The following calendar lists the biggest events and festivals in Ottawa. There’s plenty to go see and do in the city, and here’s some of the top attractions!
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January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Festivals and Events in Ottawa
The best and most important festivals and events each month in Ottawa and the surrounding region are listed below. (Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
January Festivals & Events
- New Year’s Day (Stat Holiday) – January 1, 2022.
- Christmas Lights Across Canada – installed in tandem with various other places across Canada, hundreds of thousands of lights decorate the downtown area every winter (from early December to early January).
- Canadian Tire National Skating Championships – the very best figure skaters in Canada perform at TD Place, with the championship being part of the qualification process for the Olympics (January 6 to 13, 2022).
- Bicycle Film Festival Ottawa – as the name implies, this festival shares only films about bicycles. Based in New York, cities around the world have screening events for the submissions. (2022 dates TBC.)
- Rideau Canal Skateway– a unique outdoor skating experience, here you can take to the canal for kilometres of ice to enjoy (usually open from around January to early March).
February Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Winterlude – one of the biggest events of the year, Winterlude is a three-week festival with skating, races, art and other events that are fun for people of all ages (February 4 to 21, 2022).
- Gatineau Beerfest – the winter version of this beer festival welcomes thousands of guests with hundreds of beers on tap. (2022 dates TBC.)
- BIG BANG Festival – a unique event that focuses on sound and, more specifically, unique and interesting sound design. A fun time for all ages. (2022 dates TBC.)
- Ontario Family Day (Stat Holiday) – February 21, 2022.
- Heritage Day – a celebration of Ottawa’s history with various activities including trivia games (February 22, 2022).
- BeaverTails Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival – the biggest event of its kind in the world, watch teams take to the Rideau Canal Skateway in some fun races. (2022 dates TBC.)
- Rideau Canal Skateway– a very unique outdoor skating experience, where you can take to the canal for kilometres of ice to enjoy. (Usually open from around January to early March).
- Stew Cook-Off – a cooking and food event in ByWard Market in early February most years. Proceeds from the sale of the all-you-can-eat stew benefits a local charity.
March Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Rideau Canal Skateway – a very unique outdoor skating experience where you can take to the canal for kilometres of ice to enjoy. (Usually open from around January to early March.)
- Ottawa Winter Brewfest – along with over a hundred craft beers on tap, Lansdowne Park is set to host food, maple taffy and live music (March 3 and 4, 2022).
- Ottawa Valley Farm Show – the oldest agricultural trade show in the province, you don’t have to be a farmer to check it out (although there will be plenty of them)! (March 15 to 17, 2022.)
- International Film Festival of Ottawa – an event that looks to bring top international cinema to audiences here in Ottawa. (Dates for 2022 TBC.)
- Undercurrents – backed by the Ottawa Fringe, this smaller theatre festival showcases original, “less mainstream” theatre. (2022 dates TBC.)
- Ottawa Black Film Festival – this festival promotes and gives a platform for black artists both in Ontario and internationally. (2022 dates TBC.)
April Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Irish Film Festival Ottawa – promoting Irish culture through film, this event brings in top films from Ireland as well as some from Irish artists here in Canada. (2022 dates TBC.)
- Good Friday (Stat Holiday) – April 15, 2022.
- Easter Monday (Stat Holiday) – April 18, 2022.
- PoutineFest – a fries and cheese curd-lover’s dream, Sparks Street is home to a four-day poutine extravaganza every spring. (2022 dates TBC.)
- Ottawa Grassroots Festival – an event for all-ages with performances from artists of all different backgrounds, cultures and languages. (Dates for 2022 TBC.)
May Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Canadian Tulip Festival – proclaiming to be the biggest tulip festival in the entire world, over a million flowers are on display in Commissioners Park (in mid-May).
- Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend – a massive event with tens of thousands of runners taking on one or sometimes several of the six different races held. (2022 dates TBC.)
- Victoria Day (Stat Holiday) – May 23, 2022.
- Monster Spectacular – a monster truck show featuring half a dozen of the massive vehicles, along with motocross and ATV stunts as well (May 28, 2022).
- Inside Out Film and Video Festival – the biggest LGBTQ film festival in the country, with well over a hundred movies on offer (in late May/early June).
June Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Changing of the Guard – a daily ceremony in the mornings during the summer. It’s a showy procession of the Ceremonial Guard and free to enjoy. (Cancelled in 2021.)
- Inside Out Film and Video Festival – the biggest LGBTQ film festival in the country, with well over a hundred movies on offer (in late May/early June).
- Latin Sparks Festival – a Latin dance party that takes place one night each year (in early June).
- Ottawa International Children’s Festival – a collection of shows and activities for young ones and their families (in early June).
- Ottawa Fringe Festival – the largest theatre festival in the city, with multiple venues and a wide range of both local and international artists (in mid-June).
- Glowfair Festival – a large block party around, this outdoor late-night festival includes music, lights and fun (in mid-June).
- Ottawa Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival – on the weekend closest to National Indigenous Peoples Day. It features various performances to celebrate the different First Nations cultures in the area (in mid-June).
- Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival – a family-friendly festival that’s free to attend and features races and live music (in late June).
- Ottawa Indian Film Festival Awards – on top of screenings of East Indian movies there are also panel discussions and the opportunity to interact with different artists (in late June).
- Ottawa Ribfest – top grill-masters from across the continent descend on Ottawa for a few days each summer to see who can make the best BBQ (in June, but with exact 2022 dates TBC).
- City of Om – a yoga festival in Lansdowne Park. It features around three dozen workshops and classes for people of all experience levels (in June, but with exact 2022 dates TBC).
July Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Canada Day (Stat Holiday) – July 1, 2022.
- Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill – for around half an hour every night during the summer the Parliament Buildings are the site of an impressive light displays. (It usually takes place from July until early September.)
- Changing of the Guard – a daily ceremony during the summer, it features a procession of the Ceremonial Guard (but cancelled in 2021).
- Canada Dance Festival – a contemporary dance festival that focuses on Canadian talent at a range of venues (in early July).
- Ottawa Bluesfest – an outdoor music festival that has games, circus acts and even spa treatments on offer (in mid-July most years, but cancelled in 2021).
- Fortissimo Sunset Ceremony – a free event where the Ceremonial Guard and military bands perform at Parliament Hill for a few summer evenings (but cancelled in 2021).
- Canadian Stone Carving Festival – an event with carvers from multiple countries. The artists have a set amount of time to create their works (from July 23 to 25, 2021).
- Carivibe Ottawa Caribbean Festival – a massive outdoor party on the beach with great food and entertainment (from July 23 to 25, 2021).
- Capital Ukrainian Festival – a celebration put on by Ottawa’s Ukrainian community with live music, dance, art and food. (An online event in 2021 on July 24.)
- Ottawa Chamberfest – a chamber music festival that attracts performers from across the globe (on July 22 to August 4, 2021).
- Ottawa Kosher BBQ Festival – a food festival put on by the Ottawa Jewish community, the event hopes to have its first edition sometime in 2021 (with dates TBC).
- H.O.P.E Volleyball SummerFest – the biggest single-day beach volleyball tournament in the world. Thousands of players take part and proceeds from the event go to different charities (on July 16, 2022).
The Changing of the Guards
August Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Ottawa Chamberfest – a chamber music festival that attracts performers from all across the globe (on July 22 to August 4, 2021).
- Changing of the Guard Ceremony – a daily ceremony in the mornings during the summer, it’s a fairly showy procession of the Ceremonial Guard and is free to enjoy (cancelled in 2021).
- Civic Holiday (Stat Holiday) – August 2, 2021.
- Gatineau Beerfest – the summer version of this beer festival welcomes thousands of guests with hundreds of beers on tap (on August 4 to 7 and 11 to 14, 2021).
- Festival Country du Grand Gatineau – a country music festival with dozens of performers (in early August, but cancelled in 2021).
- Casino Lac-Leamy Sound of Light – a multi-night fireworks festival that includes food trucks and cocktails. The 2021 edition has ten shows over the course of two weeks, with each show a smaller-scale than usual (between August 7 and 21, 2021).
- Ottawa International Buskerfest – head down to Sparks Street for a few days each August to watch magicians, musicians, contortionists and other performers (in early August, but with its status for 2021 TBC).
- Twist Fibre Festival – one of the biggest textile festivals in the country, with a variety of workshops and displays of all different kinds (from August 12 to 15, 2021).
- St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival – an outdoor Shakespearean festival held next to the St. Lawrence River (but cancelled in 2021).
- Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill – for around half an hour every night during the summer the Parliament Buildings are the site of an impressive lights show that is free to watch. (I usually takes place from early July to early September.)
- Festival de la Curd – if you’re a cheese fan then this is the event for you. Enjoy chowing down with the accompaniment of live music and some other activities in mid-August usually, but TBC in 2021).
- Ottawa Jazz Festival – running for over four decades, the jazz festival takes place downtown and has stellar headlining artists. (The event is online-only in 2021, from August 19 to 22.)
- The Russell Fair – an agricultural festival with events like tractor pulls, a demolition derby and amusement rides (from August 19 to 22, 2021).
- Capital Pride – Ottawa’s annual pride festival, with a large parade and plenty of other events and activities. (Online-only in 2021 from August 22 to 29.)
- Nostalgia Music Festival – not your typical music festival, this event stars top quality tribute bands playing the top hits from decades ago across multiple shows (from August 24 to 28, 2022).
September Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Trillium Championships Show – an equestrian show that is the largest of its kind in the province, if you want to see horse-jumping and other similar events this is the place to go (on September 1 to 5, 2021).
- Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival – while flying up in the sky in a balloon is the headliner, this event also includes live music and food along with other entertainment like fireworks and fair rides (on September 2 to 6, 2021).
- WestFest – a completely free and all-Canadian arts festival at Tom Brown Arena and Park, with pieces from a variety of mediums (on September 3 to 5, 2021).
- Escapade Music Festival – the premier electronic music festival in the Ottawa region, this event brings in top-tier artists from around the world (on September 3 to 5, 2021).
- Heating Up the Capital: Ottawa Hot Sauce Expo – the debut of this new event, sample different kinds of sauces while enjoying the Capital Hot Sauce Awards and spicy food eating contests (on September 4, 2021).
- Labour Day (Stat Holiday) – September 6, 2021.
- Ottawa Comiccon – an event for all fans of comics, video games, superheroes and other forms of entertainment held at the EY Centre (on September 10 to 12, 2021).
- Canada Army Run – a pretty unique set of races with a distinct military feel to them. The 2021 event is virtual and so the runs are to be completed individually (on September 10 to 19).
- CityFolk Festival – a folk music festival held in Lansdowne Park, with main stage performances complemented by a kids’ zone and vendors selling craft beer and other products (September 12 to 15, 2021).
- Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival – an indigenous film festival that gives a platform for often-marginalized people to tell their stories (September 15 to 19, 2021).
- Festival Franco-Ontarien – an event with a focus on French-Canadian culture, it’s open to all comers and hosts a variety of performances (September 23 to 25, 2021).
- Ottawa International Animation Festival – the oldest big animated film festival in North America, with a wide variety of screenings. (The event is online-only in 2021, from September 22 to October 3.)
- Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill – for around half an hour every night during the summer the Parliament Buildings are the site of an impressive lights show that is free to watch. (It usually takes place from early July to early September.)
- Beau’s Oktoberfest – with plenty of beer, food and activities for people young and old, this German-inspired festival is a party for all who want to come (but cancelled in 2021).
- National Truth & Reconciliation Day – a new Canada-wide holiday, as of 2021, that recognizes the atrocities of the Canadian government’s policy of sending generations of Indigenous children to residential schools.
October Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Ottawa International Animation Festival – the oldest big animated film festival in North America, with a wide variety of screenings. (The event is online-only from September 22 to October 3, 2021.)
- Stars on Ice – a dynamic, theatrical figure skating show starring some of the country’s top skaters like Kurt Browning, Elvis Stojko, Kaetlyn Osmond and many more (on October 10, 2021).
- Thanksgiving (Stat Holiday) – October 11, 2021.
- Ottawa National Women’s Show – two days of fashion shows, food to try and places to shop, all aimed at women (on October 23 and 24, 2021).
November Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Remembrance Day (not a Stat Holiday) – November 11, 2021. The National Remembrance Day Ceremony takes place at the National War Memorial.
- Capital City Ink Fest – a big tattooing convention that brings in artists from all around the world (from November 12 to 14, 2021).
- Crave Food and Wine Festival – a new festival that’s all about high quality food and drink, with an interactive aspect to it (November 19 to 21, 2021).
- Ottawa Canadian Film Festival – a somewhat smaller film festival with a focus on Canadian artists and movies (with 2021 dates TBC).
- Ottawa Children’s Storytelling Festival – a free event aimed at entertaining children with fun stories told by a range of artists (November 22 to 27, 2021).
December Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival – a small film festival that looks to boost new artists, where filmmakers are given the opportunity to connect with others in the industry while also getting their work screened (with 2021 dates TBC).
- Ottawa Christmas Market – held in Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza, this temporary shopping centre is surrounded by lights, live entertainment and holiday cheer (with 2021 dates TBC).
- Christmas Lights Across Canada – installed in tandem with various other places across Canada, hundreds of thousands of lights decorate the downtown area every winter (from early December to early January).
- Christmas Day (Stat Holiday) – December 25, 2021.
- Boxing Day (Stat Holiday) – December 26, 2021.
- New Year’s Eve (Not a Stat Holiday) – December 26, 2021.
Other Information
Other articles that might be of interest include the following: