Happy weekend, friends! It’s another action-packed weekend in our lovely city, coming hard on the heels of a wildly successful and fun 613Day at Art House Café! Thank you to everyone that came out to celebrate and share our passion for community, good drinks, locally made ice cream and delicious momos. It’s technically the last weekend of spring, and there are so many great things to get up to this weekend, so let’s get to it!
*It is also Father’s Day this Sunday, so here is your reminder if you plan to reach out or celebrate the father figures in your life!*
All Weekend
Fringe!! Yes, Fringe is back, and it kicked off Wednesday night, revving up for a wild weekend. Events start Thursday, and there are shows spread over all six venues for the next 11 days! Find the schedule online and get your list ready now. Watch this space, because I’ve seen the editorial calendar, and our Apt613 Fringe-ers are going to be posting multiple reviews every. single. day. of the shows that you can catch live.
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Ottawa Little Theatre is bringing A Noble Pursuit to the stage from June 7–24, including all through this weekend. The play was written by Ottawa-born playwright Douglas Bowie, but this is its first time playing on a stage in his hometown! Read our interview with director Stavros Sakiadis here. Evening shows are at 7:30pm and there is a matinee at 2:30pm on Sunday. Tickets cost $30 for adults.
Italian Week continues this weekend, and there are events all over the city, and not only on Preston Street!
Thursday and Saturday night you can catch Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the NAC featuring the NAC Orchestra. Tickets are still available for a show that the NAC describes as “a truly epic paean to unbridled nihilism and immorality.” Ticket prices begin at $15 for Indigenous and Under 30 attendees.
Festival Franco-Ontarien is happening all weekend in Major’s Hill Park. There are a variety of different ticket options to take part in the weekend-long music and culture festival. Major musical acts will include Gregory Charles, Sophie Grenier, and Lisa Leblanc.
In the lead-up to Ottawa Jazz Festival, check out performances all over town of local jazz talent, burning up stages in venues that we all know and love. The Ottawa Jazz Festival Homegrown Club Series spotlights talent of different sub-genres of jazz all week. This weekend, head to Spark Beer, The Montgomery Scotch Lounge, and Art House for their free offerings, fully sanctioned by the festival we know and love.
Thursday
The Ottawa RedBlacks home opener Thursday night promises to be a good one! Kickoff is at 7:30pm against the Calgary Stampeders, and there are still some tickets available!
Chris Murphy (of Sloan fame) will be playing solo at the Rainbow Bistro Thursday evening, beginning at 8:30pm. Tickets are still available online for the 19+ show, at $20 plus fees. This should be an excellent show that promises “Chris plays songs and tells stories accompanied by acoustic guitar.”
Friday
Looking for a reason to take a long weekend? Take a long lunch with the Italian Week Lunchtime Series: Italian Chamber Music featuring The Ironwood Quartet, of NAC Orchestra fame. This free lunchtime concert will be taking place from 12–1pm at the Ottawa Public Library Main branch on Metcalfe street.
Ottawa Chamberfest and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity are holding Opera Pub at Alpha & Omega Gallery Friday evening. This improvised evening of music and theatre is brought to us by young up-and-coming performers from Opera in the 21st Century: Don Giovanni, a program in residency at the National Arts Centre. Doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets are available online: reserved seats are $30, and general admission $20.
The Vegans Who Snack Food and Art Festival is back at the Parkdale Market Friday night. From 5–9pm you will find over 50 small businesses making ready-to-eat snacks, take-home grocery, art, home goods, self-care products and more. The event is free to attend, but you’re encouraged to buy a supercool tote bag to support the event’s organization. There will also be music in the park all night curated by a team of local DJs.
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Saturday
The Kemptville Street Piano Concert Series presents Street Piano Jam with Bradley Smith on Saturday at 2pm on the North Grenville Public Library terrace. It’s free to attend, but cash donations to support the artists are welcome.
Just Voices calls themselves an “activist choir”—a choir with a difference. They choose songs to inspire us to fight for our endangered planet, and to work for social change, peace, and equality. This Saturday, join them at Church of the Ascension (253 Echo Dr.) at 7pm for a celebration concert. Admission is $5–$15 (pay what you can—cash only). Proceeds will support the Ottawa Food Bank. Masks are recommended.
Saturday afternoon, check out the Summer Indigenous Art Market at the National Arts Centre. The market will feature the work of Métis, Inuit, and First Nations makers. Browse jewelry, beadwork, paintings, sculptures, mittens, moccasins, coffee, crafts, and much more. Admission to the market is free, and it runs from 10am to 5pm.
It’s the 20th anniversary of ArtsPark in Parkdale Park on Saturday from 10-6pm. The event celebrates the diversity of the arts in our community! Join in for an artist and local crafter market as well as storytelling, music, improv, and drag performance on the Tooth and Nail mainstage. Don’t miss The Happening Art Throwdown and headliners Graven and the New Band. It’s free to attend!
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Farm Fresh Fest is a full-day festival on Saturday at a farm 15 minutes from downtown. The festival promises to educate attendees on maintaining healthy soil and the right seeds to plant by season, followed by a breathwork workshop, dynamic yoga session, live music, ecstatic dance, a potluck, and craft vendors. Tickets are $40 and are still available online. The day begins at 1pm and ends at midnight.
If you’re looking for sports this weekend, have I got a proposition for you! For the first and only time this summer, spend the day at Lansdowne for back-to-back events! Atlético Ottawa kicks off at 2pm against Vancouver in a fundraising game for dog lovers and the Eastern Ontario Potcake Rescue. There will be adoptable dogs on site to meet and greet! Break for dinner on a patio before heading under the stands to catch the Ottawa Blackjacks at 7:30pm against the Niagara River Lions. Tickets are still available for both games, and it makes for the perfect double-stacked day in your red and black.
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Sunday
As part of Italian Week, check out the Mercato di Preston Street at Preston and Louisa Sunday from 10am–6pm. Expect locally made delicacies, housewares, jewelry, art and much more at this special outdoor market.
Take in some of the most beautiful views in the valley and venture out to Pinhey’s Point Historic Site near Dunrobin for their special workshop on flower pressing. From 1–4pm learn how to press flowers to keep as souvenirs and tour the lush gardens and lovely manor house. Admission is always by donation.
**Bonus Wednesday**
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and there are so many different cool things happening around town to celebrate. Check out the Summer Solstice Festival at Mādahòkì Farm just outside the city. There will be performances, culinary events, workshops and lots of live entertainment. Check out all of the details here!
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