79+ fun events in and around Ottawa, September 7 to 13

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It seemed like it was taking me forever to finish this week’s calendar of events, and now I know why: I’ve managed to collect roughly 80 things to see and do in Ottawa, the Outaouais, Eastern Ontario and beyond. I’m pretty sure that’s a record for me!

That means that there’s something for just about everyone this week, from an exhibition of bonsai trees to a motorcycle trip that raises money for guide dogs. You can choose from eight food festivals, eight plays, two harvest festivals and seven music festivals. You can head to a powwow in Cornwall or check out Fibrefest in Almonte. You can do yoga at sunset in Kars or see a movie under the stars in Westboro. Comics, country fairs, butter tarts, farm visits, a street party and Cirque du Soleil—you’ll find all that and much more in this week’s calendar. Enjoy!

Enjoy a dragon boat festival in Carleton Place

The Carleton Place Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, September 12, will see 36 teams of paddlers racing on the Mississippi River near the Carleton Place Canoe Club (189 John Street). As well as cheering on the competitors, you can enjoy live music, nosh on goodies from local food and drink vendors and check out an artisans’ market.

Go to a street party in Vanier

BeechFest (Saturday, September 12) is a Vanier street party featuring live music, street entertainers, food vendors and more. Stores along the route will be getting into the spirit with special activities, too. It’s all happening on Beechwood Avenue between Marier Avenue and Loyer Street. The fun runs from 3pm to 9pm. The video above (from the 2024 festival) gives you some sense of what the day is all about.

Shop for you and your pet in Renfrew

Two events are happening in tandem this year: Valley Vibes & Crafty Finds and the Renfrew Pet Fest Outdoor Market. Shop for soap, skin care products, baby clothing, jewellery and more by local makers, as well as dog treats and other pet products. You can get a photo taken with your four-legged friend, too. Both events are happening on Saturday, September 12, at 630 O’Brien Road in Renfrew, across from the water tower.

Knit, spin or weave up a storm in Almonte

The ever-popular Fibrefest is returning to Almonte on September 12 and 13. It’s such a draw that it is spread across two locations: the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (3 Rosamond Street East) and the Almonte Community Centre (182 Bridge Street). Come learn about knitting, rug hooking, spinning, weaving, quilting and other fibre arts. The festival runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday, and admission is $5 per person per day. There are also workshops from September 9 to 17, which you’ll need to sign up for in advance. (P.S.: Most of the workshops are in Almonte, but my friend Katharine Fletcher is hosting two eco-dyeing workshops at her beautiful farm in Quyon.)

Hunt for bargains in Old Ottawa South

The Old Ottawa South Porch Sale on Saturday, September 12, will see bargain hunters converging on the central neighbourhood, located between the Glebe and Billings Bridge. The sale officially runs from 8am to 3pm, but the pickings are usually slim after about 1pm or so.

Have fun on a farm in Quebec or near Belleville

Farms across Quebec will be participating in a “doors open” event called Portes Ouvertes on Sunday, September 13. Depending on the site, you might see cows being milked, learn about orchard management, sample wine, ride a tractor or discover all sorts of other things about farm life. Participating sites near Ottawa include Ciderie Coronation Hall in Bristol and Ferme Sage in Lac-Sainte-Marie. (Website is in French.)

It’s a bit of a hike from Ottawa, but Farms Open (September 11 to 13) is a great reason to drive to the Bay of Quinte and Hastings County area, in and around Belleville. More than a dozen farms, farmers’ markets and shops will be welcoming visitors to taste and buy local foods.

See a “living library” at Beechwood Cemetery

I may be odd, but I’ve always loved walking through cemeteries (OK, maybe not at night on Halloween, but generally). I find them both fascinating and tranquil. If you do, too, then here’s an event for you: the annual “living library” historical event at Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery (280 Beechwood Avenue) on Sunday, September 13. This year, in honour of the city’s 200th birthday celebrations actors in costume will tell the stories of people who played a role in Bytown’s early days and are buried at Beechwood. They include a superintendent of the Rideau Canal and a former mayor. The event runs from 2pm to 3:30pm, and Beechwood advises visitors to arrive by 3pm if they want to see all of the actors’ portrayals. It’s a self-guided tour, so you walk around the site at your own pace. Admission is free and no registration is required.

Meet authors and enjoy an arts festival in Brockville

The St. Lawrence Writers Festival is happening in Brockville from September 10 to 13. The all-Canadian literary event will feature author talks and panels, writing workshops, a romance-themed boat cruise, a brunch, a book launch, and more.

Spot celebrities at Ottawa ComicCon

If you’re a superfan of comics and SF, you probably already know that Ottawa ComicCon is coming back to the Cohere Centre (formerly the EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive) from September 11 to 13. But did you know that celebs will be there signing autographs, posing for photos, or otherwise seeing and being seen? They include actors Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, Reacher), Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat (Shoresy, Prey), Tom Welling (Smallville, Lucifer) and Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian, Breaking Bad); creators Darick Robertson (The Boys, Transmetropolitan) and Pia Guerra (Y: The Last Man, MAD Magazine); and even wrestler Mick Foley! And, of course, you can shop for comics, collectibles and lots of other merch, too.

Enjoy a harvest festival in Dunvegan or Carleton Place

The Harvest Fall Festival at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan (Sunday, September 13) usually draws big crowds. This year, you can enjoy a horse parade, a rooster crowing contest, pioneer harvest and craft demonstrations, live music, children’s activities, and other fun. You can also shop for baking, preserves and plants, and buy food and drinks (including local craft beer) on site. The festival is a great chance to visit the museum’s heritage buildings, too. And you can try your luck at a cow pie raffle. Don’t worry—you won’t have to bring a smelly souvenir home; you’ll just have to bet on where a wandering cow will leave a, um, pie, and you could win a cash prize. Looking for more things to do in the area? Check out my route through Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry in my post about great fall drives.

Also on Sunday, September 13, the Lanark County Harvest Festival will be coming to Beckwith Park in Carleton Place. The fun will include live music, a petting zoo, bouncy castles, and a market featuring local farmers and artisans. The festival runs from 11am to 4pm, and admission is free.

See an outdoor movie in Westboro

You can catch a free outdoor screening of the movie Legally Blonde in Westboro on Friday, September 11. It’s taking place on the grounds of the Churchill Seniors Centre (345 Richmond Road, Ottawa), and the movie starts at 7:30pm. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket.

Race your car in Calabogie

Ever wonder what it would be like to take your car for a circuit on a real racetrack? You’ll have a chance to find out during the Novice Track Day experience at Calabogie Motorsports Park on Sunday, September 13, when you can book half-hour blocks of track time. You can use your own car or rent one of the track’s race cars; fully electric cars are not allowed.

Shop for wedding dresses and more in Rockland

Tucker House in Rockland is hosting a Bridal Fair on Sunday, September 13. You can check out interactive exhibits, shop from local vendors (some of whom will be providing fair-only discounts) and enter contests for wedding-related prizes. Admission is free.

Browse through a night market in Perth

On Saturday, September 12, from 5pm until 10pm, the Perth Night Market will feature dozens artisans and crafters from Lanark County and beyond. Visitors can also enjoy live entertainment designed to appeal to all ages, ranging from a petting zoo and live music to Bollywood dance performances and outdoor curling. Many downtown shops will be open late during the event, and several streets will be open to pedestrians only. (A shuttle service will operate from 2pm to 11pm to ferry shoppers from parking lots on Perth’s outskirts to the market site.)

Enjoy a scenic bike ride near Napanee

The Discover L&A Ride (Saturday, September 12) is a 56-kilometre bike ride—not a race—along a largely rural route that starts and ends in Adolphustown. Along the way, you’ll enjoy cookies and other treats. And you can choose your own restaurant for lunch in Bath, a very pretty village on the Lake Ontario shore.

Celebrate world cultures in Ottawa and Gatineau

AfroFestival Ottawa will bring the music, food, art and culture of multiple African nations to Mooney’s Bay Park in Ottawa from September 11 to 13. You can check out workshops, family activities, a marketplace and more. Headliners on the packed concert schedule include Mr P-Square, Rotimi, Kidum and more. Tickets are free; the organizers advise getting yours online in advance to avoid disappointment.

Across the Ottawa River in the Hull sector of Gatineau, the Thai Festival Ottawa-Gatineau is coming to the Maison du Citoyen on Saturday, September 12. The fun will include Thai food, live music, a Muay Thai masterclass, Thai massage demonstrations, a marketplace and more.

Admire plants and flowers in Lowertown and Manotick

Are you a fan of very small trees? The Ottawa Bonsai Society is holding its annual show at the Embassy of Japan (255 Sussex Drive) on September 12 and 13. Admission is free, but there is no onsite parking.

The Manotick Horticultural Society is holding its Fall Horticultural and Design Show on the lawn of Dickinson House (1127 Mill Street, Manotick) from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, September 12.

Go for a hike in Gatineau Park or the Frontenac Arch Biosphere

On Saturday, September 12, you can join a hike through the woods to a waterfall in Gatineau Park. The excursion includes meditation, and admission is by donation ($20 suggested).

The Frontenac Arch Biosphere (FAB) is a geological area that stretches across much of the area of Eastern Ontario just north of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. On September 11, 12 and 13, you can join a guided hike in multiple locations across the geographic area—including trails in and around Brockville, Gananoque and Jones Falls—during FAB Trails Festival.

Head to a food festival in many places

Here are four food festivals you could check out on Saturday, September 12.

• During Taste of Manotick, shops, restaurants, and vendors will be offering food samples and specials. A $20 passport (cash preferred) gives you six food tastings. There will be live music by The Retrogrades, line dancing and other family-friendly fun, too.
• The Taste the 1000 Islands Food Festival will bring local food vendors to Town Hall Square in Gananoque.
• Taste! Community Grown is a one-day Prince Edward County food fair taking place at Macaulay Heritage Park in Picton. On Saturday, September 12, you can sip beverages from 13 wineries, sample local foods, enjoy family fun and more. Proceeds will support Storehouse Foodbank.
• North of Belleville, Taste of Tweed will see five chefs preparing dishes from local ingredients for visitors to taste.

On Sunday, September 13, Taste of Clarence-Rockland is taking place at Simon Park in Rockland.

Do you like soup? I mean, really like soup? Then the Festival de la Soupe de Vaudreuil-Soulanges (on the west side of Montreal) on Sunday, September 13, will be your cup of chowder. You can taste all kinds of soups by local chefs and vote for your favourite, while enjoying entertainment in Parc historique Pointe-du-Moulin on the shore of the St. Lawrence River.

Running all weekend, the Creole Market at the Montreal Science Centre (September 12 and 13) will feature the tastes of Martinique, prepared by chefs from the French Caribbean island. And the Fête des Vendanges at Pointe Merry Park in Magog (September 12 and 13) showcases more than 75 food and beverage exhibitors from across the Eastern Townships.

See a powwow in Cornwall

The Akwesasne Powwow (September 12 and 13) will bring Indigenous dancers, drummers, crafters and food vendors to Lamoureux Park in Cornwall for a busy weekend. Visitors can see competitions, shop the vendors’ market and more. The gates open at 10am each day and the festivities begin with a grand entry at noon daily. Cornwall Transit will be offering free public transportation with many stops around the city.

Do sunset yoga in Kars

On Saturday, September 12, you can join a sunset yoga class at Baxter Conservation Area in Kars. There will be light refreshments, too. Bring your own mat. Admission is free but the organizers are asking participants to register online.

Kick back at one of many music festivals

In Gatineau, the Riverside Festival is coming to the grounds of the Canadian Museum of History (100 Laurier Street, Gatineau) from September 11 to 13. The three-day event—one of the largest electronic music festivals in Quebec—features a big list of DJs. Headliners include Marshmello and Excision.

Rideau Pines Farm in North Gower is playing host to the Black and Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, September 12.

Smiths Falls will be rocking on Saturday, September 12, during the Downtown Music Festival. The Trews are headlining the all-day live music event, which will also feature performances from Landon Bedor, DaNielle Hewitt, Spencer Scharf, Ambre McLean, Vicki Brittle and One-Eyed Dawgs.

In the Township of Rideau Lakes, the Cloud 9 Music and Eco Art Festival is happening at No. 9 Gardens (1516 Summers Road, Rideau Lakes) from September 11 to 13. It starts with a communal dinner, music and guided nature walks on Friday night; features art and sustainability workshops, a breathwork and movement session, and 10 hours of music on Saturday; and ends with a farm-to-table breakfast on Sunday. A $100 weekend pass gives you all that and camping, too; other passes are available.

In Mallorytown, the Big River Country Festival (September 10 to 12) is happening at Happy Green Acres Campground.

A brand-new event is coming to Kingston on Saturday, September 12. RoadTrip Music Festival will feature all sorts of acts—including Peach Pit, Gabriel Jacoby and Kasador—on stages along Princess Street and at Springer Market Square.

In Belleville, the Belleville Downtown Blues Festival (September 11 to 13) will be bringing multiple blues acts to stages across downtown Belleville. The Angelique Francis Band is the headliner at an outdoor show on Saturday night. If you’re looking for a place to stay, the local Best Western is offering a special rate of $199.95 per two-night stay for those attending the festival. Downtown restaurants are offering special blues-themed food including black-and-blue steak bites and special cocktails. There will be talks and workshops, too. And the festival is dog friendly! Admission is free, but at this Blues for Food event, donations to the Gleaners Foodbank are greatly appreciated.

Enjoy a film festival in Toronto or Quebec City

It’s like an all-you-can-eat-and-then-some buffet for movie lovers: the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) pretty much takes over Toronto from September 10 to 20. My husband and I went years ago, and it was a blast. You really have to experience it to believe it: hundreds of movies in more than a dozen theatres across the downtown core, with enthusiastic fans lining up for hours and discussing their favourite flicks. As usual, you can choose from films from around the world or catch an Oscar-bait Hollywood flick. Lots of celebrities are expected to be there, too. While the list hasn’t been confirmed, stars with films in the festival are strong possibilities; they include Cate Blanchett, Mahershala Ali, Penélope Cruz, Seth Rogen, Chris Rock and Amanda Seyfried.

Driving about the same distance in the opposite direction, you can catch the Quebec City Film Festival (September 9 to 13). It will be screening dozens of features and short films from Canada and abroad, with a special focus on Quebec movies.

Make bracelets with your kids in Gatineau

Les Promenades Gatineau kicks off four Saturdays of family fun on September 12 with a craft workshop for parents and kids, where you’ll create a beaded bracelet together.

See Cirque du Soleil in Ottawa

Cirque du Soleil needs no introduction from me. Launched in Quebec and now famous around the world, the acrobatic circus phenomenon is staging its show Luzia under a big top in the parking lot of the St. Laurent Shopping Centre from September 10 to October 18. The production riffs on Mexican themes, visually transporting viewers through history and across all sorts of environments, from austere deserts to vibrant cities.

Have fun at a fair in Almonte, Renfrew, Spencerville or Picton

The Spencerville Fair (September 10 to 13) offers a parade, a midway, truck and tractor pulls, a demolition derby, live music, a baby show, and craft, livestock and produce competitions, among many other amusements.

Entertainment at the Renfrew Fair (September 10 to 13) includes concerts, a midway, a demolition derby, an LED drone show, livestock shows, a beer garden, and a truck and tractor pull.

At the Almonte Fair (September 11 to 13), the fun includes a midway, wagon rides, home craft and livestock competitions, magic shows, sheep shearing, a chili cook-off, dancing tractors, a demolition derby, and live music.

Down in Prince Edward County, the Picton Fair (September 11 to 13) features a dog show, a midway, live music, a car show, an arm-wrestling contest, a celebrity bake-off, a baby show and more.

Shop for art in the Glebe, Kemptville or Wakefield

The Glebe Fine Art Show returns to the Glebe Community Centre on September 12 and 13. More than 30 artists will be on hand, selling works in a wide range of media. The show is open from 10am to 4pm both days, and admission is free.

In Kemptville, Art in the Yard (Saturday, September 12) will showcase about a dozen local artists, including painters, woodworkers, fabric sculptors and more.

And on Sunday, September 13, the 100 Mile Arts Network’s final Art in the Park of the season will take place on the front lawn of the Centre Wakefield La Pêche in Wakefield. (In case of rain, it will move indoors.) Browse for work by local artists, take a free stop-animation workshop with Thea Pratt and enjoy live music by Luther Wright.

Raise a glass in Kanata

At the Kanata Craft Beer Festival (September 11 and 12), you can sample the wares of 30 beverage makers, and nosh on tacos and other fun fare. Live music will keep things hopping (see what I did there?).

Ride your motorcycle for guide dogs

The Guide Dog Motorcycle Ride is a 200km fundraising ride starting and ending at the national headquarters of Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind in Manotick on Sunday, September 13. Motorcycle riders will travel across a scenic swath of the Rideau Valley and along the St. Lawrence River shore, going through places such as North Gower, Cardinal, Morrisburg and Winchester along the way.

Nosh on barbecue in Orléans or Kingston

If you love barbecue and/or gravy-covered fries, head east this weekend for the Orléans Ribfest and Poutine (September 11 to 13) to enjoy ribs, pulled pork, barbecued chicken, over 50 kinds of poutine, donuts, ice cream, live music, wine, beer, cider and more. It’s happening at Centrum Plaza, 255 Centrum Boulevard in Orléans.

At the Kingston Ribfest and Craft Beer Show (September 11 to 13), you can buy chicken and ribs barbecued by five top ribbers, along with other treats like ice cream, corn on the cob, funnel cakes and craft beer. This event at Memorial Centre Park (303 York Street, Kingston) includes a kids’ fun zone and lots of live music, too. Admission is free, but the kids’ zone requires tickets or an all-day wristband.

Celebrate Ukrainian culture in Carleton Place

Ukrainian Fest Lanark County is a one-day celebration at Riverside Park in Carleton Place on Sunday, September 13. You can enjoy Ukrainian food, dancing and music; shop for crafts and treats in the vendors market; and enjoy some family fun. Admission is free.

Hit a sidewalk sale in Hintonburg

The Heart of Hintonburg Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, September 12, will see some businesses on Wellington Street West and Somerset Street West setting their wares outside for sale and offering special activities. The event in central Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood officially runs from 9am to 9pm but will likely be busiest during regular retail hours.

Learn about mental health at the Royal

The WOW Festival on Friday, September 11, brings together more than 150 organizations working to support mental health and to help people affected by substance abuse. It’s happening at The Royal, Ottawa’s main mental health centre.

Peek behind the NCC scenes in Ottawa-Gatineau

During Open NCC (Saturday, September 12), National Capital Commission (NCC) sites all over Ottawa-Gatineau will be holding free events and activities to showcase the NCC’s work in fields such as historic preservation and environmental sustainability. There will be tours, kids’ activities and much more.

See a play in many places

It’s a busy week for theatre fans. As well as being your last week to see Murder at Ackerton Manor in Gananoque, and an opportunity to see If You Don’t Know, You Wilno! in Pembroke, it’s also the first week for these shows:

• The Great Gatsby, Beautiful Scars and Come From Away in Ottawa
• Rough Crossing in Kanata
• The Long Weekend in Morrisburg
• Wonderful Joe in Gananoque

You’ll find information on these and many other plays in my theatre post.

Celebrate butter tarts in Stittsville

The Stittsville Butter Tart Festival is taking place at a new, larger location this year: the grounds of Sacred Heart High School and the Cardelrec Recreation Complex (5870 Abbott Street East, Stittsville). That spot offers better access to cyclists and pedestrians arriving at the festival via the TransCanada Trail, and you can still get there by car or bus. Hosted by Stittsville Market at the Barn, the event on Saturday, September 12, will feature butter tarts of all sorts (including gluten free, nut free and vegan) and lots of other baked goodies, as well as artisans’ booths, ice cream, kids’ games and more.

Catch a concert all over

Here are just a few of the concerts happening around the region this week.

• September 10: Grave Infestation + Coprolith + Mortality Mirror, House of Targ, Ottawa
• September 11: Harea Band & Prehistoric with DJ Trevor Walker, Rainbow Bistro, Ottawa
• September 11: Charles Richard-Hamelin and Andrew Wan, Southminster United Church, Ottawa (Master Piano Recital Series)
• September 12: Jeff Rogers, Little Red Wagon Winery, Shawville
• September 12: Emma Gabriel, Cadence Weapon and The Halluci Nation, under the Plaza Bridge, Ottawa (SoundScape Festival)
• September 12: Destroyer, Brockville Arts Centre (Kiss tribute)
• September 12: Leahy, Aultsville Theatre, Cornwall
• September 12: River City Junction, The Cove Inn, Westport
• September 13: The Main & Abbott Dance Band, StoneCropAcres Winery + Vineyard, Morrisburg

Shop for native plants in Kingston

Friends of Lemoine Point Conservation Area are holding a native plant sale at the conservation area on Saturday, September 12, from 9am to noon. You can browse for trees, shrubs and perennial wildflowers.

Drive to see classic cars in Buckhorn

Sure, it’s not around the corner (it’s about a 3.5-hour drive west of Ottawa), but for fans of vintage vehicles, the Car, Truck and Corvette Show at the Buckhorn Community Centre on Saturday, September 12, is a chance to admire all sorts of antique, rare and exotic cars.

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 15 to 20: Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival, Ottawa
• September 16 to 20: CityFolk, Ottawa
• September 16 Harvest: A Feast of Fall, Ottawa
• September 18 to 20: Aéro Gatineau-Ottawa, Gatineau
• September 19: Taste of Wellington, Ottawa
• September 19: Merrickville’s Makers Market
• September 19: Taste of the Valley, Petawawa
• September 23 to 27: Ottawa International Animation Festival
• September 23 to 27: POP Montreal International Music Festival
• October 1 to 4: Kingston Writersfest
• October 2 to December 5: Ontario Festival of Small Halls, multiple locations
• October 3 and 4, and 10 and 11: Annual Biology Butterfly Show, Carleton University, Ottawa
• October 22 to 25: Ottawa International Writers Festival
• October 22 to 25: Gatineau Hills Fiddle Festival, Chelsea
• October 24: Mystic Market, Smiths Falls

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!

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.