Christmas is just around the corner! Looking for ideas of what to do? Here is your lineup of events and things to do in Ottawa this weekend! Share this post with all your friends!
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10 events you won’t want to miss this weekend in Ottawa
1.Ottawa Christmas Market
Take in the holiday lights, decorations, food and drinks, live music, and workshops. 50+ vendors. Fun for all ages! FREE. When: Nov 22-Jan 5. Everyday as of Dec 26. Where: 425 Marché Way, Lansdowne. Details: IG @ottawa.xmas.market
2. Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
Experience the magic of the season with free horse-drawn wagon rides by Cundle Stables. FREE. When: Sunday Dec 22, 2pm-4pm. Where: Pick up at the corner of William St with York St in front of Giulia restaurant.
3. Winter Lights Across Canada
Thousands of lights brighten downtown Ottawa offering a whimsical and beautiful ambiance. Take a stroll around the National War Memorial, Confederation Park, Rideau Canal Park, Supreme Court of Canada and other sites. FREE. When: Dec 5 to Jan 7. Where: Downtown Ottawa. Details: https://www.canada.
4. Art Battle Ottawa: Holiday Allstars
Art Battle is a tournament of live painting in Ottawa & around the world. The audiences choose the winners. Tickets: $25.50. When: Thursday Dec 19, 7pm-10pm. Where: Overflow Brewing Co, 2477 Kaladar Ave. Details: IG @artbattleottawa
5. Road to the World Juniors
From Dec 19 to 23, seven cities of Eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, will host the world’s best junior hockey players in pre-tournament games to gear up for the main event in 2025. When: Thursday Dec 19 at 7pm. Where: TD Place, 1015 Bank St. 
6. Dancer’s DJ Skate Night
Enjoy a night of skating and the beats of Marquez The DJ at Lansdowne skating rink. All ages. FREE. When: Saturday Dec 21, 6pm-9pm. Where: Lansdowne skating rink. Details: https://www.
7. Hintonburg Holiday Shopping Nights
Have a fun night out shopping for gifts, holiday decor, pre-order food for your holiday gathering, and stay for dinner and holiday cheer. Participating shops and restaurants will have featured gift items, sales, demos, discounts, special menu items, gift cards, and more. FREE. When: Thursday Dec 19, 4pm-7pm. Where: Hintonburg
8. Cocktails and Crafts at Santa’s Workshop
Come with your friends to enjoy this workshop in a heated private cabin. The ticket includes cocktail, craft supplies, instructor and service staff. Ticket: $82.36. When: Dec 20-22, 8pm-10pm. Where: Ottawa Christmas Market, Lansdowne Park. Details: https://www.
9. Handel’s Messiah with the NAC Orchestra
A holiday classic, Handel’s Messiah is a highlight for many during the festive season, and this year, it is conducted by a returning member of the NAC Orchestra family: Trevor Pinnock, harpsichordist and principal NAC Orchestra conductor from 1991–1996. The performance also includes two favourite Ottawa vocal ensembles: the Cantata Singers of Ottawa and the Capital Chamber Choir. When: Dec 18-19, 7pm. Where: Southam Hall, NAC, 1 Elgin St.
10. Flights with Santa
Our favourite sleigh pilot is returning to Ottawa! This year Santa will be trading in the reindeer for our vintage Cessna 172, and can’t wait to bring all the children for an adventure over the city! Tickets: $48, $58. When: Dec 14-31. Where: Rockcliffe Airport, Ottawa Aviation Museum. Details: https://www.
More things to do in Ottawa this weekend
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
11. The Awakening
Experience The Awakening, an evocative one-woman cabaret and two-hander play that delves into themes of memory, self-discovery, and resilience. Don’t miss this spellbinding theatrical piece that takes the audience on an intimate and transformative journey, blending dialogue and song to explore the profound themes of memory, self-discovery, resilience, and the eternal quest for identity. Tickets from $14. When: Dec 18–21. Where: The Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa.
12. Christmas in the Valley
Wayne Rostad returns to the concert stage in this annual tradition, Christmas in the Valley. Bringing along his fiddler friends Kellie Trottier and Brad Scott, it’s bound to be a holiday music show, Valley style. Tickets $75. When: Thursday Dec 19, at 7pm. Where: Meridian Theatre (Centrepointe), 101 Centrepointe Dr, Ottawa Details: https://meridiancentrepointe.
13. A Tyler Shaw Christmas
Multi-platinum selling Canadian artist Tyler Shaw pays a visit to the Algonquin Commons Theatre to help make your season bright. With a mix of holiday favourites and originals, spend an evening singing along with Canada’s Prince of Christmas. Tickets from $32.50. When: Thursday Dec 19, at 7:30pm. Where: Algonquin Commons Theatre, 1385 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa. Details: https://www.algonquinsa.com/
14. O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy
Join James & Jamesy for a heartwarming holiday adventure filled with whimsical humor and festive mishaps as a Christmas tea party spirals hilariously out of control. Tickets: $39–$74. When: Dec 21–23, with multiple showtimes Where: Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa
15. FLOP: An improvised musical Fiasco
Experience a spontaneous musical comedy where world-class performers create a brand-new show each night, filled with humour and unexpected twists. Tickets: $41–$57. When: Dec 10–22, various showtimes. Where: Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre, 1233 Wellington St. W, Ottawa
16. On the Farce Day of Christmas
Enjoy a festive comedy by Emmy Award-winning writer Ken Levine, where Wendy persuades her ex-husband to pose as her spouse during Christmas to conceal their divorce from her mother, leading to a series of hilarious mishaps. Tickets: $20–$35, 12+ When: December 4–21, various showtimes. Where: Ottawa Little Theatre, 400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa
17. Sea Shanties, Carols & Empty Beer Barrels
Set sail mateys as the Ottawa Sea Shanty Collective charts a course for holiday cheer. In support of the Dalhousie Food Cupboard, it’s an evening of raffles, drinks, good friends, and of course, plenty of shanties for the season, Tickets Pay-what-you-wish ($25 suggested). When: Friday Dec 20, at 8pm. Where: Brigid’s Well Pub, 310 St Patrick St, Ottawa. Details: https://www.
18. It’s Christmas and I’m In Love
Celebrate the holiday season with Ottawa-based crooner Antoine L Collins in It’s Christmas and I’m In Love. This much-anticipated concert at the NAC’s Fourth Stage features Antoine’s soulful voice, blending original songs with timeless holiday classics from his latest album. Accompanied by a full live band and creative arrangements, this performance promises to fill your evening with joy, romance, and festive spirit. Tickets $40. When: Friday, Dec 20, 6pm and 8:30pm. Where: Fourth Stage, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa
19. Christmas Carol: Solo Performance by Pierre Brault
Experience Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol like never before in this solo performance by award-winning actor Pierre Brault. Featuring all the beloved characters, Brault brings this timeless story to life through Dickens own text. Tickets: $21. When: Dec 20, 8pm Dec 21, 3pm and 7pm. Where: Les Lye Studio Theatre
20. Thomas Tree Farm
There’s still time to get that perfect tree for Christmas at the Thomas Tree Farm. A wide variety of pre-cut and cut your own options, mixed in with wagon rides, fresh baked cookies and hot chocolate, plus at night, the trees are lit up for you to enjoy. FREE. When: Thursday Dec 19-Sunday Dec 22, 9am-8:30pm. Where: Thomas Tree Farm, 6421 Mccordick Rd, North Gower. Details: https://thomastreefarm.ca/
Saturday
21. Outdoor Winter Fun at Countryside Adventure
Make the most of your holiday break and explore the outdoors at Countryside Adventures in Moose Creek. Whether skating through their 3km forest trail, trying your feet at snowshoeing, racing down the slopes on their tubing hill or munching on a Moose ear, it’s a Winter Wonderland for the Winter people. Tickets from $8. When: Saturday Dec 21-onwards, 10am-10pm. Where: Countryside Adventures, 16495 Sixth Rd, Moose Creek Details: https://countrysideadventures.
22. Christmas with Music and Beyond
Celebrate the season with Christmas with Music and Beyond, an annual holiday concert that brings a medley of cherished Christmas classics to life. Let the festive melodies fill your heart with joy and get you into the holiday spirit in this unforgettable evening. Tickets: Starting at $20 When: Saturday, Dec 21, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM Where: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, Ottawa
23. Christmas Gems with Seventeen Voyces
Join Ottawa’s acclaimed chamber choir, Seventeen Voyces, for an enchanting Christmas- themed concert. Enjoy a delightful mix of early music and festive favorites that are sure to inspire the holiday spirit. Tickets from $20. Saturday, Dec 21, 7:30pm St. Matthew Anglican Church, 130 Glebe Avenue, Ottawa. Sunday, Dec 22, 7:30pm at St. Bartholomew Anglican Church, 125 MacKay Street, Ottawa
24. Noël – A Christmas Carol Concert with The Stairwell Carollers
Celebrate the holiday season with The Stairwell Carollers in a festive concert featuring traditional carols such as Deck the Halls, The Holly and the Ivy, and O Christmas Tree, alongside fresh holiday favorites. This captivating blend of timeless classics and modern melodies, performed a cappella, will fill your heart with joy and holiday cheer. Wednesday, Dec 11, 7:30pm. St. Columba Church, 24 Sandridge Road. Saturday, Dec 21, 2pm Saint François d;Assise Church, 20 Fairmont Avenue, Ottawa
Sunday
25. Ottawa Mystic Market -Yule Market
Dive into the realm of the spiritual and fantastical at the Ottawa Mystic Market – Yule edition. Satisfy all your witchy, warlock and fairy needs with over 20+ alternative vendors specializing in the curious. FREE. When: Saturday Dec 21-Sunday Dec 22, 11am-5pm. Where: 955A Gladstone Ave, Ottawa. Details: https://allevents.in/ottawa/
26. Christmas Singalong
Let the spirit of the season lift you away in music as the Cantata Singers of Ottawa (CSO) perform their annual Christmas sing-along. With Andrew Ager at the organ, it’s a concert of holiday favourites for all ages. Tickets $20, kids 12 and under FREE. When: Sunday Dec 22, at 2pm. Where: Rideau Park United Church, 2203 Alta Vista Dr, Ottawa. Details: http://cantatasingersottawa.
27. Carnegie Cup Blind hockey Series
Experience the excitement of blind hockey as top athletes compete in the 2024 Carnegie Cup showcasing the power of inclusion, held in conjunction with the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. FREE. When: Friday, Dec 20, 3:30pm–6pm; Saturday, Dec 21, 11:15am– 1:15pm. Sunday, Dec 22, 9am–11am. Where: TD Place, 1015 Bank Street, Ottawa
Other recurring events in Ottawa
28. Butterflies in Flight
Back by popular demand! Enjoy a delightful exhibition of live tropical butterflies including the impressive large blue morpho. Tickets: $6 in addition to the cost of general museum admission. Until Dec 16, get a 10% discount reserving online. When; Dec 6, 2024-Jan 6, 2026. Where: Canadian Museum of Nature. Details: nature.ca
29. Holidays High Tea
Celebrate the festive season with a traditional high tea experience at Fairmont Château Laurier with a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and an array of delectable pastries, all accompanied by a variety of premium teas. Tickets: $42-$85. When: Nov 25-Jan 5, daily 11am-3:30pm. Where: Zoe’s at Fairmont Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau Street, Ottawa.
30. Stanley’s Holiday Stroll
Stroll through both the wonders of nature and the holidays at Stanley’s Olde Maple Farm Holiday Stroll. Walk through the nearly 2km of trails decorated especially for the festive season but be sure to warm yourself by the fires along the way. Tickets from $10. When: Dec 12-14, 19-22 and 27-28, from 6pm–9pm. Where: Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, 2452 Yorks Corners Rd, Edwards. Details: https://stanleysfarm.com/holiday-stroll-2/
31. Festival of Lights Illuminated Walk at the Chutes
Enjoy a magical evening stroll at The Chutes, illuminated by thousands of lights creating a festive atmosphere. Join Jacques as he travels far away to start cutting trees and preparing the log drive in the spring, then takes an incredible journey to fulfill his promise to be home for Christmas. Great for all ages, great opportunity to meet Santa, taste some hot chocolate and rest by the bonfire during the festive season. Tickets: $6-$10, free for children 5 and under. When: Weekends throughout December, 5pm-9pm. Where: Coulonge Falls Park, 100 Parc-des-Chutes Drive, Mansfield-et-Pontefract
32. ByWard Winter Market
Come to the market to enjoy the Christmas spirit. When: Nov 22-Jan 30. Thursday-Sat 12pm-8pm. Sun 12pm-6pm. Where: Byward Market. Details: IG @bywardmarket
33. Magic of Lights
Back for a 3rd season to light up your holidays, the Magic of Lights is a drive-thru experience immersing you in your favourite holiday scenes and characters. And to stretch your legs, there is a convenient Pit Stop for you to explore the magical Winter village and munch on a BeaverTail. From $26 per vehicle. When: Friday Nov 22 – Saturday Jan 4, from 5pm – 9pm (10pm after Dec 5). Where: Wesley Clover Parks, 401 Corkstown Rd, Nepean. Details: https://magicoflights.com/locations/ottawa-on/
34. Vintage Village of Lights
Experience holiday magic at the Vintage Village of Lights – festive fun awaits! Tickets $26.14 per group. When: Friday Nov 29-Dec 22, 4pm-9pm. Where: Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 2940 Old Montreal Road, Cumberland. Details: https://ottawa.ca/en/arts-heritage-and-events/museums-and-historic-sites/cumberland-heritage-village-museum#upcoming-events-and-programs
35. A Country Christmas
Create magical memories at Saunders Farm with lights, treats, Santa, and more! Tickets from $25. When: Friday Nov 29-Dec 30. Where: Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Road, Ottawa (Munster). Details: https://saundersfarm.com/country-christmas-days/
36. Stanley’s Christmas Village
Discover Christmas magic at Stanley’s Farm with festive villages and holiday strolls! Tickets from $13.27. When: Sunday Dec 1-23, 10am. Where: Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, 2452 Yorks Corners Road, Edwards. Details: https://stanleysfarm.com/christmas-village/
37. Alight at Night
Explore a 19th-century village illuminated with a million lights, featuring music, activities, and dining! Tickets from $14. When: Friday Nov 29, 5pm -Jan 4. Where: Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg. Details: https://www.uppercanadavillage.com/event/alight-at-night/
You can pick up local eats, treats and all things handmade. Be entertained by local musicians, buskers and entertainers. Starting May 30, every Thursday night from 5pm to 10pm. 1088 Somerset St. W. Ottawa.