Ottawa Events Calendar

Camera and the City
2025-12-12 - 2026-03-15 | 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4
Drawing from the National Gallery of Canada’s rich collection, Camera and the City showcases photographers who reveal the many facets of urban life. Divided into three sections, the exhibition explores the city as movement and theatre, as an idea, and as community. It captures the city’s energy and constant change, conceptualizes urban spaces shaped by culture and commerce, and highlights the human connections that bring city streets to life through diverse gatherings and hidden stories.

Ottawa Christmas Market
2025-12-12 - 2025-12-14
Get into the holiday spirit at Ottawa’s European-style Christmas market—the perfect place for great food, warm drinks, traditional kiosks and a festive atmosphere!
Each year on weekends and select additional days leading up to Christmas, the Ottawa Christmas Market takes over the outdoor plaza at Lansdowne in the vibrant Glebe neighbourhood. The family-friendly and free event features seasonal food and drink (including alcoholic options), local goods at vendor cabins, glittering displays, and live performances.

Vintage Village of Lights
2025-12-12 - 2025-12-14 | 2940 Old Montreal Road, Ottawa, K4C 1E6, 2940 Old Montreal Road, Ottawa, K4C 1E6
Make memories to treasure at the Vintage Village of Lights. Enjoy a postcard-perfect 1920s and 30s heritage village charmingly decorated for the holidays. Explore festive vignettes and light displays, visit with Santa, decorate gingerbread cookies, take in seasonal heritage demonstrations, and more. Fun for family and friends of all ages.

Oniro
2025-12-12 - 2025-12-13 | 399, route 323 North, Montebello, J0V 1L0, 399, route 323 North, Montebello, J0V 1L0
Experience a magical forest walk at Parc Oméga as the story of wolf cub Oniro unfolds through light, sound, and immersive storytelling. Created by artist Michel Lemieux, ONIRO features 17 illuminated scenes along a 60-minute trail. First departures begin at sunset.

Free Live Entertainment at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa
2025-12-12 - 2025-12-13 | 4837 Albion Road, Ottawa, K1X 1A3, 4837 Albion Road, Ottawa, K1X 1A3
Live music is featured at the Hard Rock Cafe every Friday and Saturday starting at 9:30 PM. Guests can also enjoy live performances at Council Oak every Friday and Saturday beginning at 7:00 PM.

Ottawa Wine Auction
2025-12-12 | 51 William Street, Ottawa, K1N 1A3, 51 William Street, Ottawa, K1N 1A3
Whether you’re a connoisseur, collector, or a complete beginner, this evening is a unique opportunity to discover amazing vintages and immerse yourself in the realm of fine wines. It is an initiative of the Music and Beyond festival to support annual programming.

613Holiday Night Market
2025-12-12 | PO. Box 8235, Station T, Ottawa, K1G 3H7, PO. Box 8235, Station T, Ottawa, K1G 3H7
Proving once again that holiday shopping can actually be fun!
The 613Holiday Night Market offers an indoor shopping experience filled with festive cheer. Explore over 140 vendors featuring unique gifts, delicious food, and seasonal treats.
Admission is free, and the venue is accessible for all. Plus, friendly dogs are welcome, making it a perfect outing for the whole family.
Come and enjoy the holiday spirit in a warm and vibrant setting!

Ottawa Black Bears
2025-12-12 | 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa (Kanata), K2V 1A5, 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa (Kanata), K2V 1A5
The Ottawa Black Bears, a professional box lacrosse team, announce their inaugural season schedule from November 29, 2024, to April 12, 2025.

Glebe Glimmer Holiday Shopping Night
2025-12-11 17:00 - 20:00 UTC
Spend a sparkling evening in The Glebe at the Glebe Glimmer Holiday Shopping Night — explore your favourite local shops, discover special holiday promotions and tick gifts off your list while you’re here. Wander Bank Street as it comes alive with festive lights, music and holiday cheer. Bring your friends, family or make it a date night and experience holiday shopping the way it should be: relaxed, magical and local — all right here in The Glebe.

The Shop List at St. Laurent Centre
2025-12-11 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-10 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-09 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-08 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-07 11:00 - 16:00 | The Shop List at St. Laurent Centre, 1200 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, ON, Canada, Ontario
The Shop List at St. Laurent Centre
Discover your fall style with The Shop List, running September 16–30 alongside our Share It to Win It Contest for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree! ✨Visit the Rules and Regulations for more information about the contest.
📅 Event Hours
Saturday, September 20 & Sunday, September 21 | 11 AM – 4 PM
Saturday, September 27 & Sunday, September 28 | 11 AM – 4 PM
🎁 What’s happening during event hours:
Free limited-edition tote bags (while supplies last)
On-site brand styling ambassadors to guide you through The Shop List and curated fall capsule collections from St. Laurent retailers
Step into the season with style inspiration, shopping perks, and your chance at an unforgettable shopping spree.

Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol, Live in Concert
2025-12-11 - 2025-12-13 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
The National Arts Centre Orchestra presents Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert featuring a screening of the film while the musical score is performed live by the orchestra! The Muppets perform Charles Dickens’s classic holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. The film also features Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim. Presented in English with French subtitles.

Stanley’s Holiday Stroll
2025-12-11 - 2025-12-13 | 2452 Yorks Corners Road, Ottawa, K0A 1V0, 2452 Yorks Corners Road, Ottawa, K0A 1V0
Enjoy the beauty of the holidays while taking a stroll through forest trails that have been decorated with colourful lights and displays. Along the paths, you’ll find space to warm up by a fire before you continue along more than 2km of trails.

Originals Christmas Craft Sale
2025-12-10 - 2025-12-14 | 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa, K1V 2N6, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa, K1V 2N6
Visit over 200 of Canada’s best artists, artisans and designers with innovative displays and contemporary designs at this handmade marketplace. Plus, attend this in-person event to meet and learn from Canada’s makers and creatives from across country.

Kid Koala's The Storyville Mosquito
2025-12-10 - 2025-12-13 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
What if a young mosquito left his small town to pursue his musical dreams in the big city? Montreal’s scratch DJ, graphic novelist and director, Kid Koala, has created a theatrical cinema experience telling the story of a humble mosquito with dreams of superstardom. Leaving his small-town home, Mosquito hopes to play clarinet in one of the greatest jazz bands of all time. Watch him flit, falter, and find his footing in the big city.

OrKidstra Holiday Concert
2025-12-10
Bring a friend and celebrate the sounds of the season at the annual OrKidstra Holiday Concerts!
Enjoy a wonderful mix of classical, jazz, pop, holiday favourites, and music from around the world. These family-friendly performances have become an Ottawa holiday tradition and are sure to delight all ages!

December 10: OrKidstra Vanier Hub Holiday Concert at Ottawa Technical Secondary School
December 16: OrKidstra Centre Hub Holiday Concert at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre

FREE – Donations to support OrKidstra’s mission to empower kids and build community through music are welcome.

A Celtic Christmas Celebration
2025-12-10 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
Join an unforgettable evening featuring the toe-tapping tunes of the Rideau Ramblers and the heartfelt melodies of the Ottawa Celtic Choir. Experience a captivating blend of Celtic Christmas traditions to celebrate the season with lively tunes and cherished songs that are sure to inspire a sing-along.

Ottawa Senators
2025-12-09 | 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa, K2V 1A5, 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa, K2V 1A5
Take in the electric atmosphere of an NHL game in Canada’s capital and watch pro hockey players compete in the national winter sport. The Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL) play against rivals like the Montréal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs, among other Canadian and American teams. The Sens, as they are colloquially known, are supported by their Sens Army fans and by their friendly hairy mascot, Spartacat, who roams the stands giving high fives. The Senators play at the Canadian Tire Centre in the west-end suburb of Kanata, which you can reach easily by car or on game-day express buses. Inside the arena, you can fuel up for the game with food and drinks from a wide range of vendors, or dine at one of several on-site restaurants and bars.

Mayor’s Breakfast: A Conversation with Prime Minister Mark Carney
2025-12-08 07:00 - 09:00
Presented by the Ottawa Board of Trade and the Ottawa Business Journal
Join us for an exclusive edition of the Mayor’s Breakfast, featuring a fireside chat between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. This special year-end event brings together Ottawa’s business, civic, and community leaders for a morning of insight, inspiration, and connection. Together, the Prime Minister and Mayor will explore the current economic landscape, government priorities, and what lies ahead for Canada’s capital, offering a unique perspective that bridges national vision with local opportunity.
Start your morning with meaningful networking and a continental breakfast, then enjoy the conversation in theatre-style seating designed for an engaging audience experience. The Mayor’s Breakfast Series is where Ottawa’s most forward-thinking leaders come together to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and help shape the city’s future. Don’t miss this landmark event that will define the conversation about prosperity and progress in our nation’s capital.
Please bring a government-issued photo ID. All guest names are required by 5:00 PM on December 3, 2025.
Agenda:
7:00 a.m. – Networking and Continental Breakfast
7:45 a.m. – Fireside Chat with the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
9:00 a.m. – Event Conclusion + Networking
Special Guest: The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
Mark Carney is Canada’s 24th Prime Minister. He was elected Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and sworn in as Prime Minister in March 2025. He leads a government that is taking action to unite and empower Canadians, protect defend Canada’s sovereignty, and build the strongest economy in the G7.
Born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Prime Minister Carney is the son of teachers and grew up with a strong sense of community and hard work. After graduating from St. Francis Xavier High School in Edmonton, he earned a Bachelor of Economics from Harvard University in 1988, followed by a Master of Economics in 1993 and a PhD in Economics in 1995, both from Oxford University.
Prime Minister Carney started his career in finance before joining Canada’s public service to help ensure our economy supports the things that Canadians value – like health care, security, and a life you can afford. As Governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis, he guided our country through one of the most turbulent economic periods in modern history, protecting jobs and helping ensure that Canada came out stronger. In 2013, he was recruited to lead the Bank of England, stewarding the United Kingdom’s economy through Brexit and the economic and political crises that followed. In 2020, he began serving as the United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, helping rally the world to build stronger economies as we fight climate change.
Prime Minister Carney’s government is focused on growing our great country, creating more higher-paying jobs, putting more money in Canadians’ pockets, and making Canada more secure.
Prime Minister Carney and his wife, Diana, are the proud parents of four children.

Winter Lights Across Canada
2025-12-08 - 2026-01-09 | 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, K1A 0M5, 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, K1A 0M5
Starting in December, nearly 300,000 lights are installed in Canada’s Capital Region, highlighting various sites and monuments and creating the Pathway of lights for families and friends to explore.

Les lundis des tout-petits
2025-12-08 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
Visit the NAC on Mondays for French story time with Luana! Toddlers are invited to delight in tales that will sweep them away on journeys through magical worlds where they will meet enchanting characters. All accompanied by crafts and games.
Free admission!

Rink of Dreams
2025-12-07 - 2026-04-04 | City Hall, Ottawa, K1P 1J1, City Hall, Ottawa, K1P 1J1
Enjoy free ice skating on a refrigerated ice surface 7 days a week from 9:00am to 11:00pm.

Mochitsuki
2025-12-07
Mochitsuki Market will be packed with exciting Japanese cultural performances and martial arts demonstrations. Try your hand at mochi pounding.
