12 Great Family Fun Events

Here’s what’s happening in the National Capital Region this back-to-school season

 

What: 37th annual Gatineau Balloon Festival

Where:  Parc de la Baie, Gatineau

When: Aug. 29 to Sept. 2

Why: Featuring hot air balloons so incredible, they have names — Super FMG, Meteo, Minnie Moo, Speedy Snail, She’s a Hoot, Batteries Expert, Yankee, Foxtrot, AirDiMarc and more — the Gatineau Balloon Festival has more than just balloons on offer. Artists including Charlotte Cardin, Comedy Gala, Iam, Dallas Smith, Isabelle Boulay, Salebarbes, Souldia & Guests, Bleu Jeans Bleu, Jonathan Roy and Dave Fenley will perform on various stages, and the Beauce Carnaval Amusement Park has fun for all. Staying for more than one day? There are camping opportunities on site.

Website: montgolfieresgatineau.com/en/

 

What: Ottawa Titans

Where: Ottawa Stadium, 300 Coventry Rd.

When: Through the beginning of September

Why: It’s easy to check out the Ottawa Titans, a member of the east division of the Frontier League. Simply take the LRT to Tremblay Station and use the Max Keeping pedestrian bridge to cross over Highway 417 to get to the ball park. 

Website: ottawatitans.com

 

What: Fall Festival

Where: 3320 Paul Anka Dr.

When: Sept. 7., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Why: The Hunt Club Community Association presents the Fall Festival, which includes musical performances, Zumba dance, basketball and Tae Kwon Do demonstrations, African drumming, food and more. This event is free.

Website: hunt-club.ca/event/fall-festival-2024/

 

What: Paper garden

Where: Canadian Children’s Museum at the Canadian Museum of History

When: Summer

Why: Use paper straws and upcycled materials to make a flower and add it to the collaborative garden in the Canadian Children’s Museum’s art studio. Transform the studio into a tangled paper garden.

Website: historymuseum.ca/event/paper-garden/

 

What: Ottawa Family Cinema

Where: Rideau Community Hub, 815 St-Laurent Blvd.

When: Mid-September through the beginning of May, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter weekends. Shows are every Saturday at 2 p.m. plus selected Friday evenings at 7 p.m.

Why: The Ottawa Family Cinema is a not-for-profit theatre with new powerful digital 3-D state-of-the-art projectors, Dolby Digital theatre surround sound, a huge screen, comfortable seating, free parking, low ticket prices and affordable treats. Entertainment offerings include stage shows, talent shows, community events, local movie premieres, cartoons and more. Proceeds from shows are donated back to the community through the Family Movie Trust Fund. 

Website: familycinema.ca

 

What: 169th Spencerville Fair

Where: 22 Ryan St., Spencerville

When: Sept. 12 to 15

Why: Called the Biggest Little Fair in eastern Ontario, the Spencerville Fair is presented by the Spencerville Agricultural Society and features competitions, a demolition derby, power wheels, an antique tractor and truck show, a baby show, pet show, a parade, school exhibits, a barn of learning, food and more. There are rough camping opportunities for those looking for overnight accommodations.

Website: spencervillefair.ca

 

What: Watson’s Mill & Dickinson House Harvest Festival

Where: Watson’s Mill, 1127 Mill St. and Dickinson House, 5524 Dickinson St., Manotick

When: Oct. 13

Why: The Harvest Festival features tours of Watson’s Mill, a fully operational 1860s water-powered flour mill and Dickinson House, the heritage home of the Mill’s past owners. There will also be a scavenger hunt, games, crafts, and a flour grinding demonstration. The facility also offers daily life demonstrations, school tours, Watson’s Mill and Dickinson House virtual tours and a walking tour of Manotick.

Website: watsonsmill.com

 

What: OneHood Music Festival — Cypher Bars for CHEO

Where: Dekcuf, 221 Rideau St., second floor

When: Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.

Why: Celebrating its 15th anniversary in downtown Ottawa, OneHood Fest is a fundraiser for CHEO’s urgent needs department.

Website: eventbrite.ca/e/onehood-fest-cypher-bars-for-cheo-tickets-622916860097

 

What: Kids’ Art Market

Where: 1088 Somerset St. W., in the parking lot

When: Sept. 21, 2 to 5 p.m.

Why: With a goal to make art accessible to everyone and help support local artists, the Urban Art Collective is a group of urban visual artists in Ottawa. Urban Art Collective offers themed markets on Saturdays, and Sept. 21’s Kids’ Art Market features artwork and creative things made by kid vendors.

Website: urbanartcollective.ca/pages/urban-themed-markets

 

What: RBC Race for the Kids Ottawa

Where: Wesley Clover Park

When: Oct. 6

Why: Lace up your shoes to run a closed-course, timed all-terrain 5K and 10K race, or walk or run a fully accessible 2K Family Fun Run in support of the largest redevelopment campaign in CHEO’s 50-year history.

Website: rbcr4tkottawa.ca

 

What: Ottawa Parent and Child Expo

Where: Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave., Nepean

When: Oct. 19 and 20

Why: The Ottawa Parent & Child Expo is the capital’s longest-running parenting and kids expo, and one of the best values for fun, learning, new products, services and entertainment for families. Play, take part in activities and learning zones, check out dozens of local parenting exhibitors and sit back to enjoy free mainstage entertainment. The first 1,000 families each day receive free show bags.

Website: parentandchildexpo.ca/

 

What: Money in 10 Questions

Where: Bank of Canada Museum

When: Through December 2024

Why: This hands-on exhibition was the result of a survey by the Bank of Canada Museum: children told them what they wanted to know about money. The exhibit features 10 play-based activity stations that provide a foundation of what kids need to know to help them manage their financial futures.

Website: bankofcanadamuseum.ca/explore/exhibitions/special-exhibitions/

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