47+ events in and around Ottawa, August 10 to 16

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From thrifting in Smiths Falls and buskers in Pembroke to a sidewalk sale in Westboro, music in Thurso and a fair in Vankleek Hill, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in and around Ottawa this week. For something fun and totally free, you can even bring your canoe or kayak to the Hartwell Locks near Carleton University and go through the locks with hundreds of other paddlers!

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Bring your canoe or kayak to Hartwells Locks

For the last few years, hundreds of paddlers have been jamming into the Peterborough Liftlock for a fun photo op called Lock & Paddle. In 2024, the event expanded beyond Peterborough to two other locations: Hartwells Locks on the Rideau Canal near Carleton University, and the Lachine Canal in downtown Montreal. Here are all the details you’ll need to join the free event at Hartwells Locks on Saturday, August 15.

P.S.: For extra fun for a good cause, you could join A Flamboyance Gathering of Flamingos. For $20, you get a flamingo towel and an inflatable pink flamingo to put on your kayak or canoe. Organizer Craig McCormick hopes to marshal 75 to 100 flamingo-decorated craft to enter the locks as a group. The initiative is a fundraiser for CHEO’s mental health services; McCormick also aims to raise awareness of bullying.

Live on the cutting edge in Kingston

The Kick and Push Festival‘s TK Fringe Festival (August 6 to 16) wraps up at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning in Kingston this week. This year’s productions include improv, card tricks, drag and roller derby and more (not all in the same show).

Head to a corn festival in Athens

Centennial Park in the village of Athens will be hopping from 9am to 3pm on Saturday, August 15, during Athens Cornfest. There will be live music, kids’ activities (including a children’s parade), food and craft vendors, and, of course, lots of fresh buttered corn. Free admission.

Enjoy a music festival in Thurso, Westport or Mallorytown

In the Outaouais, Petite Nation en fête is a big outdoor music festival that is expected to bring about 25,000 spectators to Thurso from August 12 to 15. Featured acts include Classe moyenne, Roxane Bruneau, Jay Scott, Souldia, France D’Amour, JF Pauzé of Les Cowboys Fringants, Lendemain de veille and Francis Degrandpré. For kids, there will be a K-Pop Demon Hunters show on Saturday, and bouncy castles and giant games on Friday and Saturday.

Music Westport, an open-air festival in the Rideau Lakes village, kicks off with an evening party on Friday, August 14. On Saturday, you can enjoy funk, bluegrass, rock, folk, country music and more on two outdoor stages. A jazz band will be strolling the streets, and there will also be an artists’ alley at Lockwood Park. Admission is by donation.

And on August 14 and 15, Happy Acres Campground is hosting the 1000 Islands Celtic Roots Festival. Half a dozen bands will be taking to the stage at the two-day event. You can get a day pass or camp overnight.

Be amazed by buskers in Pembroke

Ottawa Valley Buskerfest begins on Friday, August 14, with a drone show, fire shows and more at Waterfront Park from 5pm to 10pm. On Saturday, the fun moves to downtown Pembroke, where streets will be humming with circus-style performances, a kids’ zone, food and other vendors, a classic car show, skateboarding demonstrations, and more.

Admire cool cars at Lansdowne Park

If flashy vehicles get your motor runnin’, drop by Lansdowne Park on Friday, August 14, for Cars and Coffee Ottawa. From 6pm to 10pm, owners will be displaying their prized wheels in this fundraiser for the OSEG Foundation, which supports youth and community sports.

Catch a concert

In the mood for live music? Your choices this week include the Paolo Stante Band at the Grotto in Alexandria (August 12), Deep Fried & Countryfied at Motel Chelsea (August 13), Great Lake Swimmers at the Neat Coffee Shop in Burnstown (August 15; the August 13 show is already sold out), Tony D at Little Red Wagon Winery in Shawville (August 15), The Devil’s Brigade at StoneCropAcres Winery + Vineyard in Morrisburg, and Claire Morrison at the Ottawa Tennis Club (August 16).

See the Sunset Ceremony at Fort Henry

On Wednesday nights in August—including Wednesday, August 12—you can see the Fort Henry Guard go through its paces during the Sunset Ceremony at Fort Henry National Historic Site in Kingston. The event includes precision military drills, stirring drum music and a rousing finale of fireworks and it’s quite popular, so advance ticket purchase is recommended.

Dig into poutine in Gatineau or Brockville

Attention, all fans of gravy-doused cheese curds and fries: two poutine festivals await you this weekend.

In Gatineau, Le Grand Poutinefest (August 14 to 16) will offer live music and bouncy castles along with poutine. Sunday is Family Day, when you’ll get a free kid-sized poutine with every purchase of an adult-sized one. It’s happening in the parking lot of les Promenades de Gatineau at 1100 Maloney Boulevard West.

Meanwhile, Brockville Poutine Feast is coming to Brockville’s Centennial Park from August 13 through 16. As well as digging into the namesake snack, you can enjoy live music, a vendors’ market, games and more. The event is pet friendly and admission to the grounds is free.

Be Greek for a day in Ottawa

Watch Greek dancers and enjoy live Greek music. Nibble on souvlaki, moussaka and more. Family-friendly Ottawa Greek Fest (August 13 to 16, and August 20 to 23) is about as close as you can get to the Parthenon or Santorini without jumping on a plane! The video above is from a few years ago, but it will give you a taste of what to expect. The festival takes place at the Hellenic Event Centre at 1315 Prince of Wales Drive, between Baseline Road and Meadowlands Drive; check the website for details on shuttles and offsite parking. Free admission.

Enjoy jazz in Prince Edward County

The Prince Edward County Jazz Festival (August 11 to 16) is taking place in venues across Prince Edward County, including theatres, wineries, pubs and even a cemetery. About two dozen acts will be playing all sorts of styles of jazz, and there will be music workshops, too. Ticket prices and concert times vary.

Visit a market in Gloucester, Orléans, Bourget or Cornwall

The Bourget Community Market on Saturday, August 15, will see vendors setting up their tables beside the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail from 10am to 2pm.

If you prefer to do your browsing later in the day, you have three night markets to choose from this week. The Cornwall Night Market will feature vendors, food and live music; it’s taking place at 60 Pitt Street and runs from 4pm to 10pm on Friday, August 14. Also on Friday, the Gloucester Night Market brings vendors and music to the parking lot of Earl Armstrong Arena (2020 Ogilvie Road) from 5pm to 9pm.

And on Saturday, August 15, the Heart of Orléans Night Market and Movie Night will feature vendors, line dancing and a family-friendly outdoor movie; it’s happening at 290 Centrum Boulevard from 6pm to 10pm.

Head outdoors in Renfrew County

Attention, outdoorsy types: The Water and Dirt Festival (until August 16) offers activities for just about every sports lover, including a triathlon, a fundraising “doggy paddle,” kayak fishing, yoga, a swim across the Ottawa River, trail runs and a whole lot more. Events take place across a wide swath of Renfrew County, with Petawawa as a major hub. Check the website for registration details and fees, which vary from event to event.

Get your garlic fix in Carp

At the Carp Farmers’ Market’s Garlic Festival (August 15 and 16), you can shop for garlic bulbs, spreads, dressings and more. There will also be garlic tastings, garlic shots (uh, I’ll watch, thanks!), garlic cooking demos, garlic growing workshops and more. And once you’ve exhausted all the garlic options, you can check out the rest of the farmers’ market.

See the stars near Kaladar

Near the night of the new moon each month, weather permitting, the Lennox and Addington County Dark Sky Viewing Area offers a free Laser-Guided Stargazing Tour on Friday and Saturday nights. Each tour starts about an hour after dusk and lasts approximately 90 minutes. You’ll get a laser-guided tour of the night sky and perhaps peek through a telescope. The next tour nights are August 14 and 15. Even though the tour is free, you need to go online to reserve a spot if you’re interested. The viewing area is in Erinsville, just south of where Highway 7 intersects with Highway 41 in Kaladar, Ontario.

Enjoy a community party in Hallville or South Frontenac

The last Meet Me on Main Street festival of the season in North Dundas is coming to Brian Telford Community Park in Hallville on Wednesday, August 12. Food, music and community connection are usually on the menu at these summer street parties. Hallville is just east of Kemptville.

On Saturday, August 15, families will likely be drawn to the gentle fun of the Bubble Bash on Point Beach in South Frontenac. Giant bubble wands, face painting, balloon animals, food vendors and more will keep things lively from 1pm to 3pm.

Get thrifty in Smiths Falls

Attention, bargain hunters: The Big Thrift at The Falls is a great chance to check out 15 participating thrift stores in downtown Smiths Falls on Saturday, August 15. Shop for fashion, home décor, collectibles, books and more. The $10 ticket gets you a tote bag, a $10 credit to spend at participating shops, coupons and deals at local restaurants and other businesses, an event map, and swag. You can also enjoy free lemonade and live music as you stroll from store to store.

Bloom and be blissful in Edwards

Green Corners Farm in Edwards, on Ottawa’s southeastern edge, is hosting Ground with Sound and Bloom with Intention on Saturday, August 15. After unwinding with a 60-minute sound bath, you can pick your own bouquet of sunflowers and other fresh blooms.

Hit a sidewalk sale in Westboro

The Westboro Village Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, August 15, will see some 18 businesses on Richmond Road and McRae Avenue in Ottawa’s Westboro neighbourhood setting their wares outside for sale and offering special discounts. Part of the MEC parking lot will host a vendors’ market, and All Saints’ Anglican Church will be offering lemonade, waffles, henna painting and more in its courtyard. The sidewalk sale runs from 10am to 4pm.

See the world in Sherbrooke

The Festival des Traditions du Monde de Sherbrooke (August 12 to 16) celebrates the cultures of the world with 85 shows, and 30 workshops and activities, on multiple stages—everything from Nordic folk music and Algerian chaabi to Japanese drumming and Bollywood dancing. And there’s food, too, from 17 international restaurants! It all unrolls in Quintal Park (1671, chemin Duplessis, Sherbrooke). Sherbrooke is a little under four hours’ drive east of Ottawa, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.

Enjoy floral fun in Finch

Brighter With Blooms farm in Finch is holding an open house on Saturday, August 15. Admire the flower fields, enjoy live music and browse through a makers’ market. Admission is free. If you’re coming from Cornwall, tour company See-Way More is offering a day trip from Cornwall to Brighter with Blooms and back that day.

Browse for art in Carleton Place and Wakefield

Riverfront Artscape is an outdoor art event taking place on Saturday, August 15, in Carleton Place. Along the river walkway beside the Carleton Place Gallery (210 Bridge Street), you can browse for works by 38 juried fine artists. Plein air painters will be on hand. The Almonte Song Circle will provide live music, and food vendors will be serving up ice cream, Italian street food and more. The event will run rain or shine.

Art in the Park returns to Centre Wakefield La Pêche in Wakefield on Sunday, August 16, from 11am to 3pm. Browse for art, check out workshops and enjoy live music. If the weather is bad, the event will move indoors.

See heritage buildings in Cornwall and SDG

The popular Doors Open event comes to Cornwall and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry on August 15 and 16. Twenty-nine interesting buildings across the region—including sites in Alexandria, Cornwall, Dunvegan, Long Sault and Williamburg—will be welcoming visitors and hosting special activities. Free. (P.S.: The Glengarry Pioneer Museum is also offering a barn quilt-painting workshop on Sunday, August 16. It’s $50 per person and pre-registration is required.)

Run 5K through foam in suburban Montreal

If you’ve ever run a 5K and thought, “Gee, this course would be much better if it had a waterslide, a log roll and giant clouds of foam,” do I have the race for you. The 5K Foam Fest at the Mont Saint-Bruno ski centre on Montreal’s South Shore is a bonkers-looking race that also includes a cargo net climb, hurdles and lots of other obstacles. It’s happening on Saturday, August 15. (If you can’t make it to Montreal, the event is coming to Ottawa on Saturday, August 22.)

Have fun at a fair in Ottawa, Russell, South Mountain or Vankleek Hill

You’ll find the Capital Fair (August 14 to 24) at 4899 Albion Road, just south of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. This year’s attractions include a big midway, arm wrestling, a demolition derby, an extreme dog show (colour me curious), flying pig races (ditto), live music and all sorts of other amusements. And if you’re planning ahead, Special Needs Day for visitors with physical and/or developmental disabilities is on Tuesday, August 18.

Just southeast of Ottawa, the Russell Fair (1076 Concession Street, Russell) runs from August 13 to 16. The fun includes circus performers, sheep shearing, line dancing, a petting zoo, a midway, a cornhole tournment, a demolition derby, a pancake breakfast and a packed schedule of live music. Thursday from 1:30pm to 4pm is a special afternoon for people with disabilities.

The South Mountain Fair (August 13 to 16) offers truck and tractor pulls, live music, a midway, a demolition derby, livestock competitions, a beer garden and more. There’s also an opportunity on Thursday (11am to 2pm) for visitors with special needs to visit the fair before the gates open to the general public (pre-registration required). The fair takes place at the fairgrounds at 2967 Lough Road in South Mountain.

The Vankleek Hill Fair (August 13 to 16) has livestock competitions, a parade, concerts, a demolition derby, a volleyball tournament, horse shows, a beer tent, live music and a midway, among other amusements. You’ll find the fairgrounds at 92 Main Street West in Vankleek Hill.

Giggle at cat videos in Ottawa

Alert long-time readers will know that I’m a sucker for all things cat related. So, of course, I have to tell you about the 2026 Cat Video Fest, a 70-minute compilation of cat videos coming to the Bytowne Theatre on Rideau Street several times this month. The last showing is on Wednesday, August 12, at 7pm.

Chow down on barbecue in suburban Montreal

The Montreal Ribfest (August 14 to 16) is a three-day festival in the Pierrefonds neighbourhood (13800 boulevard de Pierrefonds). Attractions include meat grilled up by multiple ribbers and lots of live music.

Channel your inner Irish person in Killaloe

The Killaloe Irish Gathering (August 14 and 15) promises lots of fun in the small village just east of Barry’s Bay. Highlights include bouncy castles, face painting, a touch-a-truck event, a barbecue and, of course, lots of Irish music and dance.

Kick back with beers in Quebec City

Sure, it’s a bit of a drive to Quebec City. But if beer’s your thing, the Festibière de Québec (August 13 to 16) is slated to host a huge range of beverage makers and food vendors—including purveyors of non-alcoholic and vegan options—along with lots of concerts.

Have a Caribbean weekend in Belleville

During the Belleville Caribbean Festival (Saturday, August 15), you can enjoy lots of tropical tunes and tastes. The celebration features a parade, food vendors and artisans, and lots of live music.

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.)

• 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
• September 5: Latin Sparks Festival, Ottawa
• September 10 to 12: Big River Country Festival, Mallorytown
• September 11 and 12: Kanata Craft Beer Festival
• September 11 to 13: Orléans Ribfest
• September 12 and 13: Fibrefest, Almonte
• September 12: RoadTrip Music Festival, Kingston
• September 13: Beechfest, Ottawa
• September 16 to 20: CityFolk, Ottawa
• September 19: Taste of Wellington, Ottawa
• September 23 to 27: Ottawa International Animation Festival

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!

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.