Ottawa Events

Annual Events

Address: 1001 Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Dows Lake Pavillion, Ottawa, ON Category: Fair / Festival - Garden / Flower Dates: May 1 - May 18, 2009 User rating:      (Rate It!)    |    Add to a Suitcase

Known as the tulip capital of North America, Ottawa fittingly hosts the world's largest tulip festival. This is an 18-day May event showcasing more than three million tulips. The festival originated in 1945 after the city received 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands' Princess Juliana. There are various admission...

Address: ByWard Market and others, Ottawa, OT K1N 9K1 Category: Fair / Festival - Cultural Dates: June 11 - June 13, 2009 User rating:      (Rate It!)    |    Add to a Suitcase

Held each June, this lively festival celebrates the Ottawa-Hull region's French heritage. Events take place on both sides of the river, from busking and musical performances to pub crawls, parades, and special art exhibits. Special venues during this mid-summer's event include the ByWard Market, Times Square Building...

Address: Elgin St at Laurier Ave, Confederation Park, Ottawa, ON K1P 6H7 Dates: June 25 - July 5, 2009 User rating:      (Rate It!)    |    Add to a Suitcase

For more than 25 years, this June-July festival has been a summer favorite. The artist lineup features a variety of national and international performers in genres ranging from Dixieland to Fusion.

Address: Mackenzie Ave at Murray St, Major's Hill Park, Ottawa, ON Category: Fair / Festival - Holiday / Seasonal Dates: July 1, 2009 User rating:      (Rate It!)    |    Add to a Suitcase

Under the watchful eyes of the Canadian Parliament buildings, Ottawa celebrates Canada Day every July 1st. The celebration features food stalls, entertainers and one of the year's best firework displays. Many other events take place across the region.

Address: Booth St at Scott St, LeBreton Flats, Ottawa, ON Dates: July 9 - July 19, 2009 User rating:      (Rate It!)    |    Add to a Suitcase

This internationally acclaimed music festival, started in 1994 and held each July, has seen such performers as Blues Traveler, James Brown, R. L. Burnside, Wilson Pickett, and George Thorogood & the Destroyers. The multi-stage event centers around the area of City Hall.

Address: 50 Rideau St, Rideau Centre, Ottawa, ON K1N 1A3 Dates: July 25 - August 8, 2009 User rating:      (Rate It!)    |    Add to a Suitcase

Operated by the Ottawa Chamber Music Society, this two-week festival features an astounding repertoire of world-class soloists and musical ensembles. Past artists have included the likes of violinist Cho-Liang Lin, pianist Angela Hewitt, London's Schubert Ensemble, the Beaux Arts Trio and the Emerson String Quartet....

Address: Sparks St, Sparks Street Mall, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E3 Category: Community Event - Performance Dates: August 1 - August 3, 2009 User rating:      (Rate It!)    |    Add to a Suitcase

Canada's second largest busker festival, this unique event gives area performers a chance to strut their stuff, so to speak. Ideal for the entire family, the festival features jugglers, comedians, storytellers, fire-eaters, mimes, musicians, magicians and dancers.

Address: Downtown, Ottawa, ON Category: Fair / Festival - Holiday / Seasonal Dates: December 4 - January 7, 2010 User rating:      (Rate It!)    |    Add to a Suitcase

All across the country, government buildings, museums and other public spaces get the twinkle light treatment for the month of December. Capital regions such as Ottawa take special pains to create glittering displays with hundreds of thousands of lights, making the holiday season extra festive. More than 300,000...

Address: 1001 Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Rideau Canal & Dows Lake, Ottawa, ON K1S 5K7 Category: Fair / Festival - Holiday / Seasonal Dates: February 5 - February 21, 2010 User rating:      (Rate It!)    |    Add to a Suitcase

This popular February event attracts more than 700,000 visitors. Activities include dog sledding, snowmobile races, ice carving, horse-drawn sleigh rides and snow golf. Enjoy ice-skating on the more than four-and-a-half miles of the world's largest naturally frozen ice rink, the Rideau Canal.