Seasonal
Canada Day in Ottawa
A guide to celebrating Canada Day in the national capital. Covers the LeBreton Flats main stage, Parliament Hill events, fireworks, free museums, and practical tips for July 1.
#free#family#outdoor
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#Cultural
39 results found
Events (26)
3
Aug
#free#cultural#outdoor
Mon 3 Aug
cultural
Celtic Cross Ceremonies
Rideau Canal – Lock 1 · Downtown
Annual ceremony at the Celtic Cross monument honouring Irish immigrants who helped build the Rideau Canal, hosted by the Irish Society of the National Capital Region.
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#music#classical#festival
22 Jul ~ 2 Aug
music
Ottawa Chamberfest 2026
Dominion-Chalmers United Church & Various Venues · Downtown
The world's largest chamber music festival returns for two weeks of 120+ concerts featuring leading international ensemble and solo artists in Ottawa's most beautiful churches, museums, and heritage sites.
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#free#festival#outdoor
Wed 1 Jul
festival
Canada Day Ottawa 2026
Parliament Hill & Downtown Ottawa · Downtown
Canada's national birthday celebration featuring live music, cultural performances, family activities, and spectacular fireworks across multiple downtown locations including Parliament Hill and LeBreton Flats.
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#free#family#cultural
20 Jun ~ 21 Jun
cultural
Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival 2026
Wesley Clover Parks
Celebrate Indigenous cultures with a Competition Pow Wow, drone show, live performances, Indigenous marketplace, culinary experiences, and family fun at Wesley Clover Parks.
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#music#outdoor#cultural
18 Jun ~ 27 Jun
festival
Ottawa Jazz Festival 2026
Confederation Park & National Arts Centre · Downtown
The 46th annual Ottawa Jazz Festival featuring world-class jazz artists across multiple venues in downtown Ottawa over 10 days.
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#music#cultural#festival
10 Jun ~ 13 Jun
festival
Festival Franco-Ontarien 2026
Major's Hill Park · Downtown
The Festival Franco-Ontarien celebrates its 50th anniversary with three days of francophone music, street art, food, and family-friendly activities at Major's Hill Park.
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#family#outdoor#cultural
29 May ~ 30 May
festival
Glengarry Renaissance Festival 2026
Maxville Fairgrounds
A family-friendly medieval and renaissance festival featuring live music, stage shows, interactive characters, and renaissance-themed vendors in Maxville.
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#free#food#cultural
29 May ~ 31 May
food
Ottawa Chinatown Night Market 2026
Chinatown, Somerset Street West · Downtown
Annual night market in Ottawa Chinatown featuring Asian street food, live performances, and artisanal goods over three days.
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#film#festival#free
23 Apr ~ 25 Apr
cultural
European Union Short Film Festival
Arts Court Theatre · Downtown
The European Union Short Film Festival brings short dramas, experimental works, animation, and more from over 20 EU Member States to Arts Court Theatre.
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#free#music#family
23 Apr ~ 26 Apr
festival
Ottawa Grassroots Festival 2026
First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa · Westboro
14th annual multi-day music and community festival celebrating diverse cultures and languages with evening concerts and free daytime workshops and performances.
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#free#family#outdoor
28 Mar ~ 29 Mar
festival
Vanier Sugar Festival
Muséoparc Vanier · Vanier
Celebrate the 41st year of Ottawa's beloved sugar festival at Canada's only urban sugar shack, featuring maple taffy, live music, mini-farm, and lumberjack competitions.
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#film#cultural#diversity
27 Mar ~ 1 Apr
cultural
Ottawa Black Film Festival 2026
Library and Archives Canada · Downtown
6th edition showcasing unique voices in cinema and amplifying Black stories. Features online and in-theater screenings at Library and Archives Canada.
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#free#family#outdoor
Sat 7 Mar
festival
Ottawa St. Patrick's Day Parade
Supreme Court of Canada to ByWard Market · Downtown
Ottawa's St. Patrick's Day Parade returns to celebrate the Bicentennial of Bytown with a new route that frames the city's skyline.
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#food#cultural#family
Sun 22 Feb
food
Irish Breakfast
Heart and Crown – Barrhaven · Barrhaven
A traditional Irish breakfast fundraiser hosted by the Irish Society of the National Capital Region at the Heart and Crown in Barrhaven.
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#free#cultural#family
Tue 17 Feb
cultural
Heritage Day 2026 – Voices of a City
Ottawa City Hall · Downtown
Celebrate Ottawa's 200th anniversary with the theme 'Voices of a City,' featuring over 50 historical societies, museums, and heritage organizations at City Hall.
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#theatre#arts#festival
3 Feb ~ 13 Feb
cultural
Undercurrents – Contemporary Theatre Festival
Arts Court · Downtown
Ottawa's innovative contemporary theatre festival showcasing thought-provoking works from local and national artists over 11 days.
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#free#family#cultural
Sun 1 Feb
cultural
Indigenous Experiences – Winterlude Mini Pow Wow
Canadian Museum of History
Experience a mini Pow Wow featuring Grand Entry, intertribals, invited drums, and dancers of many styles and ages in the Grand Hall.
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#cultural#family#festival
30 Oct ~ 1 Nov
cultural
Day of the Dead Festival Ottawa
Byward Market · ByWard Market
Three-day celebration of Mexican culture featuring art, gastronomy, music, and dance in honor of the traditional Day of the Dead.
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#steampunk#cultural#costume
18 Oct ~ 19 Oct
cultural
Capital Steampunk Show / Salon Steampunk de la capitale
Gatineau Event Venue · Gatineau
Immersive steampunk experience with 30 exhibitors, 8 activities, and 2 competitions! Explore 19th century Outaouais forests where enchanted creatures meet industrial progress.
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14
Oct
#free#cultural#dance
Tue 14 Oct
cultural
ArohaFest Diwali Dhamaka: Dance from Coast to Coast
Peter A. Herrndorf Place · Downtown
Free pop-up performances showcasing classical Indian dances (Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam) at the National Arts Centre, celebrating Diwali - the vibrant festival of lights.
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#free#market#cultural
Sun 12 Oct
festival
Day of the Dead at Nepean Night Market
Nepean Night Market · Nepean
Third annual Day of the Dead celebration with authentic Mexican cuisine, Mariachi band Los Paisanos, local vendors, free hot chocolate, and Day of the Dead vibes! Come dressed as your best Sugar Skull.
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#workshop#indigenous#art
Fri 10 Oct
workshop
Dreamcatcher Workshop with Bougie Birch
National Arts Centre - Atelier Shenkman Smith · Downtown
Craft your own dreamcatcher with Indigenous artist Ashley Clark. Learn about Indigenous artistry and resilience in this 1.5-2 hour hands-on workshop. All materials supplied.
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#free#art#cultural
9 Oct ~ 26 Mar
cultural
Free Thursday Nights at National Gallery
National Gallery of Canada · Downtown
Free Thursday evening admission with seasonal refreshments, live music, and art-making activities. Presented by BMO at the Scotiabank Great Hall.
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#cultural#history#education
Tue 7 Oct
cultural
Black History in Ottawa Streets
Historic Bus Tour · Downtown
Historic bus tour uncovering the vibrant tapestry of Black history in Ottawa and across Canada, sharing stories of resilience, culture, and community.
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#music#classical#indoor
Sat 4 Oct
cultural
Ottawa Symphony Orchestra: Machines & Myths
Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre · Downtown
The season launches with a powerful program featuring the full symphonic orchestra in its largest performance of the year, exploring themes of heroism, technology, and the human condition.
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#free#family#outdoor
18 Sep ~ 23 Nov
festival
Day of the Dead Cultural weekend at One World Bazaar
One World Bazaar Heritage Barn · Manotick
A heritage barn packed with beautiful handmade goods from around the world. Features live music, delicious food, lawn games, and meaningful cultural exchange supporting 2500+ artisans worldwide.
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Places (3)
#museum#indoor#family
Attraction$15-$22
Canadian War Museum
Downtown
Canada's national museum of military history, featuring four chronological galleries, a massive vehicle hall, and the architecturally striking Memorial Hall. Free admission every Thursday 5-7 PM.
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#free#outdoor#cultural
AttractionFree
Parliament Hill
Downtown
Canada's seat of federal government and a National Historic Site, featuring the iconic Peace Tower, the Centennial Flame, and free guided tours of the West Block and Senate. Centre Block is closed for renovation until the early 2030s.
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#family#outdoor#cultural
Attraction
Upper Canada Village
13740 County Road 2
One of Canada's largest living-history museums, transporting visitors to an 1860s rural Ontario village with over 40 heritage buildings, costumed interpreters, working mills, and artisan demonstrations. About one hour south of Ottawa in Morrisburg.
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Things to Do (10)
Neighborhoods
Manotick Village: A Neighbourhood Guide
A guide to Manotick, the heritage village on the Rideau River south of Ottawa. Covers Watson's Mill, Main Street shops and restaurants, seasonal events, and how to get there.
#neighborhoods#cultural#family
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Seasonal
National Indigenous Peoples Day in Ottawa
A guide to National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 in Ottawa. Covers the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, museum programming, Indigenous cultural experiences, and ways to engage respectfully.
#cultural#free#family
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Seasonal
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Celebrations in Gatineau
A guide to celebrating the Fête nationale du Québec (Saint-Jean-Baptiste) on June 24 from the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Covers the Festival Outaouais en fête, bonfires, concerts, and how to get there from Ottawa.
#cultural#free#family
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Ottawa Guide
Best Historic Sites in Ottawa
A guide to Ottawa's most significant historic sites, from a UNESCO World Heritage canal to National Historic Sites spanning nearly 200 years. Most are free to visit.
#landmark#free#cultural
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Ottawa Guide
Best Date Night Ideas in Ottawa
A guide to Ottawa's best date night activities beyond restaurants, from sunset lookouts and canal cruises to comedy clubs, museum nights, and speakeasy cocktail bars.
#date-night#cultural#entertainment
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Ottawa Guide
Best Day Trips from Ottawa
A guide to the best day trips within two hours of Ottawa, from charming small towns and living history villages to wildlife safaris and waterfall lookouts.
#outdoor#family#nature
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Ottawa Guide
Ottawa Public Art Guide
A guide to Ottawa's best public art, from the giant Maman spider and balanced rock sculptures to street murals, monuments, and hidden bronze cats. All freely accessible.
#cultural#free#walking
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Seasonal
Best Christmas Activities in Ottawa
A guide to Ottawa's best Christmas events and holiday activities, from light festivals and holiday markets to parades, performances, and festive day trips. Most events run late November through early January.
#seasonal#family#free
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Seasonal
Remembrance Day in Ottawa
A guide to Remembrance Day in Ottawa, home to Canada's National Remembrance Day Ceremony at the National War Memorial. Covers the ceremony, museums, poppy protocol, and what to know as a visitor.
#cultural#free#seasonal
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