15 Ottawa Events This Weekend (August 14-16, 2026)

Ottawa is heading into another packed summer weekend, with food festivals, live music, markets, international sport and plenty of free outdoor entertainment on the calendar. From GreekFest feasts and world-class show jumping to a massive geek market and music floating along the Rideau Canal, there are Ottawa events this weekend for just about every kind of weekend plan. Families can hit the fairgrounds or a farmers’ market, while music fans have everything from intimate local performances to multi-band festivals. Here are 15 of the best things happening in Ottawa this weekend, August 14 to 16.

Top Ottawa events this weekend

1. Ottawa GreekFest

Ottawa GreekFest is back at 1315 Prince of Wales Drive, serving up a full weekend of Greek food, music, dancing and hospitality. Expect favourites such as souvlaki, gyro and lamb on a spit alongside traditional performances, the Zorba Show, an arts court and plenty of opportunities to soak up Greek culture without leaving Ottawa.

• 📅 Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16
• 📍 Ottawa Greek Fest Grounds, 1315 Prince of Wales Dr.
• 🎟️ Free admission

2. The Capital Fair

The Capital Fair returns for its 51st year, bringing the classic summer fair experience to a new location at the Gloucester Agricultural Society Grounds. Families can make an afternoon or evening of the rides, midway food, exhibits and fairground atmosphere as one of Ottawa’s longstanding community traditions celebrates another season.

• 📅 Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16
• 📍 4899 Albion Rd. S.
• 🎟️ Tickets available online

3. Ottawa Kosher BBQ Cook-off & Festival

Come hungry to Canada’s premier kosher barbecue competition, where competing teams fire up the grills for a weekend centred on food, community and friendly competition. Beyond the barbecue, visitors can enjoy live music, kosher food vendors and a Kids and Family Zone during this celebration of Ottawa’s Jewish community.

• 📅 Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 11 AM to 4 PM
• 📍 Ottawa Torah Centre, 111 Lamplighters Dr.
• 🎟️ Check the organizer for current admission details

4. RBC Ottawa International CSI4* CSI2*

Some of the world’s top show jumping talent takes over Wesley Clover Parks for a weekend of high-level equestrian competition. Along with the action in the ring, spectators can browse vendors, shop locally and check out activities for kids, making this an approachable sporting event even if it is your first time watching international show jumping.

• 📅 Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16
• 📍 Wesley Clover Parks, 401 Corkstown Rd.
• 🎟️ Free for children 12 and under

This weekend in Ottawa (August 14-16, 2026)

1. Under The Stars

Under The Stars brings a two-day celebration of local music to the courtyard at Club SAW in the ByWard Market. Presented by Spectrasonic, the festival is built around local artists and special release performances, giving audiences a chance to discover music coming directly out of Ottawa’s scene. Friday’s lineup includes The New Hires, Scary Bear Soundtrack, Elle Sherlock and Linhri. The courtyard setting should make this especially appealing on a warm summer evening, creating a more relaxed atmosphere than a conventional indoor concert. Organizers also have an indoor severe-weather backup at Club SAW, so the event is prepared for less cooperative conditions. The festival is open to all ages, making it an option for younger music fans who cannot attend many club shows. Anyone planning to purchase alcohol should bring photo identification. Ticket limits of six per household apply, and sales are final. For anyone hoping to hear emerging and independent performers without leaving the heart of downtown, Under The Stars is one of the most locally-focused music Ottawa event this weekend.

• 📅 Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15
• 📍 Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St.
• 🎟️ Ticketed event

2. Cars & Coffee Ottawa

Cars & Coffee Ottawa turns Lansdowne Park into a gathering place for automotive enthusiasts on Friday evening. Visitors can expect a varied display of classic, exotic, luxury and performance vehicles rather than a show focused on only one corner of car culture. That variety makes it fun for serious enthusiasts as well as people who simply enjoy seeing unusual cars up close. Exhibitors and local food options add more to explore between walks through the vehicle displays. The 6 PM start also gives visitors a chance to arrive after work and stay as the evening cools down. Lansdowne is particularly convenient because restaurants, shops and the Rideau Canal pathways are all nearby. Families can drop in casually, while dedicated car fans can spend considerably longer examining the vehicles and talking with other enthusiasts. The social atmosphere is a major part of the event, so expect plenty of conversations about engines, restoration, design and dream cars. If your ideal Friday night involves horsepower, summer weather and a lively gathering at Lansdowne, Cars & Coffee is an easy addition to your Ottawa weekend plans.

• 📅 Friday, August 14, 6 PM to 10 PM
• 📍 Lansdowne Park, 1015 Exhibition Way
• 🚗 Classic, exotic, luxury and performance vehicles

3. PANDA FEST V

PANDA FEST V packs 22 bands into three days at the Dominion Tavern in the ByWard Market. Now in its fifth edition, the festival puts Ottawa’s local band community front and centre in one of the neighbourhood’s familiar live music rooms. Friday’s program runs from 6:30 PM until 11:45 PM, making it possible to hear several acts without bouncing between venues. The multi-day format gives dedicated music fans an excuse to return throughout the weekend and dig deeper into the lineup. There is also food on site from Kevin’s Hot Chicken, which is useful if you plan to settle in for a long stretch of performances. The Dominion Tavern setting gives the festival an intimate, energetic atmosphere that suits the local focus. A wheelchair ramp is available for attendees who require it. This is particularly worth considering if you prefer discovering bands in a compact venue rather than attending a huge outdoor festival. With so many performers assembled in one place, PANDA FEST V offers one of the densest doses of Ottawa live music event this weekend.

• 📅 Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16
• 📍 Dominion Tavern, 33 York St.
• 🎸 22 bands across three days

4. Geek Hoard Haul

Collectors, gamers and cosplayers can spend Saturday browsing more than 100 vendors at Geek Hoard Haul. The one-day event fills the Sensplex in Kanata with comics, video games, trading cards, Pokémon collectibles, toys and other finds from across geek culture. It is designed as more than a shopping trip, with a cosplay contest, games, activities and special guest appearances included in the program. Free admission makes it particularly easy for families or curious newcomers to drop by without committing to an expensive convention ticket. Parking is free as well, which keeps the outing budget friendly. Instead of charging admission, organizers invite attendees to consider making an optional donation to Furry Tales Cat Rescue. Serious collectors can hunt for specific additions to their shelves, while kids can simply enjoy seeing colourful merchandise and costumes everywhere. Cosplayers also have a natural reason to dress up and participate rather than just browse the vendor tables. Running from 10 AM to 5 PM, Geek Hoard Haul is one of the strongest free indoor Ottawa events this weekend if you want a break from the August heat.

• 📅 Saturday, August 15, 10 AM to 5 PM
• 📍 Sensplex Kanata, 1565 Maple Grove Rd.
• 🎟️ Free admission and free parking

5. Roxanne Goodman: Music on the Canal

The Rideau Canal becomes a moving concert venue on Saturday afternoon when Roxanne Goodman performs as part of the NAC’s Music on the Canal series. Goodman draws from jazz, gospel, blues and pop, bringing an uplifting vocal style to one of Ottawa’s most distinctive outdoor music experiences. Rather than gathering around a conventional stage, listeners find a place along the canal and wait for the musician-packed boat to pass. The boat departs near the NAC under the Rideau Street Bridge at 4:30 PM. It then travels toward Lansdowne Park and back during a journey lasting roughly 90 minutes. You can bring a picnic, folding chairs and a few friends and turn the performance into a relaxed afternoon beside the water. No ticket is required, which makes this another excellent free option for the weekend. The moving performance also means different stretches of the canal offer different perspectives, so you can choose a spot that suits your plans. For locals who have walked or cycled the canal countless times, Music on the Canal offers a wonderfully different way to experience one of Ottawa’s most familiar landmarks.

• 📅 Saturday, August 15, 4:30 PM
• 📍 Along the Rideau Canal near the NAC
• 🎟️ Free

6. Barbatuques with Victor Anastacio

The NAC’s Fourth Stage hosts a fascinating night of Brazilian rhythm when members of Barbatuques perform alongside a program featuring Ottawa-based guitarist Victor Anastacio. Barbatuques co-founders Lu Horta, Helô Ribeiro and Mariah Rocha use claps, pulses, voices and body percussion to build remarkably layered musical arrangements. Guitar and samplers introduce additional textures, giving the performance a contemporary edge. The result stretches beyond a conventional concert and turns the human body itself into part of the instrumentation. Audiences can expect influences from samba, pagode and other Brazilian sounds throughout the evening. Victor Anastacio opens the program, adding classical guitar to a night already rich in rhythmic ideas. The Fourth Stage is an intimate venue, which should make the physicality and detail of the body percussion particularly compelling at close range. Tickets start at $25, with Under30 pricing also available. For anyone searching for something musically adventurous and quite different from the usual Saturday night concert, this is one of the most distinctive performances happening in Ottawa this weekend.

• 📅 Saturday, August 15, 7:30 PM
• 📍 NAC Fourth Stage, 1 Elgin St.
• 🎟️ From $25

7. 613flea

613flea brings one of Ottawa’s favourite treasure hunts back to Lansdowne on Saturday. The not-for-profit flea market typically gathers around 150 vendors selling an eclectic mix of vintage clothing, records, comics, handmade goods, art, baked treats and other finds. There is no admission charge, so you can browse for ten minutes or spend hours digging through the tables. Vintage fans should come prepared to search because much of the fun lies in finding something unexpected among the stalls. Makers and artisans also give the market a strong local shopping component beyond the traditional flea-market experience. Food vendors mean you can grab something to eat while exploring Lansdowne and the surrounding Glebe. Dogs are welcome, making this a convenient outing for visitors who do not want to leave their four-legged companions at home. The market runs from 10 AM to 4 PM, leaving plenty of time to combine it with other Saturday plans. With renovations affecting the Aberdeen Pavilion, visitors should verify the exact Lansdowne location with 613flea before heading out this weekend.

• 📅 Saturday, August 15, 10 AM to 4 PM
• 📍 Lansdowne Park, 1015 Bank St., exact building should be verified
• 🎟️ Free admission

8. Bistrofest 2026

Bistrofest offers a laid-back Saturday evening of free local music beside Hog’s Back Park. The August 15 installment features Baby Richman as part of a summer series created to showcase local performers. Music runs from 6 PM to 9 PM on the patio of the Hog’s Back Grill & Bistro. That setting gives the show a casual neighbourhood feel and makes it easy to combine dinner, drinks and live music in one stop. Food and beverages are available from the Bistro during the performances. Donations go directly to the bands, offering audiences a simple way to support Ottawa musicians while enjoying a free show. Families are welcome, and organizers encourage visitors to bring a chair if they want to settle in. Paid parking and washrooms are available on site, which makes the evening relatively straightforward to plan. If you want live original music without the ticket price or late-night club atmosphere, Bistrofest is an appealing Saturday option in Ottawa this weekend.

• 📅 Saturday, August 15, 6 PM to 9 PM
• 📍 Hog’s Back Grill & Bistro, 600 Hog’s Back Rd.
• 🎟️ Free, with donations supporting the performers

9. Live from the Booth

Sparks Street turns up the volume on Saturday night with another edition of Live from the Booth. This free outdoor series spotlights Ottawa’s electronic music scene by putting local DJs in the middle of the downtown pedestrian district. Sets run from 8 PM to 10 PM at The Booth between Elgin and Metcalfe streets. The location makes it an easy addition to dinner, drinks or an evening walk through downtown. Because the event happens outdoors, it has a casual drop-in energy rather than the feel of a ticketed nightclub show. You can stay for the entire set or simply stop by on your way to another destination. It also works particularly well as a pre-party for anyone planning to continue the night at nearby bars or patios. The summer series continues on most Saturdays through October, but warm August weather is hard to beat for an outdoor DJ set. For a free taste of Ottawa nightlife in a highly accessible downtown setting, Live from the Booth is worth putting on your Saturday night radar.

• 📅 Saturday, August 15, 8 PM to 10 PM
• 📍 Sparks Street between Elgin and Metcalfe
• 🎟️ Free

10. Ottawa Farmers’ Market at Lansdowne

Sunday morning is prime time for one of Ottawa’s biggest weekly farmers’ markets at Lansdowne. More than 85 local vendors participate during the outdoor season, with products coming from producers located within 100 kilometres of the city. Expect tables piled with seasonal produce alongside meat, dairy, baked goods, prepared foods and artisan products. Because it is a producer-only market, shoppers have a direct connection to the people growing, making or baking what they buy. Live music, buskers and changing special programming add atmosphere beyond the shopping itself. The market runs from 9 AM to 3 PM, so it works equally well for an early grocery run or a leisurely late-morning visit. You can grab breakfast or lunch, shop for the week and then explore the rest of Lansdowne or walk through the Glebe. Pets are permitted subject to the market’s code of conduct. For anyone who wants a slower Sunday after a busy Friday and Saturday, the Lansdowne market is one of the most dependable ways to spend a summer morning in Ottawa.

• 📅 Sunday, August 16, 9 AM to 3 PM
• 📍 Aberdeen Square at Lansdowne Park
• 🎟️ Free to enter

11. Nepean Night Market

The Nepean Night Market gives the weekend one last dose of local food, shopping and entertainment on Sunday evening. The weekly outdoor gathering brings vendors, artisans, makers and food trucks together on Baseline Road. Live music helps create an easygoing community atmosphere where visitors can browse without feeling rushed. Admission is free, making the market a low-cost option for families or groups looking for something spontaneous to do before the weekend ends. Dogs are welcome, so the family pet can come along too. Kids can enjoy the lively setting and organizers have glow sticks available, adding a little extra colour as daylight begins to fade. Visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair if they want to settle in and enjoy the entertainment rather than simply shop. Ample parking is available on site and nearby, making the suburban location relatively convenient to reach. Running from 5 PM to 9 PM, the Nepean Night Market is a relaxed way to shop locally, grab dinner from a food truck and squeeze a few more summer hours out of Ottawa this weekend.

• 📅 Sunday, August 16, 5 PM to 9 PM
• 📍 1442 Baseline Rd., Nepean
• 🎟️ Free

Frequently asked questions

For all Ottawa events this weekend and free options that repeat all month, browse all the things to do in Ottawa this summer.