Ottawa
Weekend Events & Festivals in Ottawa: September 21 to 23 2018
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
Carp Fair
Enjoy a fun-filled day in the country at the “Best Little Fair in Canada”, the Carp Fair. With great music, great shows, and a huge midway… you’ll find something for the entire family! It’s a full weekend of fun! Details
September 20 to 23, 2018
Carp Fairgrounds, 3790 Carp Rd. Carp
$2 to $14
Living Statues on Sparks
Watch as world renowned “living statue” artists mime and captivate visitors while their feet never leave the ground! You can get festive too with Balloon Artists, Face Painters, live music, merchant specials and more! Details
September 21 – 23, 2018
Sparks Street, Ottawa
Free
Sharon and Bram
Sharon and Bram 40th anniversary concert. They will be joined on stage by a full band for this very special show. Details
Sunday, September 23, 2018 | 2:00 PM
National Arts Centre — 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
$29.5 – $49.5
Haunting Season
The World-Famous Haunting Season at Saunders Farm is a family tradition for over 25 years. With over 35 attractions, live shows, a parade, 9 Hedge Mazes, peddle carts, food booths, a giant Corn Maze, it’s a spook-tacular experience for the whole family. Details
September 22 to October 31, 2018
Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Road, Munster
$20 to $22
La Fête FrancOrléans
Families from Orléans and the surrounding area are invited to attend La Fête FrancOrléans, a celebration organized as part of Franco-Ontarian Day. Details
Saturday, September 22, 2018 | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
École Gisèle- Lalonde
500 Millennium Blvd., Ottawa
FREE
Papanack Park Zoo’s Night Safari
On our special moonlight-tour you’ll hear the ‘spine chilling’ howl of wolves, watch the lions feasting and you may even catch a rare glimpse of the nocturnal animals as they enjoy the cool night air. There will also be story-telling around the campfire, hot chocolate and the gift shops will be open too! Bring your flashlight and don’t be late because there’s no admission after seven o’clock! Details
Saturday, September 22, 2018 | 07:00 PM
Papanack Park Zoo, 150, County Road 19, Wendover
$8 to $12
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
3. Cineplex
Family Favourites: Visit participating Cineplex theatres near you on Saturdays (11:00 AM) and watch a family favourite film each week for only $2.99.
4. Consignment Sale
- Twice As Nice Kids Consignment Sale on Saturday, September 22 | 10:30 am – 1:00 pm @ Algonquin College, Building D, 1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa
II. Live Music
Concerts on Weekdays & Concert Tours
- Darius Jones on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 | 7:00 PM @ National Arts Centre
- Pacifica Quartet on September 18 – 20, 2018 | 12:00 PM @ National Arts Centre — FREE
- Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 | 8:00 PM @ National Arts Centre
- Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 | 7:00 PM @ The Arena at TD Place
- Chris D’Elia – Follow the Leader 2018 Tour! on September 20, 2018 | 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM @ Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe
- Beethoven Symphony No. 7 on Thursday, September 20, 2018 | 8:00 PM @ National Arts Centre
- Tragedy Ann on Thursday, September 20, 2018 | 8:30 PM @ Live on Elgin
- Ironwood String Quartet on Friday, September 21, 2018 | 12:00 PM @ National Arts Centre — FREE
- The Pack A.D. with Basement Revolver, Sorry Edith on Friday, September 21 | 8:30 PM @ The 27 Club
- Roxanne Potvin EP Release on Friday, September 21, 2018 | 9:00 PM @ Live on Elgin
- Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls with Bad Cop / Bad Cop, Sam Coffey and the Iron Lungs on Monday, September 24 | 7:00 PM @ Bronson Centre Theatre
Christina Martin
If raw denim had a sound, it’d be a Christina Martin chorus. In the grand tradition of highway Canadiana, Martin’s songwriting is honest-to-goodness jukebox rock for the craft beer generation. The winner of multiple East Coast Music Awards, Christina Martin cut her teeth in Austin Texas, and returns with her most personal and ambitious record to date “Impossible To Hold”.
Friday, September 21, 2018 | 8:30 PM
National Arts Centre– 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
$15 + charges
Someone Like You
Someone Like You (The Adele Songbook) is an immaculate celebration of one of our generation’s finest singer-songwriters, and is coming to Ottawa. Hand-picked by Adele herself on Graham Norton’s BBC ADELE Special, the outstanding Katie Markham has the show-stopping voice and captivating charisma to deliver all your favourite Adele hits in an enthralling concert performance. Details
Saturday, September 22, 2018 | 8:00 PM
Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe, Ottawa
$33.25 – $45.25
Beethoven’s Ninth
By the time his 9th Symphony premiered in Vienna in 1824, Ludwig van Beethoven – an overtly humanist and political composer – was profoundly deaf, and he heard not a single note of it. As the first choral symphony ever written by a major composer, his 9th broke with the Classical music conventions of its time, embracing the utopian dream of humanity united and exploring themes of freedom, peace, and universal brotherhood. Details
Saturday, September 22, 2018 | 8:00 PM
National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
$21.75 – $106 + charges
Focus
FOCUS is an expansive exploration of classical music unfolding over ten days. With artistic direction and concept by Alexander Shelley, The NAC Orchestra dives deep into a singular theme, going beneath the surface of the music and its makers through concerts, lectures, chats, podcasts, exhibits and more. FOCUS’ inaugural Beethoven Edition explores the multi-faceted musical mastermind. NAC Music Director Alexander Shelley brings to light the creative musical genius of Beethoven the composer, whose work changed classical music profoundly. Details
September 13 to 22, 2018
National Arts Centre — 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
Varies
Canada International Choral Festival
There is nothing better than choral music to unite a community and serve as a bridge between cultures, nationalities and generations. The Canada International Choral Festival aims to bring together an international panel of choral exchange, education and performance through a unique choral journey. Choirs from Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and China join together to present a showcase concert of unforgettable music. The concert will feature a programme of exceptional choral music performed by twelve (12) Canadian and Chinese choirs, finishing with the performance of a Chinese piece by the massed choirs. Details
Saturday, September 22 | 7:30 PM
Algonquin Commons Theatre
1385 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa
$18.50
Ontario Festival of Small Halls
The festival produces over 30 concerts in rural community halls across Eastern Ontario throughout the month of September. Details
September 13 to 30, 2018
Various Venues, Eastern Ontario
Varies
III. Live Theatre & Related Events
Don’t Dress for Dinner
Bernard is planning a romantic weekend with his chic Parisian mistress in his charming converted French farmhouse, whilst his wife, Jacqueline, is away. He has arranged for a cordon bleu cook to prepare gourmet delights, and has invited his best friend, Robert, along too to provide the alibi. It’s foolproof; what could possibly go wrong? Details
September 18-22 & September 25-29, 2018 | 08:00 PM
Kanata Theatre, 1 Ron Maslin Way, Kanata
$23.00
The Virgin Trial
In this riveting sequel to The Last Wife, playwright Kate Hennig takes us on a gritty exploration of victim shaming, sexual awareness, and female empowerment as she reimagines the scandalous story of young Elizabeth I as a modern day crime drama. Details
September 11 to 30, 2018
Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre, Ottawa
PWYC to $58
Sylvia
When Sylvia, a beguiling stray dog, is rescued from Central Park by a New York financial trader in full mid-life crisis, his wife is not amused by the disruption. This is for everyone who has ever loved, disapproved of and/or talked out loud to a dog! Details
September 12 – 29, 2018
Ottawa Little Theatre
400 King Edward Ave, Ottawa
$14 – $29
The Last Spartan
The Last Spartan asks, how important is Art to a society? Are artists better at interpreting and preserving history than Historians? How will a culture be remembered if it has no art to interpret? Details
September 18-29, 2018
The Gladstone Theatre – 910 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa
$23 to $39
The Last Five Years
An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show’s unconventional structure consists of Cathy, telling her story backwards while Jamie, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show. Details
September 19 to 23, 2018
Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa
$24.50 – $46.50
Je vous écoute
You’re supposed to make an appointment with a shrink to unburden yourself. You pay him, and he nods while you talk. You do your best not to provoke or insult him, and you certainly don’t want to physically threaten him. In exchange, your shrink does his best not to insult or belittle you, and he rarely threatens to call for backup. Here, things are a little different… Also, why are these two guys going to spend the strangest (and most explosive) day of their lives together? Because of a woman, of course! Details
Saturday, September 22, 2018 | 8 PM
Shenkman Arts Centre
245 Centrum Boulevard, Ottawa
$21.25 to $54.25
Sylvain Larocque
“We’ll have seen everything” is a combination of beautiful numbers that have marked the career of Sylvain Larocque during which he won six times the trophy author of the year at the Gala Les Olivier. Add to this unreleased numbers, you get a winning formula: the classic, the new with laughs and surprises that are always at the rendezvous! Details
Saturday, September 22, 2018 | 8:00 PM
Théâtre du Casino, 1 Boulevard du Casino, Gatineau
$ 34.5 + charges
Madame Butterfly
Pellegrini Opera proudly presents Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly! Details
Saturday, September 22, 2018 | 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Ukrainian Banquet Hall, 1000 Byron Ave., Ottawa
$40 to $60
III. Sports & Related Events
Ottawa Senators
Preseason – NHL
vs. Toronto Maple Leafs. on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 | 7:30 PM
vs. Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, September 21, 2018 | 7:30 PM
Canadian Tire Centre — 1000 Palladium Drive, Kanata
Ottawa REDBLACKS
CFL. vs. Edmonton Eskimos
September 22, 2018 | 4:00 PM
The Stadium at TD Place
Ottawa 67’s
Ontario Hockey League.
vs. Mississauga Steelheads on September 21, 2018 | 7:00 PM
Peterborough Petes vs September 23, 2018 | 2:00 PM
The Arena at TD Place
Head of the Rideau Regatta
5.2 km race across Mooney’s Bay and the Rideau River. Details
September 23, 2018
Rideau Canoe Club, Ottawa
FREE to watch
More Runs & Walks
- Canada Army Run — 5K, 10K, half marathon, Ortona Challenge (5K+10K) and Commander’s Challenge (5K+half marathon) on Sunday, September 23 at 7 AM – 2 PM @ Ottawa City Hall
- Neon Night Kemptville — 2K/5K walk/run at Night on September 22, 2018 | 5:30 PM @ Riverside Park, 200 Reuben Crescent, Kemptville
- CNIB Night Steps Ottawa on Friday, September 21 | 6:00 PM @ Aberdeen Square, Lansdowne Park
IV. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
More To Do
25 Date Ideas in Ottawa
You may like:
- True storytelling about how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world. on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 | 7:30 PM @ Arts Court Theatre
- World’s Largest Sandbox on Wednesday, September 19 | 12 PM – 3 PM @ Sparks Street between Metcalfe and Elgin Streets, Ottawa
- Food for Thought – Worms in Your Kitchen: The Hows and Whys of Vermicomposting. on Thursday, September 20, 2018 | 7 PM. – 8:30 PM @ Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Snowbird Lifestyle Presentations on Monday, September 24, 2018 | 7:00 PM @Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe
- Arcade NITE (No Bands) on Thursday, September 20, 2018 | 5 PM – close @ House of Tarq — FREE Admission
One World Film Festival
Annual festival features amazing lineup of inspiring and thought-provoking documentaries from Canadian and international filmmakers. Along with panel discussions and spirited Q&As, our 3-day festival will feature the following lineup of compelling documentaries that address a variety of important global issues. Details
September 20-22, 2018
Arts Court Theatre, Ottawa
$12 & up
Ottawa Pinball & Gameroom Show
Join us for 2 days of all you can play Pinball and Arcade machines. Shop for Games, Parts, and Gameroom treasures from our Vendor and flea market tables. Play over 100 of your favorite classic and current pinball and arcade games all on free-play! Check out our amazing vendor booths from Player 1 amusements, Glitch Artwork and a special book / art signing from the legendary Dirty Donny! Details
September 22 & 23, 2018
Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue, Nepean
$15-$20
Ottawa Cat Show
Come and see stunning purebred cats like the Maine Coons, Siberians, Cornish Rexs, and Bengals as well as the beautiful household pets.
Sit in on a variety of special presentations or shop at our vendors featuring special products and services for cats and their owners. Details
September 22 & 23, 2018
Nepean Sportsplex, Curling RInk, 1701 Woddroffe Ave, Ottawa
$5 to $8
Fright Fest
Fright Fest at Saunders Farm is Canada’s favourite and scariest Halloween and Haunted House experience. Our 100acre ScreamPark features 5 Fright Sites- 4 large Haunts and our graveyard scare zone, including the award-winning Haunted Hayride, the Barn of Terror, Camp Slaughter, and our extreme haunt – Shambles. Details
September 22 – October 31, 2018
Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Road, Munster
$38.00 to $116.00
Fifty-Five Plus Lifestyle Show
Active living, travel and more! Details
September 21 & 22, 2018 | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr
Ottawa
Free
Fall Tree Festival
This weekend festival celebrating trees offers a host of activities, guided tours and workshops in the areas of art, nature, music, craft and play. It is an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful setting of Brewer Pond and connect with nature and others who share an interest in trees and greenspace. The festival has something for people of all ages. Everyone welcome! Come out to meet arborists, conservationists, musicians, forest therapy guides, foraging experts, community activists, librarians and more. Details
September 22 & 23, 2018 | 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Brewer Park (by the pond), 100 Brewer Way
Ottawa
Free
Bicycle Film Festival
Join EnviroCentre for the 18th Annual Bicycle Film Festival, a celebration of bicycles through film, art and music. There are 34 diverse films from 13 countries: Canada, Italy, France, Belgium, United Kingdom, India, Spain, Columbia, Nepal, South Africa, Singapore, Japan, and America. Details
September 22, 2018 | 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Hooley’s Pub
292 Elgin Street, Ottawa
$10 to $15
Garden Culinary Experiences
Gardenlicious offers a truly delightful garden culinary experience. Celebrate with some of the city’s best Garden-to-Table experience. Details
September 14 to 23, 2018
Various Venues, Ottawa
Varies
Green Energy Doors Open
Get help with your sustainable lifestyle or plan your next project with Green Experts. Talk to your local politicians and green experts. Sit in and learn everything there is to know about electric vehicles from fellow EV owners.Experience the look and feel of Green Technologies and Projects at our host sites.Coming out of this event you will have at least one idea for how you can be greener and help combat climate change. All of your questions and concerns will be answered by local people who have done it and you will learn and see how. Spread the word, and do your part to fight the most pressing concern of our time. Details
September 21-23, 2018
Ottawa GEDO Energy Showcase & Electric Vehicle Exhibition on Sept 22 @ Lansdowne Park.
Various Venues, Ottawa
Free
The PunkOttawa Flea Market
Buy/sell records, clothing, jewelry, books, toys, games, handmade items, art and much more! Details
Saturday, September 22 | 11:00 AM to 05:00 PM
Makerspace North
250 City Centre Ave. – Unit 216
$5 suggest donation for admission
Beau’s Oktoberfest
Beau’s Oktoberfest features live music on two stages, 15 Beau’s beers and over 50 guest taps, delicious cuisine from 28 local restaurants, activities, and so much more. Details
September 21-22, 2018
Vankleek Hill Fairgrounds, 92 Main Street West, Vankleek Hill
$5 to $45
Mosaïculture Gatineau
Take a magical journey along a one-kilometer path lined with 45 breathtaking floral masterpieces made with more than 5.5 million living plants of all colours and textures. Details
Through October 15, 2018 | 10 am to Dusk, Daily
Jacques‑Cartier Park, Gatineau
$4.35 to $17.40+ Taxes
Masters of Relief
An exhibition on the art of medal and coin design. Three pre-eminent Canadian artists are featured and their work, from coins to bronze sculpture are on display. Details
June 4 to November 25, 2018 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Bank of Canada Museum, 30 Bank Street
FREE
We do try to make the listings as accurate as possible, but mistakes may happen/Events may be cancelled or postponed without any notice. Verify all details from concerned Event Websites/officials.
To add events to this list – Submit Event.
Boom
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”?
Useful. Thanks for sharing.