Ottawa Events Calendar

Our Land, Our Art
2022-12-02 - 2025-08-17 | 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K1P 6P4, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K1P 6P4
Come see Nunavik in all its beauty through the eyes of Indigenous artists. Avataq Cultural Institute, in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature, invited artists from across Québec’s Nunavik region to create artworks inspired by objects from Avataq’s collections. Nunavik includes 14 villages along the coasts of northern Québec.

Madweyàshkà | Like a Wave
2024-06-18 - 2025-05-19
This exhibition highlights a selection of works of art by First Nations and Métis artists from the Canada Council Art Bank collection.
The Art Bank, which has proudly featured works by Indigenous artists since its inception in 1972, further supports the Canada Council’s commitment to public engagement and diversity.

Sobey Art Award Exhibition
2024-10-04 - 2025-04-06 | 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4
In collaboration with the Sobey Art Foundation, the National Gallery of Canada is proud to present works by artists from across the country who have been shortlisted for this year’s Sobey Art Award.

Rewilding - The David Suzuki Foundation Arts Prize
2024-10-11 - 2025-09-08 | 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K1P 6P4, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K1P 6P4
Step into a world where art and nature intertwine.
Thirteen Canadian artists bring the concept of rewilding to life, highlighting the vital role that nature plays in our communities through their compelling works of art.
Selected by a jury of esteemed Canadian artists and curated by Helen Gregory, Curator at the McIntosh Gallery at Western University, this exhibition showcases extraordinary artworks from the winners of the inaugural David Suzuki Foundation Rewilding Arts Prize.

Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts
2024-11-15 - 2025-03-25 | 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4
Launched in 1999, the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts (GGArts) celebrate the exceptional careers of Canadian artists. Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Awards are this country’s most prestigious distinction for the artists, curators and craftspeople who make up Canada’s vibrant visual and media arts community.
Up to eight prizes are awarded each year: six for artistic achievement, one for artistic merit in the fine crafts (the Saidye Bronfman Award), and one for an outstanding contribution to the contemporary visual arts, media arts or fine crafts.
To celebrate this year’s Awards, the winners will be displaying their work throughout the Gallery’s contemporary and historical collections. From installations in the Gallery’s public spaces to interventions disrupting narratives within the permanent collection, the eight laureates offer a new and unexpected take on art today.

Butterflies in Flight
2024-12-06 - 2026-03-30 | 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K2P 2R1, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K2P 2R1
Step into a tropical paradise where over 100 live butterflies glide through lush greenery. Marvel at stunning species such as the blue morpho, swallowtails, and monarchs as pupae from Costa Rica and the Philippines transform into these beautiful creatures.
Bright clothing may attract butterflies, offering a chance to admire them up close. On-site science interpreters share fascinating insights into their lives. Tickets are limited—plan ahead to enjoy this captivating tropical experience.

Butterflies in Flight
2024-12-06 - 2026-01-04 | 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K1P 6P4, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, K1P 6P4

Nana’s Jamaican Christmas Pudding
2024-12-21 - 2025-09-30 | 901 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, K2C 3K1, 901 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, K2C 3K1
Nana’s Jamaican Christmas Pudding is a beloved holiday delicacy passed down through generations, connecting family members to their heritage. Made with fruits soaked in rum, port, and sherry, and steamed for hours, the pudding is a symbol of love and tradition.
Mary Anne, who now makes it in Canada, uses a mixing bowl and wooden spoon passed down from her mother, who left Jamaica in 1974. The pudding, often served at Christmas or as wedding favours, represents more than just a treat—it’s a piece of history and family.
This exhibit, part of the Memories are Made in the Kitchen exhibition, celebrates culinary traditions and their ability to bring people together, with highlights including the recipe process, family heirlooms, and cultural connections.

Illuminated Seasons
2025-01-20 00:00 - 2025-06-21 00:00 UTC | National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5W1, Canada
Highlighting the four seasons and local plants of the Outaouais region in Quebec, L’atelier de l’Aube (Marie Drolet and Oleksandr Polishchuck), in collaboration with Emily Rose Michaud, created Illuminated Seasons.
Using hand carving and moulding techniques, each porcelain tile is illuminated to showcase the delicate and intricate craftmanship. Each piece holds personal meaning to the artists and serves as a greater symbol of our innate connection to Earth.

The Air of the Now and Gone
2025-01-26 - 2025-05-04 | The Air of the Now and Gone
Explore alternative perspectives on climate change and its impacts in The Air of the Now and Gone. This thought-provoking exhibition challenges pervasive narratives of crisis and despair, instead inviting visitors to experience emotions like humour, care, love, gratitude, wonder, and cooperation.
Rejecting naïve optimism, the exhibition seeks radical engagement through video, installation, painting, and photography, offering a nuanced approach that counters apathy while complicating simplistic hope.
The featured works encourage visitors to confront the complexities of climate change, evoking a spectrum of resonant and unexpected emotional responses. The Air of the Now and Gone inspires a deeper connection to the environment and a refusal to disengage from this pressing issue.

Wan Word
2025-01-26 - 2025-05-04 | Wan Word
This exhibition brings together artists Kanna Anigbogu, Abdul Hamid Kanu Jr. and Don Kwan to explore memory, cultural history and the diasporic experience. Through black-and-white photography, digital art and mixed media inspired by family archives, the works reflect cultural resilience and personal narratives. Kanu captures Sierra-Leonean communities reconnecting with their heritage. Anigbogu uses Igbo motifs to evoke the freedom of youth. Kwan illuminates intergenerational Chinese-Canadian stories through resonant objects.
Curator Yanaminah Thullah examines “diasporic nostalgia” — a longing for one’s homeland intertwined with efforts to reclaim cultural identity and community across distances. These themes explore how displacement, memory and cultural traditions shape the diaspora. Learn more about cultural exhibitions in Canada’s capital.

Beaver Tales
2025-01-31 - 2025-03-16 | Beaver Tales, 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau, K1A 0M8
Discover the legacy of the beaver, a Canadian icon for 50 years! From our nickels to national parks, the beaver is woven into Canadian life. Beaver Tales invites you to celebrate this industrious animal — Canada’s official symbol for half a century — during Winterlude.
Explore the beaver’s fascinating story through interactive experiences highlighting its historical significance. Learn about its role in the fur trade, its influence on early Canadian settlement, and its surprising impact on past fashion trends. Bring the whole family to join in the fun and celebrate this enduring symbol of Canadian history.

Pucker Up! The Lipstick Prints of Joyce Wieland
2025-02-07 - 2025-11-26, 2025-02-07 - 2025-10-26 | 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, K1N 9N4
This exhibition highlights Joyce Wieland’s influential exploration of Canadian identity and feminist themes through innovative prints and mixed media. Featuring her iconic “lipstick” and “lip-synch” series created after her return to Toronto, the show questions and redefines what it means to be Canadian.

The Witness Blanket
2025-02-08 - 2025-05-05 | The Witness Blanket, 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau, K1A 0M8
The Witness Blanket, a travelling exhibition from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, features a full-scale photographic replica of Carey Newman’s original art installation honouring the resilience of Survivors of the Indian residential school system. Inspired by a woven blanket, the installation incorporates hundreds of items from residential schools, churches, cultural sites, and communities across Canada, each telling an individual story to create a collective narrative of loss, strength, reconciliation, and pride. Visitors are invited to reflect on the legacy of residential schools and their role in reconciliation.

Hints of Spring Art Show
2025-02-12 - 2025-03-23 | Hints of Spring Art Show
Spring is in the air at the Hints of Spring Art Show! Explore a vibrant mix of paintings, photography, sculpture, pottery, and more—available directly from the artists! With fresh creativity and unique finds, it’s the perfect place to welcome the season. Open Wednesday through Sunday—stop by and be inspired!

The Shawshank Redemption
2025-02-26 - 2025-03-15 | The Shawshank Redemption, 400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa, K1N 7M7
Wrongly convicted for the murder of his wife and her lover, banker Andy Dufresne is sentenced to life in the notorious Shawshank prison. With his life and hope at stake, Andy uses his talents and wits to navigate the harsh realities of prison life. Based on Stephen King’s novella and immortalized in one of the greatest films of all time, this powerful story of resilience is now brought to the stage with stunning brilliance.
Described as “a parable for our time that offers a happy ending, but no easy answers” by The Scotsman and called “a runaway hit” by The Independent, this gripping adaptation explores the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity.
Please note: this performance contains adult content, strong language, suicide, and sexual violence.

Ottawa Gatineau Golf Expo
2025-02-28 09:00 - 2025-03-02 17:00 | EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 2N6, Canada
The show will feature local golf courses, golf destinations, live auctions, two large retailers, the Canadian Performance Fitting Centre Demo Range featuring all the latest equipment, a $10,000 putting contest and much more!

March Break at the Canada Science and Technology Museum
2025-03-01 - 2025-03-16 | March Break at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, 1867 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, K1G 5A3
This March Break, enjoy an exciting blend of science and play. Explore a variety of fun experiments and activities that spark curiosity. Get creative at the giant cardboard play area and discover the amazing possibilities of this unique material. Check out the main stage for thrilling demonstrations, including explosive experiments, and meet special guests showcasing fascinating projects — from brain science to robotics. Plus, watch miniature trains and railways come to life as they chug along their tracks.

Family Fly Day
2025-03-01 - 2025-03-16 | Family Fly Day, 11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, K1K 4R3
Fly daily during March Break and see Parliament Hill and downtown Ottawa from the air, starting at only $48 per person!

March Break at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
2025-03-01 - 2025-03-16 | March Break at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, 901 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, K2C 3K1
Celebrate March Break at the museum with exciting activities for the whole family! Enjoy daily demonstrations featuring live animals and fascinating facts. Explore the wonders of maple syrup in the demonstration kitchen and sample delicious recipes. Plus, discover the versatility of eggs with tasty baked creations!

March Break at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
2025-03-01 - 2025-03-16 | March Break at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, 11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, K1K 2X5
Get ready for an out-of-this-world March Break!
Explore the wonders of space with hands-on activities like creating craters, piloting drones in our Drone Zone and crafting your own space-themed pop-up cards. Fun and discovery await the whole family!

March Break at the War Museum: Naval Gazing!
2025-03-01 - 2025-03-16 | March Break at the War Museum: Naval Gazing!, 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, K1A 0M8
This March Break, dive right into the spectacular First World War camouflage style known as “Razzle Dazzle.” Drop in to the family activity centre in the Museum’s Lobby to create your own Razzle Dazzle ship!
Also in the Lobby, uncover the stories of the Wrens (Women’s Royal Naval Service), who served in Canada during the Second World War. At a time of peril in the North Atlantic, these women cracked codes and developed vital intelligence.
Lobby activities are free for everyone.

Sugar Bush at the Log Farm
2025-03-01 - 2025-04-06 | 670 Cedarview Road, Nepean, K2R 1E5, 670 Cedarview Road, Nepean, K2R 1E5
Take a wagon ride out to the sugarbush. See how maple syrup is made. Then take a walk through the trails of the sugar maples.

Fulton's maple season
2025-03-01 - 2025-04-20 | Fulton’s maple season, 399 Sugar Bush Road, Pakenham, K0A 2X0
Watch maple syrup being made and enjoy the results! Activities include sleigh rides, maple taffy and other food products, walking trails, campfires, tobogganing, maple spa products, and more!

Maple Fest
2025-03-01 - 2025-04-21 | 1865 O’Toole Road, Ottawa, K4C 1N2, 1865 O'Toole Road, Ottawa, K4C 1N2
Enjoy farm and sugarbush activities as well as outdoor fun and a farm store.

Seedy Saturday Ottawa
2025-03-01 10:00 - 15:00 | Emmanuel United Church, 691 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 1N7, Canada
Seedy Saturday Ottawa is a yearly seed sale with a focus on heritage, open-pollinated seed from local growers. It also includes supportive sustainable, local businesses and groups related to local food and gardening.

Animal Tracking on Snowshoes
2025-03-01 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-03-01 13:30 - 15:30 | Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, 33 Scott Road, Chelsea, Quebec, J9B 1R5, Canada
What animal made these tracks in the snow? You will find out by participating in a guided snowshoe hike along trail 60. Discover the strategies animals have to survive the harshness of winter.
Reservations required:

Saturdays, in French at 10:30 am, in English at 1:30 pm
Sundays, in English at 10:30 am, in French at 1:30 pm

Ottawa I ❤︎ Beer & Taco Festival
2025-03-01 18:00 - 22:00 | EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 2N6, Canada
Join in for a fun filled day or night of beer, cider and spirits sampling, games, dancing and tacos!
