The spring vibe invites us to go out and enjoy the longer days. If you don’t know what to do this weekend yet, check out this list of events and share it with your friends. If you know about other events happening this weekend, feel free to share them in comments.
1. Vanier Sugar Festival
This 38-year-old festival is coming back after a three-year break to celebrate the Maple sugar season. Family activities, musical performances, Maple sugar season meals, inflatable games, beer tastings and more! FREE.
When: March 27 to April 2. From 9:30am to 3:30 on the weekend.
Where: Richelieu Park (300, des Pères-Blancs Ave.)
Details: museoparc.ca
2. Ottawa Mini Comiccon
A shopping experience aimed at fans looking for all kinds of collectables: games, tee-shirts, comics, toys, statues, DVDs/Blu-rays, replicas and more. FREE.
When: April 1, 11am-6pm, April 2, 11am-5pm
Where: EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive
Details on Facebook
3. Knock, knock, who’s there? It’s a Craft Market!
Over 40 vendors and local craft makers. Free workshop on site.
When: April 1 from 10:30am to 3pm.
Where: Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Avenue
Details: @squarelemon_ottawa
4. Ottawa Parent & Child Expo
Parenting exhibitors, new products, services, free mainstage entertainment, free show bag for the first 1,000 families each day. The online tickets are sold out. Tickets at the door: Family pass x 4: $30.
When: April 1, 10am-5pm; April 2, 10am-4pm.
Where: Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave.
Details: parentandchildexpo.ca
5. Sur le Rythme Tous Ensemble!
A show of multicultural dances from Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Ukraine, and Lebanon. Artisan kiosks, make-up stations. FREE.
When: April 1, from 11:30am to 3:30pm
Where: Maison du Citoyen, 25 Rue Laurier. Gatineau.
Details: gatineau.ca
6. The Travel and Vacation Show
This is the 26th edition of this big event which features over 200 exhibitors selling 60 destinations all around the world and some 40 in Canada. Tickets: $10
When: April 1-2
Where: Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive.
Details: travelandvacationshow.ca
7. Ottawa Senators Games
Vs Philadelphia Flyers. March 30, 7pm
Vs Toronto Maple Leafs. Apr 1, 7pm
At Canadian Tire Centre,1000 Palladium Drive, Kanata
8. Ukrainian Easter Bazaar
Shop Easter breads, Ukrainian food to take out, gifts and Ukrainian embroidery. April 1 from 10 am to 2pm at St John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, 952 Green Valley Crescent.
9. The Ottawa Wedding Show
Find everything you need for your special day. April 1-2 from 11am to 4pm. Tickets: $17. At the EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive.
10. The World Men`s Curling Championship 2023
Teams from Switzerland, Italy, United States, Japan, Korean, Canada, and other countries. Canada faces Switzerland on the opening day. April 1-9. At TD Place, 1015 Bank St. Details: worldcurling.org
11. Art Battle Ottawa
Come watch as artists compete in creating their masterpieces live in 3 rounds of 20 minutes. Help vote for the winner. Tickets: $23.73. March 30 from 7pm to 10pm. At Overflow Brewing Company, 2477 Kaladar Avenue, Ottawa. Details at eventbrite.
12. Spring into Easter Craft Show
Shop from 50 local vendors for a wide variety of products: candles, honey, handmade chocolates, wood works, knitted goods, jewelry, and much more. Jimmy Cochrane will perform live on stage from 12-1pm. Yummy delights and refreshments available. FREE. April 1 from 10am to 4pm. 429 Parkdale Ave. Hintonburgh.
13. Jazz Night Out
Annual live auction, cocktail reception, and benefit concert with Fred Hersch Trio. A portion of the ticket sales will support Bruce House for people living with HIV in Ottawa. Tickets $75. March 30 from 6pm to 10pm. At Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St.
14. Easter Market
Find products for you and for your pup. Dogs are welcomed. April 1 from 10am to 4pm. At St Mark’s Church, 1606 Fisher Ave. Ottawa.
15. Social Roller-Skating Ottawa Quad Session
All levels, all ages. Skate rentals. March 31 from 9pm to 10:45pm. Tickets: $9.31, $17.31. At Norm Fenn Gym Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive. Details on eventbrite.
16. Maple Weekend
It’s Maple weekend in Ontario. Visit the province’s Maple syrup producing farms, learn about the process of syrup production, enjoy tasty meals, and shop for Maple products to support this Canadian industry. Details: ontariomaple.com
17. Sugar Bush at the Log Farm
Take a wagon ride or take a stroll around the sugar bush and see how maple syrup is made. See and feed the animals around the farm. From March 4 to April 10. Tickets: $12.50 at Eventbrite.
18. Maple Fest
Enjoy the outdoors to do some snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or just walking on 4 nature trails. Fire pits, play structures, wagon rides. Visit the sugar shack to learn how maple syrup is made. From Mar 5 to April 10. At Proulx Maple & Berry Farm, 1865 O`Toole Rd. Details: info@proulxfarm.com
19. Sugar Bush at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm
Enjoy Taffy on the snow, tractor-drawn rides, and a barn full of animals. See how maple syrup is made. Tickets: $10. From March 4 to April 16 from 10am to 3pm. At 2452 York`s Corners Rd, Edwards, ON.
20. Wheelers pancake house, sugar camps and museum
Enjoy a meal, tour the Maple Heritage Museum and Forest & Farm Museum, stroll around the sugar camp, do some hiking/snowshoeing/cross country skiing on the nature trails, and buy delicious organic maple syrup. Walk-in but registration is recommended.
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 3pm
Where: 1001 Highland Line, McDonalds Corners (Lanark Highlands).
Details: wheelersmaple.com or @wheelersmaple
21. Musical Evenings at Casino Lac Leamy
Bar 7 at Casino Lac Leamy is launching its musical evenings with a multimedia screen, and live performances, from Thursdays to Saturdays. FREE.
When: Thursday March 30 (Latin Fiesta) at 8:30pm. Friday March 31 at 10:30pm, and Saturday Apr 1 at 9:30pm.
Where: 1, Boulevard du Casino, Gatineau, QC J8Y 6W3.
22. Arboretum Hill Club Snowshoeing Workout
Join the AHC for a snowshoeing workout at the Arboretum. All ages, all levels. Friday March 31 at 6:29 am. FREE. Dogs welcome. Lots of free parking. Meet them at Fletcher Wildlife Garden parking lot (entrance is 100m south of Prince of Wales roundabout).
23. Farmers’ Winter Market
The Farmers’ market is back for the winter season every Sunday until April 30. Fresh vegetables and fruit, meat, baked goods, spirits, crafts and more. FREE.
When: Sundays from 10am to 3pm.
Where: Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park. 1000 Exhibition Way.
24. Ice skating at the Rink of Dreams
Grab your skates and head to the most popular ice-skating rink in Ottawa for some winter fun! FREE. You can rent skates there! Until March 31 weather permitting.
When: Everyday from 9am to 11pm
Where: 110 Laurier Ave West.
25. Wolves: Shapeshifters in a changing world
Learn about the evolution of these fascinating animals through videos, museum specimens, cultural stories, and vivid photographs by Canadian photographer Michelle Valberg, a recent recipient of the Order of Canada. Activities for kids. March 3 to March 2024. At the Canadian Museum of Nature
26. Owl Rendez-Vous
Watch live owls in a special outdoor exhibition. At the Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St, from Dec 14 to April 3, 2024.
27. Exhibition: Uramado AR, the awakening of the Tanukis
Uramado is a treasure hunt route in augmented reality. It tells the story of Tanukis which are spirits of the forest from Japanese mythology. The participants are invited to download the free app Uramado AR, Tanukis awake ( on IOS and Android ) to start this treasure hunt. FREE.
When: Mon to Fri from 9am to 12pm; and 2pm-4pm until April 30.
Where: Alliance Française Ottawa, 352 MacLaren St.
Enjoy!!