Well, it happened. August sure did slip away into a moment in time, and September is already two weeks old and I’m still trying to get to the beach one more time. It’s one of the best months for events around town, with the weather finally cooperating, and a returned feeling of routine, and needing to make the most of the weekends. Whether it’s live music, party vibes, cozy theatre, or getting involved in the community — our city has you covered.
All Weekend
CityFolk has taken over Lansdowne Park for the classic end of summer festival all weekend. Tickets are still available for individual days, if you can’t miss Down With Webster, Melissa Ethridge, Alex Warren, Morissey, or local loves Tyler Shaw, Mia Kelly, and School House.
At the other end of the music spectrum, Riverside EDM Festival is across the river at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are still tickets available for Saturday and Sunday, so you can catch Zeds Dead, Subtronics, Don Diablo and more. Full one day passes start at $109 for Saturday.
Get your BBQ fix in the east end at Orleans Ribfest and Poutine Friday-Sunday on Centrum Blvd. You can expect over 50 different kinds of poutine, free parking and live music all weekend too.
Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging is one of the most popular annual exhibits at the Museum of Nature, and you can catch it this weekend only! This year’s theme, “Nature’s Beauty Reimagined,” invites you to see how flowers and plants can be transformed into works of art that reflect the beauty of nature in new ways. Access to the exhibit are included in your general admission ticket. The exhibit is only open Friday-Sunday this week.
Kanata Theatre will have you laughing and nervous with their current show Deathtrap a comedy-thriller about a washed up playwright who gets another chance to rise to the top, whatever the cost. The shows are at 7:30pm Wednesday-Saturday this week with a matinée on Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets start at $6 for student rush tickets, and $30 otherwise.
Looking for live music in a less festival-y setting? Ottawa Gigs has some great recommendations for this weekend at venues across town, and there is no way I could come up with a better list:
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Thursday
Wallack Galleries is hosting a group exhibition by the Studio Space Ottawa artists (SSO), with a vernissage on Thursday from 5:30-9pm. This collaborative exhibition will run until Sept. 21.
Friday
Capital Pop-Up Cinema is still bringing the screens to us, and this Friday you can catch 90s classic shenanigans in Encino Man on Sparks St. The movie starts at 7:30pm, so grab your blanket, chair and friends and get there early for a good seat and some of that perfect popcorn. As always, the showing is completely free, and chairs are available to rent.
Belt it out with the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective at Beyond The Pale at City Centre Friday night. The free event kicks off at 8pm, but these things fill up fast, so be sure to get there early for a bite and a pint before the shanty-ing starts.
Saturday
Hankering for a cozy classic movie afternoon? As you wish! Ottawa Family Cinema is screening The Princess Bride at 2pm on Saturday for all ages! This screening is free for members, or $7 in advance for non-members. If you haven’t looked into this non-profit theatre on St Laurent yet, this is your sign to do so.
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Learn more about what the NCC has going on around town with Open NCC from 10am-3pm on Saturday. Go behind the scenes at Westboro Beach, Rideau Hall, the new Dow’s Lake recreational dock and more as NCC staff offer guided tours, presentations and entertainment. Some events require pre-registration, so check out the list before you head out.
Head to Manotick to take in Taste of Manotick on Manotick Main Street from 2-6pm Saturday. The annual street festival celebrates Manotick small businesses and cuisine with vendors, entertainment, a dog show, and more food that you can handle in one afternoon. The event is free to attend.
It’s Stittsville’s sweetest day of the year, the 4th Annual Butter Tart Festival taking place at The Market at the Barn on Abbott St East. The event is promising butter tarts for all dietary needs, games for the kids, ice cream, artisans, hot food vendors and did we mention butter tarts? The party starts at 10am.
Our friends at the Urban Art Collective are popping up and off at the Bank & MacLaren Uncommon Space Saturday from 2-7pm with an Art Market and Community art Jam. You can get yourself an original piece by a local artist, or get creative yourself with their free art supplies and spinning DJ. The event is free for all.
You can get into tango lessons at Metcalfe Plaza on Saturday afternoon beginning at 1:30pm for free! Siempre Tango Ottawa will be on hand to teach beginners of all levels at the new open air venue at Metcalfe and Gloucester.
The same but different, as part of Open NCC, Saturday night there will be a nighttime bike ride along Queen Elizabeth and Colonel By beginning at Confederation Park. Inspired by Tour la Nuit in Montréal, the free BikeNight event takes a 6.6km loop for all ages from 6-10pm, with pop ups and food in the park. You do need to bring your own bicycle, and wear a helmet and reflective gear. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Torta Boyz are back with their annual block party, and this one is going to be a doozy of a bash. The vibes this year are less “food festival”, and more “loud dance party with killer food.”After a series of setbacks, the party has moved from Chinatown to The 27 Club Saturday night from 10-2am. A $20 ticket gets you 2 tacos and the same amazing live music including acts from Ottawa, Montréal and Australia like Memetic, Sonido Pesado, Boogat (who I cannot personally recommend enough). The event is 19+, and the Boyz are promising to bring it back to the neighbourhood next year!
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Tooth and Nail is turning 10! The Hintonburg legend will be celebrating with a special event Saturday starting at 1pm! You’ll be treated to special and limited edition beers, great music and fresh eats until close!
DiscoLab: September [BOOGIE SKOOL] is going down at Beyond the Pale at City Centre on Saturday night. DiscoLab is 100 per cent vinyl, playing hits from 1975-1983 and “Funky Disco Boogie Soul” from 10pm-2am. Get into your best funky disco outfit to party all night. Tickets start at $17 online.
If you’re looking for some small town charm, head to Perth for their fall Night Market happening downtown from 5-10pm. There will be outdoor activities, entertainment, street vendors, and stores will be staying open late for the fun as well. Wander the historic downtown and support some great local businesses and artists!
Sunday
Pravāha: The Accidental Goddess, will take place on Sunday, at 4:30pm at the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Presented by the Kalagriha School of Performing Arts, Pravāha (Sanskrit for “continuous flow”) celebrates the timeless stream of South Asian dance, culture, and tradition. Tickets found here.
To keep the folk fest vibes going, head to Art House Café on Sunday for Indie/Folk Night with Long Call and Daisy Van der Wee. According to their bio, Long Call is “an indie sibling duo made up of a queer ex-therapist and a relatively tall ex-farmer”. So the vibes are already on point. Tickets are $10 in advance and the show kicks off at 6pm.
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