Note: Due to COVID19, many of these are closed. However, when things reopen…
FEBRUARY
- What: winter festival for families (skating, food, ice sculptures, parties)
- Where: all over downtown Ottawa, Rideau Canal
- When: first 3 weeks of February (+/- last weekend of Jan)
- Cost: Free
MAY
- What: A celebration of tulips !
- Where: Parks across the city: Commissioner’s Park, Major’s Hill Park, Dow’s Lake…
- When: beginning-mid May;
- Cost: free
JUNE
- What: A multitude of cultural events and parties (comedy, soccer tournament, food and wine show, dancing, drinks, local artists and chefs)
- Where: Little Italy, Ottawa
- When: 2nd and 3rd weeks of June
- Cost: free and variable based on event
- What: North America’s largest dragon boating event, not for profit and raising money for over 40 local charities
- Nonstop dragon boat racing, free concerts, free arts and cultural activities
- Where: Mooney’s Bay Park, Ottawa
- When: last week of June
- Cost: free (unless racing dragon boat, fee to participate)
JULY
- What: Family oriented smaller festival of Celtic culture and music, 30 minutes outside of Ottawa
- When: First weekend in July
- Where: Almonte (ON)
- Cost: free
- What: Family oriented medieval festival, jousting, dance, archery, live music, food
- When: First weekend in July
- Where: Osgoode (ON)
- Cost: Adults $10; Children 4-12 years $6; under 4 years free
- What: world’s largest one day volleyball event benefiting multiple local charities, and also live music!!
- When: mid-July one day
- Where: Mooney’s Bay Beach, Ottawa
- Cost: free
- What: Lebanese food, dance, music, culture
- When: 3rd week of July
- Where: St. Elias Cathedral,700 Ridgewood Avenue, Ottawa
- Cost: free
- What: Ukranian food, music, dance, culture
- When: 3rd week of July
- Where: 952 Green Valley Crescent, Ottawa
- Cost: free
- What: music, dance, scottish games;
- When: last weekend of July / first weekend of August;
- Where: Maxville (ON);
- Cost:
- Day pass: 20$;
- Weekend pass: 35$.
AUGUST
- What: Indian culture, food, music, dance, crafts workshops, movies/documentaries
- When: first weekend in August
- Where: Ottawa City Hall
- Cost: $9 day pass, $14 multi-day pass
- What: Cultural performances, food, music, art
- When: Second week of August
- Where: Ottawa City Hall
- Cost: free
- What: greek cuisine, dance, music and visual art;
- When: 2 weeks in the middle of August;
- Where: 1315 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa;
- Cost: free entry (food for purchase).
Festival de la Curd de St-Albert
- Quoi : musique, volleyball, rodeo, cuisine, camping;
- Quand : 3e semaine d’août;
- Où : St-Albert (ON)
- Coût :
- Passeport 3 jours : 65$;
- Passe quotidienne : 25$
- What: Ottawa’s LGBTQQ pride festival, music, parties, parades, celebration of all things LGBTQQ including a QueerCon
- When: 3rd week in August
- Where: downtown Ottawa
- Cost: free
- What: food, culture, arts
- When: last week of August
- Where: Ottawa City Hall
- Cost: free
SEPTEMBER
- What: Turkish food, culture, and dance!
- When: 2nd weekend of September
- Where: 335 Michael Cowpland Drive, Ottawa
- Cost: free
- What: Eastern Ontario’s premier Bavarian festival with beer, food, music, dance
- When: last weekend of September
- Where: Clark Fields Park, Barrhaven (ON)
- Cost: free entry (food for purchase)
- What: documentary film festival focusing on human rights, social justice, environmental issues
- When: last weekend of September
- Where: downtown Ottawa
- Cost: variable
OCTOBER
- What: Live music, arts, writings, book signings
- When: 3rd week of October
- Where: Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks Street
- Cost: free
DECEMBER
Christmas Lights Across Canada
- What: lights display projected onto Parliament and lighting across the city
- When: all of December
- Where: downtown and Parliament
- Cost: free
Ottawa Resiliency 