If your idea of the perfect road trip is hitting a big garage sale in the morning and then spending the rest of the day exploring a new-to-you place, then this is the post for you! Whether you’d like to check out one of the big neighbourhood garage sales in Ottawa or a community sale elsewhere, read on to find out where to find those bargains and what you can do nearby, once you’ve finished treasure hunting.
Note: In some cases, 2026 dates haven’t been confirmed yet. I’ll add them when I have them. And if you know of a BIG (not just one family or one street) garage sale within two hours’ drive of Ottawa that isn’t listed here, please send me the details and I’ll try to include it!
APRIL
Canterbury Community Association’s Giant Spring Garage Sale
When: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Where: The Giant Spring Garage Sale takes place at the Canterbury Community Centre at 2185 Arch Street in Ottawa.
What else to do: Have brunch at Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House. Check out the Crazy Kitchen, steam trains and other exhibits at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Feeling really energetic? Go bouldering indoors at Coyote Rock Gym.
MAY
Blackburn Hamlet Community Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Where: The Blackburn Hamlet Community Garage Sale takes place in Ottawa’s Blackburn Hamlet neighbourhood, along Innes Road just north of the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass.
What else to do: Nosh on gelato and fresh pastries at Atelier Rosso Desserterie. About a 10-minute drive south of Blackburn Hamlet, you can see plants and landscapes more typical of northern Canada along the boardwalks and trails of the unique Mer Bleue Bog.
Trend Arlington Community Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Where: The Trend Arlington Community Garage Sale is happening in the Ottawa neighbourhood bounded by the CN rail line, Greenbank Road, West Hunt Club Road and Bruce Pit.
What else to do: Explore 40 kilometres of hiking trails meandering through Stony Swamp. Bring your pooch to the off-leash dog park at Bruce Pit (park in NCC lot P12, and note that your dog must be leashed in the parking lot).
Merrickville Community Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Where: The Merrickville Community Garage Sale takes place all over this picturesque Rideau Canal village, about 50 minutes southwest of Ottawa.
What else to do: Pick up yummy baked treats at Violets on Main. Shop for plants and explore the display gardens at Rideau Woodland Ramble. Enjoy an easy, four-kilometre out-and-back hike along the Tip to Tip Trail.
Great Downtown Renfrew Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Where: The name explains it all! The Great Downtown Renfrew Garage Sale takes place in the central core of this Ottawa Valley town, about an hour west of Ottawa.
What else to do: Enjoy great cupcakes and much more at the Bonnechere Bakery and Bistro. Hike, bike or take your ATV along the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail. Stroll across the historic swinging bridge above the Bonnechere River. See my Renfrew guide for more ideas (the guide is currently a bit out of date, but I’ll be updating it soon).
Big Barrhaven Community-Wide Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 9, 2026
Where: The Big Barrhaven Community-Wide Garage Sale takes place all over the southwest Ottawa neighbourhood of Barrhaven. Last year, more than 850 households joined in.
What else to do: Stroll a 1.5-kilometre boardwalk along the Rideau River at Chapman Mills Conservation Area. Dig into sweet or savoury crepes at elegant Café Cristal. Check out the May 9 Holistic Healing Fair at the Nepean Sportsplex.
Richmond Village Community-Wide Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 9, 2026
Where: The Richmond Village Community-Wide Garage Sale is held across this rural community southeast of Stittsville.
What else to do: Enjoy a hearty breakfast or lunch at Royals Restaurant. Check out the new Tulipfest at Saunders Farm in nearby Munster. (PLEASE check the Saunders Farm website in advance to see that Tulipfest has started; it all depends on whether the flowers are blooming!)
Great Glebe Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 23, 2026
Where: The Great Glebe Garage Sale takes place on streets throughout the Glebe, a downtown Ottawa neighbourhood bounded by Highway 417, Bronson Avenue and the Rideau Canal.
What else to do: Grab a coffee and some baked goodies to go at Little Victories or Ten Toes. Browse J.D. Adam Kitchen Company for housewares or The Papery for stationery. Strolling the scenic paths along the Rideau Canal is fun and free. You could also check out my guide to the Glebe.
Carleton Place Community-Wide Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 23, 2026
Where: The Carleton Place Community-Wide Garage Sale takes place throughout the town of Carleton Place, just southwest of Ottawa.
What else to do: Carleton Place is home to lots of thrift shops, where you can continue your bargain-hunting. Stop by the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum to learn about Captain Roy Brown, credited with shooting down WWI flying ace the Red Baron. Fuel up at Foundry Collective and Coffee Bar. You’ll find more ideas in my Carleton Place guide (which I’m in the process of updating … so many posts, so little time!).
Little Italy and Chinatown Community Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 30, 2026 (rain date May 31)
Where: The Little Italy and Chinatown Community Garage Sale will take place on and around Preston Street, Gladstone Avenue, Somerset Street West and Bronson Avenue.
What else to do: See my guide to Little Italy for ideas! (Yep, it needs an update, which I’ll be doing soon.)
Riverside South Community Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Where: More than 200 houses usually participate in the Riverside South Community Garage Sale, in the neighbourhood south of Leitrim Road, west of Limebank Road and east of the Rideau River.
What else to do: Drive south along Limebank Road for tasty takeout at Burgers and Shakes, then continue your rural drive into Manotick, where you can browse in pretty shops and admire Watson’s Mill.
Bay Ward Community Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Where: The Bay Ward Community Garage Sale is actually a collection of neighbourhood-wide garage sales (including the Great Glabar Garage Sale) all on the same day, in communities throughout Ottawa’s west-end Bay Ward. It takes place in the area bounded roughly by Bayshore in the west, Highland Park on the east, the Ottawa River on the north and the Queensway on the south.
What else to do: Go birdwatching at Mud Lake, get a cone filled with small-batch ice cream at The Beachconers, walk along Britannia Beach (but don’t swim yet; lifeguards aren’t on duty until late June), cycle or walk along the multi-use pathway that hugs the Ottawa River shore, or engage in a little indoor retail therapy at Bayshore Shopping Centre or Carlingwood Shopping Centre.
South Keys Greenboro/Hunt Club Park Community Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Where: The South Keys Greenboro/Hunt Club Park Community Garage Sale takes place in three Ottawa neighbourhoods immediately east of Bank Street and north of Hunt Club Road.
What else to do: If you haven’t shopped enough, you can swing by the South Keys Shopping Centre, where you can also catch a movie or grab a bite at one of the chain eateries on site. But if you’d rather take a breather in nature, you could head to the NCC hiking trails in Pine Grove, a short drive to the south.
Queenswood Heights Community Garage Sale
When: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Where: The fourth annual Queenswood Heights Community Garage Sale will take place in the Orleans neighbourhood just south of Place d’Orleans, west of Tenth Line Road and north of Innes Road.
What else to do: Drive a bit further east, then take Trim Road north to the Ottawa River. At the end of the road, you can drive across a causeway to Petrie Island Park, where you’ll find flat hiking trails and pretty beaches. Alternatively, drive a bit west to treat yourself to a ginormous stuffed cookie at Cookies by Kat.
JUNE
The Wild, Wild Westboro Garage Sale
When: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Where: You’ll find the Wild, Wild Westboro Garage Sale behind the Dovercourt Community Centre (411 Dovercourt Avenue).
What else to do: Shop for outdoor gear at Bushtukah and MEC, or treat yourself to baked goodies from the Cupcake Lounge or the Scone Witch. Head to Rikochet Resale for great thrifting for some posh brands. See my Westboro art walk guide for more ideas.
Kitchissippi Ward-Wide Community Garage Sale
When: Saturday, June 6, 2026 (rain date June 7)
Where: The Kitchissippi Ward-Wide Community Garage Sale takes place across multiple neighbourhoods in Ottawa’s near west end. Check this map of the city’s Kitchissippi Ward for a better picture.
What else to do: Shop til you drop in boutiques along Richmond Road and Wellington Street West. Visit the Parkdale Public Market. Head to Bate Island Park to relax at the Tavern on the Island or paddle the Ottawa River with Ottawa Turbo Tubing.
Vankleek Hill Trash and Treasure Sale
When: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Where: The Trash and Treasure Sale is a community-wide event in the small town of Vankleek Hill, about an hour east of Ottawa.
What else to do: You can get a refreshing beverage at Beau’s Brewing Company or the Vankleek Hill Vineyard. Or pop by Garden Path Homemade Soap for soaps, shampoo bars, soy candles and more. You’ll find more ideas in my daytripping to Vankleek Hill post (it needs some updating, which I’ll do soon).
Awesome Alta Vista Garage Sale
When: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Where: The Awesome Alta Vista Garage Sale takes place in Ottawa’s central Alta Vista neighbourhood. The boundaries of Alta Vista are a bit amorphous; see this Wikipedia entry for details.
What else to do: Learn about Ottawa’s history at the Billings Estate National Historic Site. Walk or cycle the recreational paths along the Rideau River. Enjoy great seafood (or buy some to cook at home) at Pelican Seafood Market and Grill, or indulge in super-cheesy slices at Colonnade Pizza.
SEPTEMBER
Old Ottawa South Porch Sale
When: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Where: The Old Ottawa South Porch Sale happens in the central Ottawa neighbourhood bounded by Bronson Avenue, the Rideau Canal, Echo Drive, Riverdale Avenue, Main Street and the Rideau River.
What else to do: Meander along formal and informal trails beside the Rideau River. Enjoy a coffee and browse for new and used volumes at Black Squirrel Books. See what’s playing at the Mayfair Theatre. Reserve in advance (the place is packed on an ordinary weekend, let alone Porch Sale day) for brunch at Dessert First.
TO BE CONFIRMED
- Stittsville Community Garage Sale
- West Carleton Community Garage Sale
- Carleton Place Community-Wide Garage Sale
- Oxford Mills Community Garage Sale
- Carp Colossal Garage Sale
- Great Greely Garage Sale
- Cumberland Community Garage Sale
- Alexandria Garage Sale
- New Edinburgh Neighbourhood Sale
- Findlay Creek Fall Community-Wide Garage Sale
- Old Ottawa East Community Garage Sale
If you have information on these or any other community-wide garage sales in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario or the Outaouais, please drop me a line. Thanks!
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.
9 comments
Love this. Thank for putting it together. But for someone not familiar with all the locations one address would help
Good idea! I’ll take another look and provide more location info. Thanks!
Wonderful article! You should add the little italy & Chinatown community garage sale on May 17th this year.
Thanks! I’ll add it.
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Britannia Village has there Community Garage sale May 30th weekend also
Now that Autumn is here, we need more neighborhood sales listed. There must be some.
I’ll keep looking. For some reason, most of them are clustered in the spring–maybe because that’s when people do spring cleaning.
I’ve added a few fall sales.