The long weekend is coming! Yay!! What are you planning to do? Don’t miss sharing in the amazing spectacle that Mother Nature offers us. Every spot in the city and those in the surrounding areas are starting to look stunning!
Let’s have a look at what is happening this weekend in Ottawa. If you know of events that are not listed here or you’re organizing an event, feel free to share it in comments.
1. Community Multicultural Festival 2022
Thanksgiving Galore Community invites you to celebrate diversity and multiculturalism on Oct 8-9 at Mooney’s Bay Park. There will be live music, dance, games and more. Special recognition to frontline workers. From 12pm to 8pm. Address: 2960 Riverside Drive.
2. Annual Biology Butterfly Show
This annual event hosted by Carleton University has taken place since 1999. It features over 1,000 butterflies of dozens of species worldwide. This event is free of charge but donations are welcome.
The show takes place at the Greenhouse located in the Nesbitt Biology Building: 1125 Colonel By Drive. Oct 8-9 from 9am to 3pm. Check out: https://carleton.ca/biology/annual-butterfly-show/
3. Ottawa fire truck pull
This event is a contest in which teams of 10 will demonstrate they are strong enough to pull a 10-tonne fire truck. The money raised will support Epilepsy Ottawa. Where: Lansdowne Park on Oct 8 at 2pm.
4. Fall Colours Run
This event consists of a series of races including half marathon and marathon, 10K, 5K, 3K, 1K for kids, and the new 1K Wedding Dress Dash, in which the competitors must run wearing wedding dresses.
The run course is very scenic. The start and finish points are in the Cumberland Heritage Museum. Address: 2940 Old Montreal Road, Cumberland Village. Sunday Oct 9 from 8:00 am. Details: somersault.ca
5. Turkish Day
Experience the Whirling Dervish Ceremony and Turkish cuisine. Where: Ray Friel Recreation Centre, 1585 Tenth Line Road. Sunday Oct 9 from 2 to 6pm. Check out: muslimlink.ca
6. The Sawmill 2 Haunted Experience
An underground haunted experience event. Starts on October 7 and runs to Oct 31. At Lansdowne park. Tickets from 28 dollars. Not recommended for children under 12. There will be food trucks, drinks, and a spooky fall setting for the public.
Check out: sawmillhaunt.ca
7. Fall Rhapsody
A free shuttle is taking people to Gatineau Park every weekend to admire the spectacular beauty of the fall season! Until Oct 23. Check out details here: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/events/fall-rhapsody
8. Brian Adams concert
Oct 7 at 8pm. At Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Paladium Drive. Kanata.
9. Atletico Ottawa vs York United FC
Soccer game of the Canadian premier league. Sunday Oct 9 at 6pm. At TD Place.
10. Parent & Child Expo
Exhibitors, presentations and demostrations for kids. Oct 8-9, from 10am to 5pm (Sat) and 4pm (Sun). Food, drinks and coffee available at the canteen. Where: Nepean Sportsplex. 1701 Woodroffe Avenue.
Free parking. Tickets 10 dollars (adult). Family of 4 pass: 25 dollars. Details here: parentandchildexpo.ca
11. High on Music
South Indian Music Festival. Sat Oct 8 from 6:30 to 9:30pm. At Meridian Theaters, 101 Centrepoint Drive. Nepean.
12. Cumberland’s Thanksgiving Market
Last market of the season. Sat Oct 8 from 9am to 1pm. At 1115 Dunning Road, Cumberland.
More fall activities
Apple picking
During this time of the year one very popular activity is going apple picking at the orchards near or around Ottawa. This is something very cool that I experienced for the first time when I moved to Ottawa.
The idea is to go with your family or friends to an orchard and pick the apples right from the trees. Then you pay for the total weight of apples you picked. It’s so fun! These orchards usually have other attractions like corn mazes, wagon rides, and petting farms.
Some of the most well known apple orchards are:
- Log Cabin Orchard: 6121 Cabin Rd. Osgoode, ON.
- Mountain Orchards: 10175 Clark Rd. Kemptville, ON
- Cannamore Orchard: 1480 County Road 32, Embrun, ON.
Pumpkin patches and Halloween attractions
Going to pick up pumpkins is also one of those fall activities you shouldn’t miss. Moreover, there is usually some kind of Halloween-related entertainment.
You can visit:
Saunders Farm featuring its Pumpkin Days and FrightFest with lots of haunted attractions. Address: 7893 Bleeks Road, Ottawa. From 48 dollars (FrightFest) and 27 dollars (Pumpkin days).
Upper Canada Village “Pumpkinferno”. An amazing outdoor show of thousands of glowing pumpkins. Address: 13740 County Rd 2 Morrisburg ON. $20.
Enjoy!!!