Events in Ottawa, the Outaouais, Eastern Ontario and beyond (Apr. 22 to May 19)

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Ah, spring, when the streets and parks of Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais and Montreal are alive with the sound of…people ecstatic to be outside! And the calendar is packed with festivals, bike rides, plant sales, art shows, plays and so much more.

In addition to the ideas below, don’t forget to check out my guide to poutine festivals, my big list of farmers’ markets and my suggested road trips for gardeners. Happy travels!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WEEK OF APRIL 22 TO APRIL 28

Shop for books in Ottawa or Renfrew

The Ottawa International Food and Book Expo is coming to the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa on April 27 and 28. The eclectic list of exhibitors includes authors, publishers, artisans and food vendors, and there will be live entertainment, too.

In Renfrew, the Canadian Federation of University Women is holding a huge used book sale on Friday, April 26 (4pm to 9pm) and Saturday, April 27 (9am to noon).

Sip tea for a good cause in Ottawa

IODE Laurentian is hosting the So Chic Fashion Show and Luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Aylmer on Saturday, April 27. The show will feature items from 3 Wild Women’s spring/summer collection. Funds raised go toward the Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families, an organization that provides cultural, educational, recreational and social support services to Inuit families in Ottawa.

Run a race in Kingston

Itching to get out for a good run after a long winter? You can choose from a selection of in-person races (from a 2K for kids to a half-marathon) during the Limestone Race Weekend in Kingston (April 27 and 28). To participate, you must register online by April 24 or in person by April 26; no same-day registrations will be available. Sign up by April 10 if you want an event t-shirt and medal.

Enjoy music in Ottawa or Almonte

The Ottawa Grassroots Festival (April 25 to 28) is a family-friendly event featuring folk, Indigenous and Franco-Ontarian music. Most concerts take place at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa in McKellar Park, but there are also Thursday and Sunday events at Irene’s Pub in the Glebe. Artists appearing at the festival include Lynn Miles, Charlie A’Court and Connie Kaldor. Daytime shows and workshops are free; for other shows, you’ll need to buy a ticket.

The Moth Project is an original multimedia production about moths by Ottawa-born musician Peter Kiesewalter and violinist Whitney La Grange. It’s coming to the Almonte Old Town Hall on Saturday, April 27, as part of the Folkus Concert Series. In front of images on a large video screen, the musicians will play their own songs and covers, including works by Joni Mitchell, KISS, and J.S. Bach. The show will begin with a brief talk about moths by interpretive naturalist Tobi Kiesewalter of Murphy’s Point Provincial Park.

Go to a “prom” for charity in Ottawa

Helping With Furniture, a charity that provides gently used furniture and household items to families in need, is celebrating its 16th anniversary with a prom-style Sweet 16 Gala. The fundraising event at Ottawa’s St. Elias Centre on Saturday, April 27, will include dinner, a sweets bar, live and silent auctions, and a DJ spinning prom-like tunes. Guests are invited to dress in the style of their own prom—or not! (My Grade 12 prom dress from Dalmy’s bore an unsettling resemblance to a lace tablecloth, and I thought I was cooler than Molly Ringwald in it. Ah, the ’80s.)

Celebrate all things maple in Perth

The Festival of the Maples in Perth on Saturday, April 27, caps a month-long celebration of all things maple in Lanark County. The attractions include a vendors’ street fair, an antique and classic car display, and a cross-cut sawing challenge. Kids can enjoy a firefighter obstacle course, a rock-climbing wall, laser tag, bouncy castles and more.

See movies in Toronto

This year, the more than 160 featured documentaries at Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival (April 25 to May 5) focus on everyone from singer/songwriter Luther Vandross to Mexican weavers. The one that caught my eye, though, was the spectacularly titled American Cats: The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly.

Try your luck at trivia in Almonte

Dairy Distillery in Almonte is hosting a trivia night on Friday, April 26. Each ticket includes a cocktail, a North Market snack box and three rounds of trivia. Plus, there are prizes!

Nosh on poutine in Ottawa or Renfrew

Got the munchies? The Ottawa Poutine Fest at Ottawa City Hall (April 26 to 28) is a great chance to get your curds-and-gravy fix (along with craft beer and live music). There’s even an exotic poutine competition. Admission is free.

Alternatively, you could head to the Ottawa Valley for Renfrew Poutine Feast (April 25 to 28).

Bid on wines at an Ottawa auction

You can attend the Ottawa Wine Auction on Friday, April 26, online, or you can bid in person at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre downtown. Either way, your purchase will help support the Music and Beyond festival.

Enjoy a play in Ottawa, Smiths Falls or Kingston

Lost Baggage Musical Theatre is staging Guys and Dolls, the tuneful tale of gamblers Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson, nightclub singer Miss Adelaide, and missionary Sarah Brown making their way in the glitzty-yet-seedy world of 1950s New York City. It runs from April 25 to 28 at Arts Court in Ottawa.

The Smiths Falls Community Theatre is presenting Tim Kelly’s adaptation of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley at the Station Theatre in Smiths Falls on select dates until April 28. It’s the classic tale of a man and the monster he created—or is it a monster at all?

In Kingston, Domino Theatre is presenting the Depression-era drama Ten Lost Years from April 25 to May 11 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). It’s based on the 1973 non-fiction book of the same name by Barry Broadfoot.

Browse for orchids in Ottawa

The Ottawa Orchid Society is holding its annual show and sale at Algonquin College on April 27 and 28. You can pay extra to get in an hour early, if you’re super keen.

Immerse yourself in ideas in Montreal

Blue Metropolis (April 25 to 28) is a huge multilingual event in Montreal that bills itself as a celebration of books and ideas. This year, the theme is Dreams and Utopias. As the organizers frame it, “If human life is fragile, it is also rich in the imponderable, in mystery, in everything that escapes material things, it is rich in dreams, in short. So many questions arise from that theme, including this one: Can we have confidence in human beings?” Even though the “official” event lasts just four days in late April, there are virtual and in-person events happening throughout April, including readings, author interviews and children’s activities.

Learn about eco-friendly transportation in Ottawa

You can learn about eco-friendly ways of getting around at the fourth of a series of Coffee Houses on Sustainability at the Glebe Community Centre on Saturday, April 27. At this Sustainable Transportation Coffee House, speakers will be on hand to answer your questions about electric vehicles, cycling, idling-free driving and more. Admission is free but you need to register via the link above. There will be cookies and coffee (but you’ll need to bring your own renewable mug for the latter!). The series will continue once a month until June.

WEEK OF APRIL 29 TO MAY 5

Shop for pottery in Kingston

The Kingston Potters’ Guild is holding its annual spring show and sale at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning from May 2 to 5.

Learn about sustainability in Kemptville

The North Grenville Sustainability Fair and EV Show comes to the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Kemptville on Sunday, May 5. Learn about electric vehicles, ways to green your home, organic foods, and other local eco-friendly products and services. Admission is free.

Bike for a good cause in Ottawa

The CN Cycle for CHEO fundraiser takes to Ottawa’s streets on Sunday, May 5, with 15K, 35K and 70K cycling routes, as well as 2K and 5K walks. They all start at LeBreton Flats Park and go along the Ottawa River; the longer routes also take riders along the Rideau Canal and through the Experimental Farm. Proceeds will support the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Shop locally in Winchester

At the Local Business Expo at the Joel Steele Community Centre in Winchester on Saturday, May 4, you can check out products and services offered by more than 50 local vendors.

Find fab fabrics in Wellington West

Attention needleworkers: Dozens of vendors will be selling fabrics galore and other sewing-related materials at the Hintonburg Fabric Flea Market on Saturday, May 4. Admission is $3, the doors open at 9:30am and it takes place at the Fisher Park Community Centre (on Holland Avenue, just north of Highway 417).

Learn about urban design and history on a Jane’s Walk

Jane’s Walks are named after urbanist Jane Jacobs, who wrote numerous books about the way cities work. This year, from May 3 to 5, numerous cities are hosting free walks with local experts who will explain facets of each city’s history, development and design. You can join a walk in Ottawa-Gatineau, Kingston or Montreal, among many other places. Normally, you can check the Jane’s Walk website for walks in other communities across Canada, but the volunteers who run the site are in the midst of updating it, post-pandemic, so your favourite city’s info might not be there this year.

Paddle your canoe in Canton

The 62nd annual Canton Canoe Weekend is happening in Canton, New York, from May 3 through 5. Racers can choose from a wide range of courses, including 1, 4, 8, 12 and 14-mile routes; there’s also a 2-mile relay race for recreational paddlers. Bring the kids—there’s a children’s playground, a Saturday night chicken barbecue and free camping.

Shop for unique items in Ottawa, Cantley, Almonte or Belleville

The Ottawa Guild of Potters will be holding its Spring Pottery Sale as part of the Ottawa Clay Festival in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park from May 3 to 5. As well as shopping for pottery, you can see demonstrations and let the little ones loose in a kids’ clay area. Free admission.

To shop for unique works in fibre and mixed media, head to the Out of the Box Fibre Fling show and sale at Kitchissippi United Church in Ottawa on May 3 and 4.

The arts group Art de l’Ordinaire is presenting a Cultural Fair in Cantley on May 4 and 5. Shop for jewellery, glass items, painting and much more at this sale, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

The Cheerfully Made Market at the Almonte Community Centre (Saturday, May 4) features food, clothing, jewellery, home decor and other goodies from local makers.

It’s a bit of a hike, but the Mother of All Craft Shows on Saturday, May 4, in Belleville looks like fun, with more than 70 vendors offering everything from knitted items to hot sauces. The show helps support Fixed Fur Life, an animal-rescue group.

Go for a walk or run in Ottawa, Prescott or Renfrew

Feeling achy? Want to get your kids off the couch? How about a walk or run?

On Saturday, May 4, there’s the Star Wars-themed Fort Town Night Run in Prescott. (Slogan: “May the Fort be with you.”) The 5K, 10K and 15K routes take you past many local historical sites, and Prescotters (is that a word?) will be cheering on runners along the route. There’s also a 1K fun run for kids, and the run raises money for youth organizations. The event starts at the Leo Boivin Community Centre and all racers (except those in the kids’ run) will receive a headlamp.

Also on Saturday, May 4, Ottawa’s Hike for Hospice is a 5K walk from the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre in Britannia Park to Andrew Haydon Park and back. It raises money for end-of-life care services.

On Sunday, May 5, Hike for Hospice Renfrew will also be raising money for palliative care facilities. The one-hour event starts at 2pm and is open to runners, walkers, and those using wheelchairs or strollers.

Check out local talent in Kingston

The Homegrown Live Music Festival is a packed day of more than 130 live performances by local acts on 16 stages across Kingston on Saturday, May 4. Each venue will be showcasing multiple bands in a particular style, including blues, psychedelic, country, hip-hop and jazz.

Everyone involved in Kingston’s Juvenis Festival of the arts (May 2 to 12) is aged 30 or younger, but shows are open to all ages. Events this year include two musical theatre productions, a battle of the bands, a youth film night, and a storefront art gallery.

Head to a farmers’ market

Craving some fresh spring veggies? You’re in luck. Two farmers’ markets—in Carp and Kanata—are opening for the season on Saturday, May 4. Lots more will fling open their gates over the next few weeks and some—including markets in Vankleek Hill and Ottawa—are open year-round.

Go fish in the Bay of Quinte

Attention, anglers: The Kiwanis Walleye World Fishing Derby (May 4 and 5) is a big catch-and-release contest for walleye and pike, and a major fundraiser for youth projects in the Bay of Quinte region. The event headquarters are in Trenton but there are also weigh stations in Belleville, Picton and Brighton. Prizes this year include boats, fishing charters and cottage stays; the top prize is a cool $10,000.

Head to a writers festival in Ottawa

The spring edition of the Ottawa International Writers Festival (May 2 to 5) features a wide range of authors, including Zoe Whittall, Anuja Varghese and Rick Mofina.

Visit Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg

Grab the kids and get ready to travel back in time: Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg opens for the season on Saturday, May 4. The living history museum brings the Ontario of the 1860s back to life with costumed interpreters, old-time activities and more.

Enjoy a play in Osgoode

In Osgoode, the ITR Theatre Company is presenting The Cemetery Club (May 3 to 5, and May 10 to 12), a gentle comedy about three widows who meet for tea once a month. As well as evening shows and matinées, there will be a dinner show on Saturday, May 4, and a Mother’s Day brunch show on Sunday, May 12.

Nosh on poutine in Orleans

Everyone’s favourite cheese-curd treat will be the star of this weekend’s Orleans PoutineFest and Street Food Frenzy (May 3 to 5). There will be craft beer, live music and more to amuse you, too. It’s all happening on Centrum Boulevard (just east of Place d’Orleans). (P.S.: Check out my big list of poutine festivals happening across our region this year.)

See sketch comedy in Montreal

If you love The Kids in the Hall, SCTV and Saturday Night Live, you might just be interested in Montréal Sketchfest, an annual festival of sketch comedy (May 2 to 11). It features both rising stars and established comic talents, performing in French and/or English.

Learn about zero-waste living in Ottawa

The fifth Coffee House on Sustainability will focus on strategies for reducing your waste footprint, including buying less, joining sharing networks and learning repair skills. It’s taking place at the Glebe Community Centre on Sunday, May 5. Admission is free but you need to register via the link above. There will be cookies and coffee (but you’ll need to bring your own renewable mug for the latter!). The series will continue once a month until June.

WEEK OF MAY 6 TO 12

Delve into wellness in Nepean

The Ottawa Spring Holistic Healing Fair is coming to the Nepean Sportsplex on Saturday, May 11. At more than 40 booths, you can shop for crystals, get your tarot cards read, browse natural products, consult a medium or psychic, and just generally explore alternative wellness in all its forms. Free admission.

Tiptoe near the tulips in Ottawa and Vankleek Hill

The Canadian Tulip Festival rolls into town for 11 days of spring fun (May 10 to 20) at Commissioners Park on the edge of Dows Lake. Along with viewing gorgeous displays of tulips (weather cooperating), you can check out an artisans’ market, enjoy a nightly sound-and-light show with a Second World War theme, a black-lit tulip garden at night, and movies in the park.

East of Ottawa, the Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields are open to the public for two weeks only (check the website for dates). Stroll through fields blooming with 300,000 tulips and pick your own. Buy tickets in advance. The site is within walking distance of Vankleek Hill’s main street.

And don’t forget that you can pick your own tulips at Green Corners Farm in Edwards; you need to buy tickets in advance. Again, check the website for dates.

Shop for local art all over

In Alta Vista, you can shop for paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewellery, wooden pieces and fibre art made by some 30 creators at the Spring Art Festival, organized by Art in the Neighbourhood and the Canterbury Community Association (Saturday, May 11). There will be food trucks and live music, too! It’s happening at the Canterbury Recreation Complex (2185 Arch Street, Ottawa) from 10am to 4pm.

The Mother’s Day Craft Market will feature dozens of artisans’ booths at the Glebe Community Centre on Sunday, May 12.

While not solely an art market, you’ll find handmade items among the antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing and more at the Mother’s Day weekend edition of 613Flea at Lansdowne Park (Saturday, May 11).

Art in the Attic (May 11 and 12) at the Almonte Old Town Hall showcases local artists of all ages and ranges of experience. In the airy auditorium, you can view works in a large variety of media, styles and subjects. You will find painting, photography, leatherwork, pottery, textile art, paper art, fused glass, mosaics, jewellery and more, at a wide range of prices.

You can shop for paintings and other artworks at the Before the Summer Fine Art Show and Sale at the Firehall Theatre in Gananoque (May 10 to 12).

Buy some new plants in Ottawa

The Gloucester Horticultural Society is holding its annual fundraising plant sale at the Orleans Fruit Farm (1399 Orleans Boulevard) on Saturday, May 13, from 9am until noon (or until the plants run out). Perennials, native plants, pollinator plants, herbs, houseplants, veggies and garden-related items will be available.

In Ottawa on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12, rain or shine), the Friends of the Farm are holding their plant sale at the Central Experimental Farm from 8am to 1pm. Growers and nurseries from across the region will be on hand, along with master gardeners. You can nosh on goodies from the refreshment tables and shop for gardening books, too.

Bring the kids to their own festival in Ottawa

At the jam-packed Ottawa Children’s Festival (May 10 to 14), pint-sized fans can see everything from a Belgian game show with blindfolded contestants to an Australian musical about a bullied girl who loves robotics. Other shows feature dance, puppets and more. It’s happening at Lebreton Flats, the Canadian War Museum and Arts Court.

Revel in lilacs in Rochester

Rochester is a bit of a drive from Ottawa, but if you love lilacs—and you can’t wait for lilac-themed events closer to home later in May—the free Rochester Lilac Festival (May 10 to 19) may be worth the road trip. If the weather cooperates, there will be lots of blooming flowers. If it doesn’t, you can enjoy concerts, a parade, children’s activities and more.

Learn about birds on World Migratory Bird Day weekend

Did you know that Saturday, May 11, is World Migratory Bird Day? Check the event’s Canadian website for details of events taking place across the country.

Down in Prince Edward County, you can train your binoculars on feathered friends of all kinds during the Spring Birding Festival at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (May 10 to 12).

Work up a sweat in Gatineau

Festival Bouge Bouge Outaouais (Sunday, May 12) is a one-day celebration of physical fitness. Sign up for one event or sign up for a bunch; activities include cardio kickboxing, and 1K, 2K, 3K, 5K and 10K walk/runs. You can also check out a Colombian dance performance, a magic show and children’s activities. It’s all happening at the Asticou Centre in Gatineau.

See a play in Osgoode, Merrickville or Cornwall

Theatre Night in Merrickville is presenting Looking, a romantic comedy by Norm Foster, from May 9 to 12. The play’s action begins when a personal ad inadvertently draws four middle-aged singles together. Val and Andy arrange a blind date, and then bring along their friends Nina and Matt for moral support. All performances are at 7:30pm, except for the Sunday show, which is a 2pm matinée.

In Cornwall, the Seaway Valley Theatre Company is presenting Arsenic and Old Lace, the classic black comedy about a man who discovers his two sweet old aunts are doing away with various gentlemen and hiding the bodies in their home. It’s on at the Seaway Valley Theatre (30 Sixth Street East) on various dates between May 10 and May 26. Evening shows are at 7:30pm, Sunday afternoon matinees are at 2pm and there’s a dinner theatre performance on May 11 (for that one, doors open at 5:30).

Check out a music festival in suburban Montreal

More than 50 pop and rock acts will be taking to the stage at the Festival Santa Teresa in Sainte-Thérèse from May 9 to 12.

WEEK OF MAY 13 TO 19

Dance the night away in Montreal

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to move! The 19th annual Montreal Salsa Convention (May 16 to 20) will draw competitors from around the world. Cheer on your favourite dancers or take a workshop to polish your own moves. (And you don’t have to be a “So You Think You Can Dance”-level dancer; beginners are welcome.)

Shop for plants near Brockville

On the morning of Saturday, May 18, there will be a plant sale at the fairgrounds in Lansdowne (that’s in the village of Lansdowne, between Brockville and Gananoque, not Lansdowne Park in Ottawa).

Enjoy electronic music in Montreal

Electronic music fans, it’s your big weekend: Piknic Électronik kicks off another season of cutting-edge shows in Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau. Shows take place on Sundays, beginning May 19 and running until October 6.

Celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday in Morrisburg

At Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg on Sunday, May 19, enjoy Queen Victoria’s birthday just as her subjects might have celebrated it in her own time. Rousing speeches! Redcoats! 1860s-style games! And cake!

Marvel at buskers in Kemptville

The free Kemptville Buskerfest (Saturday, May 18) will see much of the town’s downtown taken over by jugglers, stilt walkers, illusionists, clowns and musicians of all kinds. Note that much of downtown will be closed to traffic, but you can park at the North Grenville Municipal Centre (285 County Road 44) and catch a shuttle bus to the event.

Eat ribs in Barrhaven

Barrhaven Ribfest and Poutine (May 17 to 20) will be cooking up a storm at Clarke Fields Park (300 Tartan Drive). (If you like ribfests, check out my big list of local rib festivals.)

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.