35+ fun things to do in and around Ottawa, June 29 to July 5

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This week’s calendar of events is a little shorter than it has been in recent weeks, but I suspect that’s mainly because so many communities and organizations are using their energy this week to throw Canada Day bashes! However, there’s still lots of fun to be had after July 1, including a beer festival in Bells Corners, an art tour in the Glebe, comedy in Gatineau, a cycling event in Killaloe, a Celtic bash in Almonte, two night markets, three plays and free yoga. Read on for all the details.

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Enjoy a free festival in Rockland

The Clarence-Rockland Festival (June 23 to July 4) offers lots of free fun. The program is diverse, including stand-up comedy, a kids’ zone and lots of live music.

Celebrate Japanese culture in Sandy Hill

Natsu Matsuri is an annual celebration of all things Japanese. It’s coming to the Sandy Hill Community Centre and adjacent Annie Pootoogook Park on Saturday, July 4. As well as enjoying a full slate of live performances, you can learn about ikebana and aikido, eat ramen and Japanese snacks, admire kimono and yukata, shop for Japanese products, and much more.

Channel your inner Celt in Almonte

Almonte Celtfest (July 3 to 5) is marking its 30th anniversary this year. Head to Gemmill Park to enjoy a packed program of live Celtic music, as well as food, Gaelic sports, Celtic College workshops, an artisans’ market and other fun.

Raise a glass in Bells Corners

The Ottawa on Tap Beerfest on Saturday, July 4, gives you the chance to sample brews from 11 local craft breweries. You can also enjoy live music, line dancing, karaoke, soccer on big screens (don’t miss the Canada–Morocco game!), games for kids and adults, and food from Suzy Q Donuts, The Prep Kitchen, Rude Pizza, Athens Grill and Nona’s Deli Restaurant. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate (plus HST).

Rev your motor in Smiths Falls

The second Downtown Smiths Falls Bike Night of the season is happening on Wednesday, July 1. Lots of motorcycle parking will be provided so you can check out the vendor stalls, pop into stores (which will be open late for the occasion), enjoy live music and check out the food trucks.

Enjoy a multicultural festival in Brewer Park

The African Canadian Association Ottawa is holding a Multicultural Festival on Saturday, July 4, at Brewer Park in Old Ottawa South (across Bronson Avenue from Carleton University). Starting at noon, you can enjoy live music (including drumming and dancing), global food and drinks, a vendors’ market, and family-friendly fun. The organizers invite guests to wear their country’s soccer jersey or their “finest cultural attire.”

Go for a walk or long ride in Killaloe

During the Tour de BeaverTails® in Killaloe (Sunday, July 5), you can do a 50km, 63km or 94km bike ride, or take things a bit easier with a one-hour guided historical walk through the village. Proceeds from the event support the Killaloe and Area Food Bank.

Learn quillwork at Billings Estate

As I write this on Tuesday morning, there are still a few spots left in an introductory quillwork workshop in the gardens at Billings Estate in Alta Vista on Saturday, July 4. Participants will create a birchbark keychain with guidance from Anishinaabe artist Christine Toulouse. They’ll also learn how porcupine quills are prepared, dyed and applied, as well as the cultural significance of this traditional art form. The workshop includes light refreshments and a guided tour of the museum’s current special exhibition, “Beyond the Brim: Tales Told Through the Hats We Wore.” Advance registration required.

Go fish in Alexandria, Carleton Place and across Ontario

Ever wanted to try fishing but balked at paying the licence fee? This is your week! From June 27 to July 5, you can fish in Ontario lakes and rivers without a licence (but you still have to follow the regulations, of course).

On Saturday, July 4, little ones can enjoy a free Kids’ Fishing Derby at Riverside Park in Carleton Place. The event includes a hot dog lunch and prizes for all kids.

And on Sunday, July 5, Fishing for Autism is a fundraiser for autism-related causes. The child-focused event is happening at Alexandria Island Park.

Stretch yourself with free yoga in Hull

Throughout the summer, free Friday-morning yoga classes will be taking place outdoors in Place Laval in Hull. This week’s class runs from 8am to 8:50am on Friday, July 3.

Browse for art in the Glebe

The Glebe Art in the Garden Tour (July 4 and 5) gives you the chance to see (and buy) works by 25 artists at 18 outdoor locations across the Glebe. You can also fill out a ballot at each site for a chance to win vouchers to buy any of the art on display. 

Learn about bees and butterflies in Odessa and Bath

The Buzz, Flutter & Fly! Pollinator Party is a free event for kids and parents that will illuminate the world of butterflies and bees. It’s coming to the Babcock Mill in Odessa on Thursday, July 2, and the Bath Museum in Bath on Friday, July 3. No registration required.

Catch some jazz in Montreal

Jazz fans might want to head down Highway 417 to Montreal, where the TD Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (June 25 to July 4) will feature Lionel Ritchie (performing with Earth, Wind and Fire), Diana Krall, Patrick Watson, Angine de Poitrine and many, many others.

Head to a night market in Hintonburg/Wellington West

The weekly Parkdale Night Market coincides with Canada Day this week. From 5pm to 9pm on Wednesday, July 1, enjoy live music, and food and drink, as you shop from market vendors.

The following night, just down the road at Urban Art Collective (1088 Somerset Street West), you can check out the Hintonburg Night Market from 4pm to 9pm. This weekly market showcases local food, drinks, and handmade and vintage items.

Thrill to an equestrian tournament in Nepean

Beginning this at Wesley Clover Parks site (401 Corkstown Road, Ottawa) are the RBC Ottawa Summer Tournaments, a series of top-level show-jumping competitions (July 2 to 5, and July 9 to 12). In some cases, rich prizes are at stake.

Have some laughs in Gatineau

More than a dozen francophone comics will be taking to the stage at Place de la cité in Gatineau for the Festival d’humour de Gatineau (July 2 to 4).

Splash your way through a paddling festival in Foresters Falls

OWL Rafting in Foresters Falls is hosting the Ottawa River Paddlefest from July 3 to 5. In addition to whitewater rafting (of course), you can enjoy paddling movies, a gear swap, massages and live music.

Go to a lavender event in Oxford Mills or Yarker

Lavender Mills Farm in Oxford Mills is the site of the elegant-sounding Soirée in the Field on Saturday, July 4 (rain date Sunday, July 5). Guests will enjoy a signature cocktail, food from Nonna’s Famous Pizza, live music, a vendors’ market and other fun.

Further afield, the Lavender Queen lavender farm in Yarker is hosting Bloom Fest on July 4 and 5, and July 11 and 12. Shop for lavender items and other local products, including clothing, accessories and food. Nosh on ice cream and other treats. Fun for kids includes face painting and a bouncy castle.

See cool cars in Stittsville and Iroquois

Attention, auto fans: the Stittsville Canada Day Car Show will bring cool cars of all sorts to the parking lot at 1469 Stittsville Main Street on Wednesday, July 1, from noon to 4pm. There will be a vendors’ market, too.

South of the city, you can see more lovingly restored cars at the weekly Golden Gears Car Show ‘n’ Shine at the Iroquois Plaza on Thursday, July 2, from 5pm to 7:30pm.

Check out a free festival in Hull

The free, family-friendly Eddy Street Festival is happening on its namesake street, between Wright and Papineau streets, on Saturday, July 4, from 11am to 4pm. The amusements include a cycling course, a roaming musician, wrestling, bouncy castles, a climbing tower, mini-putt, giant games, circus workshops and a vendors’ market. Food will be available, too.

Celebrate Canada Day all over

Of course, the big news in events this week is Canada Day on Wednesday, July 1. Read my big roundup of Canada Day celebrations for the patriotic scoop on barbecues, bike parades, magic shows, bouncy castles, fireworks, drone shows and all other manner of fun.

Head to Kingston for gaming and anime

Eh! Game Expo 2026 is a gaming and e-sports festival coming to Slush Puppie Place in Kingston from July 3 to 5. It will feature tournaments, indie games, cosplay, vendors, artists and live events, for both gamers and spectators.

Also of interest to cosplayers will be Anime Kingston on Sunday, July 5. The event celebrates anime, cosplay and Japanese pop culture with vendors, artists, a non-competitive cosplay red carpet, and live demonstrations of taiko, kendo and karate. It’s taking place at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 (734 Montreal Street).

Enjoy a play in Morrisburg, Perth or Gananoque

Three plays are opening in our region this week: a comedy called The Beaver Club at the Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg; the farce The Play That Goes Wrong at Studio Theatre Perth; and the ever-popular musical about summer lovers, Grease, at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque. For details on these and other local theatre productions, see my plays post.

Cheer on your favourite sports teams in Ottawa

The Ottawa Titans baseball team is taking on the Tri-City ValleyCats from Troy, New York, in three games this week, on June 30, July 1 and July 2. The June 30 game will be followed by fireworks, and hot dogs that day are just $2. All games are at Ottawa Stadium (aka RCGT Park) on Coventry Road.

On Friday, July 3, the Ottawa Redblacks will be kicking things off against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at TD Place. The game will be followed by a silent disco on the field.

Has a certain international tournament amped up your interest in soccer? Then you have two chances to enjoy a game this weekend at TD Place. n Saturday, July 4, the men of Atlético Ottawa will test their mettle against Calgary’s Cavalry FC. And on Sunday, July 5, you can see the women of Ottawa Rapid FC take on Calgary Wild FC.

Take a painting workshop in Dunvegan

The Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan is offering an acrylic painting workshop on Saturday, July 4. The registration fee includes step-by-step instruction from artist Lorie Brown, as well as art materials and refreshments.

Bang a gong at the Experimental Farm

Going-Going-Gong is a free, interactive sound installation that will be open to visitors on Saturday, July 4, from 10am to 2pm. You can play the suspended gongs with mallets or activate them just by moving through the space. The installation is part of the DOME-OCRACY Interactive Music Series and Ottawa 200, and you can check it out in the Canadensis Garden at the southwestern tip of the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa.

Dance the night away on Wolfe Island

Just offshore from Kingston, the Hotel Wolfe Island is hosting an Afrobeats and Dancehall Party on Saturday, July 4. The night begins with an outdoor party, then moves indoors to continue the groove into the wee hours.

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 them and many others in upcoming posts.)

• July 8 to 11: Wendover Western Festival
• July 8 to 12: Festival international de blues de Tremblant
• July 9 to 12: Kingston Buskers Rendezvous
• July 9 to 19: Ottawa Bluesfest
• July 11: HOPE Volleyball Summerfest, Ottawa
• July 11: CFUW Perth and District Home and Garden Tour
• July 11: Vankleek Hill Porchfest
• July 11: Madawaska Valley Artisan Festival, Barry’s Bay
• July 11 to 25: Historic Places Days, across Canada
• July 15 to 19: Ottawa Lebanese Festival
• July 16 to 26: Festival Parasol, Gatineau
• July 17 to 19: Stewart Park Festival, Perth
• July 16 to August 8: St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, Prescott
• July 18: Arnprior Dragon Boat Festival
• July 18 and 19: Rideau Canal Nautical Heritage Festival, Portland
• July 23 to August 2: Ottawa Chamberfest
• July 23 to 26: Delta Fair
• July 23 to 26: Palmer Rapids Twin Music Festival
• July 25: Bridge Street Summerfest, Carleton Place
• July 30 to August 1: Les FestivILES, Gananoque
• July 30 to August 1: Baitfuel Thousand Islands Open, Kingston (fishing derby)
• July 31 to August 1: Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville
• August 1 to 16: Water and Dirt Festival, Renfrew County
• August 7 to 9: Ottawa International Busker Fest
• August 7 to 9: Twist Fibre Festival, Saint-André-Avellin
• August 7 to 9: 1000 Islands Kingston Poker Run
• August 8 and 9: Puppets Up!, Almonte
• August 13 to 23: Ottawa Greek Festival
• August 14 and 15: Ottawa Valley Buskerfest, Pembroke
• August 22 to 30: Capital Pride, Ottawa
• August 28 to 30: Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival, Maniwaki
• August 30: Tour de Bonnechere, Eganville
• September 2 to 6: Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival

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.