We have made our way to the end of June friends, and what a rollercoaster it was. With another heatwave and some thunderstorms behind us, this long weekend is a great chance to make the most of what the city has going on, including any and all special events on Monday. Whether this weekend is all about the red and white, or just another chance to soak up a long weekend, we have you covered. Stay safe, stay dry, and stay hydrated!
All Weekend
Saturday is your final chance to see An Act of Grace at Ottawa Little Theatre. This rollercoaster of a show was reviewed by our very own theatre experts here. “When the mysterious and wealthy Grace invites a former golf pro turned financial advisor and a lawyer with sordid secrets to her mansion, her dying wish forces the two men to unexpected extremes.” Sounds pretty cool right? Tickets are still available online for show all weekend.
Ottawa Jazz Festival continues right through to Sunday evening on lots of stages around downtown. Kellylee Evans takes the main stage Friday at 6:30, while European jazz phenoms Duo Lijbaart Brederode take to the Fourth Stage at the NAC. “Surrealist blues poet” aja monet is in the Azrieli Theatre Saturday evening to blow your mind, and headliner Veronica Swift promises a vastly varied performance of jazz, blues and everything in between. There are free shows happening as well, with diverse talents at Marion Dewar Plaza and Queen St Fare on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons including Lindsay Wellman’s Wedding and Funeral Band, and The Wonder Projects.
The Ottawa Titans are home all weekend, finishing a series against the New England Knockouts Thursday evening at 6:30, and taking on the New Jersey Jackals Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday night there will be fireworks after the game as a pre-Canada Day celebration. Get your tickets ahead of time to save! Read more about it here.
Saturday and Sunday take in some culture at Saravah Brazilian Festival held at Club SAW. The event kicks off at 4pm on Saturday and the lineup promises live music, DJs, dancing, capoeira demonstrations, and Brazilian food. Tickets are $15 for one day, or $20 for both. You can get your tickets online.
Cirque Italia is bringing its Water Circus to the St Laurent parking lot starting this weekend. The circus boasts 35,000 gallons of water under its blue and white striped tent, and bucketload of acrobats, so it must be a good time right? Tickets start at $35 and there are multiple shows all weekend.
The RCMP Musical Ride is putting on their Canadian Sunset Ceremonies all weekend at 7pm. The event is family friendly, and free. This is a great show to see if you’ve never taken in a musical ride before!
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Thursday
It looks like it’s going to be a lovely evening to be out and about, so why not check out the Stittsville Front Porch Concert Series happening all over town. Each porch offers a different genre and range of instruments, and most of them kick of by 6pm and the party will be over at 9.
The BlackJacks are in town Thursday and Saturday night, taking on the second place Scarborough Shooting Stars on Thursday. Our basketball season is shorter than you might think, so start planning your next chance to catch a game. This weekend maybe?
Friday
Atletico Ottawa is playing a rare Friday night game under the lights at TD Place. Our first place Atletico will be taking on the second place Forge FC, kicking off at 7:00. It’s Canadian Military Appreciation Night, so if you know anyone in uniform, this might be a fun treat.
C*4 Wrestling is closing out its season Friday night at the Preston Event Centre. Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:30 Tickets are available at Vertigo Records or at the door.
Saturday
DiscoLab is back at Parlour for their JUNE! event. DJ Magnificent and Trevor Walker will lead the funky disco event, and partygoers are encouraged to dress up in their finest vintage swag. The party starts at 10:30 and $17 tickets are still available online. This is 19+.
You can sing a Sea Shanty on Saturday night at Beyond the Pale with the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective. It is free to attend, and the shanties kick off around 8pm.
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Nature Nocturne is back at the Museum of Nature on Saturday, but the event has been sold out for a while. Since the much loved party is only back for a few dates this year, take this as a reminder to get your tickets for the next one, happening on November 1. Maybe you can win, or find a pair of last minute tickets for this weekend though, so I’m crossing my fingers for you.
Sunday
MakerHouse is hosting their annual Indigenous Outdoor Market on Sunday from 10-4. Bringing together local Indigenous makers and performers, the outdoor event is a great opportunity to get your hands on some quality wares and support small businesses. Find the market in the Little Macs parking lot next door to MakerHouse on Wellington.
Nan’s Parlour on Clarence is launching themselves into the brunch game with Drag Brunch this Sunday starting at noon. Sunshine Glitterchild and BJ Stroker will be the queens running the entertainment. Tickets are $20 online, and must be purchased before the event, so assemble the group chat now!
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After an ugly 47-21 loss to Montreal last week, the Redblacks are at home this Sunday at 7pm to take on the Hamilton Tiger Cats. Big Wreck is performing in the Canada Day preshow, so it might be worth it to show up early and take in the entertainment too.
Monday *Canada Day*
The ‘official’ party is happening at Lebreton Flats again this year. There will be family friendly events all day on the grounds of the War Museum, including dancing, Indigenous Experiences, a giant slide, virtual tours and live music. If you’re interested in pipe bands and the Colour Guard, Parliament Hill is where you’ll want to be. Check it all out here. Canada Day: Feel the Rhythm! starts at 7pm at Lebreton Flats featuring the likes of Chromeo, Metric, Neon Dreams and viral sensation Notorious Cree. There will be fireworks after the show, of course.
The NAC is putting on their annual *free* Canada Day concert on Monday as well. Hosted by slam poet and songwriter YAO, and conducted by Alexander Shelley, the concert features works spanning over 100 years of Canadian music-making, and will close with the unforgettable “Hymn to Freedom” by Oscar Peterson. This year, you can save your spot by picking up a bracelet at 12pm for the show at 2pm.
Unisong is back at Dominion Chalmers, bringing together over 100 choir singers from across Canada to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this annual event. They will be performing a repertoire of Canadian arranged and composed music. Each year, this concert is performed in both official languages with at least one composition in an indigenous language. The concert starts at 3:30 and is free to attend.
If you’re planning on staying in and keeping it chill, the National Film Board of Canada is showcasing dozens of outstanding films made by directors in provinces and territories across the country, providing a rich, historical look at Canadian society’s diverse realities and communities. Read more about it on their recent blog post here.
