Ottawa is the lively capital city of Canada that is filled with amazing festivals throughout the entire year. Festivals ranging from music to food to dance events. These amazing festivals cover all sorts of different interests and activities guaranteeing that you will have the best time while exploring Ottawa!
Food Festivals
Music Festivals
Seasonal Festivals
Cultural Festivals
Food Festivals ⬆
Ottawa has a thriving culinary scene, especially in the Summer months. Below you will find some of the top food festivals throughout the national capital.
PoutineFest
| Date: | April 25-28th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Sparks Street |
“Feature the best in Traditional, Exotic and Extreme Poutines with over 100 choices of poutine for three blocks!” Definitely a great spot to try new poutines that challenge the traditional Quebec Poutine! Always a great time with friends or family.
Ottawa BeerFest
| Date: | May 10th-11th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne |
“Whether you are new to the world of craft beer, or a return visitor, we’ve got you covered for a great time!” You can try some of the best beers across Canada and are guaranteed to have a blast drinking the night away.
*Must be 19+ to attend
Ottawa VegFest
| Date: | June 1st-2nd, 2019 | |
| Where: | The RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive |
“To educate and assist the public to embrace a more vegan-friendly life by bringing together the businesses, products and services that will make it easier and more meaningful.” A great festival designed to educate people on a more healthy and environment-friendly lifestyle. A great place to start for the curious!
Ottawa RibFest
| Date: | June 19th-23th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Sparks Street |
“Sample some of the best BBQ chicken and ribs you’ll ever taste!” Ribfest is the perfect place for any meat-eater. Some of the best vendors across the country gather in one spot and offer the best ribs in Canada! Remember to bring a few napkins.
Music Festivals ⬆
If you are looking for some great music festivals in Ottawa, look no further! Ottawa offers all sorts of music festivals ranging from Pop to Folk to Jazz. There is definitely a music scene that is sure to suit you!
GlowFair
| Date: | June 14th-15th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Downtown, Bank Street, Ottawa, ON |
“Glowfair Festival takes place across 10 city blocks down a major main street in Ottawa, known as Downtown Bank Street. Each of these blocks focuses on a unique theme or element to celebrate the diverse community that Ottawa is known for.” Glowfair is a great festival that should be experienced at least once while you’re in Ottawa. Don’t be afraid to dress a little crazy and bring some glow sticks!
Tim Horton’s Dragon Boat Festival
| Date: | June 20th-23rd, 2019 | |
| Where: | Mooney’s Bay Park, 2960 Riverside Drive |
“Recognized as North America’s largest dragon boating festival, the four-day celebration offers free admission to concerts, amusement attractions, sports demonstrations, a variety of artisans, exhibitors, delicious culinary treats, children’s area and non-stop racing.”
Escapade Music Festival
| Date: | June 22nd-23rd, 2019 | |
| Where: | TD Place |
“Escapade Music Festival is an annual electronic dance music festival held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and hosts some of the biggest names in the electronic dance music industry.” This is one of the most lively festivals in Ottawa that is basically a huge dance party with people who love the same music as you! A haven for the EDM music scene.
Ottawa Jazz Festival
| Date: | June 21st-July 1st, 2019 | |
| Where: | Confederation Park, other locations downtown |
“One of the National Capital Region’s most highly anticipated musical events of the summer. A summertime jazz festival to celebrate and develop the popular jazz scene in Ottawa.” A nice evening out listening to the most talented Jazz artist in Canada and around the world. A perfect, relaxing night out with friends! Also, don’t be afraid to bring a lawn chair.
RBC Bluesfest
| Date: | July 4th-14th, 2019 | |
| Where: | LeBreton Flats Park, Ottawa |
“Ottawa Bluesfest is an annual outdoor music festival that takes place each July in downtown Ottawa. It has increasingly showcased mainstream pop and rock acts in recent years.” Bluesfest is one of the biggest pop and rock festivals in Ottawa that has one of the best lineups in all of Canada. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance because tickets often sell fast!
Ottawa Chamberfest
| Date: | July 25th- August 8th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Dominion-Chalmers, National Gallery of Canada, more venues across Downtown Ottawa |
“Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Ottawa Chamberfest brings together the boldest names in ensemble and solo performance for musical celebration in the nation’s capital, through its concert series, community engagement and education (CEE), and its summer festival.”
City Folkfest
| Date: | September 11th-15th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Lansdowne Park |
“City Folkfest is a multi-day celebration of music, dance, and community featuring an eclectic mix of musical performances on various stages.” A perfect night out with friends with singing, dancing, and cheering along to your favourite folk bands. Always a great time!
Seasonal Festivals ⬆
Here are a few extra festivals that do not quite fit into the other three categories, but I know you will definitely still have a great time!
Tulip Festival
| Date: | May 10th-20th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Commissioners Park: Queen Elizabeth Dr & Preston Street |
“The Canadian Tulip Festival was established to celebrate the historic Royal gift of tulips from the Dutch to Canadians immediately following the Second World War as a symbol of international friendship.” A beautiful festival that will give you the perfect Spring Instagram photos!
BuskerFest
| Date: | August 2nd-5th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Downtown, Sparks Steet |
“Ottawa International Buskerfest is taking over Sparks Street for the 27th year for an exciting 4 days! World-class performers from all over the world will grace and amaze downtown Ottawa with award-winning shows perfected after many years of training and practicing in blood, sweat and smiles (no tears here)!” The most creative festival in Ottawa that gives the audience something they have never seen before!
Ottawa Capital Pride Festival
| Date: | August 18th-25th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Downtown |
“Capital Pride creates opportunities to celebrate, advocate, educate and connect people, respecting the full diversity of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Canada’s capital region.” One of the most colourful and accepting festivals in Ottawa! Don’t be afraid to be yourself and make a few new friends along the way.
Winterlude
| Date: | February 2020 | |
| Where: | Downtown, Rideau Canal |
“Winterlude is an annual winter festival held in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. Winterlude is run by the Department of Canadian Heritage and was started in 1979. The event is one of Ottawa’s most important tourist draws, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.” Don’t forget to bring a nicely sharpened pair of skates!
Cultural Festivals ⬆
Ottawa is a very diverse city that proudly celebrates its multiculturalism on a daily basis. Below, you will find some of the best cultural festivals across Ottawa throughout the Summer months!
Italian Week
| Date: | June 6th-16th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Little Italy on Preston Street |
“The Ottawa Italian Week Festival Organizing Committee prepares to bring you yet another amazing festival offering to everyone from anywhere, the experience of “Being Italian” and celebrating all that is Italian Art, Culture and History, for ten special days in June. Join us to create new memories, share in the experience and be Italian.”
Summer Solstice Festival
| Date: | June 20th-23rd, 2019 | |
| Where: | Vincent Massey Park |
“Experience the diverse Indigenous cultures of the National Capital Region and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day! The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival is a family-oriented multi-disciplinary arts festival that attracts over 40,000 visitors a year. With the full participation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists, the diversity of cultures is reflected in all elements of the event.”
Canada Day
| Date: | July 1st, 2019 | |
| Where: | Downtown and surrounding areas |
“The biggest Canada Day party takes place in Ottawa each year on July 1, with live entertainment, family activities and spectacular fireworks!”
Ottawa Lebanese Festival
| Date: | July 17th-21st, 2019 | |
| Where: | St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral. 700 Ridgewood Avenue |
“The Ottawa Lebanese Festival celebrates five days of marvellous Middle Eastern food, entertainment and genuine traditions on the grounds of the St. Elias Cathedral and Banquet Hall. The Festival is proud of its worldwide recognition and success as a family-oriented festival celebrating the culture of Lebanon.”
Capital Ukrainian Festival
| Date: | July 19th-21st, 2019 | |
| Where: | 952 Green Valley Cres. |
“Ottawa’s Capital Ukrainian Festival is an internationally recognized celebration of Ukrainian Arts and Culture that engages with the community in meaningful ways, enriches residents’ lives, and draws broad and diverse audiences to its annual celebration, ultimately making Ottawa the premiere Ukrainian festival destination.”
Ottawa AsianFest
| Date: | July 26th-28th, 2019 | |
| Where: | Chinatown Royal Gateway |
“Located at Ottawa’s beautiful Chinatown Royal Gateway on Somerset and Bronson, we are bringing back the energy of the Asian Night Market – cultural performances, savoury scents and mouthwatering dishes by chefs from across Ottawa and Toronto; experience the taste of Asia.”
The Great India Festival (TGIF)
| Date: | August 9th-11th, 2019 | |
| Where: | 110 Laurier Avenue West |
“Our mission is to offer the visitors and residents of the National Capital Region a world-class opportunity to experience and personally learn about the traditions, culture and heritage of India – and thus promote multi-cultural understanding, appreciation, harmony and peace; and enhance inter-cultural connectivity in Canada.”
SouthAsianFest
| Date: | August 9th-18th, 2019 | |
| Where: | TD Place, various locations in Ottawa |
“A perfect glimpse of South Asian culture. It began in the Indian sub-continent and is yours to experience in the heart of Canada’s Capital. Check out Music, Dance, Visual Arts while you indulge in Food, Fun and activities for the entire family.”
Greek Festival
| Date: | August 15th-25th, 2019 | |
| Where: | 1315 Prince of Wales Drive |
“The Ottawa Greek Festival is an annual event that features live Greek music, traditional Greek dances, excellent Greek Cuisine, cooking demonstrations, Greek language lessons, craft and cultural exhibits, souvenirs, raffles, children’s activities, Church tours and ecclesiastical displays.”
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Lastly, I hope that this list of Ottawa Festivals helped you come up with some ideas and activities for the coming months! Have fun celebrating the awesome festival-life of Ottawa!
Safe travels,
Carina
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