Fall is here!! The first weekend of fall brings us tons of events for all tastes in Ottawa! Music events, sport events, markets, races, fairs, food festivals and much more! Celebrate the arrival of the sweater weather! Check out this list and share it with your friends!
1. Carp Fair
A full weekend of family fun. Great music, great shows and a midway. World-class horse shows, magic shows, puppets, a petting zoo and more!
When: Sept 21-24
Where: Carp Fair grounds, 3790 Carp Road.
Details: carpfair.ca
2. Taste of Wellington West
Enjoy this food festival in the Hintonburg neighborhood. Featuring dozens of food and item vendors local to Hintonburg and Wellington Village. Shop deals, enjoy live entertainment, and games, and try samples for $2.50! FREE admission.
When: Saturday Sept 23 from 11am to 4pm.
Where: Hintonburg Park
Details: wellingtonwest.ca
3. Ottawa Senators vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Cheer on the Senators as they clash with Toronto Maple Leafs in this preseason game of the NHL.
When: Sunday Sept 24 at 2pm.
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Drive, Kanata
4. Wiggle Waggle Walk & Run
This is the largest fundraising event of the year for the Ottawa Humane Society, a charity that provides a safe haven for sick, injured and homeless animals in Ottawa. There are races with 5K and 10K distances, a 3K walk, a 2K Furry Fun Run and a 1K Kids Fun Run. Registration fees: $25, $60.
When: Sunday Sept 24 from 9am.
Where: The Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park.
Details: runottawa.ca
5. Cranium Festival
This festival of Hip Hop, R&B, Soul, Dancehall and EDM music, aims at nurturing the music industry and community in Ottawa, prioritizing connections with BIPOC artists. Tickets: $12, $50. There will be some free concerts including the opening concert on Tuesday Sept 19 at Rainbow Bistro, 76 Murray St.
When: Sept 19-23
Where: Various venues
Details: craniumfestival.com
6. Atletico Ottawa vs Valour FC
Cheer on Ottawa’s soccer team against Valour FC in this game of the Canadian Premier League.
When: Sunday Sept 24 at 2pm.
Where: TD Place, 1015 Bank St.
7. 613 Flea
Come to the first market of the fall season and shop from over 140 vendors. FREE.
When: Saturday Sept 23 from 10am to 4pm
Where: Lansdowne Park, 1015 Bank St
Details: 613flea.ca
8. Taste of Manotick
Celebrate the bounty of the season. Local businesses will line Manotick Main Street to showcase their products and services. There will be live music and entertainment for all ages. FREE.
When: Saturday Sept 23 from 2pm to 8pm.
Where: Manotick Main St.
Details: manotickvillage.com
9. Open NCC
Join this behind-the-scenes peek into the day-to-day activities and projects
happening in the National Capital Region. There will be walking and cycling tours,
kiosks and NCC expert presentations at +10 sites across the region. You’ll learn about
architecture, landscape design, archaeology, sustainable farming and more! FREE. Registration is required for some sites. Sept 23, 10am – 3pm. Details: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/events/open-ncc
10. RBC Race for the Kids
There are a 2K Family walk/run and a 5K and 10K cross-country run-in support of CHEO’s work to improve access to mental health resources when and where they are needed. Sunday Sept 24 from 8am to 11am on the grounds of Wesley Clover Parks, 401 Corkstown Road. Participants can park for free.
11. Ottawa International Animation Festival
The OIAF is one of the world’s leading animation events providing screenings, workshops, and entertainment in a vibrant hub, attracting artists, producers, students, and animation fans from around the world. Sept 20-24 at various venues such as Bytowne Cinema, Arts Court, Club Saw, Strathcona Park and others.
12. Ottawa Redblacks vs Saskatchewan Roughriders
Cheer on Ottawa’s football team vs Saskatchewan Roughriders. Friday Sept 22 at 7pm at TD Place, 1015 Bank St.
13. Amazon Future Engineer Day
Enjoy a day of entertainment at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, which offers special programming on topics including robots and artificial intelligence. FREE.
Sept 23, 9am – 5pm. Canada Science and Technology Museum, 1867 St Laurent Blvd,
Ottawa, Ontario.
14. Ottawa Cat Show
The Ottawa Cat Show will highlight spectacular and beautiful purebred and household pet
cats. Visitors can expect to see an exciting variety of cat breeds ranging from Siamese,
Bengal, Ragdoll, and Maine Coon as well as some household pets. PAID. Sept 23 – 24,
9am – 4:30pm. Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue Ottawa, ON.
15. Arab Business Festival
Discover exclusive offerings, diverse collections, incredible deals, and generous discounts. Enjoy children’s games and enter draws for valuable prizes and surprises. Experience captivating artistic presentations representing Palestinian, Lebanese,
Egyptian, Jordanian, Moroccan, and Syrian cultures. FREE. Sept 23, 11am – 8pm. Collège La Cité, 801 Aviation Pkwy, Ottawa, ON.
16. The Real Bread Festival
Join us at the first ever Real Bread Festival for a day filled with delicious bread and good times! Discover a wide variety of breads from local bakers, each with their own unique flavours and techniques. PAID. Sept 23, 10am – 4pm. Almanac Urban Mill &
Bakery, 5510 Canotek Rd Unit 9, Gloucester, ON.
17. FrightFest
Frightfest at Saunders Farm is Canada’s #1 Haunted Attraction with multiple haunts, street theater, delicious food, Saunders Cider, and homemade confections; it is sure to thrill! PAID. Sept 23, 6pm – 11pm. Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Rd A, Ottawa.
18. Volunteer Expo
An in-person event where you can speak with representatives from over 30 local charities and not-for-profits to find opportunities to volunteer for a good cause, meet great people and learn something new. FREE. Sept 22, 2pm – 5pm. Rideau Community
Hub, 815 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa.
19. Bonsai Expo
Join us for the annual Bonsai Expo organized by Ottawa Bonsai Society at the Embassy of Japan! Come see bonsai trees, learn more about the art of bonsai and attend live bonsai demonstrations on both days at 1pm! FREE. Sept 23, 10am – 4pm, Sept 24, 10am – 3pm. Embassy of Japan, 255 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.
20. Kanata Dance and Music Festival
Kanata is about to burst with energy, music, dance, and flavors from around the globe at the Kanata Multicultural Dance, Music and Food Festival. Come and celebrate all of our community’s cultures on the day of the event! FREE. Sept 24, 11am – 8pm. Walter
Baker Park, 100 Charlie Rogers Pl, Stittsville.
21. Moo’seum of Modern Milk
MilkUP’s widely successful post-to-pay pop-up is back in a new way: Moo’seum of Modern Milk is an immersive world built by local artists and makers; an exploration of the cultural icon that is dairy; a celebration of the ways dairy has shaped food, culture, and art. FREE. Sept 23, 10am – 2pm, Sept 24, 12pm – 5pm. Alpha Omega Art Gallery, 101 Murray St., Ottawa.
22. Ganesh Mahotsav 2023
Ganesh Mahotsav is one of the most celebrated festivals in India. It was celebrated for the first time in Canada in 2019 with a 14 feet high idol specially imported and installed at the EY Centre in Ottawa. This time there will be a 5-day celebration with another 15 feet high Ganesha idol. Sept 20-24 at Mosaic Convention Centre, 3750 N Bowesville Rd.
23. Fall in Love market
Come for a delightful day of seasonal shopping, delectable treats, and heartwarming vibes. 45+ local small business owners including: a photo booth, play zone and musical entertainment. General admission FREE. VIP Early Access tickets – $45
Early Access tickets – $5. Sunday Sept 24 from 11am to 3pm at Horticulture Building, Lansdowne Park, 1525 Princess Patricia Way. Details: @babymamahustle on Instagram.
24. Turning the Page on Cancer
Fundraiser event that includes story time for kids, face painting, and all kinds of amazing food and book-themed merch available for purchase. Event itself is FREE to join. Sunday, Sept 24 from 10am to 2pm. At 134 Lake Avenue East, Carleton Place.
Details: @turningthepageoncancer on Instagram.
25. Brainy Active Walk for Dementia
A family-friendly 1km walk followed by live music and snacks, walkers are also encouraged to check out our available resources and programs for those living with dementia and their caregivers. Sunday, Sept 24 from 10am to 1pm at The Dementia Society Centre – 500-2327 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa.
26. The Human Library
At this event, the “books” are residents dedicated to making Ottawa’s communities healthy, safe and inclusive. You can take a “book” out for 20 minutes to learn about their story. Wednesday Sept 27 from 11am to 3pm at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library at 120 Metcalfe Street.
27. Architecture Week
Youth Design Workshop: Sept 23 at Minto Recreation Centre, Barrhaven. Session 1: 10am; session 2: 2pm. Details: OAWfest . com
Upcoming events
28. Whisky Ottawa Festival
A whisky tasting is not just about drinking whisky. It is more like an all around experience of exploring the overall complexities of the spirit and where it leads you. Join Whisky Ottawa for its 9th edition of captivating the public in the national capital region with the best whiskies produced in Canada, alongside participating distilleries from the United States, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Join Masterclasses series with renowned experts.
When: Saturday Sept 30. VIP entry at 6pm. General Admission: 7-10pm. Location: Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive.
Buy your tickets here: https://www.whiskyottawa.ca/event_wott/purchase
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