49+ fun things to do in and around Ottawa, March 23 to 29

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Spring is officially here, and events are springing up all over! Whether you’d like to eat pancakes, unwind with a sound bath, go to a sock hop, play bingo for Easter eggs, laugh at comedy, get deals on used books, go to an Indian dance festival, cheer at a small-town hockey tournament, enjoy a maple syrup festival or get some wedding inspiration, you can do all that and more in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais and Montreal this week.

Cover photo courtesy of the Montreal Natyanjali dance festival.

Table of contents

See David Suzuki and Tara Cullis in Orléans

There are still a few tickets left for What You Won’t Do For Love, a hybrid live-theatre-and-film performance at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans (Wednesday, March 25). In it, environmentalists David Suzuki and Tara Cullis reflect on their 50-year romantic relationship and ask, “Can we learn to love the planet as much as we love other people?”

Learn weaving basics in Carleton Place

Fibre artist Tara Morris is leading an introduction to weaving workshop at the Carleton Place Gallery on Wednesday, March 25. During the three-hour evening class, you’ll weave a wall hanging to bring home—learning the basics of warping your loom, creating a fringe, weaving an item and hanging it on the wall as you go.

Cheer at a hockey tournament in Barry’s Bay

The Opeongo Heritage Cup hockey tournament (March 27 to 29) is marking its 20th anniversary this year. The competition in Barry’s Bay is as grassroots and local as you can get! The Four Nations that compete (fielding both women’s and men’s teams) are the Algonquin Thunderbirds, the German Black Eagles, the Irish Shamrocks and the Kashubian Griffins. Players must have a ancestral relation to one of these nations—and to the Bonnechere Valley or the Madawaska Valley—to be considered eligible. You’ll find more details on the event in this Inside Ottawa Valley story.

Shop at a market in Russell or North Gower

The last Russell Flea Market of the season will be held indoors at Russell High School on Saturday, March 28. Each flea market features a roster of 50 vendors. This time, you’ll be able to shop for everything from handmade soaps to garden seeds and handmade jewellery. The focus is on local vendors and unique items.

On Sunday, March 29, the North Gower Farmers’ Market is holding its Spring Market at the Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre. Vendors include a range of local producers.

Meet an author in Ottawa, Perth or Almonte

This week, decorated military veteran and registered nurse Vickie M. Lanthier is launching her latest book, High Agency Human: Navigate Adversity and Live Big. In it, the local author shares the mindset and practical frameworks that help people weather storms and pursue their goals. She’s doing an afternoon book launch and signing at Hourglass Coffee in Perth on Tuesday, March 24, and an evening interview, Q&A and book signing at the Almonte branch of the Mississippi Mills Public Library on Thursday, March 26 (register in advance for that one).

And on Sunday, March 29, there’s a book launch for author Mary Hogan-Finlay’s travel memoir The Road Once Taken: An Odyssey From the Banks of the Miramichi to the Mountains of Kathmandu. It’s happening at the Sofia Vintage Motor Café in Old Ottawa South from 3pm to 5pm. Register in advance with the author, as space is limited.

Colour mandalas in Aylmer

Are you a caregiver in need of a breather? You can sign up for a free mandala colouring workshop, taking place at the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Aylmer on the morning of Wednesday, March 25. Registration closes at 11:59pm on March 24.

Learn about the history of the Rideau Canal in Ottawa

Did you know that Ottawa is marking its 200th anniversary this year? As part of the celebrations, the Historical Society of Ottawa is presenting a free afternoon talk and film screening on Saturday, March 28, at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. Historian and documentary filmmaker Allison Margot Smith will be screening her film Two Wars, Three Watersheds, a Slew of Surveys and a Canal.

Eat pancakes near Almonte

This isn’t just any pancake breakfast. According to the poster, this is Union Hall’s Famous Pancake Breakfast. On Sunday, March 29, volunteers will be serving up pancakes with maple syrup, sausages, baked beans and blueberries, along with fruit juice, tea and Equator coffee. A gluten-free choice is available, and children five and under eat for free. This is a big fundraiser for the Union Hall, a heritage building located 8km west of Almonte.

Get mystical in Cornwall

You might just connect with the world beyond at the Cornwall Psychic and Crystal Fair at the Cornwall Civic Complex (March 27 to 29). Astrologers, psychics, intuitive readers and many more folks will be on hand.

Have some laughs all over

It is a busy, busy week for comedy!

• The Snowed In Comedy Tour features an all-Canadian talent lineup: Dan Quinn, Erica Sigurdson, Paul Myrehaug and Pete Zedlacher. It’s coming to Peterborough (March 24), Belleville (March 25), Nepean (March 26) and Kingston (March 27).
• On Wednesday, March 25, Canadian political comedian Stewart Reynolds (better known by his YouTube handle, Brittlestar) will be giving this year’s Kesterton Lecture at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication. Admission is free, and you can attend in person or online. See video above for a sample of his YouTube channel.
• The Queer Show brings together a diverse set of francophone, LGBTQ2S+ comedians. The producers have given them carte blanche to riff on any subjects they choose. It’s coming to Minotaure in Gatineau on Friday, March 27.
• Also on Friday, Motel Chelsea is presenting Women in Comedy, featuring standups Lauren Lane, Merilyn Read and Carmina Berbari Daou. You’ll save $5 by buying tickets in advance, and you can reserve dinner in advance, too.
• On Saturday, March 28, the Royal Oak in Barrhaven, Jim McNally is headlining a lineup of five standup comics.
• Also on Saturday, the Comedy FUNdraiser to raise money for the Prescott Russell Recreational Trail also has a lineup of five comedians. It’s coming to the Broken Stick Brewery at the Hammond Golf Club in Hammond, and the organizer advises guests to reserve in advance if they’d like dinner before or with the show.
• And on Sunday, March 29, Internet comedy star Jeff Leeson brings his Only Gonna Say This Once tour to the Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall.
• Also on Sunday, Neat Coffee Shop in Burnstown is presenting a comedy night featuring Casey Corbin, Chad Noonan and Jason Allen.

Have lunch or go to a sock hop in Carleton Place

The Carleton Place branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is hosting two events this week that may be of interest: an Easter luncheon on Friday, March 27, and a ’50s, ’60s and ’70s sock hop on Saturday, March 28. The latter event is a fundraiser for a new PA system for the branch, and your entry ticket includes a hot dog and fries.

Shop for used books, CDs and DVDs in Nepean or Orléans

The Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association (FOPLA) is holding its monthly mammoth book sale at the James Bartleman Archives and Library Materials Centre in Nepean on Saturday, March 28. Thousands of gently used books, CDs and DVDs will be available at good prices. This month’s sale features a DVD blowout, with DVDs selling for three for $5, or as marked. The DVD inventory is completely new since last month’s sale.

FOPLA’s self-serve store inside the Orléans branch of the Ottawa Public Library is also having a sale. Until April 3, pocket books are two for $1 and there’s also a $1 book table.

Meditate and unwind in Hintonburg or Jasper

Uppliva Nordic Spa in Hintonburg is offering a serenity sound healing experience to coincide with the full moon on Sunday, March 29. Participants will begin the evening with an hour in the thermal circuit (sauna, steam, cold plunge and rest), then enjoy a cold-pressed juice. Next will come a calming meditation and restorative sound bath.

Also on Sunday, you can sign up for a day of wellness in Jasper (partway between Merrickville and Smiths Falls). The day will include yoga, meditation or a sound bath, a gratitude activity, and lunch, followed by a beginner-level Hyrox circuit. (No clue what Hyrox is? I didn’t know, either, until I looked it up just now. It’s a race, but at every 1km mark, there’s a station where you stop running and do some sort of strength or endurance fitness activity. Yowza!) The Jasper event is a fundraiser for an athlete heading to the Hyrox Ottawa race in May.

Get wedding inspiration in Ottawa

Tying the knot soon? Then you might be interested in checking out the Ottawa Wedding Show (March 28 and 29) at the EY Centre, where you can browse for bridal dresses, caterers, photographers, wedding planners and more.

Collect Easter treats with your kids in Brockville

Get a hop (see what I did there?) on Easter celebrations with Hop the Street, a family event in Brockville. From 10am to 2pm on Saturday, March 28, families can stroll the downtown core, collecting sweet treats from participating businesses along the way.

Catch a concert in Ottawa, Shawville, Cornwall and elsewhere

As usual, there’s tons of live music to choose from this week, including Juno-winning folk singer Old Man Luedecke in Ottawa and Westport; a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute show in Orléans, Cornwall and Kingston; July Talk at the Bronson in Ottawa; Colin Linden at the Little Red Wagon Winery in Shawville; and a revue of Broadway show tunes in Carleton Place. See my concert listing for links to these shows and many more.

Have some maple fun in Vanier or Westport

The Cove Inn in Westport is hosting a Sugar Shack Party on Thursday, March 26, including a maple syrup-inspired menu, sweet cocktails, and live music by Henry Norwood and Shawn McCullough.

The Vanier Sugar Festival at the Vanier Museopark (March 28 and 29) will give you the chance to visit an urban sugar shack, but that’s just the beginning of the fun. Some of the many other attractions include live music, a lumberjack competition, Indigenous experiences, sugar shack meals, bouncy castles, stilt walkers and axe throwing.

P.S.: Don’t miss my big guide to local sugar bushes to find out where else you can enjoy maple syrup this spring.

Channel your inner Ukrainian in Ottawa

Two events coming up this weekend will help you immerse yourself in all things Ukrainian. First up is a Pysanka Bingo on Friday, March 27, at the Ukrainian Banquet and Convention Hall on Byron Avenue. The evening includes dinner and prizes include pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs). Tickets for this one are going quickly. It’s being run by the Ottawa branch of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada.

Also on Saturday, the Ottawa School of Art in the ByWard Market is hosting a Ukrainian Easter Gathering and Charity Market. Enjoy music, pastries and a vendors’ market, in support of frontline medics and civilian rescue teams in Ukraine.

Enjoy South Asian dance in Montreal

The Montreal Natyanjali dance festival brings together dancers from across Canada and the United States to showcase Indian classical dance. This year, for the first time, the event will also feature live music. It’s taking place at Collège Ahuntsic in Montreal on Saturday, March 28.

Play trivia in Merrickville

Feeling smarter than the average bear? (That’s a really old reference to Saturday morning cartoons, for all you under 50s out there.) Then you might want to drop into Theatre Night in Merrickville’s trivia night on Saturday, March 28. It’s taking place at the Merrickville Legion, and you can come on your own or rustle up a team.

See a play in Ottawa, Kanata, Almonte, Carleton Place or Perth

Variety is the name of the game when it comes to plays on stage in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario this weekend.

• The National Arts Centre alone is hosting the world premiere of a Tomson Highway play (Rose), a French choral work (Visages) and a touring production of the musical & Juliet.
• BL_NK continues at the GCTC, as does the musical version of Blood Brothers at Studio Theatre in Perth.
• New this week in Ottawa are Art of Murder at the Gladstone Theatre, A Circle Complete: A Seniors Sharing Stories Project at the Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, Footloose: The Musical at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and The Watsons at the Ron Maslin Playhouse in Kanata.
• Also new are The Strings of the Violin at the Almonte Old Town Hall and Broadway Showstoppers at the Carleton Place Town Hall.

See my theatre guide for details on these and many other productions.

Get gardening inspiration in Ladysmith

Pontiac Seedy Saturday (March 28) is a free event in Ladysmith that promises lots of fun and inspiration for gardeners. Swap open-pollinated and seeds, meet vendors, attend workshops, and drop by the canteen for chili, coconut-curry chicken soup, grilled cheese sandwiches and more. It’s a great chance to learn about seed saving and environmentally responsible gardening practices while enjoying some local treats.

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.