39+ things to do in and around Ottawa, September 22 to 28, 2025

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With autumn undeniably in the air, this week’s calendar of events is packed with fall fairs and harvest festivals. You can also choose from six studio tours, several music festivals, a cat show, a fundraising dog walk, the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Franco-Ontarian flag and much, much more.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Hang out with goats in Luskville

Have you ever wanted to practise your plank while surrounded by goats, or simply snuggle a few of them? Well, you’re in luck, because Mountain View Farm in Luskville, Quebec, is hosting goat yoga and goat snuggling sessions this fall, starting on Saturday, September 27. (If you can’t make it this weekend, there will be other chances.)

Join a free bike ride in Orleans

Kidical Mass is a worldwide movement that uses large public rides to encourage kids to ride bikes and to inspire cities to create bike-friendly infrastructure. There’s a free Orleans Kidical Mass bike ride on Saturday, September 27, starting and ending at Father Richard Ward Park (1073 Parc de Chablis). The two-hour ride will depart at 10am and it will be at a nice, slow pace that will suit even beginning riders. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Participants are encouraged to bring snacks or picnics to enjoy in the park after the ride.

Take a studio tour in Ottawa, Chelsea/Wakefield, Merrickville, SDG or North Frontenac

Six studio tours are happening this weekend, on September 27 and 28.

The New Edinburgh Artists’ Studio Tour is a self-guided tour of the central Ottawa neighbourhood. You can browse for paintings, mixed media, jewellery, pottery and more.

Artists from Hintonburg to Carlingwood will be opening their Ottawa studios to visitors during the second weekend of the West End Studio Tour. Meet the artists, browse their wares and pick up something unique to enliven your home.

I can’t believe I missed this one when I first wrote this post! The first weekend of the Chelsea-Wakefield Studio Tour is happening this weekend. It features 22 artists this year and continues next weekend (October 4 and 5).

The Merrickville Arts Guild Studio Tour will showcase the work of 27 artists and artisans, including paintings, ceramics, jewellery, sculptures, photography, fibre art and woodworking items. You can also watch people blowing glass or operating a vintage printing press.

The Apples & Art Studio Tour in Cornwall, Akwesasne and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SDG) is a big one, with 46 stops across the region. It will include an exhibition by local artist Pierre Giroux at the Cornwall Community Museum. In Alexandria, four artists will be in studio at the Priest’s Mill Arts Centre, the centre will be hosting the new Fall25 Exhibit and a group of Ottawa plein-air painters will be at work in Mill Square. And the new See-Way More tour company will be offering a shuttle to several of the participating studios, starting and ending at the Cornwall Civic Complex.

And the North Frontenac Back Roads Studio Tour will bring visitors to almost two dozen artists’ studios across North Frontenac including stops in Mississippi Station, Plevna, Ompah, Cloyne and Ardoch. Wondering where North Frontenac is? It’s southwest of Ottawa, just past Lanark County.

Cheer on competitors in a fire truck pull at Lansdowne Park

Teams of 10 will attempt to pull a fire truck weighing over 10 tonnes a distance of 100 feet in the Ottawa Fire Truck Pull on Saturday, September 27, at Lansdowne Park. You can cheer them on if you’re not feeling up to a superhuman feat of derring-do. It’s a fundraiser for Epilepsy Ottawa.

Get literary in Montreal

This is the first week of the Festival International de la Littérature in Montreal (September 24 to October 4). Events include everything from readings to films and concerts. Ticket prices vary.

See a movie in Almonte about residential schools

Reconciliation Through Art is a three-day Almonte event (September 28 to 30) culminating in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On Sunday, September 28, you can attend a screening of Inendi (She Is Absent), a documentary about elder and residential schools survivor Mary Bell. Filmmaker Sarain Fox, Bell’s great-niece, will be in attendance for a post-film discussion. Admission is free but donations are gratefully accepted.

Learn how to pamper your cat in Nepean

Attention, all feline fans: The Ottawa Cat Show is coming to the Nepean Sportsplex on September 27 and 28. Vendors will be selling everything from cat food and cat toys to cat portraiture and cat physiotherapy. Cat sitters, cat groomers, cat furniture makers—they’ll all be there. Speakers will talk about feline fitness and cat dentistry, among other topics. And, of course, there will be a competition of pretty kitties that will lead to the judges’ picks for top cats.

Power through a long-distance run in Prescott-Russell

Did you know that a 72-kilometre rail-to-trail route runs through much of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, just east of Ottawa? On Saturday, September 27, keen runners can tackle all or part of it during the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail Challenge. You can choose a 25km out-and-back run between Hammond and Bourget; a 50km run from Vankleek Hill to Hammond; or an 80km run from St. Eugene to Hammond. Shuttles will be provided to Vankleek Hill and St. Eugene. (You’d better be a morning person, though; the shuttle to St. Eugene leaves Hammond at 5:30am. Yes, you read that right.)

Shop for handmade items in downtown Ottawa, Manotick and Mountain

On Saturday, September 27, the Ottawa Art Gallery is hosting a Mini Market featuring a range of local artisans and crafters. It runs from noon to 5pm.

At the Red Barn Quilt Show and Sale (September 27 and 28, from 10am to 4pm), you can shop for locally made quilts, candles, woodworking, knitted items, produce and more. Refreshments will be available from the 4H Café, parking is free and admission is by donation (proceeds will go to Beth Donovan Hospice). It’s all happening at Ben and Anja Berends’ farm, 10461 French Settlement Road in Mountain, Ontario (just south of Ottawa, between Osgoode and Hallville).

And the One World Bazaar continues at 6110 Mitch Owens Road in Manotick. This week, it runs from September 25 to 28.

Get artsy at Arts Court in Ottawa

Pique is a quarterly festival of innovative and avant-garde arts performances at Arts Court (67 Nicholas Street). The fall edition, taking place this year on Saturday, September 27, will feature a virtual reality installation, live music, cutting-edge movies, panel discussions and much, much more. Pique will showcase a wide range of artists and curators on 10 stages, indoors and out, and admission is pay what you can (paying $75 will subsidize an admission for someone else).

Join the Wiggle Waggle Walk and Run to help pets

The Wiggle Waggle Walk and Run (Sunday, September 28) is a major fundraising event for the Ottawa Humane Society. You can choose from a 1km kids’ fun run, a 2km Furry Fun Run (with your pet), a 3km walk, or 5km or 10km runs. All routes start and end at Lansdowne Park and travel along the Rideau Canal. Note that online registration ends on Thursday, September 25.

Have fun for a good cause in Westboro, Carleton Place or Long Sault

The Chasin’ Turkeys bowling centre in Carleton Place is hosting the Turkey Ball Bowling Tournament on Friday, September 26. Funds raised will support the Lanark County Food Bank.

On Saturday, September 27, you can admire Japanese ikebana flower arrangements and make your own piece to take home during Flowers for Food at the Westboro Legion (10am to 2pm). The suggested donation is $20, and the money goes to the Westboro Region Food Bank.

Also on Saturday, you can shop for bargains galore and join a clothing swap at the Peddlers Flea Market in Long Sault (16574 County Road 36, 10am to 3pm). Vendors’ fees will support Centre 105, a drop-in centre in Cornwall.

Celebrate Franco-Ontarian Day all over

Did you know that the Franco-Ontarian flag turned 50 this year? To celebrate the occasion, communities all over the province are holding flag-raising ceremonies and other celebrations on Frano-Ontarian Day (Thursday, September 25). The Mon drapeau franco website has links to many of the events, which include flag-raisings in Ottawa, Embrun, Rockland, Saint-Isidore and elsewhere.

Learn about whisky in Cornwall

Whisky Camp (September 26 to 28) is a deep dive into the world of whisky, with tastings, master classes and more. It’s taking place at the DEV Centre in Cornwall.

Enjoy Oktoberfest on Sussex Drive, in Orleans or in Aylmer

The downtown area of Aylmer is hosting two days of Oktoberfest fun on September 26 and 27.

The Tavern on the Falls, next to Rideau Falls off Sussex Drive, is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, September 27. From 11am to 9pm, you can enjoy German-inspired food, beer and live Bavarian-style music.

That same day, the Orléans Brewing Company is throwing an Oktoberfest bash from 1pm to 10pm. Your ticket includes a souvenir stein, a pint of beer and a pretzel. German food, DJ and live music, and games are also on the menu.

See cutting-edge animation in Ottawa

As any true animation fan knows, there’s far more to animation than children’s cartoons and The Simpsons (fun as they can be). To see some of the latest cutting-edge shorts and features from around the world, head to the Ottawa International Animation Festival (September 24 to 28).

Gaze at the stars near Kaladar

Near the night of the new moon each month, weather permitting, the Lennox and Addington County Dark Sky Viewing Area offers a free Laser-Guided Stargazing Tour on Friday and Saturday nights. Each tour starts about an hour after dusk and lasts approximately 90 minutes. You’ll get a laser-guided tour of the night sky and perhaps peek through a telescope. The next tour nights are September 26 and 27. Even though the tour is free, you should go online to reserve a spot if you’re interested. The viewing area is in Erinsville, just south of where Highway 7 intersects with Highway 41 in Kaladar, Ontario.

Join an archeological dig in Quyon

This weekend, Les Amis du Sault des Chats (Friends of the Chats Falls) are running a free, public archeological dig in Quyon, in the Quebec region of the Pontiac. People of all ages are welcome to pick up a trowel or a brush to participate in some real archaeology. The dig is taking place at the stone foundation of a former Hudson’s Bay Company trading post that closed in 1837. Participants are finding pioneer and trading post items. The dig is open from 9am to 3pm on September 27 and 28. If you’d like to participate, the group invites you to contact them by email or Facebook Messenger (see details in the link above).

Celebrate fall in Wakefield

On Saturday, September 27, Parc nature Eco-Odyssée in Wakefield is holding an Autumn Colour Festival from 9am to 5pm. Free fun includes face painting, bouncy castles, arts and crafts, a permaculture workshop, children’s entertainers, a guided walking tour, a treasure hunt and a walking labyrinth adventure. From 9am to 7:30pm, you can also pay to explore the park’s water labyrinth by boat.

Walk with cows in Cornwall

The title of Walk with Cows sums up the main attraction! On September 27 and 28 in Cornwall’s Lamoureux Park, you can walk with a cow. You can also check out a petting zoo and nosh on food truck fare. It’s a fundraiser for a local animal sanctuary called Cowland (AKA Rick’s Ranch), where about 30 dairy cows are living out their lives in peace. (A tip of the hat to the Off the Hook newsletter for this item.)

Head to a harvest festival in Blackburn Hamlet or Delta

During the Delta Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 27, you can visit craft sales and a quilt show, enjoy live music, see blacksmithing demonstrations and a 1937 fire truck, check out bread-baking and scarecrow competitions, and more. Delta is about 90 minutes southwest of Ottawa.

Closer to home, the free Fall Farm Fest at Just Food Community Farm in Blackburn Hamlet will offer wagon rides, greenhouse tours, gardening workshops, live music and more, as well as the chance to buy products from local vendors. It’s happening on Sunday, September 28.

See dancers in Gatineau Park

Now this is something you don’t see every day: an outdoor dance performance on the grounds of the Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park. Les Scénographies-Paysages is the latest work by choreographer Danièle Desnoyers. The National Arts Centre is presenting the 50-minute performances on September 27 and 28.

Enjoy great music in the Glebe, Montreal or Belleville

Irene’s Pub in the Glebe turns 40 this week, and it’s celebrating with a week of special concerts. The fun culminates with an outdoor festival on adjacent Regent Street on Sunday, September 28, featuring five acts and starting at 1pm.

The POP Montreal International Music Festival (September 24 to 28) showcases emerging and established musicians, particularly indie acts. Among the dozens of shows this year, you can catch concerts by Michel Pagliaro, U.S. Girls and Coeur de pirate.

The Rotary Club of Belleville is organizing Belleville Porchfest, an afternoon of free music on residential porches, on Saturday, September 27, from 1pm to 4pm.

Looking for more ideas? Check my big list of concerts.

Learn about architecture in Ottawa

Ottawa Architecture Week actually lasts a bit longer than a week, with the first event on September 25 and the last on October 9. The activities are designed to engage visitors in the nuts and bolts of architecture and urban design. The theme this year is Mapping the Market, so there will be a special emphasis on the ByWard Market. Events this week include a Reconciling History Walking Tour, focusing on Indigenous history, on Thursday, September 25; a tour of the ByWard Market based on the works of urban expert Jane Jacobs on Saturday, September 27; and an urban sketching tour of the market, also on Saturday.

Take the family to a fall fair in Carp or McDonald’s Corners

With a midway, a petting zoo, the SuperDogs show, a demolition derby, live music, agricultural competitions, a lawn tractor pull, a beer garden and more, the Carp Fair (September 25 to 28) has something for everyone in the family.

On Saturday, September 27, you can also check out the McDonald’s Corners Annual Fall Fair in Lanark County.

Have some laughs at TD Place or in Belleville

English standup comedian Sarah Millican brings her latest show, Late Bloomer, to TD Place at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa on Saturday, September 27.

Further afield, Girls Nite Out is an evening of improv comedy with an all-female team of comics headlined by Elvira Kurt. It will be at the Empire Theatre in Belleville on Friday, September 26.

SAVE THE DATE

Here are a few upcoming events you might want to add to your calendar, if you’re planning ahead. (Look for details on these events and many others in upcoming posts.)

• September 28 to 30: Reconciliation Through Art, Almonte
• September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• October 3 to December 6: Ontario Festival of Small Halls, multiple locations
• October 3 to 5: Carleton Place Pumpkinfest
• October 4 and 5, and 11 and 12: Annual Biology Butterfly Show, Carleton University, Ottawa
• October 18: Mystic Market, Smiths Falls
• October 18: Fall Colours Walk, Blueberry Mountain, Lanark
• October 22 to 26: Ottawa International Writers Festival
• October 23 to 26: Gatineau Hills Fiddle Festival, Chelsea
• October 25: Vankleek Hill Fibre Frolic

NEED A PLACE TO STAY?

If you’re planning to head to any of these events and you need accommodation, why not use the map below to find a place to stay? If you book a place (anywhere in the world!) using the map, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting this site!

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.