Two months ago, I started to post regularly on my Instagram account about the numerous events held in Ottawa in the summer. These weekly posts have been welcomed by my Instagram followers, so I decided to start doing the same thing on my website.
If you are a newcomer in Ottawa or a long-time resident, these posts may be useful for planning ahead for your weekends. If you’re not a resident and you’re reading this blog from abroad but you’re planning to move to Ottawa, you can start having an idea of the cool things you’ll find here!
July passed very quickly. It was an awesome month with many great events that I had the pleasure to enjoy like the Italian Week, the Dragon Boat Fest, the Bluesfest, the Lebanese Festival, the Asian Fest, and the Chinatown Night Market, to name just a few.
It felt awesome to have these festivals back in Ottawa after two years of the pandemic lockdown. The festivals have been received with great enthusiasm. I know that many immigrants who came to Ottawa in the middle of the Covid pandemic were really surprised to see such vibrant activity in the city this summer.
They saw that Ottawa (in Covid times) was a comatose city, so they thought that it was true what they had heard before, that Ottawa was indeed boring. But no, my friends, summers in Ottawa (in normal times) are amazing, and we still have a couple of months of great activities and entertainment.
So, for the first weekend of August I have compiled this list of events in Ottawa and Gatineau, and I hope you can make plans to go have some fun!
Let’s have a look!
1. Grands Feux du Casino Lac Leamy.
This one is a very well-known summer event in Ottawa that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It’s an international competition of fireworks! It takes place on the grounds of the Canadian Museum of History, where people can watch the fireworks launched from a boat on the Ottawa river.
There is also food and entertainment on the site. The grand opening is on Wednesday 3rd at 6pm. Saturday 6th France presents its pyro musical show at 9pm. This event is paid, but the show is also visible from the Ottawa shore like the lookout next to Parliament Hill or the grounds of the Supreme Court.
Check out: feux.qc.ca
2. Greek Festival
This is another popular festival in the summer. You’ll find amazing Greek food and a variety of shows like concerts and dancing. Where: 1315 Prince of Wales Dr. August 5-7 between 4:30pm and 10pm. FREE. Details here: ottawagreekfest.com
3. Navan Fair.
This one is a very big country fair in the Ottawa area! It was born as an agricultural fair in the 1940s. There will be an Alpaca show, horse show, cattle show, exhibition of antique tractors, fair rides, concerts, and much more. PAID. Aug 4-7. Thu 4pm-12m; Fri and Sat 8am-12pm; Sun 8am-5pm. Where: Village of Navan. (East of Ottawa) Details here: navanfair.com
4. Cinema Pop Up Summer Series
Enjoy watching a free outdoor movie! Thursday 4th at Byward Market Movie: Robin Hood Men in Tights. 8pm. Friday 5th at Beechwood Cemetery. Movie: Back to the Future III. 8pm. FREE. Check out: capitalpopupcinema.com
5. Vegans Who Snack Food Festival
This event features small businesses in the vegan sector. FREE. Friday 5, from 4pm to 9pm at Parkdale Market, 466 Parkdale Ave.
6. Auto Show Gatineau
An exhibition for old and new car enthusiasts, showing cars from Mustangs to Corvettes. Parc des Cedres, Sunday 7, 10am-5pm. FREE. Details: autoshowgatineau.com
7. Mexican Traditional Dance Show in Gatineau with the Ballet Aztlan Mexico.
August 4 at 7:30 pm. FREE. Where: Parc de l’Imaginaire. 9(A) Rue Front, Secteur Aylmer, Gatineau. Check out: www.balletaztlan.com/ and www.facebook.com/BalletAztlan/
Enjoy!!