The fall season in Ottawa is full of fun activities to share with family and friends: fall markets, haunted tours, pumpkin patches to visit, scary entertainment, etc. It’s a busy season. Check out these events and start planning your Thanksgiving weekend!
1. Fall Rhapsody. 2nd weekend
Enjoy the amazing fall colours throughout the national capital region: Ottawa, Gatineau Park, and the Greenbelt trails. Take the NCC free shuttle to visit the most popular Gatineau Park spots such as Pink Lake, Mackenzie King Estate, Champlain Lookout and others. Hop on, hop off as you wish every weekend between 9am and 4pm. FREE.
When: Sept 30-Oct 22.
Where: Ottawa and Gatineau Park.
Details:https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/free-ncc-shuttle-during-fall-rhapsody
2. Watson’s Mill Harvest Festival
Enjoy a fun day for the whole family: tours, scavenger hunt, games, crafts, all-day horse & wagon rides. $2 per person.
When: Sunday Oct 8 from 11am to 2pm
Where: Watson’s Mill and Dickinson House, 5525 Dickinson, 1127 Mill St, Manotick.
Details: watsonsmill.com
3. One World Bazaar
Shop from artisans from around the world. From exquisite jewelry to beautiful woven textiles, these unique creations showcase the creativity and skill of amazing artisans. FREE.
When: Sept 28-30 and subsequent weekends until Nov 19.
Where: 6110 Mitch Owens Road, Manotick.
Details: oneworldbazaar.ca
4. Carrot Fest
Participate in the harvest of thousands of pounds of carrots while having fun. There will be carrot picking, live music, food, u-pick pumpkins, a mobile bookstore, and all the organic goodness produced by Ottawa Farm Fresh. FREE admission.
When: Saturday Oct 7 from 9am to 3pm (carrot harvesting), other activities until 5pm.
Where: 2811 Ramsayville Road, Gloucester.
Details: ottawafarmfresh.com
5. Capital Pop Up Cinema
Enjoy a classic horror double feature event under the stars. Movie: “Dracula”, preceded by the short film “The haunted house” with live musical accompaniment by cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne. FREE.
When: Friday Oct 6 at 7pm.
Where: Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Ave.
Details: @capitalpopupcinema
6. Senators vs Montreal Canadiens
Cheer on the Senators in this preseason game against Montreal Canadiens. Tickets from $35 tax incl.
When: Saturday Oct 7 at 7pm
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Drive.
7. Latin America Heritage Celebration
Celebrate Latin American Heritage Month with an amazing show led by Cuban pianist and composer Miguel de Armas, along with the Ottawa Latin Jazz Orchestra and great singers such as Claudia Salguero, Cristina Sayén, Samantha Christ Francois, and Eneida Sosa. This event honors the Latin American heritage, culture, achievements, and contributions of this community in the national capital region. Tickets: $25.
When: Saturday Oct 7 at 8:30pm
Where: Fourth Stage, National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St.
Details and tickets: https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/35097
8. Ottawa 67`s vs Sudbury Wolves
Cheer on Ottawa’s junior hockey team against Sudbury Wolves. Tickets from $25 tax incl.+
When: Saturday Oct 7 at 3pm
Where: TD Place, 1015 Bank St.
9. Ottawa On Tap Beerfest
Discover new flavours, learn about different brewing techniques, and mingle with your friends, neighbours, family, and other beer enthusiasts on Thanksgiving weekend! Come to Hintonburg Park and enjoy the best beers in town from 10 amazing local breweries. There will be games and entertainment. This event is a fundraiser for Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa. Tickets: $16, $20. Your ticket includes a 14oz beer (or two 6oz samples). Saturday October 7 from 1pm to 6pm at Hintonburg Park, 49 Fairmont Avenue.
Buy your tickets here: http://ontapbeerfest.ca/
10. Inside Out Ottawa Film Festival
Since 2007, Inside Out has produced a four-day festival in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. With the support of Lead Sponsor RBC Royal Bank, the Ottawa Festival showcases the best queer cinema from Canada and around the world. PAID. Oct 6-8. Ottawa Art Gallery, 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa, ON.
11. Ottawa Korean Film Festival
As a testament to the depth of Korean cinema, the OKFF will showcase a broad range of 15 Korean films of various genres, including drama, comedy, animation, and documentary, ranging from the latest films to classics, both online and in-person. FREE. Oct 6 – 8. Korean Cultural Centre Canada, 150 Elgin St #101, Ottawa, ON, Ottawa Art Gallery,50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa, ON, Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St, Ottawa, ON, ByTowne Cinema, 325 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON.
12. Flymarket
Curated vintage event featuring over 25 vendors with a huge variety of the best vintage, designer, retro goods. Music by Sacha Foster. FREE. Saturday Oct 7 from 11am to 5pm at 581 Bank St.
13. Dogs do Magic
Bark by popular demand, it’s “Dogs do Magic”, an unforgettable evening of magic, comedy, & canine hijinks featuring some of Canada’s top variety entertainers! These mindreading, acrobatic dogs will steal the show, your heart, & any unattended treats in the venue! PAID. Oct 6, 7pm – 10pm. Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd, Orléans, ON.
14. The Pillowman
Between the dark reality of a totalitarian dictatorship and the fantasy of fairy tales, the play tells the story of a writer who is interrogated about the macabre content of his stories and a series of crimes in his town. Martin McDonagh’s “The Pillowman” tells a story that plays with the fine line between dark humor and tragedy, while examining the meaning of fear, justice, intolerance, art and innocence. *Not recommendable for people under 16 years-old or sensitive people. PAID. Oct 4-7; 7pm to 10pm. Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave.
15. Music Fest Select
Come on out, have a fresh bagel sandwich and support Ottawa’s finest musical talent! FREE. Oct 1, 2:30pm. 1321 Wellington St West, Ottawa, ON.
16. Cabaret Musical
Ovation Productions proudly presents the provocative, Tony Award winning musical, Cabaret – Set in the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy nightclub in Berlin, Germany at the end of the 1920s. PAID. Sept 28 – Oct 8. Les Lye Studio Theatre, 101 Centrepointe Dr, Nepean.
17. Ottawa Flower Market
The market brings together local growers and the community, in the vibrant neighbourhood of Hintonburgh. Browse the colourful, fragrant, ever changing seasonal selection of flower packed stalls, and come get to know your local growers and what they offer. Oct 7, 9am – 1pm. Parkdale Market, 366 Parkdale Ave, Ottawa, ON.
18. The Best of Broadway
Jack Everly and the NAC Orchestra bring up the lights on Broadway’s best music—all the “hot-cha” and jazz-hands hits you love from the greatest Broadway musicals ever to spring from the stage. Don’t miss this chance to give your regards to Broadway! PAID. Oct 5, 8pm – Oct 7, 10pm. National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON.
19. Book signing: Bill Welychka
Since first stepping in front of MuchMusic’s national cameras in 1992, Bill Welychka has become one of Canada’s most recognizable television personalities. Bill Welychka published and features the foreword written by The Tragically Hip’s Paul Langlois with partial proceeds from the book being donated to The White Ribbon Campaign and various women’s shelters across Canada. FREE. Oct 7. Chapters Indigo, 2401 City Park Drive, Gloucester.
20. ArohaFest Navaratri Edition
ArohaFest Navaratri Edition is the only fully bilingual festival showcasing the arts and culture of India in Canada while highlighting the rich tradition of Navaratri, a celebration of feminine power and energy. This festival will bring to NAC public spaces a variety of pop-up performances and workshops which will showcase the classical, folk, and popular (Bollywood) dances as well as the semi-classical music of India. FREE. Oct 9 – 13, 6pm. Peter A. Herrndorf Place, 1 Elgin Street Ottawa.
Want to know more? Find out about Halloween events, kids activities and events in Gatineau and near Ottawa. Subscribe today to get access to Premium Content! Just 5,50 CAD a month! Bonus: you’ll get automatic participation in special giveaways!
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
If you prefer you can subscribe to the Premium Newsletter to receive this awesome list of events directly to your inbox for just 5.50 CAD a month!