46+ fun things to see and do in and around Ottawa, March 2 to 8

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No need to sit at home under the covers this week—there’s so much going on!

You can celebrate the colourful Indian festival of Holi at two different parties, or mark St. Patrick’s Day a bit early with a parade or a dance. You can kick back to country tunes in Carleton Place or thrill to the music of tango in Gatineau. There’s a beer festival in the ByWard Market, a new art show in Kanata, and separate golf and cycling expos. You can also check out multiple gardening events, polar bear plunges and maple syrup festivals!

Read on for details on all these events and many more.

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Browse for works by local artists in Kanata

The West Carleton Arts Society is presenting its Spring Fling Juried Art Show at the Kanata Civic Art Gallery from March 2 to 15. Artworks by a variety of local artists will be on display and offered for sale.

Go to a gala for the Snowsuit Fund

SnowBall: A Cool Winter’s Eve (Wednesday, March 4) will be a festive evening fundraiser at the Royal Canadian Geographic Society’s headquarters on Sussex Drive. Guests will enjoy premium cocktails, chef stations, DJ tunes, live music, auctions, beauty bars and surprise experiences. The evening will be raising money for the Snowsuit Fund, which helps bring warm clothing to children in need.

Dream about golf season in Ottawa

Can’t wait till the snow melts and you can yell Fore? Then head to the Ottawa-Gatineau Golf Expo at the EY Centre (March 6 and 7) to browse for golf gear of all sorts, learn about local courses or plan a golf vacation.

See a movie for a good cause in Perth

Sunday, March 8, is International Women’s Day, and CFUW Perth & District is marking the occasion with a fundraising screening of the National Film Board documentary The Nest at Studio Theatre Perth. The film tells the story of the women who lived in a historic Winnipeg house over the course of 140 years. The screening will be followed by a presentation from special guest speaker Rajnish Sharma, program coordinator with Immigrant Women Services Ottawa. Funds raised will go to Lanark County Interval House.

Learn to draw cartoons in Chelsea

This weekend at La Fab sur Mill in Chelsea, you can take a morning workshop on the art of cartooning on Saturday, March 7.

See a play in Ottawa, Brockville or Kingston

Theatre lovers are spoiled for choice this week. Ottawa options include the musical After the Rain at the National Arts Centre, Jesus Christ Superstar and Anne of Green Gables at the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, the Agatha Christie whodunnit The Murder of Roger Ackroyd at Ottawa Little Theatre, and a play about Lizzie Borden called Blood Relations at the Gladstone Theatre. In Brockville, a comedy called Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery is on stage for two nights only. And in Kingston, Domino Theatre is staging a farce called Suite Surrender. See my theatre guide for links and details.

Get cycling inspiration in Gatineau

With some 100 exhibitors showing off the latest cycles and promoting bike trips all over the world, the Gatineau-Ottawa Bicycle Show (March 6 to 8) is a great opportunity to get yourself equipped for two-wheeled adventures this summer. It’s happening at the Palais des Congrès de Gatineau.

Cheer for your favourite hockey team

Pro women’s hockey team the Ottawa Charge face off against the Seattle Torrent at the Arena at TD Place on Wednesday, March 4.

On the men’s hockey side, the Ottawa 67s have two home games at the Arena at TD Place this week. They take on the Brampton Steelheads on Saturday, March 7, and the Peterborough Petes on Sunday, March 8.

In Outaouais hockey, the Gatineau Olympiques are playing the Val d’Or Foreurs on Sunday, March 8, at Centre Slush Puppie.

In junior league hockey action, you can choose from the following games:

• March 3: Ottawa Junior Canadians vs. Ottawa West Golden Knights (in Ottawa)
• March 3: Navan Grads vs. Hawkesbury Hawks (in Navan)
• March 3: Renfrew Wolves vs. Ottawa Junior Senators (in Renfrew)
• March 3: Brockville Braves vs. Smiths Falls Bears (in Brockville)
• March 4: Nepean Raiders vs. Pembroke Lumber Kings (in Nepean)
• March 4: Richmond Royals vs. Smiths Falls Junior Bears (in Richmond)
• March 4: Kemptville 73s vs. Brockville Braves (in Kemptville)
• March 4: Renfrew Timberwolves vs. Arnprior Packers (in Renfrew)
• March 5: Ottawa West Golden Knights vs. Ottawa Junior Canadians (in Ottawa)
• March 5: Casselman Vikings vs. Winchester Hawks (in Casselman)
• March 5: Smiths Falls Bears vs. Hawkesbury Hawks (in Smiths Falls)
• March 5: Cornwall Colts vs. Rockland Nationals (in Cornwall)
• March 6: Winchester Hawks vs. Casselman Vikings (in Winchester)
• March 6: Kemptville 73s vs. Rockland Nationals (in Kemptville)
• March 6: Arnprior Packers vs. Renfrew Timberwolves (in Arnprior)
• March 6: Smiths Falls Bears vs. Navan Grads (in Smiths Falls)
• March 6: Brockville Braves vs. Nepean Raiders (in Brockville)
• March 6: Hawkesbury Hawks vs. Carleton Place Canadians (in Hawkesbury)
• March 7: Ottawa Junior Senators vs. Navan Grads (in Ottawa)
• March 7: Ottawa Junior Canadians vs. Ottawa West Golden Knights (in Ottawa)
• March 7: Smiths Falls Junior Bears vs. Richmond Royals (in Smiths Falls)
• March 7: Renfrew Wolves vs. Pembroke Lumber Kings (in Renfrew)
• March 8: Nepean Raiders vs. Renfrew Wolves (in Nepean)
• March 8: Richmond Royals vs. Smiths Falls Junior Bears (in Richmond)
• March 8: Casselman Vikings vs. Winchester Hawks (in Casselman)
• March 8: Smiths Falls Bears vs. Brockville Braves (in Smiths Falls)
• March 8: Renfrew Timberwolves vs. Arnprior Packers (in Renfrew)
• March 8: Pembroke Lumber Kings vs. Kemptville 73s (in Pembroke)

Pick up new-to-you art supplies in Carleton Place

The Craft Cycle Creative ReUse Centre is celebrating its grand opening in Carleton Place this weekend inside A Touch of Whimsy at 142 Bridge Street. Craft Cycle accepts donations of all sorts of arts and crafts supplies—beads, paint, pipe cleaners, yarn, fabric, marbles, mirrors, paper, dyes, feathers, mannequins, sewing machines and much more—then resells them at good prices. You can feed your creative habit and keep good stuff out of landfills!

Freeze your buns off for a good cause

Canadian Geographic’s nationwide Polar Plunge is happening on Sunday, March 8. The event raises money for Canadian Geographic and Royal Canadian Geographical Society activities and initiatives, including research and a podcast. If (like me) you’re too chicken to jump into frigid water yourself, you can always pledge your support to a braver soul and come out to cheer for the swimmers!

An unrelated event, the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Ontario, will be taking place in various locations across the province throughout the winter and spring. This weekend, you can join the frosty fun on Saturday, March 7, in Renfrew, Smiths Falls and Brockville, and on Sunday, March 8, in Kingston, among many other places. Can’t make it this weekend? Special Olympics plunges are also happening in Gananoque on Sunday, March 15, and in Belleville on Friday, March 27.

Amuse your kids during Quebec’s March Break

Most of Ottawa-Gatineau’s national museums are offering March Break activities for kids during Quebec’s March Break (March 2 to 8). See my March Break guide for details on museum fun and more.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early in Ottawa or Arnprior

OK, St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until March 17, but Ottawa is getting a jump on the celebration this year. The Ottawa St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 7, will wind from the Supreme Court of Canada to the ByWard Market. (Note that the parade organizers are facing a funding shortfall this year and have started a GoFundMe campaign to make up the difference.)

Also starting the festivities early is the Arnprior Curling Club, which is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Bash on Saturday, March 7, to raise money to renovate the club. The fun will include live kitchen party music by the Ghost Town Cryers Band, prizes, a 50/50 draw, a late meal and a cash bar.

Have some laughs in Gatineau

This is your last week to catch Juste pour rire Comédie club en tournée in Gatineau. The French-language standup comedy show has been doing the rounds of Loto-Québec’s casinos. The free 90-minute show will have its final Gatineau performance at the Hôtel Casino Lac-Leamy on Thursday, March 5.

Drop into a craft/artisan market in Ottawa

Among the craft and artisan shows you can check out this weekend is the International Women’s Day Market at Beyond the Pale Brewing on Sunday, March 8. Crafts are also among the goods—along with antiques, vintage clothing and more—at the 613flea market at the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, March 7.

Enjoy maple syrup in Gatineau and beyond

In these days when many of us are feeling especially patriotic, what could be more Canadian than visiting a sugarbush? Lots of them are open for the season now, offering taffy on snow, wagon rides and lots of other amusements. Check out my big sugar shack guide for details on sugarbushes throughout Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais.

On Saturday, March 7, l’Association citoyenne de Bellevue Sud in Gatineau is hosting a Fête des sucres at Pavillon La Vérendrye (730, rue Main, Gatineau), from 11am to 2pm. Come enjoy maple taffy on snow, pancakes, soup and live music. That same day, from 11am to 3pm, Parc de la ferme Dalton in Gatineau is also having a Fête des sucres. This one features taffy on snow, pancakes and other food, live entertainment, outdoor games, and horse-drawn carriage rides. You can buy maple syrup, too.

Celebrate Holi in Stittsville or Chalk River

Holi is an annual Indian celebration also known as the Festival of Colours. Revellers mark the arrival of spring by throwing brightly coloured powders at each other and sharing festive dishes

The Gujarati Cultural Association of Ottawa is holding a Holi celebration at Walter Baker Park in Stittsville on Saturday, March 7. The fun will include music, refreshments and more.

The following day (Sunday, March 8), the Ottawa Valley Bharatiya Cultural Association is marking the occasion at the Chalk River Lions Club with a vegetarian lunch, games, dancing and more.

Thrill to tango in Gatineau

In Tango After Dark, world tango champion German Cornejo, and a group of nine world-class tango dancers will be dancing to the music of Astor Piazzolla, performed by an internationally renowned tango band. The colourful spectacular takes to the stage of the Théâtre du Casino in Gatineau on Wednesday, March 4.

Kick back with country for CHEO in Carleton Place

Here’s a deal: You can enjoy some great music and support children’s health at the same time by going to the Country Matinee for CHEO on Sunday, March 8. Headlining the musical entertainment are Gord Barnes and the Allstar Band. The fundraising dance at the Carleton Place Arena runs from 2pm to 6pm.

Learn Palestinian embroidery in Almonte

The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum is hosting Stitching Solidarity, a hands-on workshop focusing on Palestinian Tatreez embroidery, on Saturday, March 7. Facilitator Rawd will share the basics of Tatreez, a craft she discovered through her special relationship with her grandmother, Alia. This workshop is part of the exhibition A Stitch in Time: The Palestine History Tapestry, on display at the museum until April 19.

See the stars of tomorrow in Pembroke

At the Ottawa Valley Talent Showcase—The Ultimate Talent Competition in Pembroke (Saturday, March 7), you might just see the next big celebrities at the start of their careers! The event is open to performers of all sorts in every age group, and $1,600 in prizes (including a $1,000 grand prize) are up for grabs.

Raise a glass in the ByWard Market

Byward Beerfest (March 6 and 7) is a two-night craft beer festival at the Lowertown Brewery in the ByWard Market. You can sample brews by a range of local microbreweries, along with tasty bites from Lowertown. There’s live music, too.

Find some gardening inspiration

Did you miss the Seedy Saturday/Sunday events last week? Then head to Alta Vista or Brockville on Saturday, March 7, or Kemptville or Peterborough on Sunday, March 8, to trade seeds and gardening advice.

Catch one of many concerts

Maybe some live music is just what you need to shake off the late-winter blues. Fortunately, concerts galore are on the schedule across our region this week—everything from Sloan at the Bronson Centre and Bedouin Soundclash at the Shenkman Arts Centre to Ndidi O at the Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg and the Barra MacNeils at Festival Hall @ L’Equinoxe in Pembroke. Check my concert listings for links to these and many other concerts.

Learn about local history in Cornwall

This talk is actually next week, but since it’s early in the week, I’m listing it here so you can plan ahead. In the last talk of the SD&G Historical Society’s Winter Speaker Series, Cornwall Community Museum curator and local historian Don Smith will be giving a talk on the impact of the St. Lawrence River on Cornwall and the surrounding region. The presentation is taking place in the Back Room at Schnitzels Restaurant in Cornwall on Monday, March 10, starting at 7pm.

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.