Here’s what’s happening in the National Capital Region this summer
What: Jurassic Kingdom
Where: Wesley Clover Parks, 401 Corkstown Rd.
When: June 26 through July 12
Why: A walk-through experience designed for visitors of all ages, Jurassic Kingdom features more than 50 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs with robotic moving parts such as moving heads, breathing bodies, swaying arms and tails, blinking eyes and jaws that open wide with realistic roaring sound effects. Beyond the dinosaur trail, visitors can enjoy a range of additional attractions including street food and drink stalls, a merchandise stall, a face painting station, a giant trampoline and bouncy castle and a fossil dig pit where younger visitors can play at being mini palaeontologists.
Website: showpass.com/jurassic-kingdom-ottawa/#tickets
Photo Credit Depositphotos_711415128_S
What: Canada Day in Barrhaven
Where: Clarke Fields Park, 93 Houlahan St.
When: July 1, 9 a.m. to 10:40 p.m.
Why: The free shuttle bus from Your Independent Grocer and Heart & Crown Barrhaven will get visitors to the festivities at Clarke Fields Park with ease. Canada Day in Barrhaven kicks off with a free seniors’ breakfast (9 to 10 a.m., with tickets available at the Barrhaven Legion or Barrhaven Seniors Council) and features a midway by Robertson Amusements Ltd. (on site from June 26 through July 6, closed July 2), the Kidz Zone with an activity area, stage and crafts and food vendors. There will be multiple entertainment stages featuring live music.
Website: canadadaybarrhaven.ca/
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What: Canada Day in downtown Ottawa
Where: Four locations, including Parliament Hill, LeBreton Flats, in front of the Supreme Court of Canada and in Old Hull
When: July 1, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Why: Celebrate Canada’s birthday in the heart of the capital. Schedule still to come.
Website: canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/canada-day/capital-region.html
What: Canada Day Distance Classic
Where: Riverain Park at Rideau River trail entrance
When: July 1, 7:30 a.m.
Why: Celebrate Canada’s birthday with a 5 or 10-kilometre race through Ottawa’s downtown route. Every registered runner receives a T-shirt and a medal to commemorate the event.
Website: canadadaydistanceclassic.ca/ottawa/
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What: HOPE Volleyball SummerFest
Where: Mooney’s Bay Park and Beach
When: July 11
Why: It takes more than 6,000 players, 500 volunteers, 40 planning team members, and dozens of sponsors and vendors to put on one of this region’s best-known fundraisers where participants compete for the coveted championship trophies. This year’s music lineup includes The Rambles, The New Hires, k-os and USS.
Website: hopehelps.com/
What: Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy
Where: Canadian Museum of History
When: July 29 to August 15
Why: With fireworks from Canada, France, Brazil and China before the grand finale show, this event takes guests around the world with pyromusical shows synchronized to carefully curated soundtracks.
Website: feux.qc.ca/en/program-2026/
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What: Water Lantern Festival
Where: Andrew Haydon Park, 3127 Carling Ave.
When: August 8
Why: Personalize a lantern with a message or intention, release the lantern across the water in a powerful shared moment and take in the beauty of thousands of lights reflecting back. The event also features a festival atmosphere with live music, food and activities.
Website: waterlanternfestival.com/events/ottawa-gatineau
What: Russell Fair
Where: Russell Fairgrounds
When: August 13 to 16
Why: Although the exact lineup is yet to be determined, here’s what we can expect from the Russell Fair: a midway, children’s entertainment, mainstage entertainment including live music, a baby show, a talent show, a demolition derby and a truck pull.
Website: russellagriculturalsociety.com/russell-fair/
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What: Ottawa Greek Fest
Where: 1315 Prince of Wales Dr.
When: August 13 through 23
Why: Organized by the Hellenic Community of Ottawa, the free-admission, free-parking Ottawa Greek Festival features Greek cuisine, dancing, live music with Alexandros, Poseidon and George and Theodore Gritziotis and more.
Website: ottawagreekfest.ca/
What: The Capital Fair
Where: Corner of Albion and Rideau roads
When: August 14 through 23
Why: The 51st annual Capital Fair is held at a new location this year. The fair features eastern Ontario’s largest midway, live bands, kids’ entertainment, fair food, farm animals and more.
Website: capitalfair.ca/
What: 2026 Ottawa Spartan Event Weekend
Where: Calabogie Peaks, 30 Barrett Chute Rd., Calabogie
When: August 22 and 23
Why: There’s an event for participants of every ability: a kids’ race, Sprint 5K (20 obstacles), Super 10K (25 obstacles) and two Hurricane Heats (four hours and 12 hours). The event features steep inclines, steeper declines, and the occasional flat meadow. The Dunk Wall drops competitors into the chilly Madawaska River-fed water at Calabogie Lake, making the following grip obstacles (multi-rig, rope climb and slip wall) more challenging. Tickets are required for spectators.
Website: ca.spartan.com/en/races/ottawa
What: Ottawa Parent & Child Expo
Where: Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave., Nepean
When: October 17 and 18
Why: Mark your calendars! 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 1,500 families each day receive free show bags.
Website: parentandchildexpo.ca/
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