The upcoming long weekend is packed with fun events in and near Ottawa, but there’s lots to do during the week, too, including markets, a tubing festival in Morrisburg, the Sunset Ceremony at Fort Henry, fireworks in Gatineau, a studio tour in Eganville and more. Whether you’d like to delve into Black history or francophone culture, eat poutine, consult a psychic, cheer for caber tossers or Ironman competitors, or kick back to country music, there’s an event for you this week. Happy travels!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Shop for art in Merrickville, Almonte and Carleton Place
- Make a splash in Blackburn Hamlet
- See the Sunset Ceremony at Fort Henry
- Dance the night away in Ottawa, Aylmer, Chénéville, Mallorytown or Combermere
- Revel in all things Scottish in Maxville
- Head outdoors in Renfrew County
- Nosh on poutine in Cornwall
- Celebrate francophone culture in Gananoque
- See a play in Almonte, Renfrew, Morrisburg and elsewhere
- Get metaphysical in Little Italy or Nepean
- Do yoga in Ottawa and Gatineau
- Shop at a market
- Take a studio tour in Eganville
- Discover vegan treats in Ottawa
- Get your country fix in Carleton Place
- Go to a tube festival in Morrisburg
- Enjoy a fair in Lombardy
- Cheer for athletes in Ottawa
- See fireworks in Gatineau
- Enjoy a movie under the stars in Ottawa or Smiths Falls
- Commemorate Emancipation Day in Ottawa
- Shop, shop, shop in Prescott or Kingston
- Enjoy a street festival in Chesterville
- Fish for bass in the 1000 Islands
- SAVE THE DATE
Shop for art in Merrickville, Almonte and Carleton Place
On the last Thursday of every month from May to September (including Thursday, July 30), Art Walk is bringing local artists to businesses along Main Street in Merrickville. Between 11am and 4:30pm, you can watch art being created and meet the artists. The Maureen McAuliff Gallery is spearheading this promotion.
The Adventures in Art Show continues at the ACP Art Hub Gallery (127 Bridge Street, Carleton Place) until August 16. The member-run gallery is open seven days a week and features original artworks by ACP artists, including paintings, photography, sculpture, fibre art, jewellery, pottery, wood art and more.
The Tunic Show is an exhibition of 200 tunics, each uniquely decorated by a different creator. The show is coming to the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte for one day only: Saturday, August 1, from 4pm to 8pm. Some of the tunics will be for sale.
Make a splash in Blackburn Hamlet
The Blackburn Hamlet Community Association is throwing a Splish Splash Summer Bash for kids aged 2 to 10 at the splash pad at 190 Glen Park Drive on Sunday, August 2, from 11am to 3pm. The fun will include outdoor games, snacks and music.
See the Sunset Ceremony at Fort Henry
On Wednesday nights from July 29 until September 2, 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. It’s quite popular—the fort has added additional performances this year—so advance ticket purchase is recommended.
Dance the night away in Ottawa, Aylmer, Chénéville, Mallorytown or Combermere
On Wednesday, July 29, you can take a free salsa-dancing class at Ottawa City Hall. Also on Wednesday, you can check out a free, family-friendly silent disco at Parc commémoratif in Aylmer, from 6pm to 7:45pm. Headphones will be available for up to 150 people at a time.
The next night in Chénéville, a free outdoor concert by SAHA Percussion and Carlo Martinez will aim to get everyone up and dancing to Latin and tam-tam music. If the weather is good, the show will be on the grounds of Église Chénéville; if the weather is bad, it will be indoors at Centre St-Félix-de-Valois.
Happy Green Acres Campground in Mallorytown is hosting the Mixed Tapes music festival this weekend (August 1 and 2), with live music by bands in a wide range of genres.
This year’s edition of CO Blitz in Combermere (Sunday, August 2) is a bit smaller than usual, due to construction, but you can still enjoy an outdoor dance with music by Hillbilly Deluxe, with special guests Louis Schryer and Brianne Luckasavitch.
Revel in all things Scottish in Maxville
Photo courtesy of the Glengarry Highland Games.
Pipe bands! Caber tossing! Whisky tastings! Fiddlers, dancers and a tug of war! And men in kilts! What else could it be but the Glengarry Highland Games? This festival of all things Scottish pretty much takes over tiny Maxville, north of Cornwall, this weekend (July 31 and August 1). There’s also a kids’ fun area (delightfully known as the Wee Bairns Tent), a kilt run, a clans parade and much more.
Head outdoors in Renfrew County
Attention, outdoorsy types: The Water and Dirt Festival (August 1 to 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.
Nosh on poutine in Cornwall
At Cornwall Poutine Feast (July 30 to August 2), you can chow down on everyone’s favourite curds-and-fries treat—and enjoy music, a vendors’ market, kids’ activities and other entertainment—at Lamoureux Park (100 Water Street East). See my poutine festival post for details on similar events later this summer.
Celebrate francophone culture in Gananoque
Le FestivILES (July 30 to August 2) is a four-day celebration of francophone culture. You can enjoy a movie, live music, tours, trivia, juggling, theatre, children’s activities and other fun in Joel Stone Park and other locations in Gananoque.
See a play in Almonte, Renfrew, Morrisburg and elsewhere
Several productions are opening in our region this weekend. This weekend is your only chance to see Seussical, Jr. in Renfrew and The Taffetas in Almonte; both plays run from July 30 to August 1. In Morrisburg, the farce Whose Wives Are They Anyway? opens at the Upper Canada Playhouse; it runs until August 31.
Shows continuing in the region include Mirandolina in Strathcona Park in Sandy Hill, A Midsummer Night’s Dream in various local parks, R+J and Joni in Prescott, Macbeth at the Tower in Maitland, If You Don’t Know, You Wilno! in Pembroke and Grease in Gananoque. You can learn more about these and many other plays in my theatre post.
Get metaphysical in Little Italy or Nepean
Tarot card readers, psychics, astrologers and many other New Agers will be on hand at the Ottawa Psychic and Crystal Fair at the Nepean Sportsplex (1701 Woodroffe Avenue) from July 31 to August 2. You can shop for crystals and jewellery, too.
At Next Door Ottawa in Little Italy (955A Gladstone Avenue), you can drop into the Ottawa Mystic Market on August 1 and 2 for tarot and oracle readings, the chance to shop for candles and crafts, and more.
Do yoga in Ottawa and Gatineau
There are a surprising number of cool-sounding yoga events this week, including the following:
- a sunset sound healing yoga session at Britannia Beach on Monday, July 27, beginning at 7pm (admission by donation, with $20 suggested);
- a free noon-hour yoga class outdoors at Ottawa City Hall on Tuesday, July 28;
- free morning yoga on Tuesday, July 28, and Friday, July 31, at Place Laval in Hull, starting at 8am;
- a free noon-hour yoga class on Parliament Hill on Wednesday, July 29;
- free full-moon yoga outdoors at TD Place at Lansdowne Park on the evening of Wednesday, July 29;
- an outdoor yoga class on the patio at the Tavern at the Gallery (National Gallery of Canada) on Saturday, August 1, starting at 8:30am;
- a free yoga class in the park outside Fallingbrook School in Orleans on Saturday, August 1, starting at 9am;
- outdoor kundalini yoga at Par commémoratif in Aylmer on Saturday, August 1, starting at 9am.
Note that some of these classes require advance registration, some have a fee and some will be cancelled if the weather is bad, so PLEASE check the linked websites before heading out.
Shop at a market
On Thursday, July 30, you can hit the weekly Hintonburg Night Market at 1088 Somerset Street West.
On Friday, July 31, the Boots ‘n’ Denim Night Market comes to Pembroke with more than 20 vendors and lots of country music.
On Saturday, August 1, the popular 613flea market returns to Lansdowne Park. The 150 vendors sell food, vintage clothes, handmade items, antiques and more.
And on Sunday, August 2, the Nepean Night Market is happening at 1442 Baseline Road.
Take a studio tour in Eganville
The Bonnechere Valley Inspired Tour (August 1 and 2) will feature close to 40 local artists, food makers and artisans located at 12 stops in Bonnechere Valley Township, in and around Eganville. The self-guided tour starts with a drum and smudging opening ceremony at the Bonnechere Museum in Eganville on Saturday at 10am. On your own schedule throughout the weekend, you can stop at artist studios, shops and farms. Maps will be available at each stop. You can meet painters, jewellers, woodworkers, weavers, photographers, soap makers, food producers and many other creators, and purchase their works. You can also see over a dozen artistically painted doors around Eganville and check out a barn quilt trail in the countryside (see photo above).
Tour hours are 10am to 4pm each day. On Saturday evening, there’s a farm-to-table dinner (tickets required) in a restored heritage barn.
Discover vegan treats in Ottawa
The Vegans Who Snack Food + Art Festival is coming to the Parkdale Market on Friday, July 31, from 5pm to 9pm. It won’t be cancelled for mere rain, but if the weather is dangerous, it will move to Saturday, August 1. Bring your reusable bags, containers and coolers to carry home goodies from dozens of vendors. The site has accessible parking and an accessible washroom, and admission to the family-friendly festival is free. And don’t forget your pooch, as leashed dogs are welcome (but make sure they’re comfortable in crowds, as this event can be quite busy).
Get your country fix in Carleton Place
For country fans, the three-day Goodwood Music Festival is coming to Beckwith Park (July 31 to August 2). Over a dozen acts will be taking to the stage, including the Small Town Socials, Eddy and the Stingrays, and Gail Gavan. Campsites are available if you’d like to make a weekend of it. Beckwith Park is on the southeastern edge of Carleton Place.
Go to a tube festival in Morrisburg
Morrisburg will be a magnet for families this weekend during the Tubie Festival (July 31 to August 2), which features a parade, a beer garden, live music, family activities and—the highlight of the weekend—an exciting tube race on the St. Lawrence River!
Enjoy a fair in Lombardy
The Lombardy Fair (July 31 to August 2) is a year older than Canada—the event is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year. Hay bale tossing and frying pan throwing contests, livestock shows, a demolition derby, chicken pie bingo, live music, lawn mower races, a beer garden, truck and tractor pulls, and a mullet competition are among the attractions. Lombardy is just south of Smiths Falls.
If country fairs are your jam, don’t miss my list of more than 30 fairs.
Cheer for athletes in Ottawa
At TD Place, you can root for the Ottawa Redblacks against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, July 31.
The gruelling Ironman competition will pretty much take over Ottawa on Sunday, August 2, with all competitors doing a 3.8km swim at Britannia Beach, followed by a 180km bike ride through city streets and a 42.2km marathon run, also on city streets. Yikes! They could probably use some cheering from the sidelines.
See fireworks in Gatineau
Les Grand Feux Casino Lac-Leamy is back! The huge fireworks show at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau returns for another month of spectacles featuring gorgeous pyrotechnics synched to cool soundtracks. The event is happening every Wednesday and Saturday night from July 29 to August 15. The grounds open at 6pm so you can enjoy live music, get dinner and drinks from one of the many stands and food trucks, and get in position for the show, which starts at 9:15pm (last entry to the grounds at 9pm). Each night, a different country takes responsibility for the fireworks; on Saturday, August 1, Canada will be doing the honours.
Enjoy a movie under the stars in Ottawa or Smiths Falls
On Thursday, July 30, there will be a free outdoor screening of The SpongeBob Movie at Lansdowne Park. That same night, Smiths Falls’ free series of family movies in Centennial Park (under the water tower) continues with Zootopia 2.
Commemorate Emancipation Day in Ottawa
Emancipation Day, recognizing the abolition of slavery in the British Empire, takes place every year on August 1. A coalition of Ottawa groups is marking the event a day early with the Underground Freedom Train Ride. The tour starts at the Tunney’s Pasture O-Train station at 10:30pm on Friday, July 31. Participants will ride the train back and forth to Tunney’s while commemorating the Underground Railroad, celebrating Ottawa’s Black transit pioneers and marking Black History Ottawa’s 40th anniversary. You can see a video of last year’s ride on the event’s Facebook page.
Shop, shop, shop in Prescott or Kingston
In Prescott, the King Street Promenade on Saturday, August 1, will see the namesake street closed to cars from Edward Street to George Street. Then, the pedestrian-only road will be home to all sorts of fun, including vendors, chainsaw carving, fire eating, bouncy castles, sidewalk sales and more, from 10am to 4pm.
The Princess Street Promenade returns to Kingston on Saturday, August 1. Princess Street, one of the city’s main commercial roads, will host this free pedestrian street festival from 10am to 5pm. Merchants will hold special sales, street entertainers will roam, community groups will offer fun activities and Princess will be closed to vehicles from Division Street to Ontario Street.
Enjoy a street festival in Chesterville
This week’s Meet Me on Main Street celebration in the Township of North Dundas is taking place on Wednesday, July 29, in Chesterville. Local vendors and food producers will be selling their products during this popular festival, which is taking place in Chesterville Community Park.
Fish for bass in the 1000 Islands
Attention, anglers: The BaitFuel Thousand Islands Open (July 30 to August 1) is a chance to cast your line for bass (and maybe net a prize) in Kingston and the 1000 Islands.
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 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
- 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 13: Beechfest, Ottawa
- September 12 and 13: Fibrefest, Almonte
- September 16 to 20: CityFolk, Ottawa
- September 19: Taste of Wellington, Ottawa
- September 23 to 27: Ottawa International Animation Festival
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.
