Things to do in Ottawa, the Outaouais, Eastern Ontario and beyond (June 9 to June 15, 2025)

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Wondering what to do in Ottawa this week? It’s a great time for a road trip in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais or elsewhere in Quebec. In fact, there’s SO much going on that I keep adding new items, so please keep checking back here regularly. Happy road tripping!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WEEK OF JUNE 9 TO JUNE 15

Attend a tea party for a good cause in Ottawa

On Saturday, June 14, the IODE Laurentian Chapter is hosting 125th Anniversary Tea and Silent Auction at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New Edinburgh. The event will raise money for a range of causes, including educational bursaries and scholarships, remote nursing stations, and Indigenous classrooms in Canada’s North, and the educational needs of underprivileged children in Ottawa. Advance ticket purchase required.

Admire flowers and go shopping in Alexandria

Ranunculus is a plant with big, multi-petaled flowers. (I had to look it up! Check out the photo above if I haven’t painted quite enough of a picture with words.) And Sunwheel Farm just north of Alexandria is hosting a Spring Flower Fest on Saturday, June 14, to celebrate the pretty blooms. From 10am to 3pm, you can tiptoe among more than 4,000 ranunculus plants.

While you’re in the area, you could drop into the ❤️ to Shop Local Market, taking place the same day from 10am to 4pm in Alexandria. Some 20 artisans and vendors will be featured at the market, which is also a fundraiser for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Also on June 14, Alexandria is hosting a community-wide garage sale from 8am to 5pm.

Watch firefighters compete in Merrickville

Merrickville is this year’s host of the Eastern Ontario Firefighters’ Association Games (June 13 and 14). As well as watching firefighters compete in tests of skill, such as hose relays and ladder climbs, you can enjoy live music, a parade and more.

Catch a dog-friendly market in Orleans

The Fetch Local Market at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans (Saturday, June 14) raises money for rescue pups. More than 30 local vendors will be on hand at this dog-friendly market; your pooch can even get a nail trim.

Go to a pow wow in Smiths Falls

The Spirit of the Drum Pow Wow returns to Smiths Falls on June 14 and 15, with two days of Indigenous dancing, drumming and singing. Each day begins with a grand entry. It’s all happening at Duck Island (40 Abbott Street North). Note that onsite parking is open to elders, pow wow staff, dancers and drummers only.

Check out a bridal show in Rockland

Tucker House in Rockland is hosting a Bridal Fair on Saturday, June 14. You can check out interactive workshops, shop from local vendors (some of whom will be providing fair-only discounts), and enter contests for wedding-related prizes. Admission is free.

Drive a racetrack in Calabogie

Ever wonder what it would be like to take your car for a circuit on a real racetrack? You’ll have a chance to find out during the Novice Track Day experience at Calabogie Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 14, when you can book half-hour blocks of track time. You can use your own car for $125; if you’d like to rent one of the track’s race cars, the package starts at $235. Trucks, vans, SUVs and motorcycles are not allowed.

Kick up your heels in Carp

The Carp Fair is hosting a Barn Dance with live music by The Riley New Band on Friday, June 13, at the Carp Fairgrounds. Doors open at 8pm. There’s a cash bar, so the minimum age for this event is 19.

See fairies in the park in Brockville

Fairies in the Park 2025 is taking place on Saturday, June 14, at St. Lawrence Park. From 11am to 3pm, enjoy bouncy castles, a vendors’ market, face painting, dancing, storytelling and more. The organizers encourage attendees to dress like their favourite magical characters, whether that’s a wizard, a mermaid, a fairy or some other otherworldly character. Admission is free, but donations are accepted for I Am Alive Dog and Cat Rescue.

Try new beers in Kingston

At the YGK Craft Beer Fest at Fort Henry National Historic Site in Kingston (Saturday, June 14), you can check out over 20 beverage makers, lots of food stalls, 15 artisan stalls and live music.

Enjoy live music in Osgoode

From June 13 to 15, Osgoode PorchFest is a family-friendly, community-wide festival in the small community in rural Ottawa. The main event is on Saturday, June 14, when more than 60 musical acts will be performing on multiple porches near Osgoode Main Street, and you can enjoy a block party, a beer tent and food trucks. On Friday night, there’s an open mic at No Go Café. And on Sunday, the fun will include a car show, an artisan market and more music, along with a touch-a-truck event for the kids.

Looking for more live music suggestions? Check out my big list of concerts throughout our region.

Go to a car show in Spencerville, Cornwall or Gananoque

The Gananoque Lions Club is hosting a vintage car show, the 1000 Islands Cruise-In, on Saturday, June 14, from 9am to 2pm. You can enjoy a barbecue and browse vendors’ tables as well as admire the classic autos. It’s all happening at the Lou Jeffries Centre, 600 King Street East.

The Cornwall Warriors Car Club is hosting a Father’s Day Car Show at Lamoureux Park in Cornwall on Sunday, June 15, from 9am to 3pm. Come vote for your favourite car, browse the vendors’ booths, vie for door prizes and more. Proceeds will benefit Open Hands Cornwall.

Also on Sunday, June 15, the Spencerville Fair is holding its second annual Father’s Day Car Show on the fairgrounds, and admission is free for attendees (car registration is $10 per vehicle).

Celebrate Cuban culture at Lansdowne Park

Grab your dancing shoes and bring your appetite: Fiesta Cubana Fest at Lansdowne Park (June 13 and 14) promises lots of dance workshops, festive food and drink, and live music. Tickets are $15 in advance (online) and $20 at the door.

Head to Petawawa for Civic Centre Days

There’s tons of fun happening in Petawawa this weekend during Civic Centre Days (June 12 to 15). Enjoy a midway, an evening hike, Pride celebrations, a silent disco, a mindfulness forest retreat, a trail race, bouncy castles, a craft beer festival, a Father’s Day ATV ride and much more.

See cutting-edge theatre at the Ottawa Fringe Festival

You never know what you’re going to see at the Ottawa Fringe Festival (June 12 to 22), but it’s almost always guaranteed to be unusual. This year’s lineup of plays and other live performance pieces includes everything from a thriller about dishonour among thieves to a comedy about zombies being revived so they can go back to work (see video above).

Catch a music festival in Iroquois, Mallorytown or Montreal

Catch down-home country and bluegrass acts at this weekend’s Galop Canal Bluegrass Festival in Iroquois (June 11 to 14). In all, 10 acts will take to the stage. The fun unrolls on the banks of the Iroquois Locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Country tunes are also on the schedule at the 1000 Islands Country Fest at Happy Acres Campground in Mallorytown (June 12 to 14).

In Montreal, the Festival sur le Canal (June 13 to 15) features more than a dozen musical acts. The festival takes place on the Centennial Esplanade beside the Lachine Canal.

Fish for free on Father’s Day weekend

On the Father’s Day weekend (June 14 and 15), the Ontario government is allowing anyone to fish for free, without a licence. So grab those fishin’ poles and start casting.

Revel in all things Italian in Ottawa

There’s so much packed into the Ottawa Italian Week Festival that the event actually lasts 11 days (June 5 to 15). There is a grand opening flag-raising at Ottawa City Hall on Thursday, June 5, but many of the other events are centered on Preston Street in the heart of Little Italy. They include live music, culinary masterclasses at the Preston Event Centre (various dates), a walking tour (Saturday, June 14) and a bike race (Sunday, June 15). Here’s the full schedule.

Enjoy a night market in Smiths Falls

Later that day, the outdoor Smiths Falls Night Market will take place from 5pm to 10pm in the By the Falls parking lot. Shop for items by local artisans and vendors, nosh on food truck treats and enjoy live music. There will be bouncy castles and a mechanical bull, too.

Chuckle at a funny play

Lots of comedies are on stage all over the region this week, including 37 Postcards at Ottawa Little Theatre, A Woman’s Love List in Morrisburg, Knickers! in Cornwall and How the Other Half Loves in Gananoque. For details on these and many other plays, check out my theatre post.

Check out cool murals in Montreal

During the Montreal Mural Festival (June 5 to 15), artists will be painting new murals over many of the enormous outdoor artworks created for previous festivals. You can watch them at work and admire their new creations, and enjoy live music, DJ shows and block parties—for free! The action moves back to its traditional location along St. Laurent Boulevard this year. The video above is from 2023, but it gives you some idea of what you can expect.

Enjoy a ribfest and sports show in Prescott

The Prescott Ribfest & Sportsman Show will be keeping things lively at the Leo Boivin Community Centre in Prescott from June 13 to 15. Along with lots of barbecued treats, you can enjoy live music and a kids’ zone, and check out outdoor gear and sports vendors. Proceeds will support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Leeds and Grenville. P.S.: The Prescott Trolley will be shuttling visitors around town all weekend.

Go for a ride, run or walk in Ottawa

The Navy Bike Ride takes to the streets of Ottawa on Saturday, June 14. The non-competitive event invites cyclists, runners and walkers to complete a 5K event (cyclists can do the 5K loop as many times as they like). The run/walk starts at 8:30am, while the ride starts at 10am. This year, there’s also a Family Ride, starting at noon. Everyone will leave from Hog’s Back Park (600 Hog’s Back Road).

Travel back in time in Dunvegan

In Dunvegan, the Glengarry Pioneer Museum is hosting its annual Smith-in Blacksmith Festival (June 14 and 15), to introduce families to the old-timey art of making horseshoes and other metal items. There will be food vendors and children’s activities on both days; craft vendors will also be on site on Saturday. (Don’t worry about not being able to find the museum. It’s pretty much the biggest thing in Dunvegan.)

Enjoy francophone music in Ottawa or Montreal

The Festival Franco-Ontarien in Ottawa’s Major’s Hill Park (June 12 to 14) features an eclectic program of francophone musical acts from across Canada and overseas.

Les Francos de Montréal (June 13 to 21) is one of the largest festivals of francophone music in the world. With more than 110 indoor and outdoor concerts scattered across downtown Montreal (two thirds of them free), it’s like a huge buffet of French music—you’re almost certain to find something to your taste, as just about every imaginable genre is represented.

Meet artists and buy pieces in Perth or Deep River

Looking for some artwork for your garden—maybe an eye-catching metal sculpture or a ceramic planter? More than 20 artists will be selling their works at Art in the Garden at Kiwi Gardens in Perth from June 13 to 15.

The Valley Artisans’ Gallery in Deep River (33373 Highway 17) will be hosting its Tent Event on Saturday, June 14, with live music, food, and artists in tents selling and demonstrating their creative process.

Cheer on the Redblacks at TD Place

In their 2025 home opener, the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks are playing the Montreal Alouettes at TD Place at Lansdowne Park on Friday, June 13. Kickoff is 7:30pm. Dig out your red, white and black gear, and join your fellow football fans.

Do yoga by moonlight at Lansdowne Park

It’s a full moon on Wednesday, June 11. If you’d like to mark the occasion with a few downward dogs, you can take a moonlit yoga class on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park, starting at 9pm. Admission is free but donations of food (not cash) for the Ottawa Food Bank are appreciated.

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km 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.