We are halfway through August now, friends, and the weather couldn’t be better for exploring the city. This weekend is another big one in Ottawa, and whether you are in the mood for live music, fireworks, cultural fairs, Pride events, or a cozy night at the theatre, our beautiful city has you covered.
All Weekend
This is your last weekend to catch Odyssey Theatre’s The Miser in Strathcona Park. Shows start at 8pm each evening, with a daytime show on Sunday at 2pm. The curtains go down for good on the 2023 season after the Sunday evening show. Read our review of the show here. Tickets are available online starting at $14.11.
Capital Pride kicks off on Friday night, and runs for the next week, with official and unofficial events all over town. Friday night, get your tickets for the Capital Pride Pageant at the NAC, where drag performers from the National Capital Region will compete for the title of Mx., Mr., or Ms. Capital Pride 2023. There is also a free clothing swap at Jack Purcell, a family picnic in Hintonburg Park, and trivia at the Laurel St. Happy Goat. Something really interesting this year is also the Human Library at the NAC on Sunday from 3–5pm. Read about more pride events here!
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The Capital Ukrainian Festival runs this weekend across town. The festival gets going on Saturday with a Korchma (Ukrainian pub night) at the Ukrainian Banquet and Convention Hall on Byron Ave. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at this 19+ event. Tickets can be purchased online. On Sunday, the festival brings back the popular Yarmarok (marketplace) at Lansdowne Park. Explore Ukrainian art and culture, savour traditional Ukrainian food, and enjoy live performances. This event is free to the public. The Festival’s cornerstone event is the Art Exhibit happening all weekend at the Horticultural Building at Lansdowne Park — this year’s theme explores the damage done to Ukrainian homes during the ongoing war.
Ottawa Little Theatre has just opened their latest show this week, and you can catch it all weekend. Crimes of the Heart is a Pulitzer prize-winning play about three sisters in Mississippi. The New York Post claimed the play “has heart, wit, and a surprisingly zany passion that must carry all before it.” Tickets are available online for evening shows at 7:30pm, and a Sunday matinée at 2:30pm.
There are only two weeks left to see A Company of Fools in a local park giving their offbeat version of Hamlet. This weekend you can find them in Kanata, Westboro, and Alta Vista for their open air, pay-what-you-can performance.
The Capital Fair is back this summer, and it all starts Friday night at the Rideau Carleton Raceway. There’s live music, activities for the whole family, and a midway. Admission to the fair is $10 for anyone over 13 years old, and payment for the midway is separate.
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Thursday
Local writer and 2SLGBTQ+ activist Fae Johnstone will be speaking at the GenNext Mix & Mingle networking event, with the theme “Say it Proud.” There will be light snacks and a cash bar. The event starts at 7pm at Club SAW, and tickets are necessary to get in! Buy them ahead of time online for $15 each.
Friday
Capital Pop-Up Cinema presents martial arts classic Enter the Dragon for free on the outdoor screen this Friday night. Find them on Sparks St. at O’Connor, and bring your own chair! The show starts at 8:30pm, and concession snacks are available to purchase.
From 10pm at Berlin Nightclub (56 ByWard Market Square) check out Expeditions—a monthly dose of progressive house with Ottawa Prog Vibes residents Alain M. and Steve Finney, featuring The Alchemist (from Blast the Radio). Tickets are $12.50 in advance online.
Saturday
Jo-Jo’s Creameria will be bringing their frozen treats to Robert Plante Greenhouses on Saturday, straight out of their ice-cream truck. Check out some new plants for the end of summer, and treat yo’self between 11am and 4pm!
Another 613flea Saturday is upon us! New vendors this weekend include: fresh-to-order warm caramel stroopwafels, hyper-realistic hand painted portraits of pets, original watercolour illustrations of Ottawa landmarks, and non-traditional stained glass sun catchers and plant stakes, among others. Admission is free for the event that runs from 10am–4pm in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne.
Saturday is the last night of the Grands Feux de Casino Lac-Leamy, and they are going out with a bang! (See what I did there?) The grand finale’s theme is still a mystery, but there are tickets left online for general admission to the Museum of History’s outdoor space and the official event. Read more about our take on the festival here.
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Kickoff is at 7pm on Saturday for the Ottawa RedBlacks as they take on the Montréal Alouettes at TD Place. If you haven’t been to a game yet this season, this is the perfect time to cash in on 20% off all tickets to this weekend’s game.
Under the Stars in the SAW courtyard continues this weekend with more live shows of cool local talent. This Saturday you can expect to see Out By Lucy, just fine., The Tenenbaums, and Dolonia in the fresh air! Tickets are still available online for $19.54, and the shows are all ages.
Sunday
Get out of the city a little bit to celebrate the Mill of Kintail’s 50th Anniversary on Sunday with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority. From 10am to 4pm you can enjoy live music, a retro car show, inflatables and play areas, guided nature and museum tours, and a BBQ hosted by Almonte Civitan Club. The family-friendly event is free to attend.
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Shake it out, with Salsa Sundays in the ByWard Market. This free open-level dance class begins at 3pm, followed by social dancing from 4pm to late! The University of Ottawa Salsa Club is hosting the party in the George St. Plaza. You don’t need a partner to attend, and no experience is necessary.
Art House is hosting a zine swap Sunday evening from 5–7pm. There are almost no rules about the kinds of zines that you can bring to share and swap, so bring your stacks and attend this free evening!
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