59+ enjoyable occasions in and round Ottawa, May 4 to 10

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I don’t know if it’s Mother’s Day or the total arrival of spring or what, however there’s a veritable avalanche of occasions taking place in and round Ottawa this weekend. One of the largest within the Canadian Tulip Festival, however that’s simply the tip of the iceberg.

You can eat your fill at a cookbook occasion or a poutine fest, then work off your indulgence with a paddling occasion or a mountain biking race. Shopping extra your model? Choose from a slew of artwork exhibits and farmers’ markets, or hit a giant board sport sale. Eager to get out in nature? Head to a farm to select your individual bouquet. There’s additionally a celebration of Kashubs, the prospect to make felted cleaning soap, a glam drag night time, a celebration of all issues geeky and an evening of sea shanty singing.

Have enjoyable, wherever your travels take you!

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Make felted cleaning soap in Beckwith

At Flying Moon Farm in Beckwith, you possibly can take an afternoon workshop to make a felted bar of cleaning soap on Saturday, May 9. What is felted cleaning soap? I hear you ask. In this case, it’s a bar of domestically made cleaning soap wrapped in felt that you just’ll create in the course of the workshop, utilizing wool from the farm’s sheep. It’s dandy for exfoliation, apparently. I’m so intrigued!

Bike on car-free roads in Ottawa

Get your bike out of the storage—NCC Weekend Bikedays begin on Saturday, May 9! On Saturdays, Sundays and vacation Mondays till October 12, a number of roads in Ottawa—the Kichi Zībī Mīkan, the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway and a bit of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway—can be closed to automobiles however open to cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair customers, runners and inline skaters. Opening instances and dates differ, so test the web site earlier than heading out.

Sing sea shanties and sip beer in Chinatown

At Dollars and Drafts on Friday, May 8, you possibly can take pleasure in samples of native craft beer (or a gluten-free/non-alcoholic various), a scorching bowl of chili, a raffle and a efficiency from the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective (singing alongside is inspired). It’s a fundraiser for the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral, and it’s happening at Annunciation to the Theotokos – St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral. Buy your tickets by Monday, May 4.

Learn about sustainable gardening in Manotick

Petals and Pollinators: Growing a Garden That Gives Back is the title of a workshop on the Lume Club in Manotick on Wednesday, May 6. Participants will learn to create a backyard that’s stunning, biodiverse, and welcoming to bees and different pollinators. (Hat tip to The Ottawan for this one.)

Tiptoe by means of the tulips in Ottawa, Russell and Vankleek Hill

The Canadian Tulip Festival rolls into city for 11 days of spring enjoyable (May 8 to 18) at Commissioners Park on the sting of Dows Lake. Along with viewing attractive shows of tulips (climate cooperating), you possibly can take pleasure in amusements starting from an artisans’ market and a enjoyable run to a city criers’ competitors and a youngsters’ play zone. New facilities and points of interest this 12 months embody a tulip taxi (golf carts that may shuttle guests by means of the park) and a tulip path that guarantees to disclose 4 centuries of tulip historical past.

At Green Corners Farm (640 North Russell Road, Russell), the tulip fields are blooming with 300,000 flowers. Buy tickets upfront for this pick-your-own occasion, which begins on Saturday, May 9. Note that two sorts of tickets can be found: wanting (cheaper) and selecting (pricier).

And about an hour east of Ottawa, the Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields at Ouimet Farms Adventure hopes to be open to the general public starting on Saturday, May 9 (test the web site or their Facebook page for updates). Stroll by means of fields blooming with hundreds of tulips and choose your individual. Buy tickets upfront.

Get geeky in Kemptville

I really like the premise of Nerd Out Night a lot. According to the organizers on the North Grenville Public Library in Kemptville, it is going to be “an evening of pure, unapologetic geekery.” Any grownup can signal as much as give a 10- to 15-minute presentation on any scientific topic that fascinates them, whereas the library will present the venue and tools. After the inaugural occasion on Thursday, May 7, the occasion will occur on the primary Thursday of every month.

Marvel at an illusionist in Orléans

Illusionist Luc Langevin can be on the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans on May 5 and 6, entertaining audiences along with his sleight-of-hand manoeuvres. In French.

Paddle your canoe (or kayak) in Beckwith Township

Looking for some train on Saturday, May 9? Tie your canoe or kayak to the roof and head to Beckwith Township for the 6.5K Jock River Paddle. It begins at 9:30am on ninth Line and ends close to the Ashton Pub, and there can be shuttles again to the place to begin. The value is $20 per paddler, and you have to register on-line upfront.

Celebrate Kashubs in Wilno

The Kashub individuals hail from Eastern Europe. The first Kashub immigrants to Canada arrived in Renfrew County within the late 1850s, the place they based the village of Wilno, a bit west of Barry’s Bay. The group celebrates that historical past with the annual Kashub Day Heritage Festival, happening this 12 months on Saturday, May 9, on the open-air Wilno Heritage Park. Live music, sq. dancing and extra are on the agenda.

Enjoy foodie enjoyable at Lansdowne Park

The Literary Feast 2026—happening within the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park on Wednesday, May 6—provides you the prospect to fulfill cookbook authors and purchase signed copies of their books. A portion of the proceeds will go to the St. Joe’s Women’s Centre.

Later within the week, Best Fest Ottawa involves the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park on May 8 and 9. You’ll have the ability to wander from sales space to sales space, sampling food and drinks from a variety of native suppliers.

Go glam at a drag night time in Merrickville

Ticket are going shortly for Club Night Merrickville, a glam night time of drag on Friday, May 8, at The Pews. The enjoyable will embody two drag exhibits, a cocktail hour, and dancing till late.

Arrange flowers in Ottawa

This is one other scorching tip from the great of us at The Ottawan: You can join a flower arranging workshop at Beyond the Pale at City Centre in Ottawa on Saturday, May 9, and are available residence with an association in a mason jar or thrifted teapot. As I sort this on Monday, solely eight spots are left, so that you may wish to hustle if you happen to’re on this one.

Go for a forest stroll in Sydenham

Certified nature remedy information Claire Beach is providing separate morning and afternoon forest bathing walks in Sydenham on Sunday, May 10. Sounds like a really soothing method to spend Mother’s Day!

Work up a sweat in Gatineau

Festival Bouge Bouge Outaouais (Sunday, May 10) is a one-day celebration of bodily health. Sign up for one occasion or join a bunch; actions embody cardio kickboxing, and 1K, 2.5K, 5K and 10K stroll/runs. You also can take a look at a Colombian dance efficiency, a magic present and kids’s actions. It’s all taking place on the Asticou Centre in Gatineau.

Have some laughs in Nepean, Orléans or Kingston

American standup comedian Jeff Allen brings his First “Final” Farewell Tour to the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe on Tuesday, May 5.

On Friday, May 8, the In the Black comedy present on the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans options Black comedians Rose-Ingrid Benjamin, Samson Imanirambonas, The Velvet Duke, Xavior Kayvon Gough, Janelle Niles and Daphney Joseph.

And on Saturday, May 9, Canadian funnyman Gerry Dee is doing back-to-back exhibits on the Kingston Grand Theatre.

Eat poutine in Carleton Place

It’s one other likelihood to bask in every kind of tacky, carby treats when the Carleton Place Poutine Feast units up store in Riverside Park (May 7 to 10). Along with poutine, the enjoyable will embody dwell leisure, an artisan’s market, and video games and actions for the entire household. Free admission.

Cheer at a neighborhood expertise present in Alexandria

Lots of huge celebrities acquired their begin at native expertise exhibits. Maybe you’ll catch the subsequent Alanis Morissette or Ryan Gosling at Glengarry’s Got Talent, a showcase for native performers on the Glengarry Sports Palace in Alexandria on Saturday, May 9.

Learn about historical past in Renfrew

On the night of Thursday, May 7, Heritage Renfrew and the Renfrew Public Library are providing a guided walking tour of “the bog,” a historic part of downtown Renfrew. Most of the buildings alongside this stretch have been constructed over a century in the past.

Get offers on board video games in Gatineau

Gatineau board sport retailer L’As des jeux is holding its annual Mega Garage Sale at 425 boulevard St-Joseph in Gatineau from May 8 to 10. Despite the identify, the occasion occurs indoors (in a 12,000-square-foot house, to provide you some concept of the scale of the sale) and the deeply discounted video games on sale are new, not used.

Shop for artwork and artisans’ creations in lots of locations

In Ottawa’s Alta Vista neighbourhood, you possibly can store for work, pottery, jewelry, images, books and extra made by native creators on the Spring Art Festival, organized by Art within the Neighbourhood (Saturday, May 9). There can be meals vans and dwell music, too! It’s taking place on the Canterbury Recreation Complex. Admission and parking are free, and the location is stroller and wheelchair accessible.

At the Mosaic Convention Centre on St. Laurent Boulevard, you possibly can take a look at the brand new Horizon Collective Market on Saturday, May 9.

The Vpop at Next Door sale on Gladstone Avenue in Little Italy (May 9 and 10) options classic, second-hand and artisan items from some 20 distributors.

In Orléans, a Mother’s Day Market on Saturday, May 9, will function plenty of native distributors.

Time is operating out to catch Winds of Change, Arts Carleton Place’s present present on the Art Hub (50 Bennett St, Unit 1, Carleton Place). This members-run artwork retailer is open to the general public each day, and the present runs till Sunday, May 17.

Art in the Attic (May 9 and 10) on the Almonte Old Town Hall showcases 20 native artists of all ages and ranges of expertise. You’ll discover works at a variety of costs in all types of media, together with portray, images, sculpture, printmaking, leatherwork and extra. There’s additionally the prospect to win a $50 present certificates (which you should use on the present). Free admission.

The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning is internet hosting two separate gross sales this weekend: the Spring Vendor Show on Saturday, May 9, and a Mother’s Day Pop-Up Market on Sunday, May 10.

Buy books in Kanata and Centretown

More than 35,000 used books can be on sale at Kanata United Church’s Book Fair (May 6 to 9). On Wednesday, there’s a kids-only occasion from 2pm to 6pm, when little ones can choose their very own books with or with out an grownup supervising them. The subsequent day, the sale opens to customers of all ages.

As properly as the prospect to purchase hard-to-find books, the Object//Project Art Book Fair—which celebrates various and boundary-pushing artists’ publishing—has a packed slate of artist talks and panel discussions. Topics embody self-publishing, zines and scrap paper binding. It’s happening on the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in Centretown on May 8 and 9. Admission is free however donations are welcome.

Take Mom for a experience in Smiths Falls

The Mother’s Day afternoon tea on the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls is already bought out—tickets have been all wolfed up inside a couple of hours of happening sale—however you can deal with Mom to a ride in a vintage caboose on Sunday, May 10.

See theatre in Ottawa, Carleton Place, Perth or Montreal

Another bumper crop of performs are on phases all through our area this week. Openings embody the agricultural comedy The Birds and the Bees at Ottawa Little Theatre and, for these within the temper for an extended street journey, a drama about immigration referred to as Wine & Halva in Montreal. This can also be your final week to catch Jade Circle on the GCTC, The Invisible on the National Arts Centre, The Play That Goes Wrong in Carleton Place and The Maltese Falcon in Perth. For the total listing and particulars on these and lots of different performs, see my theatre put up.

Buy Mother’s Day flowers in Alexandria or Finch

Planning to provide Mom a bouquet this 12 months? Support native when you’re doing it by swinging by the Mother’s Day Flower Market at Sunwheel Farm on May 8 and 9, or the build-your-own bouquet occasion at Brighter With Blooms in Finch on May 9 and 10.

Hit a storage sale in Barrhaven or Richmond

Attention, cut price hunters: Community-wide storage gross sales are happening on Saturday, May 9, in Barrhaven and Richmond. For particulars on these and lots of different gross sales, see my storage gross sales put up.

Learn about Indigenous traditions in Carleton Place

The Indigenous Cultural Fair at Zion-Memorial United Church in Carleton Place on Saturday, May 9, is an opportunity to purchase objects made by Indigenous artists and artisans—however it’s far more than that. Visitors also can take pleasure in drumming, jingle costume dancing, workshops, kids’s actions and video games, and visits with a remedy canine and pony. It’s a fundraiser for Art for Aid, which offers artwork provides for remoted Indigenous communities.

Buy some new crops in Ottawa and Gatineau

On Saturday, May 9, the Crichton Community Council is internet hosting the New Edinburgh Plant Sale from 9am to 1pm in New Edinburgh Park. Hanging crops, edible crops and extra can be on supply.

That similar day, you possibly can take a look at SeedLing Saturday at Just Food Community Farm on the sting of Blackburn Hamlet. Gardening workshops, seedling gross sales, a seed and seedling trade, dwell music, meals distributors and extra are on the agenda, from 10am to 2pm.

Also on Saturday, there’s a seedling and plant sale at Parc de la Ferme Dalton in Gatineau, from 10am to 3pm.

On Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10, rain or shine), the Friends of the Farm are holding their plant sale on the Central Experimental Farm from 8:30am to 1pm. Growers and nurseries from throughout the area can be available, together with grasp gardeners. You can nosh on goodies from the refreshment tables and store for gardening books, too.

Go mountain biking for prizes in Beachburg

The BORCA Spring Chicken Race on Saturday, May 9, is a non-timed mountain biking occasion on trails in and round Beachburg. Choose the 30K, 25K or 60K choice. Compete for prizes and revel in a barbecue lunch afterward.

Groove to dwell music throughout

More than 40 pop and rock acts can be taking to the stage on the Festival Santa Teresa in Sainte-Thérèse from May 8 to 10. If you’re in search of dwell music nearer to residence, take a look at my live shows listing.

Catch a sport in Ottawa or Cornwall

The Ottawa Rapid FC soccer membership is going through the Vancouver Rise at TD Place on Wednesday, May 6.

The Akwesasne Thunder lacrosse workforce are enjoying their second residence sport of the season towards the Brampton Excelsiors on Saturday, May 9.

The Ottawa Charge will proceed their playoff battle with the Boston Fleet on the Canadian Tire Centre, with video games on Friday, May 8, and Sunday, May 10.

Looking into subsequent week, the Ottawa BlackJacks basketball workforce are enjoying their home opener towards the Calgary Surge on the Arena at TD Place on Tuesday, May 12.

Head to a farmers’ market

LOTS of farmers’ markets are opening for the season this weekend. On Saturday, May 9, it’s opening day for markets in Carleton Place, Carp, Kanata and Perth. On Sunday, May 9, you possibly can take pleasure in opening day at markets in Kemptville, McDonald’s Corners and Stittsville. For particulars on these and lots of different markets, see my just-updated listing of native farmers’ markets.

Delve into all issues mystical in Ottawa

The Mothers in Bloom Holistic Healing Fair is coming to the Nepean Sportsplex on May 9 and 10. At its cubicles, you possibly can store for crystals, get your tarot playing cards learn, browse pure merchandise, seek the advice of a medium or psychic, and simply usually discover various wellness in all its kinds. Free admission.

That night, the Mother Earth Psychic and Craft Fair on the Bronson Centre is a fundraiser for No Surrender Ottawa Animal Rescue and Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue. Some 35 artisans, psychics, healers and different distributors can be available, leashed pets are welcome, and there’s a Witchy Kitchen Café. Admission is by donation.

Learn about birds on World Migratory Bird Day weekend

Did you understand that Saturday, May 9, is World Migratory Bird Day? Bird-Friendly Ottawa lists a variety of events round city that day, together with walks in Goulbourn, Overbrook, Britannia and Shirley’s Bay. And down in Prince Edward County, you possibly can prepare your binoculars on feathered associates of every kind in the course of the Spring Birding Festival on the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (May 8 to 10). Check the occasion’s Canadian website for particulars of different occasions happening throughout the nation, together with in Kingston and Hudson.

You may even do your bit for birds at residence throughout Global Big Day, when birders world wide can be out with their binoculars and reporting their finds on the eBird app to assist scientists on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology monitor chicken populations.

Pick up prepare memorabilia in Smiths Falls

If you’re a fan of all issues trains, you may be within the Clear Out the Attic Sale on the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls on Saturday, May 9.

As the proprietor of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I dwell on, work in and journey by means of the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I’m grateful to have the chance to be current on this land. Ottawa Road Trips helps Water First, a non-profit group that helps tackle water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada by means of training, coaching and significant collaboration.