Family-friendly
Events
Calendar of Events
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Sunday
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4 events,
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 […]
CA$17
Frame of Mind is the 9th exhibition in the Creative Space program, a partnership between the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and the Ottawa Art Gallery celebrating its 10th year of using artmaking as a tool for wellness and community connection. The exhibition features work created across fall and winter sessions using acrylic painting and […] 
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 […]
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A free, family-friendly drop-in fitness session led by Indigenous instructor Amanda Fox that incorporates Powwow-style movement and dance into an accessible workout format open to all ages and fitness levels. […] |
5 events,
The 10th annual Capital Ribfest takes over the RA Centre grounds with North America's top rib pitmasters, live music all weekend, a new Great Canadian Backyard Smoke Off Competition, a Kids Fun Zone, a Market Village, a Bevvy Bar and Beer Gardens, and a wide variety of food vendors. Admission to the festival is free, […] 
The Kiwanis Club of Manotick presents the 50th anniversary edition of Dickinson Days, a beloved community street festival in the historic riverside village of Manotick. This signature Kiwanis project brings families together through service and celebration, coinciding with Ottawa's 200th anniversary in 2026. Specific programming and hours are available at the Manotick Village website; the […]
CA$10
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7 events,
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute opens its doors to the public as part of Doors Open Ottawa 2026, celebrating the institution's 50th anniversary. Visitors can learn about heart health, participate in the One Million Hearts screening initiative, and take a self-guided tour of the Cardiac Research Complex. This is a free public event within […]
Free
Doors Open Ottawa returns for its 24th anniversary with the theme Doors to the Past: Bytown's Bicentennial Journey, giving free access to 90-plus historic and modern Ottawa buildings that are normally closed to the public or charge admission, including embassies, breweries, churches, heritage buildings, and government sites. Notable 2026 participants include the Diefenbunker Cold War […] |
11 events,
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Expo Mexico Mujer returns to Lansdowne Park for a full day of programming celebrating Mexican culture, cuisine, fashion design, and women's entrepreneurship in Ottawa. The event is listed on the City of Ottawa's official Lansdowne Park event calendar for June 7. It brings together vendors, performers, and community members to highlight Mexican heritage and showcase […]
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Step inside the 1896 Gothic Revival mansion known as Birkett's Castle, now the Residence of the Hungarian Ambassador and open to the public on Sunday only. Built by architect Thomas […]
Free
The NAC Indigenous Theatre hosts the annual Summer Indigenous Art Market in the Gail and David O'Brien Atrium at the National Arts Centre, bringing together Metis, Inuit, and First Nations makers to sell and showcase their work directly to the Ottawa community. Vendors offer jewelry, beadwork, paintings, sculptures, moccasins, leatherwork, clothing, and more, with a […]
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Championship finals of Ottawa's Afro Caribbean Summer Tennis Tournament bring together competitors in Men's, Women's, Mixed Doubles, and the new Junior Doubles divisions at the Lynwood Tennis Club. The free outdoor festival atmosphere includes a DJ, authentic African food, and free tennis lessons for spectators of all ages. Admission is completely free and all are […]
Free
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7 events,
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 […]
CA$24.99
Free French storytelling for toddlers with Luana at the NAC — a beloved Monday morning ritual for Ottawa families. Luana guides young children through engaging French-language stories at Peter A. Herrndorf Place in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. No registration is required and the event is completely free. This program is recommended for young children […]
Free
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Ottawa's funniest and most surprising walking tour — discover the bizarre, hidden side of Canada's capital with a $5 Monday discount per person. Created by the makers of the Haunted […]
From $27.99
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A free, family-friendly drop-in fitness session led by Indigenous instructor Amanda Fox that incorporates Powwow-style movement and dance into an accessible workout format open to all ages and fitness levels. […] |
5 events,
Featured
The Ottawa Titans host the Brockton Rox at Ottawa Stadium for a three-game Frontier League home series in what has been a record-breaking attendance season for the club. The 10,000-seat stadium offers assigned seating, concession food, live in-game entertainment, and the fan-favourite mascot Cappy for a full family ballpark experience. The stadium is accessible via […]
Varies
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6 events,
The Men's Volleyball Nations League returns to Ottawa for five days of elite international competition featuring Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Turkey, and the USA at The Arena at TD Place. Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalists France and bronze medalists USA join world number 2 Italy in what Volleyball Canada calls one of the strongest pools […] |
9 events,
The Festival Franco-Ontarien marks its 50th anniversary with three days of outdoor Francophone concerts, street art, food, and community programming at Major's Hill Park steps from Parliament Hill. The 2026 lineup features Bleu Jeans Bleu on June 11, Jupiter and Okwess plus LGS on June 12, and Jay Scott on June 13, alongside free family […]
CA$14 – CA$30
Featured
Italian Week Ottawa is an 11-day celebration of Italian culture, cuisine, art, music, and heritage along Ottawa's Corso Italia (Preston Street), running June 11 to 21 with over 15 events for all ages. Programming includes masterclasses, film screenings, comedy shows, dance performances, and sporting events throughout Little Italy, with the Grand Finale Weekend from June […]
Free (some events ticketed)
Featured
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Featured
Explore four floors of world-class natural history at the Canadian Museum of Nature for free during Thursday evening hours, including the new Wild Colour special exhibition running through January 10, 2027. Wild Colour dives into the role of colour in nature through 200 specimens, audio stories, and colour-saturated gallery zones. The museum is at 240 […]
Free
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8 events,
Canada's largest movement and wellness festival brings three immersive days of yoga, fitness, Pilates, workshops, a 5K run, and family programming to the RA Centre across nine dedicated venue spaces. The Vendor Village features over 40 lifestyle brands and healthy food vendors, while the Wellness Space offers massage, acupuncture, and recovery modalities between sessions. Tickets […] |
9 events,
More than 150 artists fill Central Park in the Glebe over two days with original paintings, photography, sculpture, pottery, jewellery, and textiles in a willow-lined creekside setting that is beautiful in both sunshine and rain. Visitors browse original works, enjoy food vendors, catch live entertainment, and relax in the park with free admission and no […]
Free
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Ottawa's craft supplies destash market returns for its fifth edition at the Bell Sensplex in Kanata, where makers clear their creative spaces to offer surplus fabric, tools, Cricut supplies, beads, jewelry materials, and more at budget-friendly prices alongside food vendors. Both entry and parking are completely free and the market collects non-perishable food donations for […]
Free
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10 events,
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The 52nd edition of Ottawa's longest-running bike race closes Preston Street in Little Italy and transforms Corso Italia into a criterium racecourse with events for juniors, masters, and elite cyclists […]
Free (spectators)
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Ottawa's longest-running street criterium transforms Preston Street in Little Italy into a heart-pumping cycling circuit for riders and spectators of all ages. Junior races, masters categories, and elite cyclists navigate […]
Free (spectators)
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Ottawa's beloved outdoor night market runs every Sunday all summer with local vendors, food trucks, and live music in a casual community setting. Stroll through makers and artisan stalls, grab […]
Free
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5 events,
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A free, family-friendly drop-in fitness session led by Indigenous instructor Amanda Fox that incorporates Powwow-style movement and dance into an accessible workout format open to all ages and fitness levels. The session takes place in the Peter A. Herrndorf Place at the National Arts Centre, one of Ottawa's most prominent cultural venues on Elgin Street. […] |
5 events,
North America's largest dragon boat festival returns to Mooney's Bay on the Rideau River with three days of racing, community, food, and entertainment for participants and spectators alike. Teams of 20 paddlers guided by a drummer and steersperson race 500m heats on Saturday June 20, with the top teams advancing to 100m, 200m, and 500m […]
Free (spectators)
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6 events,
Ottawa's free annual Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival returns to Wesley Clover Parks for a weekend of culture, performances, food, and community to mark National Indigenous History Month. This year's highlights include an International Competition Pow Wow with host drum Sacred Flight, the debut of a Smoke Dance category, a Glow-in-the-Dark Pow Wow, and a spectacular […]
Free (parking $)10
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7 events,
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Ottawa's beloved weekly outdoor night market tales place every Sunday evening with local vendors, food trucks, live music, and a welcoming community atmosphere in Nepean. Stroll through rows of local […]
Free
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5 events,
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 […]
Free
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, […]
Free (park access) to Varies (ticketed)
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6 events,
The RCMP hosts four free family-friendly Canadian Sunset Ceremonies at their Ottawa stables on June 25, 26, 27, and 28, each starting at 7:00 PM with the world-famous Musical Ride performing thrilling cavalry drills choreographed to music. Each show features the combined pipe bands of the RCMP and Ottawa Police Service, the Capital Cowgirls, the […]
Free
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7 events,
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A free evening outdoor festival at Parkdale Market featuring over 65 vegan small businesses selling ready-to-eat food, baked treats, ice cream, art, flowers, and self-care products in a welcoming accessible […]
Free
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7 events,
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Ottawa's beloved weekly outdoor night market tales place every Sunday evening with local vendors, food trucks, live music, and a welcoming community atmosphere in Nepean. Stroll through rows of local […]
Free
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5 events,
Shakespeare's beloved tale of love, magic, and mischief in an enchanted forest launches its Ottawa touring run on June 29 with the 2026 outdoor production of A Midsummer Night's Dream traveling to parks and outdoor venues across the city through August 15. The production follows four young lovers who flee into the woods and encounter […]
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A free, family-friendly drop-in fitness session led by Indigenous instructor Amanda Fox that incorporates Powwow-style movement and dance into an accessible workout format open to all ages and fitness levels. […] |