613flea is an ever changing, twice-a-month marketplace that returns to Lansdowne Park with makers & bakers, crafters & creators, antiques dealers & vintage clothing vendors, vinyl records & comics – plus great food! Details
August 1 | 10 AM – 4 PM
Lansdowne Park, 1015 Bank St., Ottawa
Free
High Tea on the Veranda
Parks Canada invites you to enjoy High Tea on the historic veranda at Laurier House National Historic Site. Wear your best tea attire and join us for scrumptious treats and delicious teas, as the breeze floats over the historic setting on the veranda. Details
June 4 to September 25, 2026
Laurier House National Historic Site, 335 Laurier Ave. East, Ottawa
$68+fees
Whitewater Rafting with OWL Rafting
Experience the great Canadian river trip – this is a travel-path forged by First Nations, traversed by fur traders since the 1600’s and fostered by foresters at the turn of the last century. An introduction to whitewater is a full day natural roller coaster where you’ll paddle as a team – your experienced guide steers from the stern – all you have to do is listen for directions, join in and have fun. Details
May 16 – September 7 | various start times
40 Owl Lane, Foresters Falls
$85 & up
Pirate Life Ottawa
A Pirate’s Life provides interactive ‘pirate life’ theatrical experience with a boat cruise in a look-a-like pirate ship. Join the scurvy crew and live the Pirate Life: Adventure, Theatre and Cruise. An interactive adventure, become a buccaneer with costumes, face paint and a pirate alias! Details
May 16 to Oct 11, 2026
588 Hog’s Back Road, Ottawa
$14 to $44
Ottawa City Rafting – Guided River Tour
From the sweep of the river, the Ottawa looks as majestic as when Champlain re-discovered it four centuries ago. This one-of-a-kind trip has everything, right in Canada’s captial – fun, education and just enough excitement to be thrilled at the end of the run. It’s perfect for adventure seekers, families, schools and corporate groups. Details
June 6 – Mid September
Britannia Beach, 102 Greenview Ave, Ottawa
$94 to $109
Faith Fyles: In Full Bloom
This exhibition explores the intersection of art and science through the life and work of Faith Fyles (1875 – 1961), the first woman to be appointed as a botanist with Canada’s Department of Agriculture. The exhibition traces her distinctive dual careers at Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm (CEF): first as a botanist and then as an artist, with both roles often merging in one project. Details
March 7 to September 27, 2026
Ottawa Art Gallery, 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa
Free
Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park
Come and experience this hidden jewel just outside Cumberland Village in Ottawa. Discover sculptures carefully placed in a natural setting at this nine-acre wooded ravine with walking trails and quaint bridges over a meandering creek. Details
Open until October 31, 2026
Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park, 3468 Ch. Old Montreal Rd, Ottawa
$7-$10
Nepean Night Market
Nepean Night Market brings amazing vendors, fantastic live music, fabulous food trucks, and the most awesome fun luvin’ summer nights! Details
Sundays 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Mr.Lube parking lot, 1442 Baseline Road, Ottawa
Free
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.
What about events geared to young adults with autism
Hi, just drove out to Petrie Island and the Carivibe fest was only yesterday and not today as you have written.
@Various Venues — https://www.todocanada.ca/city/ottawa/event/carivibe-beach-food-festival/
me and my buddy are going next weekend. I cant wait for updated list. lots of fun items to do in Ottawa
Great resource. Thanks a lot!
Thank you
Hello
Does subscribe work?
tried twice, always an error (nothing in my inbox or spam)
thank you
Does subscribing still work? I have checked my spam folders and nothing.
Great site, I look at it almost every week to get ideas on what to do with the kids.
Just to note, there’s a fair with carnival rides this weekend (Aug. 20-22) at the Earl Armstrong Arena. You can see it from the costco parking lot.
Here’s the address for those interested:
Earl Armstrong Arena
2020 Ogilvie Rd, Gloucester, ON K1J 7N8
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!
Wow wish I had found this site much sooner. So many great events happening in Ottawa this weekend. Thanks for providing this list.
Thanks for the list!!! It really helps me plan my activities with my kids on the weekend.
Great listings! Thanks!
Thanks for including the Ottawa Canadian Film Festival http://ocanfilmfest.ca/ocanfilmfest2018
Useful. Thanks for sharing.
Why is it that the “Subscribe to our newsletter” – on the right hand side of this newsletter/webpage…
https://www.todocanada.ca/things-ottawa-weekend/
… does not include Ottawa in the “Select City News letter list”?
Boom