Things to do in Ottawa, the Outaouais, Eastern Ontario and beyond (April 7 to April 27, 2025)

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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).

Go to an art pop-up in Carleton Place

Arts Carleton Place (ACP) is hosting an open house on Saturday, April 12, from 1pm to 4:30pm. A Taste of Art will be a chance to meet local artists and buy their works, while also enjoying some refreshments. This space at 127 Bridge Street will become the new home of the ACP Art Hub Gallery when the pop-up wraps up at the end of May.

Shop for gems in Ottawa

The Ottawa Rock N’ Gem Show will draw rockhounds, crystal mavens and crafters to the EY Centre from April 10 to 13. Browse for minerals, beads, jewellery and more.

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

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.

Enjoy family Easter fun all over Ottawa

The Cumberland Heritage Village Museum is hosting Hop into Spring on Saturday, April 19. The fun includes visits with baby animals, a scavenger hunt, races, face painting, visits from the Easter Bunny and more. Activities are geared to children aged 3 to 8. You must register in advance, and the registration fee covers a group of up to six people.

On the opposite side of town, Easter at the Bunker is taking place on Saturday, April 19, at the Diefenbunker in Carp.

On April 19 and 29, the Billings Estate National Historic Site is offering Easter at the Estate, with activities aimed at kids aged 3 to 8, including crafts, egg-and-spoon races, gardening activities and more. Advance registration is required, and the fee covers a group of up to six people.

Over at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Easter at the Farm runs over all four days of the long weekend (April 18 to 21). Kids (and adults, of course) can see lambs, chicks and turkey poults, learn how chocolate is made, do crafts, enjoy a family movie, and snack on BeaverTails and other food truck treats. Note that you must buy tickets in advance online, and ticket sales open at noon on Tuesday, April 15.

Also running all weekend (April 18 to 21) are the Easter Egg Hunt at Valleyview Little Animal Farm on Fallowfield Road and Easter at the Farm at the Log Farm on Cedarview Road, both in Nepean. In both cases, advance booking is required.

Catch a soccer match at TD Place

The Ottawa Atlético soccer club is taking on York United at TD Place on Saturday, April 19. Game time is 1pm.

Shop for antiques in Nepean

The Bytown Antique and Bottle Club is hosting its 50th annual Antique and Vintage Show and Sale at the Nepean Sportsplex on Saturday, April 19.

Have some laughs in Ottawa

Kichesippi Beer Company in Bells Corners is hosting a standup comedy night with five comedians on Thursday, April 17.

Just for Laughs is presenting online comic sensation Che Durena at Algonquin College on Saturday, April 19. Durena has racked up over 8 million followers online and garnered over 1 billion views for his videos.

Also on Saturday, April 19, comedian Harland Williams is at the Bronson Music Theatre in Ottawa.

See the Harlem Globetrotters at the Canadian Tire Centre

Attention, basketball fans—and anyone else who enjoys a fun, family-friendly show! The Harlem Globetrotters will be at the Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday, April 19.

Go to an Easter market

You can choose from at least three Easter markets on Saturday, April 19. The Carp Farmers’ Market Easter Market runs from 8am to 2pm at the Carp Fairgrounds. The Easter Artisans’ Market in the ByWard Market features special activities for kids and runs from 11am to 4pm. And there will be more than 50 vendors at the Easter Farmers’ Market at the Metcalfe Arena, which starts at 9am and ends at 2pm.

Also, the Lansdowne Farmers’ Market is taking place inside the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park on Easter Sunday (April 20).

WEEK OF APRIL 21 TO APRIL 27

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.

Learn about sustainability in Kemptville

The North Grenville Sustainability Fair and EV Show comes to the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Kemptville on Sunday, April 27. Learn about electric vehicles, ways to green your home, organic foods, and other local eco-friendly products and services. Admission is free.

Browse for art in Almonte

On April 26 and 27, the Ten Collective—a group of artists painting in a diverse range of styles—will be holding an exhibition and sale at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte.

Go to a carnival in Smiths Falls

The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum is hosting a Spring Carnival on Saturday, April 26, from 11am to 2pm. The fun will including a barbecue, axe throwing, live music, a bouncy castle, vendors, a petting zoo and more.

Catch some comedy in Nepean or Kingston

On Tuesday, April 22, Zabrina Douglas will host the 20th edition of the Just For Laughs Road Show at the Meridian Theatres@Centrepointe in Ottawa. Standup comedians on the roster include Orlando Leyba, Hisham Kelati and Audrey Stewart. The show will then move to the Kingston Grand Theatre on Saturday, April 26.

See orchids in Ottawa

The Ottawa Orchid Society is holding its annual show and sale at Algonquin College on April 26 and 27. You can pay extra to get in an hour early, if you’re super keen.

Dig into poutine in Renfrew

Enjoy cheesy, gravy-doused fries of all descriptions at Renfrew Poutine Feast (April 24 to 27). It’s happening at Haramis Park near the Renfrew tourist information centre, off Highway 60 just south of Highway 17.

Go to a home show in Prescott

The Prescott Spring Home and Trade Show (April 24 to 26) will feature 80 vendors on Thursday and Friday, and more than 170 vendors (including artisans) on Saturday. It’s taking place at the Leo Boivin Community Centre in Prescott.

Enjoy a music festival in Ottawa

The Ottawa Grassroots Festival (April 24 to 27) is a family-friendly event featuring folk, Indigenous and Franco-Ontarian music. Concerts take place at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa in McKellar Park and artists include Lynn Miles, the Dusty Drifters and Josh Ritchie. Daytime shows are free; for other shows, you’ll need to buy a ticket.

Celebrate all things maple in Perth

The Festival of the Maples in Perth on Saturday, April 26, 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. Families can enjoy a petting zoo, a rock-climbing wall, laser tag and more.

Hit a comic convention in Cornwall

The Cornwall and Area Pop Event—better known as CAPE—comes to the Benson Centre in Cornwall on April 26 and 27. Focusing on comics, SF and fantasy, the event will feature guests such as Kaniehtiio Horn (Alice Darling, Reservation Dogs, Letterkenny), Brian Posehn (The Big Bang Theory) and Melissa McIntyre (Degrassi: The Next Generation).

Shop for books in Ottawa or Renfrew

In Renfrew, the Canadian Federation of University Women is holding a huge used book sale at Renfrew Collegiate Institute on Friday, April 25 (4pm to 9pm) and Saturday, April 26 (9am to noon).

This is also the weekend of the popular Rockcliffe Park Spring Book Sale at the Rockcliffe Park Recreation Centre (April 26 and 27).

Immerse yourself in ideas in Montreal

Blue Metropolis (April 24 to 27) is a huge multilingual event in Montreal that bills itself as a celebration of books and ideas. This year, the theme is Time, The Tree, The Page. As the organizers frame it, the festival will be “an exploration of patience, transformation, and the delicate balance between nature, culture, and humanity. The Tree, a silent witness to centuries, embodies both the patience of time and the memory of the world…Time slips away, accelerates, is wasted, and savored. It is both a threat and a promise, urgency and contemplation. It shapes nature as much as it shapes our lives. Writing takes time; reading does too. Could time be a gift we give ourselves?”

Even though the “official” event lasts just four days in late April, there are virtual online events as well, beginning on April 14.

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 26 and 27). To participate, you must register online by April 24 or in person by April 25; no same-day registrations will be available.

Plan your outdoor adventures at an Ottawa show

The Ottawa Outdoor and Adventure Travel Show at the Nepean Sportsplex (April 26 and 27) will offer inspiration galore for outdoorsy types. Shop for camping gear, kayaks, e-bikes, SUPs, ATVs and more from a wide range of vendors, and learn about outdoor travel destinations and family fun ideas at free presentations. Admission and parking are free, too.

See movies in Toronto

This year, the more than 113 featured documentaries from 47 countries at Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival (April 24 to May 4) focus on everyone from Indigenous basketball players on the West Coast to an activist widow in rural Kenya.

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.