We find ourselves smack dab in the middle of March my friends, and I have to say, it’s definitely giving strong SMarch vibes (see immaculate Simpsons reference below). We won’t let Mother Nature get in our way of making the most of this weekend. Friday is St Patrick’s Day, and whether or not you choose to celebrate the holiday with the traditional corned beef, cabbage, and regrettable quantities of green beer (seriously, just drink normal stouts), be aware that all local watering holes will be busier than usual this weekend, so make your plans accordingly! On top of that, the kids are on March Break, the maple syrup is flowing, and parts of Bank Street will be closed for Fire and Ice Festival all weekend, so the city is bustling with people and events all over. Stay safe and hydrated this weekend friends. See you out there!
All Weekend
Guys, Shen Yun is in town! That’s right, perhaps the most famous show that you’ve heard of and never been to is actually in town this weekend with four shows from Friday to Sunday. There are still premium tickets available at the NAC online, starting around $169 each to “Experience the Beauty and Wonder of China Before Communism.” Splurge and finally take in the experience that we have all been seeing advertised on TV, billboards and in malls for a decade. It honestly looks incredible!
Fire and Ice Winter Festival is back this weekend, with a bang! Bank Street will be closed from Lisgar to Slater for this 3-day street festival, kicking off Friday night at 7:30pm. You can expect light installations, DJs, a silent disco, and live performances all weekend long, made all the more exciting with the fresh snow that we’ll be enjoying! Support local artists and businesses at the free event, like Mooshu, Wolf Down, Sansotei Ramen, Three Tarts, Toro Taqueria, Gong Fu Bao and more!
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If you’re looking for chill nights with live music away from the bustle of the market or Elgin, Montgomery Scotch Lounge on Gladstone is holding Jazz Nights every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sets start at 8pm and 9:30pm, and you should reserve your spots ahead of time online for the evening.
It is maple syrup season folks, and what could be more Eastern Canadian than heading out to a sugar shack for some tire, a sleigh ride or two, and a gallon of syrup to bring home? Check out this great roundup of local producers here.
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The International Film Festival of Ottawa wraps up this weekend with screenings every day at theatres across the core including the Bytowne, the OAG, and SAW Gallery. Ticket prices vary for events, and some screenings are Choose-What-You-Pay.
Celebrate Sīgwan (Spring) Festival at Mādahòkì Farm all March Break, and into this weekend with workshops, demonstrations and vendors! The free festival runs Saturday and Sunday 1oam–5pm, and you can take guided snowshoe treks, take in powwow dancing, enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride, and fill your face with Indigneous delicacies like fried bannock, buffalo stew, and traditional drinks. Tickets are available for some paid events here.
Phantom Crew, a new show playing at The Gladstone, wraps this weekend with shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “A crew of ghostly sailors. Uncanny sounds foretell disaster for someone in the house. A lost love is called back from the afterlife, rising again from the waves”, is the general vibe of the show, featuring ghost songs and stories that showcase the rich Celtic folklore of the Maritimes. Read all about the show and its inspiration in this Apt613 feature.
Photo by Samaya Garnett.
Thursday
Thursday and Friday are the final nights of the Youth Infringement Festival at Arts Court. The festival is a showcase for original one-act plays written, directed, stage-managed, and performed by artists who are under the age of 25. This year, all tickets are Pay-What-You-Can, and there are three shows running this weekend.
Friday
Whether you are planning to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or not, there are some really great options across town on Friday!
Bytowne Cinema is hosting another Drunken Cinema event Friday evening to celebrate the green holiday. Catch the 30th anniversary screening of cult horror classic Leprechaun starring Jennifer Aniston starting at 9:30pm. Tickets are still available and include a customized game card and glow stick to complete the Drunken Cinema festivities!
The Bytown Sea Shanty Collective will be performing at Beyond the Pale starting at 8pm, right on theme. I doubt that BTP will be dyeing the beer green, but this promises to be a fun evening of shanties and good cheer! You won’t be able to reserve a table ahead of time, so get there early for front row seats!
For something a little bit less traditional, Art House is hosting a St Paddy’s event that will update what you think about Celtic music. The Erik Johnson Electric Celtic Trio will bring a night of electrified Celtic music ft. drones, loops, and otherworldly soundscapes underpinning a mixture of traditional Irish tunes and modern compositions inspired by the cultural connections facilitated by ancient Celtic trade routes. Tickets are available for $10 in advance online.
For something completely different, check out BOW’T TRAIL Retrospek at the NAC Friday and Saturday evenings. This award-winning choreographed documentary performance explores themes of the African cultures and rhythms of the peoples who were deported to the Americas. Tickets are still available, beginning at $15 for under 30, and Indigenous attendees.
Saturday
613flea is back this Saturday from 10am-4pm at the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne. Admission is always free for this eclectic marketplace including local antiques, vintage clothing, great foods and one-of-a-kinds!
Venture out of town a little bit to check out Smelloship—a new funk + soul band playing original instrumental music, featuring members of Slack Bridges, Eru-Era and more at Kaffe 1870 in Wakefield. The show starts at 8pm.
The Ottawa Senators are hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night. This classic, one sided rivalry always makes for an exciting live experience! Puck drops at 7pm at the Scotiabank Place, and there are still tickets available online (but only for those of you cheering for the red and black).
Sunday
Spirit of Rasputin’s, Ottawa’s folk music society, presents singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi in concert, accompanied by Sarah Hiltz. Shawna returns to her hometown Ottawa to celebrate her new album, Hurricane Coming, Sunday at 2:00 pm at Westboro Masonic Hall. Tickets are available online for $25 in advance.
Sunday afternoon at 3pm, the Ottawa Choral Society will perform a collection of short modern and contemporary works on war and peace by women composers, many Canadian, including Eleanor Daley and Joni Mitchell. The concert centrepiece will be Latvian composer Lucija Garuta’s cantata God, Thy Earth Is Aflame. The work was first performed in Latvia in 1944 during the final phases of the Second World War. Tickets start at $10 for the event at St. François d’Assise Church in Hintonburg.
