24 Great Family Fun Events

Ottawa Farmers’ Market

When: Sundays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Aberdeen Square, Lansdowne Park
What: Take a leisurely family outing to shop and savour premium quality, Ottawa-area fruits, vegetables, meats, flowers and crafts.
Website: www.ottawafarmersmarket.ca

Wilderness Tours, Ottawa City Adventures

When: Opens June 6
Where: Britannia Beach
What: Three hours of an urban rafting family adventure combining fun, excitement and history.
Fees: Start at $49 per person
Website: www.ottawacityadventures.com

Mont Cascades Resort and Waterpark

When: June 5-Aug. 30
Where: 448 Mont Cascades Rd., Cantley, Que.
What: World-class water rides, water play areas and full food and beverage services make Mont Cascades Resort and Waterpark a great place for the family to cool down and have fun this summer.
Website: www.montcascades.ca

 

Father’s Day Antique Car Show

When: June 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Billings Estate National Historic Site
What: Bring dad out to see some of the coolest antique cars in town – including a 1959 Cadillac. Take in the awesomeness of automotive history while enjoying live musical entertainment and a mouth-watering barbecue. There will also be a fun scavenger hunt for kids.
Fees: $6/person, $10/pair, $16/family
Website: www.ottawa.ca/museums

Father’s Day at the Farm

When: June 21, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Canada Agriculture & Food Museum, 861 Prince of Wales Dr., between the traffic circle and Baseline Road
What: Bring Dad to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. Meet the farm dads and learn why these animals are special, not just on Father’s Day, but all year round.
Website: www.cafmuseum.techno-science.ca

Italian Week Ottawa

When: June 11-21
Where: Preston Street
What: Italian Week Ottawa, in its 41st year, celebrates the rich diversity of Ottawa’s Italian-Canadian community and its food, music, poetry and the vibrant passions of its people. Bring the family to enjoy all the vibrant Italian culture has to offer: arts, sport, culture and cuisine.
Website: www.italianweekottawa.org

Ottawa Ribfest

When: June 17-21, starts at 11 a.m. daily
Where: Sparks Street Mall
What: Bring the family to sample some of the best barbecue chicken and ribs you’ll ever taste, while “ribbers” from all over North America vie for top marks. With live entertainment and much more.
Website: www.sparkslive.com

 

Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Festival

When: June 19-21
Where: Vincent Massey Park
What: In honour of National Aboriginal Day, enjoy some of Canada’s best Aboriginal talent, featuring music and plenty of family programming, including a Competition Pow Wow, the 2015 Colour Run, a hypnotist, interactive arts and crafts and a fashion show.
Website: www.ottawasummersolstice.ca

Changing the Guard

When: June 28-Aug. 21, daily (weather permitting), 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Where: Parliament Hill
What: A Canadian tradition at its most colourful! The Ceremonial Guard of the Canadian Forces brings this stirring military drill and music to Parliament Hill. Come at 9:45 a.m. to learn more about the ceremony.
Website: www.parl.gc.ca/visitors

RCMP Sunset Ceremonies

When: June 24-28, nightly, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Kids Zone from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: RCMP Musical Ride Centre, 1 Sandridge Rd.
What: A favourite family event featuring the world-famous Musical Ride, Equestrian Abilities Show, Mounted Arms Display, RCMP/Ottawa Police Service Pipes and Drums and Dancers, the Central and of the Canadian Forces, rescue dogs from the Ottawa Valley Search & Rescue Dog Association, as well as a Kids Zone with the DND kids’ obstacle course, petting zoo and more.
Fees: Free
Website: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/mr-ce/sunsetcrepuscule-eng.htm

Children’s fun at the Bytown Museum

When: Ongoing
Where: Bytown Museum, 1 Canal Lane, at the Rideau Canal locks between Parliament Hill and the Château Laurier hotel
What: Plenty of interactive activities for young and young-at-heart visitors! While visiting the museum, become a History Explorer with a scavenger hunt through all three floors. Collect postcards about Ottawa’s history and end your visit in the children’s play space on the third floor.
Website: www.bytownmuseum.com

A Company of Fools: The Comedy of Errors

When: July 2-Aug. 15
Where: Various Ottawa parks
What: When two sets of identical twins separated at birth are brought to the same town by circumstance, mistaken identities abound! Set against the backdrop of Ottawa parks, this touring outdoor performance by professional Shakespeare company A Company of Fools will encourage the audience to partake in a Where’s Waldo-esque array of colour and hustle bustle, challenging the notion of truly knowing one’s friend, spouse, neighbour and self. Full of slapstick, word play, romance and rhyme, this rollicking comical romp is one of Shakespeare’s most delightful works – fun for the whole family!
Fees: By donation (pass the hat). Suggested donation $15.
Website: www.fools.ca

Monday Night Movies at the Museum

When: Monday nights
Where: Bytown Museum, 1 Canal Lane, at the Rideau Canal locks between Parliament Hill and the Château Laurier hotel
What: Escape the heat, grab some popcorn and explore the First World War and Canada’s history through cinema! Visit www.bytownmuseum.com for film selection.
Website: www.bytownmuseum.com

Osgoode Medieval Festival

When: July 11-12
Where: 5673 Osgoode Main St.
What: Enter into the Kingdom of Osgoode to attend this popular annual festival, where the family can enjoy a medieval market, medieval feast, creative arts competition and more! Visit the website for updates on what to expect.
Website: www.osgoodemedievalfestival.com

Ottawa REDBLACKS

When: June to November. Visit www.ottawaredblacks.com for the 2015 schedule.
Where: Lansdowne Park
What: Head out for some exciting Canadian Football League home game action and cheer on Ottawa’s young team while taking in all TD Place has to offer.
Website: www.ottawaredblacks.com

Ice Cream Festival

When: July 19, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Canada Agriculture & Food Museum, 861 Prince of Wales Dr., between the traffic circle and Baseline Road.
What: Explore the delicious journey from cow to cone to celebrate National Ice Cream Day (yum!) and get the scoop on ice cream and dairying.
Fees: Included with museum admission.
Website: www.cafmuseum.technoscience.ca

Glengarry Highland Games

When: July 31-Aug. 1
Where: Maxville, Ont., an hour east of Ottawa off Hwy. 417, 30 minutes north of the Canada/U.S. border crossing at Cornwall
What: Bring the family for two jam-packed days of events, activities, sights and sounds. Witness traditional Scottish events with more than 60 pipe bands, 200 Highland dancers, sports, pageantry and tradition. Check online for updated events.
Fees: General admission $20, children under 12 free
Website: www.glengarryhighlandgames.com

Ottawa Busker Festival

When: July 30-Aug. 3
Where: Sparks Street Mall
What: Check out intriguing, unorthodox entertainment by street performers from around the world, including acrobats, contortionists, hula-hoopers, yo-yos, musicians, comedian escape acts, magicians, jugglers and more!
Fees: Free admission; donations appreciated.
Website: www.sparkslive.com

Celebrate Colonel By Day

When: Aug. 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: At the entrance locks to the Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa (beside the Bytown Museum, between and below Parliament Hill and the Fairmont Château Laurier).
What: Celebrate the holiday named for Ottawa’s founding father with live music, dancing, heritage demonstrators, costumed characters, and face painting for kids. Also on offer: games, crafts, and era-appropriate toys.
Website: www.journeecolonelbyday.ca

Capital Fair

When: Aug. 21-30
Where: Rideau Carleton Raceway
What: The kids will be thrilled to spend the day at Ottawa’s 10-day fair featuring music, food, midway rides, animals, Monster Truck shows and more.
Website: www.capitalfair.ca

North Lanark Highland Games

When: Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: North Lanark Agricultural Society Fairgrounds, Almonte
What: Celebrate Scottish culture and heritage of the Ottawa Valley at the 32nd North Lanark Highland Games, held in historic Almonte at the beautiful grounds of the North Lanark Agricultural Society, with pipe bands, dancers and champion heavyweight athletes, mini games for kids, and plentiful Scottish concessions.
Fees: Adults $17, $14 in advance; children 6-13 $6
Website: www.almontehighlandgames.com

Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival

When: Sept. 3-7
Where: Parc de La Baie, Gatineau
What: Canada’s largest balloon festival, where gorgeous hot air balloons fill the Gatineau sky, and a wide variety of exciting shows and family activities take place.
Website: www.balloongatineau.com

Play ball! Ottawa Champions

When: Until Sept. 7
Where: Ottawa Baseball Stadium, 300 Coventry Rd.
What: Professional baseball returns to Ottawa as the Champions kick off their first season in the Can-Am League.
Website: www.ottawachampions.com

Body Worlds: Animal Inside Out

When: Until Sept. 20
Where: Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St.
What: This unforgettable exhibition will lead you on an exploration of what lies beneath the surface of many amazing animals, large and small. The intricate biology of more than 100 specimens—from goats to giraffes, bulls to birds, and octopi to ostriches—is revealed thanks to a process called plastination.
Website: www.nature.ca 

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