August just keeps getting better, and after a few cool days to catch our breath, the heat is back on for the weekend, which is stacked with great stuff to do. Whether you’re looking for some theatre, sports, music or Capital Pride celebrations the city we love has you covered. Stay safe and stay hydrated!
All Weekend
Capital Pride continues to take over the city this weekend, and there are lots of official and unoffical festivities all over. You can find the Capital Pride Street Festival on Bank between Gladstone and Slater all day Saturday. The Drag Extravaganza on Saturday night on the main stage at Slater starts at 3:30, and the Pride Parade will run from Elgin, to Wellington, to Kent on Sunday afternoon.
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This weekend is your chance to take in Josiah, an original play about the life of Josiah Henson and his escape into Ontario from slavery in the 19th century at The Gladstone Theatre. Tickets are available online for the showings all weekend.
The Ottawa Titans are back home this weekend for three games in the sunshine. Saturday is Bark in the Park, and furry friends are invited to take in the game too! Friday night there will be fireworks after the game, and Sunday is Family Fun Day with first pitch at 1pm.
This is the final weekend for Odyssey Theatre’s production of The Girl With No Hands under the sky at Strathcona Park. This retelling of Grimm fairytales is about the power of love, dreams and hope, strengthened by fine acting, amazing masks, beautiful costumes, and some very scary looking puppets. Read our glowing review here!
If circus is more your thing, touring Paranormal Cirque’s black and red big top has taken over the St. Laurent mall parking lot until Monday. Tickets for this spooky multi disciplinary performance start at $30 for ages 17+.
The Indian Food Festival of Ottawa is hitting Clarke Park in Barrhaven from Friday to Sunday with food, music, dance, family activities, and specialty vendors.
The Capital Fair is in its second and last weekend. Find the huge fair with the live music, rides, games, corn hole tournament, agricultural tent and more at the corner of Rideau Rd. and Albion Rd.
Nostalgia Festival is taking over LeBreton Flats this weekend starting on Wednesday night. Catch amazing cover bands of your favourite nostalgic bands like Pearl Jam, STYX, the Tragically Hip, CCR, and more! Day passes start at $68 each.
Break The Beat, a brand new two-day dance camp and showcase experience, is happening Saturday and Sunday at LabO Theatre in downtown Ottawa.
Thursday
Thursday nights mean the Hintonburg Night Market at the Urban Art Collective on Somerset West from 4-9pm. Check out local vendors, poke around the Art Collective and get some fresh bevvys.
Queers and Beers: Pride Edition is happening at Overflow Brewing Thursday night with the doors opening at 6:30pm and live music kicking off at 8pm. For extra flair, there will also be face painting available!
Friday
If you’re looking for theatre, but something a bit different, head to Carp for Dief the Chief: October ’62 at the Diefenbunker. The artistic interpretation of historic events moves through the bunker, as we witness a moment of the Cuban Missile Crisis up close and personal. Tickets are $55 and includes free admission to the museum.
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Friday at 7:30pm the Otttawa RedBlacks are taking on the Edmonton Elks at TD Place. Both teams have only three wins so far this season, so this one could get either of us off the bottom of the standings.
Saturday
The Bytown Museum is offering a fundraising yoga class outdoors at the Rideau Canal locks at 9:30am. Support local heritage, and get your workout in for a $45 registration donation. Space is limited!
Head to Stittsville from 10am-3pm for their annual Cornfest with four local vendors, corn shucking contests, banjo music, and corn for eating! There is nothing better than living in Eastern Ontario during corn season.
Project WARP mentee Asli Mahdi is hosting a wellness workshop at the Grove for Black women and Black gender-diverse community members on Aug. 23, with a focus on beekeeping and creating herbal tea blends.
Club SAW’s Under the Stars Festival continues with another Saturday night in August featuring local talent in the open courtyard. Doors open at 7pm, and tickets are $15 in advance for this all night party.
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Maybe you’ve seen the mayor and all the influencers at the new outdoor party space Metcalfe Plaza? This Saturday night you can catch the Sundown Groove House Party with melodic house music starting at 5pm. Admission is free.
Atlético Ottawa is taking the pitch on Saturday against Cavalry FC for a beach themed game in the midst of our serious title race. Wear a costume inspired by your favourite beach movie to win prizes. Game starts at 7pm.
Sunday
Sundays are the perfect day for a sunny walk. The Friends of the Central Experimental Farm are offering a Tree Walk at 9:30am titled The Conifer Walk. Admission is free, and you can learn all about local trees from an expert!
Heritage Ottawa’s walking tours are a great way to learn more in depth about the city and its rich history. Sunday at 2pm they are offering Hintonburg: An Early Streetcar Suburb leaving from Saint-François-d’Assise Church on Wellington. Did you know streetcars arrived in Hintonburg in 1891? Sounds pretty efficient…
The ladies of Rapid FC take the pitch on Sunday at 2pm at TD Place against the Vancouver Rise FC. The Rapid are currently in second place in the league, so get your ticket to the show now!
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