Wild Colour
2026-05-15 09:30 - 2027-01-10 16:00 UTC | Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Step into a vibrant, photo-worthy world of science at the Canadian Museum of Nature – Wild Colour is Ottawa’s most colourful museum experience of 2026. Created by the Field Museum in Chicago and enhanced with Canadian specimens, this exhibition explores how animals, plants and minerals use colour to communicate, attract mates, and survive. Museum admission is required and can be purchased online for a 10% discount; the museum is open Monday from 9:30 AM to 4 PM. The exhibition is suitable for all ages, especially curious families, and runs until January 10, 2027. Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attending.

Intertwined - A concurrent exhibition
2026-06-01 10:00 - 2026-08-02 21:00 | Ottawa Art Gallery, 10 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Intertwined is a concurrent exhibition at the Ottawa Art Gallery running through August 2, 2026, bringing together artists to explore humanity’s increasingly complex relationship to the natural world through their works. The show features multiple artists working across a range of disciplines and takes up space across the OAG’s five-floor programming venue at 10 Daly Avenue. Admission is free and no booking is required to attend during regular gallery hours. The OAG’s exhibition program is one of the most active free arts destinations in Ottawa, presenting more than 20 exhibitions and 90 artists annually. This is a strong drop-in option for anyone looking for a free, quiet, and meaningful cultural experience during the first week of June.
Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attending.

Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa (All-year round)
2026-06-08 20:00 - 2026-11-27 21:15 | 46 1/2 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ottawa’s award-winning lantern-lit ghost tour runs nightly through downtown streets with cloaked storytellers sharing the city’s haunted history at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, the Bytown Museum, and Ottawa’s most infamous haunted high school. The 75-minute tour departs from the ticket office at 46 1/2 Sparks Street, steps from Parliament Hill, and runs in all weather with a maximum of 16 guests per guide. Adults pay $32.99 and youth 14 and under pay $24.99; a $5 Monday through Wednesday discount applies making weeknights the best value. Tours are suitable for all ages, dog-friendly, and one of the most consistently reviewed visitor experiences in the city. Booking in advance is recommended as popular summer evening slots sell out.
Are Tickets Refundable?
Change of plans? No problem. Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If something comes up, please contact official website as soon as possible so the spot could be offered to another guest.
Is This Tour Accessible?
This tour makes use of sidewalks, street crossings and other city infrastructure. While most areas are fully accessible, occasionally they run into construction or other unpredictable situations where the route needs to be altered. For that reason, it is recommended that this tour be considered accessible with assistance.
What’s Included in the Ticket Price?
The price you see is your final cost before taxes. It includes a service fee that covers secure payment processing, platform maintenance, and your full booking experience. Nothing added at checkout.
Is This Tour Dog-Friendly?
Yes, except from January to March. It is advised to keep your dog on a leash throughout and be mindful of other guests. Their dog-friendly tours in Ottawa are: The Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa, Ghosts of the Mackenzie King Estate, Tales From the Mausoleum at Beechwood Cemetery, and Hidden Ottawa.
Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attending.

Ottawa Jazz Festival
2026-06-18 12:00 - 2026-06-28 00:00 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The 46th Ottawa Jazz Festival opens on June 18 with 11 days of world-class jazz, soul, blues, and experimental music across multiple outdoor and indoor stages in the heart of downtown Ottawa. The 2026 lineup features headline acts including St. Vincent with the NAC Orchestra, Wyclef Jean, Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, WILLOW, BADBADNOTGOOD, Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, and dozens more. Outdoor stages at Confederation Park are free to access each evening while ticketed performances at the NAC’s Fourth Stage and Azrieli Studio require advance purchase. Festival hours run from noon to midnight daily except for Monday June 22 and Tuesday June 23 when there is no programming. Late-night jamming continues each night at Grill 41 in the Lord Elgin Hotel as part of the Late Night Jamming Series. Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attending.

Ottawa Fringe Festival
2026-06-18 17:00 - 2026-06-28 23:00 | 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1N 7B9, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The 29th Ottawa Fringe Festival kicks off under the theme “Fringe Out Loud,” presenting 50+ companies and over 300 performances across multiple venues through June 28. Every show is selected by lottery and no production is curated or juried, giving artists from all backgrounds full creative freedom to take risks and push boundaries. A Fringe Pin ($5 or $15 for a legacy lifetime pin) is required for all audience members, and individual show tickets are $14 each, with 100% going directly to the artists. Performances run daily Monday through Friday from 5:00 PM, and on weekends from 1:00 PM; venues span Arts Court and multiple surrounding Ottawa locations. This is Ottawa’s largest theatre festival and one of the most accessible and affordable ways to experience live performance in the city. Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attending.

Elgin Street Market
2026-06-22 09:00 - 2026-06-28 13:00 | 211-A Waverley Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 0V7, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ottawa’s only Centretown farmers’ market returns every Sunday at Boushey Square with fresh produce, baked goods, prepared foods, and artisan crafts from local vendors. Shoppers can browse dozens of stalls including farms, specialty food makers, and artisans in a relaxed open-air corner setting at Elgin and Waverley. The market is accessible by foot, transit, and nearby neighbourhood street parking. Both June 22 and June 29 fall within this weekly Sunday schedule, which runs rain or shine through October. Admission is free and open to all with no registration required. Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attending.

Light at Night Kayaking
2026-06-22 09:00 - 2026-09-20 05:00 | Patterson Creek Park, 524 O’Connor Street, Ottawa, ON K1S 3P9, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Paddle downtown Ottawa’s Rideau Canal at dusk in a glowing LED kayak for one of the city’s most romantic and visually stunning evening experiences. The 2.5-hour, 5.5-kilometre guided tour launches from Patterson Creek, winding past Parliament Hill, the Chateau Laurier, and the Rideau Canal Locks as the city skyline lights up around you. All experience levels are welcome, Oru folding kayaks and LED equipment are provided, and guides share Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage history throughout the paddle. Advance booking is strongly recommended as most nights sell out; guests should arrive 15 minutes early for the safety briefing. Pricing runs from $99 to $198 per person depending on kayak type and booking timing. Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attending.

Ottawa Jazz Festival
2026-06-22 12:00 - 2026-06-28 23:30 | 100 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5K8, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The 46th Ottawa Jazz Festival closes its final week at Confederation Park with headline acts including St. Vincent with the NAC Orchestra on June 27 and a closing day lineup on June 28 featuring Ibrahim Maalouf, Alanna Sterling, and Steve Berndt. This year the festival introduced a redesigned musical campus, a new Confederation Park stage, a Premium Lounge with artisanal cocktails, and lowered General Admission prices to make it more accessible. Para Transpo drop-off is available at CAA Member Entrance Gate 5, accessible washrooms are on-site, and the park grounds are open to the public nightly for free to soak up the festival atmosphere. Tickets and passes range from free park access to premium seated NAC options and are available at ottawajazzfestival.com. The festival closes Sunday June 28 at 11:30 PM. Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attending.

Ottawa Fringe Festival
2026-06-22 18:00 - 2026-06-28 00:00 | 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1N 7B9, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ottawa’s biggest theatre festival wraps its 29th edition with 62 productions across 10 downtown venues through June 28, covering stand-up comedy, gothic horror, dance, musical theatre, immersive magic, and bilingual shows. The main hub is Arts Court at 2 Daly Avenue, with additional shows at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins (333 King Edward Ave.), Knox Presbyterian Church, Club SAW, and the free outdoor Fringe Courtyard at 67 Nicholas Street. A one-time $5 Fringe Pin is required to attend any show, and individual tickets are $14 with 100% of revenue going directly to the performing artists. June 28 is Best of Fest closing night, when the most popular show from each venue returns for a final encore performance. Multi-show passes are available in person at the Arts Court box office: 5 shows for $65, 10 shows for $120. Event details can change, so verify with the organizer before attending.
