Wondering what to do in Ottawa this weekend? It is a great time for a road trip in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario or the Outaouais. 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 APRIL 7 TO APRIL 13
Paddle the Raisin River near St. Andrews
The arrival of spring means many canoeists are keen to get their paddles in the water. One of the first opportunities of the season is the Raisin River Canoe Race, happening in St. Andrews West (just north of Cornwall) on Saturday, April 12. You can register online in advance. You may also be able to register in person on the day of the race, if space is still available. The event includes a pre-race breakfast in St. Andrews Parish Hall and a post-race dinner at the Char-Lan Rec Centre.
Eat poutine in Petawawa
It must be spring, because poutine festival season has started! Petawawa Poutine Feast (April 10 to 13) is four days of gooey, squeaky-cheese fun at the Petawawa Civic Centre.
Get vacation inspiration in Ottawa
Planning your summer vacation? All kinds of exhibitors—representing Canadian and international destinations—will be on hand with ideas at the Travel and Vacation Show at the Rogers Centre in downtown Ottawa (April 12 and 13). That same weekend, you could also check out the Ottawa Cottage Life & Backyard Show at the EY Centre (April 11 to 13). Vendors will be on hand selling everything from water toys to barbecues.
Enjoy Easter fun in Kemptville or Haley Station
Kemptville is getting a “jump” on its Easter festivities by hosting its Easter Bunny Hop a week before the long weekend! On Saturday, April 12, from 10am to noon, the fun will include egg and cookie decorating, bouncy castles, a dance party, an Easter egg hunt and the chance to meet furry friends from Happy Little Farmstead.
Haley Station, between Arnprior and Pembroke, is also celebrating Easter a week early. A Hop-py Haley’s Easter (Saturday, April 12) will see the Easter Bunny presiding over an Easter egg hunt, a barbecue and other fun at the Haley Station fire station.
Shop for unique items in Merrickville
The Merrickville Spring Makers’ Market (April 12 and 13) will feature a wide range of local artisans—and the selection of vendors will change each day. Shop for jewellery, art and many other unique pieces at the Merrickville Community Centre. Admission is free.
Enjoy a film festival in Ottawa or Gatineau
A wide range of French-language movies are screening this week as part of the Festival du film de l’Outaouais (April 3 to 11). As well as placing a special focus on Argentinian films, the festival features movies from Canada, France and beyond.
The Latin American Film Festival (April 4 to 26) also continues this week at Saint Paul University on Main Street in Old Ottawa East. Movies this week come from Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador and Brazil.
Shop for retro records in Ottawa
If you like music you can hold in your hand, rather than just stream or download, the Ottawa Record Fair is the place to hunt for vinyl 45s, LPs and EPs, as well as CDs of all descriptions. It’s happening at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in Centretown on Saturday, April 12.
Sample many dishes at Taste of Italy on Preston Street
Taste of Italy is a one-night event on Tuesday, April 8, that allows you to taste dishes whipped up by 15 restaurants in Little Italy, while enjoying beer, wine and other libations. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Cornerstone Housing for Women. Note that you must buy tickets in advance; none will be available at the door.
Take your pooch to Renfrew
Dogs’ Day Out is a fun day for canines and their human companions at Robertson Park in Renfrew on Sunday, April 13. You can shop for doggy fashion, gifts and toys; nosh on street food; and take part in a “dog companion show” (I’m intrigued by that last one).
Find great clothes in Montreal
The Montreal version of the Big Fashion Sale by Quebec Designers is happening from April 10 to 13 at the Marché Bonsecours in Old Montreal. It is just what the name implies: a huge event with dozens of fashion and accessories designers gathered all in one place. (If you’d like to catch this sale closer to home, it will be in Gatineau from April 17 to 19.)
Pedal and eat pancakes in Lanark
This sounds energetic but delicious! Pancakes and Pedal is an 81-kilometre cycling event that starts and ends at Temple’s Sugar Bush in Lanark on Saturday, April 12. It starts with a pancake breakfast. Then you can choose from three different paces, ranging from 23 to 30+ kmph, for your scenic ride through rolling hills. Your reward will be refreshing beverages back at Temple’s.
Get psychic insights in Bells Corners or Perth
At the Ottawa West Psychic and Crystal Fair (April 11 to 13) you can a tarot reading, learn about astrology and numerology, shop for crystals, and more. It’s happening at the Best Western Plus Hotel and Conference Centre in Bells Corners.
This seems to be the weekend for all things psychic at local Best Westerns, as the Best Western Plus Perth Parkside Inn and Spa is the venue for the Reid Events Psychic and Holistic Fair on April 12 and 13.
See model trains in Prescott
The Prescott Model Train Group is holding its second annual Model Train and Toy Show on Saturday, April 12, at the Leo Boivin Community Centre in Prescott. The fun will include operating layouts, and model train sales and swaps.
Celebrate a Moroccan festival in Ottawa
The Moroccan Festival of Ottawa (April 12 and 13) will bring the sights, sounds and tastes of North Africa to the University Centre at the University of Ottawa. The fun includes a market, storytelling and children’s workshops. The event is free, but there will be a ticketed concert on Sunday at 3pm.
Browse for bargains in the Glebe, Alta Vista or Gatineau
All those people madly following Marie Kondo’s decluttering advice have to take their old books somewhere, right? That’s why you’ll probably find thousands of used volumes on sale at the Mutchmor Public School Book Sale in the Glebe from April 10 to 13.
Also in the Glebe, 613Flea is holding its huge bi-weekly flea market in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, April 12. You’ll find 150 vendors, selling handmade and vintage items. And don’t hesitate to bike, as Lansdowne Park has some 600 bike-parking spaces.
On Sunday, April 13, the Canterbury Community Association is holding its Gigantic Garage Sale at the Canterbury Community Centre in Alta Vista, from 10am to 2pm.
Over in the Hull sector of Gatineau, La Grande Fripe (April 12 and 13) bills itself as “the biggest second-hand clothing and accessories sale in the Outaouais.” Different vendors will be on hand each day. Bring a reusable bag to cart your treasures home.
Shop for art in Alexandria or Prescott
In Alexandria, the Glengarry Artists’ Collective is holding The Big Show on April 11 and 12. This two-day celebration of local art and writing runs from 6pm to 9pm on Friday, and from 10am to 2pm on Saturday. It takes place at Community Living, 332 MacDonald Boulevard.
In Prescott, you can check out the South Grenville Guild of Fine Art’s spring show and sale, Give a Hoot About Art (April 11 to 13). It’s taking place at the Royal Canadian Legion branch at 141 Henry Street West, and parking and admission are free.
Check out a Ukrainian market in Ottawa
The Ukrainian Women’s Association Ottawa Branch is holding its annual Easter Market on Saturday, April 12, at the Ukrainian Banquet and Convention Hall on Byron Avenue. Pick up homemade Ukrainian food to go, including varenyky (pierogi), cabbage rolls, borsch, sausages, maple bacon, Easter breads and other baked treats, Ukrainian Easter eggs, and other Ukrainian goods.
See a play in many places
Plays galore are on stage across our region this week, including Mary Poppins in the Glebe and Kemptville, Seussical the Musical in Brockville and Love Letters in Kingston. See my play roundup for details on these and many other shows.
Hear budding pianists in Ottawa
The Ottawa Piano Festival continues until Sunday, April 13, with piano students showing off their keyboard skills at Woodroffe United Church.
WEEK OF APRIL 14 TO APRIL 20
These are just a few of the events coming up this week. I’m still adding events to this section, so keep checking back!
Indulge in some retail therapy in Gatineau
Did you miss the Big Fashion Sale by Quebec Designers in Montreal last weekend? Good news: It’s coming to the Hilton Lac Leamy in Gatineau from April 17 to 19. Shop for the latest offerings from dozens of fashion and accessories designers.
Celebrate anime at the EY Centre
Fans of Japanese animation, this event is for you. At Anime Ottawa at the EY Centre (April 18 to 20), you can meet voice actors and Vtubers, shop for anime merch of all sorts, see anime videos, get autographs from anime celebs, join cosplay meetups, see a comedy show, test your wits in a trivia game, and much more.
Shop for vintage books in Montreal
The Westmount Antiquarian Book Fair in Westmount—a separate municipality in the heart of Montreal—proudly proclaims itself Canada’s Smallest Book Fair. It features about a dozen booksellers selling a wide selection of books, pamphlets, maps, prints and ephemera. The fair will be held on Saturday, April 19, from 10am to 5pm, at the Centre Greene.
Enjoy maple treats in Delta
The Delta Maple Syrup Festival (April 19 and 20) is one of the highlights of the year in the village of Delta, about an hour and a half southwest of Ottawa. The fun this year will include wagon rides, a magic show, a book sale, a ball hockey tournament, a dance, a craft sale and, of course, all-you-can-eat pancakes.
WEEK OF APRIL 21 TO APRIL 27
These are just a few of the events coming up this week. I’m still adding events to this section, so keep checking back!
Compete in a paddling race in Richmond
Despite its name, the Jock River Canoe Race (Saturday, April 26) is open to paddle craft of all kinds, including canoes, kayaks and SUPs. The 12.5-kilometre friendly race starts just south of Munster and ends in Richmond. You must register online in advance; no onsite registrations will be available. You’ll save a bit of money if you register by April 13.
Enjoy a film festival in Ottawa
The Irish Film Festival Ottawa (April 25 to 27) at the Arts Court Theatre in downtown Ottawa celebrates independent Irish movies. It’s a great chance to catch the comedy Four Mothers and a slate of other Irish films.
And the Latin American Film Festival (April 4 to 26) concludes this week at Saint Paul University on Main Street in Old Ottawa East. Movies this week come from Cuba, Costa Rica and Mexico.
Shop for art and celebrate spring in Manotick
Members of the Manotick Art Association will be showing and selling their works at the Inspirations art show and sale from April 25 to 27, at the Manotick Curling Centre. There will be live music on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, too. Admission is free, but the organizers will be collecting cash donations for the Ottawa Mission.
Also in Manotick, the Manotick Village Spring Fling (Saturday, April 26) promises to be a day of live music, demonstrations, shopping and family fun. Restaurants will be offering special menu items and stores will be doing promotions.
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.
10 comments
Hi Laura. I am heading up publicity for an arts group in Ottawa, called Art Lending of Ottawa. We are thirty local artists and we have four shows a year at the R.A. Centre. Is there a way that I can have our event mentioned in your list. Our Holiday Art Show is on Dec. 16th. Let me know and I could send you description of the event. Thanks
Hi Leslie!Thanks for getting in touch. I know Art Lending–we have one of your paintings in our living room! I looked up your Dec. 16th show online and I’ll add a link to it in my art/craft sale post right now. Good luck with the event! Cheers, Laura
Aha, sometimes I’m further ahead of the game than I think! The show was already in my Christmas sales post at https://ottawaroadtrips.com/2022/11/01/ottawa-christmas-craft-fairs-holiday-sales-artisans/.
Hi. The Delta festival link takes one to the 2023 calendar of events.
Oops, thanks for letting me know! Sorry about that. I’ll fix it.
[…] If you’re looking for other upcoming events in and around Ottawa, check my main events post. […]
Hi, just a correction; It is Serres Robert Plante Greenhouses. Serres means greenhouses in French.
Oops–thank you! I’ll correct it.
The Cyprus exhibit at the War Museum says it continues until March 16.
Whoops–they extended it and I didn’t notice! Thanks, Heather. I’ll update the post.