Weekend Events & Festivals in Ottawa
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. – March 22 to 24, 204
Before You Travel:
- Weather:
- Ottawa Road Conditions/Traffic/Road Closures: Details
Submit the event online (free) to add to the Ottawa Events Calendar.
I. Family & Kids Activities
Vanier Sugar Festival
March 18-24, 2024
Richelieu Park, 300 des Pères-Blancs Ave., Vanier
Free admission
ERTH’s Dinosaur Zoo Live
Dinosaur fans at the ready, Australia’s ERTH’s Dinosaur Zoo is here! Get ready to be wowed by a menagerie of insects and dinosaurs that once roamed free around the world. Be up close and personal with an amazing array of prehistoric creatures, from baby dinos to some of the largest carnivores and herbivores that have ever walked the planet. ERTH’s dinosaurs are unmistakably ‘alive,’ and mostly friendly, in this fun, educational, and original performance, connecting young audiences to the real science of paleontology. Details
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe Dr., Ottawa
$30.25 – $69.25
Sugar Fest at Parc Omega
Experience a memorable evening in a festive and folkloric atmosphere under the theme of sugar shack. Details
Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Omega Park, 399, route 323 nord, Montebello
$8 to $18
Easter Egg Hunts
The Easter Bunnies-in-training have lost all of their eggs and they need your help finding them again. Hop aboard the tractor-drawn wagon for a ride out to the sugarbush where you will hunt through the bush in search of the lost eggs. If you find any, make sure to add them to your basket. Details
March 23rd, 24th, 30th, 2024
Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, 2452 York’s Corners Road, Edwards
$16.59
Recorders on the Run
Kinderconcert Series. Join the Recorders on the Run for a lap around the track that will take your breath away. Ready, set, go! For the music Olympics, these four virtuosos train day and night to develop the nimblest fingers, the strongest embouchures, and the finest ears in the world. Prepare yourself for an exciting, athletic performance with Flûte Alors! Details
Sunday March 24, 2024
Performances in English at 11 am and 1:30 pm
Performance in French at 3 pm
Azrieli Studio, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
$15.00
Ongoing Maple Festivals
- Sugarbush at the Log Farm — Weekends March 2 to April 7, 2024 @ The Log Farm, 670 Cedarview Road, Nepean
- Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm @ March 2 to April 14, 2024 @ 2452 York’s Corners Road, Edwards
- Proulx Maple & Berry Farm — March 3 to April 1, 2024 @ 1865 O’Toole Rd, Ottawa
- Fulton`s Maple Farm — February 17-April 14, 2024 @ 399 Sugar Bush Rd., Pakenham
At the library
Ottawa Public Library offers plenty of free activities for all ages, including toddler storytimes. Plan to attend some of the free activities during weekends:
Details and link for registration.
By City of Ottawa Recreation – Programs
At the library
II. Live Music
EDM/Concerts Tours
- Kevin Drew on Thursday March 21, 2024 | 8:00 PM @ NAC, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
- The Once on Thursday March 21, 2024 | 8:00 PM @ Babs Asper Theatre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
- Simon Leblanc: Présent – en rodage on Friday March 22, 2024 at 8:00 PM @ Harold Shenkman Hall, 245 Centrum Boulevard, Ottawa
- Adrian Sutherland on Friday March 22, 2024 | 8:00 PM @ Fourth Stage, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
- John Muirhead with Callahan and the Woodpile on Friday March 22, 2024 | 8:15 PM @ LIVE! on Elgin
- Jeff Rosenstock, Sidney Gish, Gladie on Friday March 22, 2024 | 7 PM @ Bronson Centre Theatre
211 Bronson Avenue Ottawa - Jeremie Albino, Benjamin Dakota Roger on Friday March 22, 2024 | 8:30 PM @ Club SAW, 67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa
- Roch Voisine on Friday March 22, 2024 | 8:00 PM @ Southam Hall,1 Elgin St, Ottawa
- Ellyn Woods on Saturday March 23 | 3:00 PM @ Azrieli Studio, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
- Less Than Jake – Return To Rockview Tour with Strung Out, The Raging Nathans on Saturday March 23, | 7:30 PM @ Bronson Centre Theatre, 211 Bronson Avenue Ottawa
- Comeback Kid, Spy, Prowl, Critical Witness on Sunday, March 24 | 6:30 PM @ The 27 Club, 27 York Street, Ottawa
Candlelight Concerts
March 22: The Best of Joe Hisaishi | 6:30 PM, 8:45 PM
March 23: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac | 4:15 PM, 6:30 PM, 8:45 PM
The Gladstone, 910 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa
$34 & up
Stardew Valley
Immerse yourself in the melodies of nature, as a chamber orchestra brings to life the music of Stardew Valley! Stardew Valley: Festival of Seasons is an intimate, immersive live concert featuring fresh arrangements of the most cherished songs from the game’s mesmerizing soundtrack. Curated by ConcernedApe, the concert program will take you on a musical journey through the four seasons of the valley, its unforgettable festivals, and its beloved villagers. Details
Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 7:30 PM
Babs Asper Theatre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
$61.25 – $96.25+fees
Dreamer – The Supertramp Experience
The world’s most authentic tribute to Supertramp. Performing songs from the ‘Crime of the Century’ album, plus all of Supertramp’s biggest hits: Give a Little Bit, The Logical Song, Take the Long Long Way Home, Breakfast in America, and more! Dreamer – The Supertramp Experience delivers a world-class show that includes authentic instrumentation with vintage keyboards and live horns. Details
Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe Dr., Ottawa
$59.00
III. Live Theatre
Will Somers: Keeping Your Head
Written and performed by Pierre Brault January 16th, 1559: Coronation Day for Queen Elizabeth I of England, the last monarch in the bloody reign of the Tudors, England’s most influential and scandalous dynasty. Will Somers, the family’s longtime jester, prepares for the ceremony, he takes us through an astonishing life adventure, providing comic relief for four Tudor monarchs, from the notorious Henry VIII to the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth. Details
March 19 to 23, 2024
Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe Dr., Ottawa
$20.00 – $25.00
Matteo Lane – The Al Dente Tour
Matteo Lane is a New York-based comedian whose stand-up special can be seen on Netflix’s The Comedy Lineup. He has performed stand-up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Comedy Central’s Adam Devine’s House Party, This Week at the Comedy Cellar and The Comedy Jam, as well as HBO’s Crashing. Details
Friday March 22, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe Dr., Ottawa
$62.50 – $102.50
Révolution en Tournée
In collaboration with Loto-Québec, Gestev presents the 2024 edition of Revolution on Tour! From THE biggest dance competition in Quebec! After a successful first tour in 2022, we’ll be back in the winter of 2024 to bring you an all-new show, with new artists, new numbers and breathtaking moments! Details
March 20 to 24 2024
Theatre du Casino du Lac-Leamy, 1 Blvd du Casino, Gatineau
$74.73 – $113.83+fees
Murder on the Orient Express
March 22 to 24, 2024
Kailash Mital Theatre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa
$15-$20
Les Belles-Soeurs
Written in 1965, the play Les Belles-Sœurs features 15 Quebec women expressing loudly, crudely and audaciously, their anger, their despair and their frustration. Germaine Lauzon, a typical Montreal housewife, is the winner of one million GoldStar bonus stamps! She then invites her family and friends to her “stamp collage party”, but the party quickly turns into drama, when the women scream, stab each other in the back, daydream and steal in a grandiose theatrical style. Details
March 22 to 23, 2024
Alumni Auditorium, 85 University Private, Ottawa
$15
Laugha-Cadabra: Featuring Aaron and Caroline Matthews
Join us at the Laugh Lounge in the heart of downtown Ottawa for an incredible magic show, with Canada’s premier magician couple! Aaron and Caroline has performed all over Canada, including headlining the Calgary Stampede, and countless other festivals. They’ve been on Canada’s Got Talent, and completely wowed the judges! Details
Friday, March 22, 2024 | 6:30 PM
Laugh Lounge, 61 York Street, Ottawa
$22.50
Bored Teachers We Can’t Make This Stuff Up! Comedy
Bored Teachers Studios, the #1 teacher-entertainment platform, presents the funniest teacher-comedians in the world all on one stage. Their hilarious skits have amassed hundreds of millions of views on the internet, and they’re all joining comic forces on stage for a night of laughter you do not want to miss. Put that red pen down, call your teacher besties, and come burn off some of that stress from the school year! Details
Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 3:00 PM
Algonquin Commons Theatre, 1385 Woodroffe Ave, Nepean
$39.50 – $69.50+fees
The Seller of Rings
The Seller of Rings by the Rahbani Brothers is presented by the Al-Arz Lebanese Art Group and is played in Lebanese with a printed summary in English and French. The story is based on village tales, where fabricated stories spread like truth, human relationships are complex, seasonal festivities break the spell of celibacy and villagers follow their fate in love. Details
Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Harold Shenkman Hall, 245 Centrum Boulevard, Ottawa
$70.00
Dogs do Magic – A Canine Illusion Show
Join us at Festival Hall for an unforgettable evening of magic, comedy, & canine hijinks featuring some of Canada’s top variety entertainers! These mind reading, acrobatic dogs will steal the show, your heart, & any unattended treats in the venue! From answering impossible questions (with adorable barks) to not immediately getting distracted by a rabbit, each of our well-loved & loving doggos are sure to blow your mind and lick your heart clean. Details
Sunday March 24, 2024 | 7 PM
Festival Hall, 401 Isabella St, Pembroke
$29.50-50
Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show
This two-hour show features all-Canadian music: from maritime folk songs to modern pop. Come meet our singing Mountie, Hockey Player, Anne of Green Gables, Klondike Kitty and more. This high-energy production 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. Details
Various Dates
Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Theatre, 330 Kent Street, Ottawa
$20 to $94.95
IV. Sports/Outdoor Activities
PWHL Ottawa
vs. PWHL Toronto Details
Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 1:00 PM
The Arena at TD Place, 1015 Bank St., Ottawa
$10 – $58.96+fees
Ottawa Senators
vs. Edmonton Oilers Details
Sunday, March 24, 2024 | 6:00 PM
Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa
$47.1 – $998.99+fees
Ottawa 67’s
v. Brantford Bulldogs. Details
Sunday, March 24, 2024 | 2:00 PM
The Arena at TD Place, 1015 Bank St., Ottawa
$9.74 – $44.74+fees
General Activities
- Scenic Lookouts: 15 Scenic Lookouts In and Around Ottawa
- Waterfalls: 15+ Waterfalls to Visit in and Around Ottawa
- Hikes: 25 of the Best Hikes in and Around Ottawa
- Family Hikes: 20 Family Hikes and Walks in and Around Ottawa
- Nature Areas: 25 Must-Visit Nature Attractions and Nature Hotspots in and Around Ottawa
V. Festivals & Other Events
Karaoke Night
Friday, March 22, 2024 | 11pm
Laugh Lounge, 61 York Street, Ottawa
Free entry
VERSeFest
VERSeFest, Ottawa’s International Poetry Festival, returns for our fourteenth glorious year of events. This year’s festival, as part of our ongoing rebuilding year, will feature a wide range of award-winning performers in English and French. A mix of readings and performances will allow participants and poets to gather once more under the roofs of some iconic Ottawa establishments. Details
March 21 to 24, 2024
Various Locations, Ottawa
Free to $12
Ottawa Home & Garden Show
One of the largest home shows in Ottawa, Ontario, this show features landscaping companies, remodeling contractors, interior design companies, and more! Find fresh inspiration, helpful tips, innovative products and fantastic deals in remodeling, home improvement, decor and outdoor spaces with hundreds of experts all under one roof. Details
March 21 to 24, 2024
EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa
$7 – $14
Great Bowls of Fire
Some of Ottawa’s best potters have teamed up with some of Ottawa’s favourite restaurants and bakeries to bring you “Great Bowls of Fire 2024” – a fundraiser for the Ottawa Food Bank. Patrons choose one of the beautiful hand-crafted pottery bowls donated by our members, then select soup and bread from some of the region’s favourite restaurants and bakeries– all packaged up to enjoy at home with friends and family.
Saturday March 23 2024 | 4:00 PM – 6 PM
Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Avenue, Ottawa
$50 +fees
Geeked Out
Geeked Out is Ottawa’s Toy & Collectible Sale. 100 booths and the best selection of geek vendors in the Ottawa Valley. Toys, video games, comic books, trading cards, diecast, apparel, artisans and more! Details
March 23 & 24, 2024
Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroofe Ave., Nepean
$5.00
Ottawa Black Film Festival
The Ottawa Black Film Festival is dedicated to giving unique voices in cinema the opportunity to present audiences with new ways of looking at the world. Details
March 22 – 26, 2024
Various, Ottawa
Varies
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
March 23 | 10 AM – 4 PM
Lansdowne Park, 1015 Bank St., Ottawa
Free
Holi Celebration
Get ready to experience the joy of this traditional Indian festival filled with music, dancing and of course, lots of colours. Details
March 23 | 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Walter Baker Park, 100 Charlie Rogers Place, Ottawa
$17.31
International Film Festival of Ottawa
The International Film Festival of Ottawa (IFFO) brings an eclectic mix of shorts and features from around the globe to Canada’s capital. Held annually in March by the Canadian Film Institute, IFFO is hosted at the Ottawa Art Gallery, the ByTowne Cinema and other venues all within the Ottawa downtown core. Details
March 13 – 24, 2024
Various locations, Ottawa
You may like:
- Elders In Stitches — Enjoy the social while individually completing knitted, crocheted, or other craft projects in a safe comfortable setting. Bring your own projects or do projects as part of our outreach programming. Wool is provided for outreach projects. 2nd & 4th Thursday of every month @ Upper Hall, 6255 Fernbank Road, Stittsville | Free Details
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.
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