Summer is here in Canada’s capital and along with more sunshine and days spent strolling the ByWard Market, it also means the return of our highly anticipated Summer Guide (cue happy dance)! We want you to have the best summer ever, so we scoured the internet to curate a jam-packed list of the hottest things to do in Ottawa this sunny season.
You’re bound to find loads of fun activities to keep you entertained throughout the summer with our guide in hand! Featuring time-honoured traditions like cheering on the RedBlacks and new favourites like an Alice in Wonderland-themed outdoor escape room.
1. ByWard Night Market. June 9-Sept 1. A new tradition for Ottawa’s oldest market! Shop for local wonders and fill up on tasty street food between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays at the historic ByWard Market.
2. Orleans Craft Beer Festival. June 9-11. Get your mugs ready as more than 25 craft beer vendors pour their very best. The event also features delicious food, smooth wines and spirits and showstopping live entertainment.
3. RBC Blues Fest. July 7-17. RBC Bluesfest is a national landmark event, earning a mention as “one of the top-ten festivals” in the world by Billboard Magazine. The ongoing love affair between the festival and its fans continues into the 2022 season with headliners like Luke Combs, Sarah McLachlan, Alessia Cara, Alanis Morissette and more of your favourites.
4. H.O.P.E. Volleyball SummerFest. July 15-16. Don’t miss the 40th edition of H.O.P.E. Volleyball SummerFest! Get a team together and register to play for bragging rights in this outdoor tournament at Mooney’s Bay Park and Beach. Between games you can relax by the water, grab a drink, listen to the DJ and much more. Sign up with your team to register early in your division.
5. Alice in Wonderland Ottawa. August 27. For one day only, the streets of Ottawa will transform into a giant, escape-room-style experience. Work with your team to solve clues which just get curiouser and curiouser, take on mad and mischievous challenges and uncover a dark conspiracy at the heart of Wonderland.
6. Over the rainbow: Works by LGBTQ2S+ Artists. Now-Sept 5. Celebrate the rainbow lens of LGBTQ2S+ artists with a presentation of videos, photographs, installations and various types of ephemera. This exhibit highlights the creativity and fortitude of the many gendered and diversely sexualized groups who self-identify with pride. Get inspired with works that cross over identities, races and ethnicities to embrace diversity and inclusion.
7. Summer Farmer’s Market at Lansdowne. Sundays from May-October. The 2022 Summer Market features 70+ local artisans and farmers who showcase the best of the region with agricultural, craft and baked goods, personal care products and more. All crafts and goods are produced within a 100-km distance from the City of Ottawa!
8. Hog’s Back Park. Bike or walk this popular pet-friendly loop trail in Ottawa this summer. The park features a cafe, waterfall lookouts, plenty of green space, historical displays and a renovated heritage pavilion. Perfect for a summer day, this trail has something everyone can enjoy!
9. Catch a Redblacks Game. Put on your favourite red-and-black outfit and join the roaring crowds at TD Place Stadium at Lansdowne as Ottawa’s Canadian Football League (CFL) team battles for a chance at the Grey Cup.
10. {New Patio!} Tavern at the Gallery. Enjoy this newly opened patio under the sun in a hidden courtyard garden at the National Gallery of Canada. Featuring Tavern cocktails, beer, wine, and tasty eats, including handmade pizza, Poke bowls, charcuterie boards and more.
