Ottawa’s final nine days of September include the city’s 200th birthday, a fire-truck pull involving a 10-plus-tonne vehicle, and an overnight art festival that doesn’t wrap until 7:00 AM. Add the 50th Ottawa International Animation Festival, Chinatown’s Mid-Autumn Night Market and an Alanis Morissette musical in Hintonburg, and Ottawa events this month cover an unusually wide stretch of the city and its cultural scene. You can also sample more than 50 Ontario ciders at Britannia Yacht Club, hear David Suzuki curate an orchestral playlist, or spend Saturday moving between free anniversary celebrations downtown. Here are 20 Ottawa events this month, September 22-30.
Top Ottawa events this month
1. Ottawa 200 Block Party
Ottawa’s 200th birthday gets a 12-hour celebration at Marion Dewar Plaza, with live music, cultural programming, interactive art installations and community-led activities throughout Saturday. Local food and beverage vendors will also be on site, giving you plenty of reason to stay beyond a single performance or activity. Admission is free and the central location makes this an easy starting point for a full day of bicentennial celebrations downtown.
π Saturday, September 26, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM π Marion Dewar Plaza, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Downtown Ottawa ποΈ Free
2. Nuit Blanche Ottawa
Ottawa becomes an open-air gallery overnight as Nuit Blanche runs from Saturday evening until 7:00 AM Sunday. Highlights include eVenti Verticali: CUBO dance performances, the Prismatica prism labyrinth, the interactive Impulse light-up seesaw and Monuments portrait projections. The free festival is one of the month’s biggest Ottawa nightlife options, particularly for anyone willing to keep exploring long after midnight.
π Saturday, September 26 at 7:00 PM to Sunday, September 27 at 7:00 AM π ByWard Market Square and surrounding areas, 55 ByWard Market Square ποΈ Free
3. Ottawa International Animation Festival
The Ottawa International Animation Festival marks its 50th anniversary with five days of screenings, competitions, workshops, talks and parties. Short film competitions, Animation ExposΓ© and artist talks are among the highlights, while cartoonist Seth designed this year’s anniversary poster. Programming spreads through Arts Court, ByTowne and other downtown venues, making this one of the few events on the list that can fill several days rather than a single evening.
π Wednesday, September 23 to Sunday, September 27 π Arts Court and other downtown Ottawa venues, including 67 Nicholas Street ποΈ Admission varies by festival event
4. Ottawa Chinatown Mid-Autumn Night Market
Somerset Street West fills with dumplings, BBQ skewers, bubble tea, desserts, lion dances and live music during Chinatown’s three-day Mid-Autumn Night Market. Martial arts displays and musical acts add to the street-festival atmosphere along the stretch between Bronson Avenue and Bell Street North. With free admission and plenty of food and drink in Ottawa to explore, it’s an easy event to visit casually or make the centrepiece of an evening.
π Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27, beginning Friday at 6:00 PM π Somerset Street West between Bronson Avenue and Bell Street North, Chinatown ποΈ Free
5. Ottawa 200 Day: Bytown Together
The Bytown Museum marks Ottawa’s 200th birthday with free admission and a full day of special programming. Visitors can catch an Indigenous welcome, costumed interpreters, a Heritage Fair from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and theatrical performances by Pierre Brault at 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM. It’s particularly well placed for anyone planning to move between several of Saturday’s free downtown anniversary events.
π Saturday, September 26, beginning at 9:00 AM π Bytown Museum, 1 Canal Lane, Downtown Ottawa ποΈ Free
More Ottawa events this month
1. Ottawa’s Craft Cider Celebration
More than 50 Ontario craft ciders are being poured at Britannia Yacht Club for this Tuesday evening tasting. More than 10 regional cideries are represented. The lineup includes 1818 Ciders, Saunders Cider, Ernest Cider and West Ave Cider.
Visitors can sample different styles while meeting some of the makers behind the drinks. Ciders will also be available to purchase on site. That makes the event useful for anyone who wants to discover Ontario producers beyond familiar retail selections.
The Britannia waterfront setting takes the evening outside the usual downtown food-event circuit. Tickets are $30 plus HST, with a $100 group option mentioned in the supplied listing. Among Ottawa events this month, this is the most cider-focused choice and one of the strongest picks for people interested in Ontario-made drinks.
π Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00 PM π Britannia Yacht Club, 2777 Cassels Street, Britannia ποΈ $30 plus HST
2. David Suzuki’s Playlist
David Suzuki takes on the role of musical curator and host for an unusual NAC Orchestra program at Southam Hall. Classical repertoire shares the program with Canadian songwriting. Mendelssohn and Beethoven appear alongside music associated with Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen.
The evening also includes a world premiere arrangement of Carmen Braden’s Imaginal. Conductor Henry Kennedy leads the orchestra. Suzuki’s playlist concept gives the concert a more personal framework than a conventional program built around a single composer or period.
The performance starts at 8:00 PM on Tuesday. Tickets begin at $33. For audiences who enjoy orchestral music but want a program that crosses into contemporary songwriting, this offers one of the month’s more distinctive combinations.
π Tuesday, September 22 at 8:00 PM π Southam Hall, National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street ποΈ From $33
3. Dreamcatcher Workshop with Bougie Birch
Indigenous artist Ashley Clark leads a hands-on dreamcatcher workshop at the National Arts Centre. The session also introduces participants to the resilience of Indigenous communities. Bougie Birch leads the workshop.
All required materials are supplied. The session lasts approximately 1.5 to two hours. Participants create their own dreamcatcher rather than simply watching a demonstration.
The workshop takes place at Atelier Shenkman Smith across from the NAC Box Office. Tickets cost $45. It’s a particularly good fit for people seeking a participatory arts experience rather than another evening spent watching a stage performance.
π Wednesday, September 23 at 5:30 PM π Atelier Shenkman Smith, National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street ποΈ $45, materials included
4. Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation
Comedians representing four generations share one bill at Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa West. Canadian comedy veteran Glen Foster headlines the show. Tavis Maplesden serves as host.
Dr. Sarah Boston, Jeff Davis, Sean-Thomas Martin and Rick Currie are also scheduled to perform. The multi-generational format gives the lineup a built-in contrast in perspectives and material. The performance is uncensored and aimed at an adult comedy audience.
General tickets are listed at $25. A $60 dinner-and-show package is also available. The Richmond Road venue gives comedy fans a Westboro-area option among the many Ottawa events this month concentrated closer to downtown.
π Wednesday, September 23 at 8:00 PM π Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa West, 1394 Richmond Road, Westboro ποΈ $25, or $60 for the dinner-and-show package
5. Jagged Little Pill
TotoToo Theatre brings Jagged Little Pill to the Great Canadian Theatre Company beginning September 24. The Tony Award-winning musical is built around the songs of Alanis Morissette. Its story follows the Healy family through identity, relationships and difficult personal truths.
Songs include You Oughta Know, Hand in My Pocket and Ironic. Familiar music is integrated into the narrative rather than presented as a concert. That makes the production accessible both to Morissette fans and audiences primarily interested in contemporary musical theatre.
Performances continue through October 3, so the September dates begin a longer Hintonburg run. Tickets are $69 plus tax and a $3 service fee. The Wellington Street West location also makes the show an easy Ottawa date idea to combine with dinner nearby.
π Thursday, September 24 through Saturday, October 3 π Great Canadian Theatre Company, 1233 Wellington Street West, Hintonburg ποΈ $69 plus tax and $3 service fee
6. OdΔwΔ Tomorrow: OdΔwΔ WΓ bang
Jay Odjick’s animated artwork takes over the NAC’s Kipnes Lantern after sunset. OdΔwΔ Tomorrow: OdΔwΔ WΓ bang presents a vision of Indigenous futures. Its visual language draws from both Woodland art and comic books.
Seeds and planting appear throughout the work as symbols of renewal. Rather than being displayed inside a conventional gallery, the animation is projected onto the NAC’s exterior Lantern. That makes the artwork accessible to people simply walking through the downtown core.
The projection runs nightly from 8:00 PM to 11:59 PM between September 24 and 27. No ticket is required. It’s one of the easiest free events in Ottawa to fit around another downtown performance, dinner or evening walk.
π Thursday, September 24 to Sunday, September 27, 8:00 PM to 11:59 PM π Kipnes Lantern, National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street ποΈ Free
7. Vegans Who Snack Food and Art Festival
Parkdale Public Market hosts an all-vegan food and art festival on Friday evening. Little Jo Berry’s is organizing the event. Small food businesses and art vendors share the market space.
Visitors can browse locally made art while sampling vegan food from independent vendors. The format is casual rather than a seated tasting or formal dinner. It also puts the focus on small businesses rather than large commercial brands.
The festival runs from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM. Its Parkdale Avenue location makes it easy to continue exploring Hintonburg afterward. Admission pricing was not included in the supplied event information, so check the organizer’s listing before attending.
π Friday, September 25, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM π Parkdale Public Market, 366 Parkdale Avenue, Hintonburg ποΈ Admission price not listed in the supplied event information
8. Ottawa Latin Jazz Conference
The Ottawa Latin Jazz Conference brings Afro-Cuban rhythms and Latin jazz to the National Arts Centre. Rachelle Behrens is among the featured performers. Anh Phung & Civil Lizard and the Orlando Cardoso Trio are also on the lineup.
The conference celebrates Canada’s multicultural diaspora through more than performances alone. Workshops, panels and networking sessions are included across its three-day run. That gives musicians and dedicated listeners ways to engage beyond sitting through a concert.
The conference runs September 25 to 27. Friday’s listed concert takes place from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM and costs $25. The Fourth Stage setting provides a more intimate live-music experience than the NAC’s larger halls.
π Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27, with Friday’s concert from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM π Fourth Stage, National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street ποΈ $25 for the listed Friday concert
9. Michael Keegan-Dolan’s MΓM
Twelve dancers and live musicians come together in Michael Keegan-Dolan’s MΓM. TeaΔ DaαΉsa performs the work at Southam Hall. The production draws on Irish culture and mythology.
Concertina player Cormac Begley joins five contemporary musicians for the live score. Music and movement operate together throughout the production rather than as separate elements. The full performance runs approximately 80 minutes.
There are shows on both September 25 and 26 at 8:00 PM. Tickets range from $33 to $79. It’s a strong option for audiences interested in contemporary dance, live music and theatrical work that doesn’t fit neatly into a single genre.
π Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 at 8:00 PM π Southam Hall, National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street ποΈ $33 to $79
10. PumpkinFest
Saunders Farm begins its Halloween season on September 26 with PumpkinFest. The long-running Ottawa-area tradition combines fall activities with haunted attractions. Hayrides, hedge mazes and a pumpkin patch are among the daytime draws.
The attraction list also includes Circus Macabre, Barn of Terror and the Haunted Hayride. The Coven Walk and The Cemetery add more Halloween-themed experiences. Ziplines, escape rooms and the Witch Mountain Slide broaden the day beyond haunted walkthroughs.
PumpkinFest continues well beyond September, running through November 1. Admission starts at $25 plus fees according to the supplied listing. For families or groups already ready for Halloween season, this is the month’s earliest opportunity on the list to lean fully into fall.
π Saturday, September 26 through Sunday, November 1, with listed hours from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM π Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Road, Munster Hamlet ποΈ From $25 plus fees
11. Ottoberfest
The Horticulture Building becomes a Bavarian-themed party for Ottoberfest on Saturday. The event is restricted to guests 19 and older. Admission is free.
Stein-holding competitions, singalongs and games are part of the program. There will also be live music and a best-dressed prize. Organizers are planning a world record attempt for the longest online video chain toast.
The event runs from noon until 11:00 PM. Its long schedule makes it flexible enough for an afternoon stop or a full evening at Lansdowne. For anyone comparing Ottawa events this month with a social, festival-style atmosphere, this is one of the few free adult-only options.
π Saturday, September 26, 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM π Horticulture Building, 1525 Princess Patricia Way, Lansdowne Park ποΈ Free, 19+
12. OAG Mini Market
Local Ottawa artists and makers fill Level 1 of the Ottawa Art Gallery for a special anniversary edition of the OAG Mini Market. The marketplace is curated rather than set up as a large general vendor fair. Stalls are positioned just outside the OAG Shop.
Visitors can browse handmade goods and support local makers. The gallery setting also gives the market a natural connection to a larger afternoon of art and culture. You don’t need to commit to a fixed performance time or guided session.
The market runs from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Saturday. Entry is free. Its Daly Avenue location also puts visitors close to Arts Court, the ByWard Market and several other events happening during Ottawa’s anniversary weekend.
π Saturday, September 26, 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM π Ottawa Art Gallery, 10 Daly Avenue, Downtown Ottawa ποΈ Free
13. REDBLACKS vs Calgary Stampeders
The Ottawa REDBLACKS host the Calgary Stampeders at TD Place on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 PM. Stadium doors open at 2:00 PM.
The event includes a substantial family-activity lineup beyond the football game. Face painting, balloon artists and a petting zoo are among the extras. Characters and gaming stations are also planned, with a baby race scheduled for halftime.
Those additions make the game particularly approachable for families with younger children. Lansdowne also gives you restaurants and other attractions within walking distance before or after kickoff. Ticket prices were not provided in the supplied listing, so check TD Place for current availability and pricing.
π Saturday, September 26 at 3:00 PM, doors at 2:00 PM π The Stadium at TD Place, 1015 Bank Street, The Glebe ποΈ Ticket price not listed in the supplied event information
14. Ottawa Fire Truck Pull
Teams of 10 will attempt to drag an Ottawa Fire Services truck through the ByWard Market. The vehicle weighs more than 10 tonnes. Each team faces a 100-foot pull.
The competition is part of Ottawa’s 200th anniversary celebrations. It’s being presented in partnership with Ottawa Fire Services and Nuit Blanche. CHEZ 106.1 hosts the welcome activities beginning at 6:00 PM.
Spectators are welcome, so you don’t need to join a pulling team to experience the event. Its ByWard Market location also places it directly beside the evening’s Nuit Blanche activity. Few Ottawa events this month have a premise quite as immediately understandable as watching people attempt to move a fire truck by hand.
π Saturday, September 26 from 6:00 PM π ByWard Market Square, 55 ByWard Market Square ποΈ Admission price not listed in the supplied event information
15. Rise Ashen and Iron Cabaret
Soulful house music, aerial performance and acrobatics come together outside the National Arts Centre during Nuit Blanche. DJ Rise Ashen provides the music. Iron Cabaret brings GoGo dance, aerial artistry and acrobatic performances.
The combination gives the event the feel of a late-night dance party crossed with a circus-style live show. It’s staged outdoors at Peter A. Herrndorf Place. The event is part of the wider Nuit Blanche program happening across central Ottawa.
Performances continue from 9:00 PM until 2:00 AM. Admission is free. If you’re planning to stay downtown after midnight, this offers a defined late-night destination before Nuit Blanche itself continues toward sunrise.
π Saturday, September 26 at 9:00 PM to Sunday, September 27 at 2:00 AM π Peter A. Herrndorf Place, National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street ποΈ Free
Frequently asked questions
What’s free in Ottawa this month?
Ottawa 200 Block Party, Nuit Blanche Ottawa, Ottawa 200 Day: Bytown Together and OAG Mini Market are all free, with OdΔwΔ Tomorrow: OdΔwΔ WΓ bang offering another no-cost evening option. Find more on our free events in Ottawa page.
What are some good date ideas in Ottawa this month?
Ottawa’s Craft Cider Celebration, Jagged Little Pill, David Suzuki’s Playlist and the Ottawa Chinatown Mid-Autumn Night Market offer options ranging from tastings and theatre to orchestral music and street food. Find more inspiration on our Ottawa date ideas page.
Where can I find nightlife in Ottawa this month?
Nuit Blanche Ottawa runs until 7:00 AM, Rise Ashen and Iron Cabaret continues until 2:00 AM, and Ottoberfest offers an adults-only Saturday celebration at Lansdowne. Explore more evening options in our Ottawa nightlife guide.
What family-friendly events are happening in Ottawa this month?
Ottawa 200 Block Party, Ottawa 200 Day: Bytown Together, PumpkinFest and the REDBLACKS game all have elements suited to families, while individual Ottawa International Animation Festival screenings and activities can also be checked for age suitability. Browse more family options on our Ottawa events page.
New listings get added constantly, check the complete calendar of Ottawa events.
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