Things which are per se continuous: The Michael Nesbitt Collection, Winnipeg
2025-07-11 - 2025-12-15 | 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4
This exhibition celebrates a major gift to the National Gallery of Canada from Winnipeg collector Michael Nesbitt. Featuring paintings, sculptures, and mixed media works, it explores connections between Nesbitt’s transformative donation and the Gallery’s permanent collection. Anchored by Lawrence Weiner’s evocative text piece, the exhibition highlights the enduring impact of artistic continuity across time and space.

Live from the Booth
2025-07-12 18:00 - 2025-11-15 20:00, 2025-07-19 18:00 - 2025-11-22 20:00, 2025-07-26 18:00 - 2025-11-29 20:00 UTC
This summer, Sparks Street pulses with the energy of Ottawa’s electronic music scene through Live from the Booth, a free outdoor concert series presented by the Downtown BIA and Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC). Every Saturday evening, local DJs and electronic artists transform the pedestrian mall into a vibrant dance floor, offering music enthusiasts an energetic start to their weekends.

Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge
2025-07-14 - 2025-08-31 | 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1P 5W1
This pop‐up exhibit by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights speaks to decades of human rights violations against 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians who wanted to serve their country and the brave activists who fought back. It is designed to educate and inspire Canadians to help create a future in which the rights of all 2SLGBTQI+ people are respected.

Songs from the Shed
2025-07-15 - 2025-11-18, 2025-07-17 - 2025-11-20, 2025-07-22 - 2025-11-25, 2025-07-24 - 2025-11-27, 2025-07-29 - 2025-12-02, 2025-07-31 - 2025-12-04, 2025-08-05 - 2025-12-09 | Sparks Street, from Elgin Street to Lyon Street, Ottawa, K1P 5B7, Sparks Street, from Elgin Street to Lyon Street, Ottawa, K1P 5B7
A collaboration between the Downtown BIA and the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) is bringing local music to The Shed on Sparks Street all summer long! The lunchtime concert series, Songs from the Shed, will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 12pm-1:30pm. Music lovers from the Ottawa region are invited to come enjoy lunch outdoors with a variety of captivating singer-songwriters in solo or duo formations. The project will be run by Ottawa’s own Jessy Lindsay, bilingual singer-songwriter and program coordinator.

The Procession at Corridor 45|75
2025-07-19 - 2025-10-19 | City Hall, Ottawa, K1P 1J1, City Hall, Ottawa, K1P 1J1
This sculptural installation features a funeral procession of genderfluid, otherworldly figures crafted from recycled materials. Created to honour the artist’s pre-transition self, it celebrates transformation and affirms queer and trans identities. Drawing from mythology and reimagined folk tales, the work invites reflection on change, memory, and becoming. Ottawa-based artist Aaron Daniels Casey blends surrealism and storytelling to explore identity through multimedia creation.

Image: Aaron Daniels Casey, Pink Doe, Trumpeter, Wolf and Indigo Dancer (installation), 2025, reclaimed fabric, jewellery and acrylic on newsprint and packing tape, variable dimensions, courtesy of the artist

Cinq à sept: A ByWard Concert Series
2025-08-07 - 2025-09-11, 2025-08-14 - 2025-09-18, 2025-08-21 - 2025-09-25, 2025-08-28 - 2025-10-02 | 55 ByWard Market, Ottawa, K1N 9C3, 55 ByWard Market, Ottawa, K1N 9C3
In collaboration with the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC), the ByWard Market District Authority is thrilled to present musicians touring through the National Capital Region and local musicians at this free concert series! Enjoy an array of musical acts every Thursday night beside the iconic ByWard clock. This is an accessible, free outdoor event.

Five Alarm
2025-08-20 - 2025-09-06 | 400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa, K1N 7M7, 400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa, K1N 7M7
At the annual Wayne Rose Memorial Chili Cook-Off in Killaloe, Ontario, Ava Rose is determined to break her 16-year losing streak. With the help of a new assistant, Ava takes on her childhood friend-turned-rival in a heated competition. As she searches for the missing ingredients of her late father’s legendary Five Alarm Chili recipe, Ava uncovers more than just culinary secrets—she begins to unravel the mysteries of her own past.
Described by the London Free Press as “a laugh-out-loud journey” and hailed by the Port Stanley News as “an intriguing and delightfully funny romp that keeps you guessing,” this heartwarming comedy promises a perfect blend of humour, heart, and spice.

Lansdowne Park Movie Nights
2025-08-21 - 2025-09-04, 2025-08-28 - 2025-09-11
Enjoy free outdoor movie nights in the South Court every Thursday at sunset. Bring your own chair or grab a seat onsite. In case of rain, movies move inside the Aberdeen Pavilion. For updates or rescheduling due to extreme weather, check the event’s Facebook page.

Emily Rose Michaud and Marie Drolet – Illuminated Seasons exhibit
2025-08-21 - 2025-11-02
Illuminated Seasons invites audiences to reflect on the natural beauty woven into the urban fabric of Ottawa and Gatineau. Through their “ecological reflections,” the exhibition celebrates the quiet wonder of rivers, forests, and marshes that shape our everyday surroundings. Artists Marie Drolet and Emily Rose Michaud explore local plant life not as distant subjects, but as living collaborators in both art and life. Their work is rooted in personal connection to the Outaouais region, where memory and landscape intertwine. Free.

Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival (FMG)
2025-08-27 - 2025-08-31 | 165, rue Saint-Antoine, Gatineau, J8T 3M6, 165, rue Saint-Antoine, Gatineau, J8T 3M6
Every year in late August, FMG brings the Ottawa-Gatineau region to life with an electrifying music lineup, performances for all ages, fireworks, and an amusement park.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of FMG with concerts featuring popular and emerging artists from Québec, Canada, and beyond. Enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities and the unique ambiance created by the presence of hot air balloons, adding a magical touch to the festival grounds.
The Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival (FMG) takes place at Parc de la Baie in Gatineau, Québec, less than 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

Metcalfe Plaza
2025-08-28 - 2025-08-30
From August 14 to September 20, the Downtown BIA, in collaboration with Aire Commune and AMASHOWZA, is turning this central space into a high-energy hub of art, music, and culture. Think DJs under the stars, live performances, sweat-worthy fitness classes, buzzing markets, and epic weekend vibes. Whether you’re catching a show, grabbing drinks with friends, or just soaking in the atmosphere, Metcalfe Plaza is where the party’s at.

Oniro
2025-08-28 - 2025-09-01 | 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.

Fighting to belong: Stories from the LGBT Purge
2025-08-29 | 11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, K1K 2X5, 11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, K1K 2X5
Hear from Royal Canadian Air Force veterans and LGBT Purge survivors Diane Pitre, C.M., and Honorary Colonel Steven P. Deschamps as they share personal stories of service, resilience, and advocacy. Their experiences, featured in the museum’s Cold War exhibition, highlight the discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ members of the Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP, and federal public service during the LGBT Purge. The event includes a bilingual presentation, Q&A, and guided visit through the LGBT Purge section.

Star Party by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
2025-08-29
Free, family-friendly Star Parties invite everyone to explore the night sky. RASC Ottawa Centre members share telescope viewings and their passion for astronomy. Open to all ages, these monthly gatherings welcome beginners and experienced stargazers alike.

Yowfest
2025-08-29 - 2025-08-30
YOWFest is a brand-new two-day cultural music festival debuting this summer in Ottawa. Held at Lansdowne Park, the festival celebrates Canadian and global music culture with a different theme each day. Expect vibrant performances, diverse sounds and an unforgettable end-of-summer experience.

Julie Nolke's Dying on the Outside
2025-08-29 20:00 - 22:00
Julie Nolke brings her acclaimed one-woman sketch comedy show, Dying On The Outside, to Ottawa as part of her 2025 tour. Directed by Gwynne Phillips, the performance explores Nolke’s darkest thoughts with a hilarious twist, blending sharp humour and poignant moments. Fans can expect a mix of beloved sketches like Mirror Julie alongside fresh material that will entertain and move audiences.

Summer Volley & Salsa
2025-08-30
Spend your Saturday evening on the beach with volleyball, an intro salsa lesson, and dancing. Equipment, music, and good vibes are provided—just bring your swimsuit, water, and sunscreen. Free event.

Retro Silent Disco
2025-08-30 | 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4
The Amazing Silent Disco lands at the National Gallery of Canada for one unforgettable night of retro beats and dancing. Choose between three live DJs spinning 80s, 90s and 00s hits through wireless headphones in a stunning gallery setting complete with lights, visuals and a bar. Already a global sensation, this silent disco experience blends art, music and nostalgia like never before.
