Ottawa! Once again I had to stop myself as this list could have gone on forever. Anyone who says Ottawa is a boring government town just isn’t looking hard enough. (Hint—send them to Apt613.ca!) There’s so much going on that you’re going to have to clone yourself to hit every stop on this list!
All Weekend
Cranium Festival continues throughout the weekend at the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Ave). The festival focuses on Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul, Dancehall and EDM. Belly headlines the roster of artists in the closing concert on Sunday, September 24, which includes Asuquomo, City Fidelia, Chung, and Paris Richards, among others. The festival is presented by Cranium Arts Project, a not-for-profit professional music presenter and industry support organization, whose goal is to improve Ottawa and Canada’s music industry and community with professional development, networking, learning activities, concerts, conferences and this annual festival.
Catch Glorious: The True Story of Florence Foster Jenkins, The Worst Singer in the World until September 30 at Kanata Theatre.
The Ottawa Little Theatre presents the story of Shakespeare’s First Folio in The Book of Will until October 7.
The Bytown and Mayfair Theatres have another solid run of great films to check out.
Wall Space Gallery has moved to 1090 Bank St. Check out their new space and Ava Margueritte’s Heaven Must Be Light and Joy Kardish’s Years Reimagined, which are on exhibit until September 30.
SPAO is opening ‘RESIDUE’ on September 22. The exhibition features the photo-based work of Jamie Potvin, Grant Stirton, Justin M. Millar, and David Aldridge.
Stittsville’s Outdoor Quilt Show (weather permitting) takes place from September 22-24. The three-day event celebrates the art of quilting and nature. Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to make donations benefiting Quilts for Survivors, Quilts of Valour and Victoria’s Quilts.
The NAC presents a modern operatic performance with The Queen In Me. Approaching the climax of one of the world’s most famous arias, the Queen of the Night abruptly breaks the fourth wall to speak out against the monochromatic strictures that keep opera rooted in the standards of the past. Read Apt613’s BFF’s review. It plays until September 30.
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Thursday
The Women’s Event Network and a number of community agencies have organized the 43rd annual Take Back the Night Ottawa, starting at 6pm at Minto Park (102 Lewis St.). This annual march and rally happens globally to stand up against sexual violence, especially violence against women and as a response to the judgement and blame survivors face after an assault. This year’s focus is to centre and uplift marginalized voices (BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, persons with disabilities, survivors who experience socioeconomic barriers, etc.) and honour survivors from all intersections.
Icelandic double-bassist Sigmar Matthiasson, who has been nominated eight times for The Icelandic Music Awards, plays a show as part of the John Kofi Dapaah Trio at 8pm at the Montgomery Scotch Lounge.
Join the 2023 Scotiabank New Generation Photography Award (NGPA) artists Hannah Doucet, Wynne Neilly and Gonzalo Reyes Rodriguez in the NGPA exhibition space for a visit of their work at the National Gallery.
Grab your sweater or jacket and head to Hintonburg’s Night Market at Urban Art Collective for a great showing of local artists, makers, entrepreneurs and businesses.
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Friday
Head to Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe for a hilarious night of comediennes with My Jokes Are Up Here, which presents four of Canada’s top comics: Jen Grant, Christina Walkinshaw, Erica Sigurdson and Rebecca Kohler.
House of TARG presents another 80s Dance Party with DJ Remi Royale and The Start (80s UK hits), featuring singalongs, lasers and live bands for an incredibly fun dance party.
The Starry Nights Club is hoping to set up telescopes to check out Saturn and the moon Friday night. Check their event page on Facebook the day of to ensure the weather cooperates!
Broadway Workout‘s new season kicks off in Old Ottawa South Friday with the title song from Fame. This workout class teaches choreography in a no-pressure environment accompanied by some of Broadway’s best songs. If you can’t make it or this location isn’t good for you, check out the schedule of other classes.
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Saturday
Papakanje is a one-night-only Indigenous live concert experience and food tasting, part of the #ReconcileThis movement. If you can’t make it in person, there’s also a live stream. Check out more from Apt613.
Ottawa duo summersets (Kalle Mattson and Andrew Sowka) play an album release show for their debut LP small town story at Red Bird Live. The album is a 16-track narrative song-cycle that follows one couple from the moment they meet as teenagers through various tribulations.
The NAC is also hosting a beaded orange heart workshop in honour of the upcoming Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
There will be a ton of great local vendors at 613flea at Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne from 10am to 4pm.
10+ different NCC sites will be open for the public to get a behind-the-scenes look at some of its projects and meet the experts behind them. The events run from 10am–3pm, and registration is required for some of them.
Taste of Wellington takes place from 11am to 4pm at Hintonburg Park with a fantastic food festival, live music, a beer garden, games and entertainment. Then head to the nearby Urban Art Collective for a Maker Market with local makers and vendors.
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Sunday
The hilarious Eddie Izzard plays the NAC with a hilarious remix show of the best bits from over the years.
Atlético Ottawa play their last regular season home game! Tickets are selling so well that they’ve opened the north side stands at TD Place at Lansdowne. Grab your friends and family and cheer on Ottawa’s professional soccer team as they set their sights on another playoff run!
Bonus Wednesday
I know this isn’t the weekend anymore, but this is such a great event I had to throw it in to get it on your radar: The Ottawa Public Library is hosting a Human Library event on Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 11am to 3pm at the Main Branch. The event allows you to “check out” a person for a 20-minute conversation on a particular topic. It’s a great way to learn about a culture, lifestyle, job, etc. that you might not be familiar with.
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