Past Events

What: Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring Where: The Arena, TD Place, Ottawa When: January 18, 2025 Why: Experience Howard Shore’s Academy Award®-winning score performed live to the epic motion picture in HD. The 250 musicians on…

What: Mad.Sad.Glad: A Symphony of Emotions Where: National Arts Centre, Southam Hall When: Sunday, Jan. 26, 3:30 p.m. Poyser leads the NAC Orchestra in a program designed to showcase how a range of emotions can be expressed — and experienced…

What: Fête Frissons 2025 Where: Shenkman Arts Centre, upper lobby When: February 9, 2025 Why: The free annual Fête Frissons event is open to all with performances, artmaking, workshops and storytelling. Website: shenkmanarts.ca/en/fetefrissons-2025

What: Ottawa Multicultural Bazaar Where: Nepean Sportsplex, Ottawa When: February 15 and 16, 2025, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Why: Discover diversity by embarking on a global journey without leaving our city. Visit stalls featuring unique crafts, clothing and treasures…

What: Ottawa Parent & Child Expo Spring Edition Where: Nepean Sportsplex When: April 5 and 6, 2025 The Ottawa Parent & Child Expo is the capital’s longest running parenting and kids’ expo–and one of the best values for fun, learning,…

What: Money that Almost Was Where: Bank of Canada Museum, Ottawa, Ontario When: Through April 2026 Why: Explore an exhibit of proposed bank note designs from 1935 to 1999. When the Bank of Canada creates a new bank note, many…

What: Canada Day in Barrhaven  Where: Clarke Fields Park, 93 Houlahan St., Ottawa When: July 1, 9 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. Why: The free shuttle bus from McDonough’s Independent and the Heart & Crown will get visitors to the festivities…

What: Glengarry Highland Games Where:  34 Fair St., Maxville, Ontario When: August 1 to 2 Why: The Glengarry Highland Games consist of a series of traditional Scottish competitions including the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve tug of war, heavyweights, Highland…

What:  Ontario's Learn to Fish Programme Where: Sharbot Lake Provincial Park, 25467 Hwy. 7, Sharbot Lake, Ontario When: August 9 and August 14, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. Why: This two-hour free programme consists…

What: Russell Fair Where:  Russell Fairgrounds When: August 14 to 17 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…

What: Spartan Ottawa Where:  Calabogie Peaks, 30 Barrett Chute Rd., Calabogie, Ontario When: August 23 and 24 Why: There’s an event for participants of every ability: they include a kids’ race, Sprint 5K (20 obstacles), Super 10K (25 obstacles) and…

What: Capital Pride (Street Festival and Parade) Where:  Downtown Ottawa When: August 23 and 24 Why:  Capital Pride offers a list of things to do, but the fan favourites are the street festival on August 23 and 24 and the…

What: Stormont Country Fair Where: 25 Fairground Dr., Newington When: ​​August 29 to September 1 Why: The Stormont County Fair has been providing the eastern Ontario community with a fun-filled Labour Day Weekend since 1867. Activities include 4-H, beef cattle,…

What: Ottawa Parent & Child Expo Where: Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave. Entrance 4 When: October 18 and 19, 2025 Why: The Ottawa Parent & Child Expo is the capital’s longest running parenting and kids shows and one of the best…

What: Ottawa Charge games Where: TD Place, Ottawa When: Upcoming home games include Wednesday, Jan. 28 (Ottawa v. Seattle), Saturday, Feb. 28 (Ottawa v. Boston), Wednesday, March 4 (Ottawa v. Seattle) and Wednesday, March 11 (Ottawa v. Montreal) Why: Ottawa’s…

What: The Rink of Dreams Where: Ottawa City Hall When: The Rink of Dreams operates annually from December through to the end of March. The hours are as follows: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11…

Wizard of Oz the 3D Experience Where: Ottawa Family Cinema, Rideau Community Hub, 815 St-Laurent Blvd., Ottawa When: Saturday, Jan. 24 Why: See OZ comes to life – on the big screen, where it was meant to be seen –…

What: Winter Market at Robert Plante Greenhouses Where: Robert Plante Greenhouses, 4228 Navan Rd., Navan When: Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Why: The Annual Robert Plante Winter Market is a two-day indoor event…

What: Trend Arlington Winter Carnival Where: Trend Arlington Community Association, 50 Bellman Dr., Ottawa When: Sunday, Jan. 25 Why: Join the fun at the Trend Arlington Winter Carnival. This free, family-friendly event is the perfect way to celebrate the season…

Dance Theatre of Harlem Where: National Arts Centre, Southam Hall, 1 Elgin St., Ottawa When: Thursday, Jan. 29 and Friday, Jan. 30, 8 p.m. Why: Dance Theatre of Harlem is a singular presence in the ballet world, presenting and touring…

What: Greely Winter Carnival When: Thursday, Feb. 5 to Sunday, Feb. 8 Where: Greely Community Centre, 1448 Meadow Dr., Greely Why: Celebrate the winter season at the Greely Winter Carnival. This com munity event has something for every one, featuring…

Fête Frissons 2026 Where: Shenkman Arts Centre, upper lobby When: Sunday, Feb. 8 Why: Held at the Shenkman Arts Centre and sponsored by the Heart of Orléans BIA and Articipate, this free, bilingual, all-ages event is open to all with…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 features takes guests around the world…

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…

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…

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…

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’…