I don’t know if it’s Mother’s Day or the full arrival of spring or what, but there is a veritable avalanche of events happening in and around Ottawa this weekend. One of the biggest in the Canadian Tulip Festival, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
You can eat your fill at a cookbook event or a poutine fest, then work off your indulgence with a paddling event or a mountain biking race. Shopping more your style? Choose from a slew of art shows and farmers’ markets, or hit a big board game sale. Eager to get out in nature? Head to a farm to pick your own bouquet. There’s also a celebration of Kashubs, the chance to make felted soap, a glam drag night, a celebration of all things geeky and a night of sea shanty singing.
Have fun, wherever your travels take you!
Table of contents
- Make felted soap in Beckwith
- Bike on car-free roads in Ottawa
- Sing sea shanties and sip beer in Chinatown
- Learn about sustainable gardening in Manotick
- Tiptoe through the tulips in Ottawa, Russell and Vankleek Hill
- Get geeky in Kemptville
- Marvel at an illusionist in Orléans
- Paddle your canoe (or kayak) in Beckwith Township
- Celebrate Kashubs in Wilno
- Enjoy foodie fun at Lansdowne Park
- Go glam at a drag night in Merrickville
- Arrange flowers in Ottawa
- Go for a forest walk in Sydenham
- Work up a sweat in Gatineau
- Have some laughs in Nepean, Orléans or Kingston
- Eat poutine in Carleton Place
- Cheer at a local talent show in Alexandria
- Learn about history in Renfrew
- Get deals on board games in Gatineau
- Shop for art and artisans' creations in many places
- Buy books in Kanata and Centretown
- Take Mom for a ride in Smiths Falls
- See theatre in Ottawa, Carleton Place, Perth or Montreal
- Buy Mother's Day flowers in Alexandria or Finch
- Hit a garage sale in Barrhaven or Richmond
- Learn about Indigenous traditions in Carleton Place
- Buy some new plants in Ottawa and Gatineau
- Go mountain biking for prizes in Beachburg
- Groove to live music all over
- Catch a game in Ottawa or Cornwall
- Head to a farmers' market
- Delve into all things mystical in Ottawa
- Learn about birds on World Migratory Bird Day weekend
- Pick up train memorabilia in Smiths Falls
Make felted soap in Beckwith
At Flying Moon Farm in Beckwith, you can take an afternoon workshop to make a felted bar of soap on Saturday, May 9. What is felted soap? I hear you ask. In this case, it’s a bar of locally made soap wrapped in felt that you’ll create during the workshop, using wool from the farm’s sheep. It’s dandy for exfoliation, apparently. I am so intrigued!
Bike on car-free roads in Ottawa
Get your bike out of the garage—NCC Weekend Bikedays start on Saturday, May 9! On Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays until October 12, several roads in Ottawa—the Kichi Zībī Mīkan, the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway and a section of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway—will be closed to cars but open to cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users, runners and inline skaters. Opening times and dates vary, so check the website before heading out.
Sing sea shanties and sip beer in Chinatown
At Dollars and Drafts on Friday, May 8, you can enjoy samples of local craft beer (or a gluten-free/non-alcoholic alternative), a hot bowl of chili, a raffle and a performance from the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective (singing along is encouraged). It’s a fundraiser for the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral, and it’s taking place at Annunciation to the Theotokos – St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral. Buy your tickets by Monday, May 4.
Learn about sustainable gardening in Manotick
Petals and Pollinators: Growing a Garden That Gives Back is the title of a workshop at the Lume Club in Manotick on Wednesday, May 6. Participants will learn how to create a garden that’s beautiful, biodiverse, and welcoming to bees and other pollinators. (Hat tip to The Ottawan for this one.)
Tiptoe through the tulips in Ottawa, Russell and Vankleek Hill
The Canadian Tulip Festival rolls into town for 11 days of spring fun (May 8 to 18) at Commissioners Park on the edge of Dows Lake. Along with viewing gorgeous displays of tulips (weather cooperating), you can enjoy amusements ranging from an artisans’ market and a fun run to a town criers’ competition and a kids’ play zone. New amenities and attractions this year include a tulip taxi (golf carts that will shuttle visitors through the park) and a tulip trail that promises to reveal four centuries of tulip history.
At Green Corners Farm (640 North Russell Road, Russell), the tulip fields are blooming with 300,000 flowers. Buy tickets in advance for this pick-your-own event, which begins on Saturday, May 9. Note that two types of tickets are available: looking (cheaper) and picking (pricier).
And about an hour east of Ottawa, the Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields at Ouimet Farms Adventure hopes to be open to the public beginning on Saturday, May 9 (check the website or their Facebook page for updates). Stroll through fields blooming with thousands of tulips and pick your own. Buy tickets in advance.
Get geeky in Kemptville
I love the premise of Nerd Out Night so much. According to the organizers at the North Grenville Public Library in Kemptville, it will be “an evening of pure, unapologetic geekery.” Any adult can sign up to give a 10- to 15-minute presentation on any scientific subject that fascinates them, while the library will provide the venue and equipment. After the inaugural event on Thursday, May 7, the event will happen on the first Thursday of each month.
Marvel at an illusionist in Orléans
Illusionist Luc Langevin will be at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans on May 5 and 6, entertaining audiences with his sleight-of-hand manoeuvres. In French.
Paddle your canoe (or kayak) in Beckwith Township
Looking for some exercise on Saturday, May 9? Tie your canoe or kayak to the roof and head to Beckwith Township for the 6.5K Jock River Paddle. It starts at 9:30am on 9th Line and ends near the Ashton Pub, and there will be shuttles back to the starting point. The cost is $20 per paddler, and you must register online in advance.
Celebrate Kashubs in Wilno
The Kashub people hail from Eastern Europe. The first Kashub immigrants to Canada arrived in Renfrew County in the late 1850s, where they founded the village of Wilno, a bit west of Barry’s Bay. The community celebrates that history with the annual Kashub Day Heritage Festival, taking place this year on Saturday, May 9, at the open-air Wilno Heritage Park. Live music, square dancing and more are on the agenda.
Enjoy foodie fun at Lansdowne Park
The Literary Feast 2026—taking place in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park on Wednesday, May 6—gives you the chance to meet cookbook authors and buy signed copies of their books. A portion of the proceeds will go to the St. Joe’s Women’s Centre.
Later in the week, Best Fest Ottawa comes to the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park on May 8 and 9. You’ll be able to wander from booth to booth, sampling food and drink from a range of local providers.
Go glam at a drag night in Merrickville
Ticket are going quickly for Club Night Merrickville, a glam night of drag on Friday, May 8, at The Pews. The fun will include two drag shows, a cocktail hour, and dancing until late.
Arrange flowers in Ottawa
This is another hot tip from the good folks at The Ottawan: You can sign up for a flower arranging workshop at Beyond the Pale at City Centre in Ottawa on Saturday, May 9, and come home with an arrangement in a mason jar or thrifted teapot. As I type this on Monday, only eight spots are left, so you might want to hustle if you’re interested in this one.
Go for a forest walk in Sydenham
Certified nature therapy guide Claire Beach is offering separate morning and afternoon forest bathing walks in Sydenham on Sunday, May 10. Sounds like a very soothing way to spend Mother’s Day!
Work up a sweat in Gatineau
Festival Bouge Bouge Outaouais (Sunday, May 10) is a one-day celebration of physical fitness. Sign up for one event or sign up for a bunch; activities include cardio kickboxing, and 1K, 2.5K, 5K and 10K walk/runs. You can also check out a Colombian dance performance, a magic show and children’s activities. It’s all happening at the Asticou Centre in Gatineau.
Have some laughs in Nepean, Orléans or Kingston
American standup comic Jeff Allen brings his First “Final” Farewell Tour to the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe on Tuesday, May 5.
On Friday, May 8, the In the Black comedy show at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans features Black comedians Rose-Ingrid Benjamin, Samson Imanirambonas, The Velvet Duke, Xavior Kayvon Gough, Janelle Niles and Daphney Joseph.
And on Saturday, May 9, Canadian funnyman Gerry Dee is doing back-to-back shows at the Kingston Grand Theatre.
Eat poutine in Carleton Place
It’s another chance to indulge in all kinds of cheesy, carby treats when the Carleton Place Poutine Feast sets up shop in Riverside Park (May 7 to 10). Along with poutine, the fun will include live entertainment, an artisan’s market, and games and activities for the whole family. Free admission.
Cheer at a local talent show in Alexandria
Lots of big celebrities got their start at local talent shows. Maybe you’ll catch the next Alanis Morissette or Ryan Gosling at Glengarry’s Got Talent, a showcase for local performers at the Glengarry Sports Palace in Alexandria on Saturday, May 9.
Learn about history in Renfrew
On the evening of Thursday, May 7, Heritage Renfrew and the Renfrew Public Library are offering a guided walking tour of “the bog,” a historic section of downtown Renfrew. Most of the buildings along this stretch were built over a century ago.
Get deals on board games in Gatineau
Gatineau board game retailer L’As des jeux is holding its annual Mega Garage Sale at 425 boulevard St-Joseph in Gatineau from May 8 to 10. Despite the name, the event happens indoors (in a 12,000-square-foot space, to give you some idea of the size of the sale) and the deeply discounted games on sale are new, not used.
Shop for art and artisans’ creations in many places
In Ottawa’s Alta Vista neighbourhood, you can shop for paintings, pottery, jewellery, photography, books and more made by local creators at the Spring Art Festival, organized by Art in the Neighbourhood (Saturday, May 9). There will be food trucks and live music, too! It’s happening at the Canterbury Recreation Complex. Admission and parking are free, and the site is stroller and wheelchair accessible.
The Vpop at Next Door sale on Gladstone Avenue in Little Italy (May 9 and 10) features vintage, second-hand and artisan goods from some 20 vendors.
In Orléans, a Mother’s Day Market on Saturday, May 9, will feature lots of local vendors.
Time is running out to catch Winds of Change, Arts Carleton Place’s current show at the Art Hub (50 Bennett St, Unit 1, Carleton Place). This members-run art store is open to the public daily, and the show runs until Sunday, May 17.
Art in the Attic (May 9 and 10) at the Almonte Old Town Hall showcases 20 local artists of all ages and ranges of experience. You’ll find works at a wide range of prices in all sorts of media, including painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking, leatherwork and more. There’s also the chance to win a $50 gift certificate (which you can use at the show). Free admission.
The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning is hosting two separate sales this weekend: the Spring Vendor Show on Saturday, May 9, and a Mother’s Day Pop-Up Market on Sunday, May 10.
Buy books in Kanata and Centretown
More than 35,000 used books will be on sale at Kanata United Church’s Book Fair (May 6 to 9). On Wednesday, there’s a kids-only event from 2pm to 6pm, when little ones can pick their own books with or without an adult supervising them. The next day, the sale opens to shoppers of all ages.
As well as the chance to buy hard-to-find books, the Object//Project Art Book Fair—which celebrates diverse and boundary-pushing artists’ publishing—has a packed slate of artist talks and panel discussions. Topics include self-publishing, zines and scrap paper binding. It’s taking place at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in Centretown on May 8 and 9. Admission is free but donations are welcome.
Take Mom for a ride in Smiths Falls
The Mother’s Day afternoon tea at the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls is already sold out—tickets were all gobbled up within a few hours of going on sale—but you can treat Mom to a ride in a vintage caboose on Sunday, May 10.
See theatre in Ottawa, Carleton Place, Perth or Montreal
Another bumper crop of plays are on stages throughout our region this week. Openings include the rural comedy The Birds and the Bees at Ottawa Little Theatre and, for those in the mood for a longer road trip, a drama about immigration called Wine & Halva in Montreal. This is also your last week to catch Jade Circle at the GCTC, The Invisible at the National Arts Centre, The Play That Goes Wrong in Carleton Place and The Maltese Falcon in Perth. For the full list and details on these and many other plays, see my theatre post.
Buy Mother’s Day flowers in Alexandria or Finch
Planning to give Mom a bouquet this year? Support local while you’re doing it by swinging by the Mother’s Day Flower Market at Sunwheel Farm on May 8 and 9, or the build-your-own bouquet event at Brighter With Blooms in Finch on May 9 and 10.
Hit a garage sale in Barrhaven or Richmond
Attention, bargain hunters: Community-wide garage sales are taking place on Saturday, May 9, in Barrhaven and Richmond. For details on these and many other sales, see my garage sales post.
Learn about Indigenous traditions in Carleton Place
The Indigenous Cultural Fair at Zion-Memorial United Church in Carleton Place on Saturday, May 9, is a chance to buy items made by Indigenous artists and artisans—but it’s much more than that. Visitors can also enjoy drumming, jingle dress dancing, workshops, children’s activities and games, and visits with a therapy dog and pony. It’s a fundraiser for Art for Aid, which provides art supplies for isolated Indigenous communities.
Buy some new plants in Ottawa and Gatineau
On Saturday, May 9, the Crichton Community Council is hosting the New Edinburgh Plant Sale from 9am to 1pm in New Edinburgh Park. Hanging plants, edible plants and more will be on offer.
That same day, you can check out SeedLing Saturday at Just Food Community Farm on the edge of Blackburn Hamlet. Gardening workshops, seedling sales, a seed and seedling exchange, live music, food vendors and more are on the agenda, from 10am to 2pm.
Also on Saturday, there’s a seedling and plant sale at Parc de la Ferme Dalton in Gatineau, from 10am to 3pm.
On Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10, rain or shine), the Friends of the Farm are holding their plant sale at the Central Experimental Farm from 8:30am to 1pm. Growers and nurseries from across the region will be on hand, along with master gardeners. You can nosh on goodies from the refreshment tables and shop for gardening books, too.
Go mountain biking for prizes in Beachburg
The BORCA Spring Chicken Race on Saturday, May 9, is a non-timed mountain biking event on trails in and around Beachburg. Choose the 30K, 25K or 60K option. Compete for prizes and enjoy a barbecue lunch afterward.
Groove to live music all over
More than 40 pop and rock acts will be taking to the stage at the Festival Santa Teresa in Sainte-Thérèse from May 8 to 10. If you’re looking for live music closer to home, check out my concerts list.
Catch a game in Ottawa or Cornwall
The Ottawa Rapid FC soccer club is facing the Vancouver Rise at TD Place on Wednesday, May 6.
The Akwesasne Thunder lacrosse team are playing their second home game of the season against the Brampton Excelsiors on Saturday, May 9.
Looking into next week, the Ottawa BlackJacks basketball team are playing their home opener against the Calgary Surge at the Arena at TD Place on Tuesday, May 12.
Head to a farmers’ market
LOTS of farmers’ markets are opening for the season this weekend. On Saturday, May 9, it’s opening day for markets in Carleton Place, Carp, Kanata and Perth. On Sunday, May 9, you can enjoy opening day at markets in Kemptville, McDonald’s Corners and Stittsville. For details on these and many other markets, see my just-updated directory of local farmers’ markets.
Delve into all things mystical in Ottawa
The Mothers in Bloom Holistic Healing Fair is coming to the Nepean Sportsplex on May 9 and 10. At its booths, you can shop for crystals, get your tarot cards read, browse natural products, consult a medium or psychic, and just generally explore alternative wellness in all its forms. Free admission.
That evening, the Mother Earth Psychic and Craft Fair at the Bronson Centre is a fundraiser for No Surrender Ottawa Animal Rescue and Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue. Some 35 artisans, psychics, healers and other vendors will be on hand, leashed pets are welcome, and there’s a Witchy Kitchen Café. Admission is by donation.
Learn about birds on World Migratory Bird Day weekend
Did you know that Saturday, May 9, is World Migratory Bird Day? Bird-Friendly Ottawa lists a variety of events around town that day, including walks in Goulbourn, Overbrook, Britannia and Shirley’s Bay. And down in Prince Edward County, you can train your binoculars on feathered friends of all kinds during the Spring Birding Festival at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (May 8 to 10). Check the event’s Canadian website for details of other events taking place across the country, including in Kingston and Hudson.
You can even do your bit for birds at home during Global Big Day, when birders around the world will be out with their binoculars and reporting their finds on the eBird app to help scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology monitor bird populations.
Pick up train memorabilia in Smiths Falls
If you’re a fan of all things trains, you might be interested in the Clear Out the Attic Sale at the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls on Saturday, May 9.
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.
