It’s the final weekend of March, so is it going out like a lion or a lamb? Whether or not the weather holds, there is so much happening around town that this Roundup is jam-packed with great stuff to check out.
All Weekend
The Vanier Sugar Festival runs this weekend to celebrate all things maple at Canada’s only urban sugar shack. Get a traditional sugar shack pancake breakfast, throw some axes, drink some local beer, watch some lumberjacking, catch a country music concert and maybe run a 5k. There is lots to do for the whole family, so check out their website for all the information.
Silent Sky, written by Lauren Gunderson, brings us the “almost-true” story of the women who worked in the early days of astronomy and are fundamental to our collective understanding of the cosmos. Three Sisters Theatre Co. focuses on telling meaningful stories about women—and this is a great one. The show plays at The Gladstone and closes this weekend, so don’t miss it! Read our preview here.
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This is the last weekend to catch Vierge at the GCTC. Described as “a riotous spectacle of love, secrets and uncertainty,” Vierge is a co-production between Ottawa’s GCTC and Montréal’s Black Theatre Workshop, one of the longest-running, active Black professional theatre companies in Canada. There are shows every evening at 8pm, and 2pm matinées on Saturday and Sunday. Learn more here.
Youth Infringement Fest kicks off Thursday at Arts Court Theatre for a week. This year’s event features six original plays, all created by local youth artists between the ages of 16 and 25. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, starting at $5. Read our full festival preview here.
Kanata Theatre is running its new show Home, I’m Darling at the Ron Maslin Theatre Wednesday evening. A comedy about a successful modern woman who decides to change her lifestyle to that resembling I Love Lucy promises hilarity in its Ottawa premiere.
The NAC Orchestra is back with another classic. There are still some tickets left for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Movie in Concert. Enjoy the live music over the screening of a classic film. Tickets start at $31, and there are $15 tickets for the under-30 crowd.
Thursday
House of Targ is holding its spring market Thursday evening from 5:30-9:30pm, with various oddities, art, jewelry, and collectables for sale by over ten vendors. Entrance is free.
A Coffee Party is happening at The EveryPerson Café on Bank Street. Baked Beats is a free event from 6-9pm, with DJs spinning, party vibes flowing and fresh-baked treats and coffee to keep spirits up.
One of Ottawa’s hidden gems is the uOttawa fine arts programs and the incredible talent that regularly performs for the public, concerts, and special events. One such event is taking place at 7:30pm by uOttawa Music. ‘Impressions of a Garden Party’ is an evening with the Wind Ensemble, sharing two hours of classical music by Dubussy, Vaughan Williams, Ravel and more. Admission is free, but donations to the music program are encouraged.
Friday
Queering613 is holding Queers & Beers at Queen St Fare Friday night starting at 6pm. Killer local musician OK Naledi will be the entertainment at 8pm. The event is open to everyone 19+, and tickets are $10 in advance online.
Vanier’s newest cute café, Anina’s Café, has its monthly comedy night, featuring comedians from the Laugh Lounge in the market. Tickets are $15 in advance online.
There are still tickets for C4 Wrestling’s March Madness at the Preston Event Centre. General admission is $30 in advance for the No Point of Return smackdown.
Get in a good dose of Canadian humour at the Bronson Center when Brent Butt comes to town. There are still tickets available for the evening performance featuring Jamie Hutchinson.
If you can aca-believe it, you can sing along to some Pitch Perfect a capella lead by the film’s musical director Friday night at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre. Tickets start at $20 for students.
Saturday
If you’re up bright and early, you can catch a partial solar eclipse just before 7am!
How about giving back this weekend? Canadian Blood Services is holding a special #450Challenge event in Orleans from 9am-3pm. You can book an appointment online ahead of time or drop in. There will be food vendors, prizes, live music, and games for the whole family at Place d’Orleans.
VPop vintage is popping up at Next Door market and event space on Gladstone from 11-5pm on Saturday. The market will have various vendors with clothing, home decor, accessories and more.
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Ottawa Family Cinema on St Laurent shows Mufasa: The Lion King in 3D at 2pm. The not-for-profit cinema offers member-priced tickets starting at $7 in advance.
Every month, Wayword Improv Theatre presents Maestro at Arts Court Atelier. Twelve of Ottawa’s virtuoso improv comedians entertain for a night of games and scenes based on audience suggestions—but only one of them will make it to the end of the show and be crowned MAESTRO for the week.
Sunday
For something tasty and fabulous, check out ‘L’Eggs Get It’ Drag Brunch at Dukes in Little Italy. This is the first drag brunch at the eatery, hosted by Sunshine Glitterchild and Bae Root in two seatings. Get your tickets in advance for your table between 12:30-2pm and 3-5pm. These are 19+ brunches.
You can catch FemmeVox 8 at the GCTC starting at 8pm. The concert series features established and emerging local singer-songwriters. Artists work in pairs to write new compositions to premiere at each concert. Tickets are still available for $35.
Get out and about and do some learning with Trans History in Ottawa Walking Tours at 2pm. Tickets start at $10, and the tour is run by local drag king Fairy Cowboy Tours and the Public Queers Collective.
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