Festivals and Attractions
Canada’s Capital has something exciting to do every day of the year! With 29 museums and a myriad of private and public galleries and theatres there is never a dull moment.
Plan your Route
Consult our Travel Planner for a customized itinerary to your event. Look in the “Events” category under the Landmarks tab. Be sure you have selected the day of your event.
Festivals and Attractions in Ottawa
Ottawa hosts over 60 festivals and events each year. It all kicks off with Winterlude in February, followed by the Tulip Festival in May, the Jazz Festival and Bluesfest in summer, Canada Day on Parliament Hill July 1, SuperEx in August and Christmas Lights Across Canada in December, just to name a few. Explore below for a taste of what Ottawa has to offer.
The Navan Fair
The Navan Fair was started in 1946 as a showcase of agricultural excellence and to this day is regarded as one of the premier events in the Ottawa Valley. Every year OC Transpo runs shuttles to and from this event, so join us this year and enjoy the celebration of rural life at the Navan Fair!
The Rideau Canal
Summer or winter, the Rideau Canal is a prime destination in Ottawa. 
With miles and miles of walking and cycling paths and a myriad of events (from duck races for charity to flotillas and marathons), the canal is the perfect place to both relax and play! The Canal is also a major historic attraction as it has linked lakes and rivers from Ottawa to Kingston for over 175 years. The Canal offers outdoor recreational activities in an historic, peaceful, and beautiful natural setting. Let OC Transpo take you to skate, walk, or bicycle along the canal!
Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill
Information: 613-239-5000 or 1-800-465-1867
www.canadascapital.gc.ca/soundandlight
Experience the history of Canada told through original music, gigantic projected images, and stunning lighting effects. Enjoy multicultural songs and stories that accent our achievements as a nation. Take a trip on the bus to come celebrate the character of our country!
Arrive early to grab a seat as there is limited space on the bleachers.
Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
Bluesfest
The Ottawa Bluesfest is an annual outdoor music festival that takes place each July in downtown Ottawa. Though the festival initially focused solely on blues, its huge success in recent years has led to a broader music base, and it now features international pop and rock artists as well. Previous performing acts have included The Tragically Hip, Ben Harper, Tokyo Police Club, Sam Roberts Band, and Snoop Dogg. Avoid the struggle to find parking and take the bus to Bluesfest 2009!
Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival
The Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival is the largest chamber music festival in the world. It features world-renowned classical musicians performing in often intimate venues (like Ottawa’s well know Dominion-Chalmers Church). Hop on the bus and come see the world’s major musicians and classical groups.
Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
Ottawa Greek Festival
Tel: 613-225-8016 x221 or x228
www.ottawagreekfest.com
Take the bus and come taste the finest Greek Cuisine Ottawa has to offer. This event grows larger and larger each year as thousands of people come to listen to live Greek music and participate in the myriad of activities that take place.
Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
Ottawa Caribbean Festival (Caribe-Expo)
www.caribe-expo.com
Hop on the bus and come see a spectacular display of artistry and pageantry! Come watch the steelpan concert at Festival Plaza, taste rich culinary appetizers, and enjoy the kaleidoscopic parade!
Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
SuperEx
As Canada’s largest annual community event, SuperEX works closely with many communities to present a varied mix of programming, exhibitions, rides, and entertainment. Join the fun this year in Lansdowne Park on Bank Street - visit their website for the EX schedule.
The EX is fun for the whole family! Avoid the nightmare that is parking at the EX and jump on Route 1 or 7 on Bank Street and join the fun!
Ottawa Folk Festival
The Ottawa Folk Festival is set in beautiful Britannia Park, along the banks of the Ottawa River in Ottawa’s west end. The festival, which celebrates the creativity of musicians, dancers, artisans, and storytellers, has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Ontario Festivals by Festival & Events Ontario. Performers from last year’s festival include Broken Social Scene, Sarah Harmer, and the Sadies.
Route 18 will have additional buses running during peak times throughout the festival. In addition, routes 85 & 97 can be used to get to the festival site.
Plan your trip with Quick Planner to get point-to-point information on getting to and from Britannia Park from your location.
Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
Ottawa Reggae Festival
The Ottawa Reggae Festival initiates cultural events in the capital region and encourages community involvement by providing a family-friendly environment. Hop on the bus and come enjoy the culture, food, and support a great cause!
Ride the bus to come see regional and international artists at Lebreton Flats Park - check their website for festival dates.
Consult our Travel Planner for a customized itinerary to the Ottawa Reggae Festival.
Ottawa International Writers Festival
The Ottawa International Writers Festival has been celebrating the world’s best
literature for over a decade. Each year, over 13,000 readers connect with more than 100 of the world’s best voices in an open exchange of ideas and stories. There are events happening throughout the year, so check the official site for details and ride an OC Transpo bus there to recharge your imagination!
Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF)
Information: 613-232-8769
www.ottawa.awn.com
From Oct.14 - 18, 2009 the Nation’s Capital will become the centre of the animation universe. The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is the largest event of its kind in North America, and is a major film event for film buffs, art lovers, and cartoon fans from around the world.
Don’t miss a great line-up of screenings - take the bus to various locations including the ByTowne Cinema, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Empire Theatre in the Rideau Centre, and the National Gallery of Canada.
Consult our Quick Planner for a customized itinerary to the International Animation Festival.
Ottawa Story Telling Festival
This annual festival is the main storytelling event in Ottawa. Hop on the bus to come see the best storytellers in the country and surrounding Ottawa area. Consult our Quick Planner for a customized itinerary to the Ottawa Story Telling Festival.
Winterlude
Come to Winterlude for three fun-filled weekends of excitement and activities for the whole family!
Enjoy glittering ice carvings and majestic snow sculptures, skate on the world’s largest skating rink (the Rideau Canal), let your kids loose in an enormous snow playground, or maybe just take in some of the many live performances happening in the heart of Ottawa. No matter who you are, Winterlude is the perfect way to celebrate the winter season.
Take the ‘Sno-Bus‘ to special events on the three Winterlude weekends in February, 2010. ...more info
The Winterlude mascots - the Ice Hog Family - await you in Canada’s Capital Region! Visit the official Winterlude website for more information.
Canadian Tulip Festival
The Canadian Tulip Festival preserves the heritage and character of its 55-year-old history based on 
its original founding idea: International Friendship. Every year Holland gives Canada a gift of over 100,000 tulip bulbs as a show of gratitude for the safe-haven given to their royal family during World War II. These 100,000 tulip bulbs sprout in May, splashing Ottawa’s city parks and waterways with a riot of colour. But the tulips are not the only main attraction - for example, in 2008 the tremendously successful International Pavilion featured the Embassies and community groups of 24 participating countries, attracting a record number of visitors to Major’s Hill Park in just 18 days. Every year the festival grows, as do the variety and number of performers, speakers, and participating nations. Visit the official Tulip Festival website for information on upcoming events.
The Ottawa International Children’s Festival
Information: 613-241-0999
www.ottawachildrensfestival.ca
For more than 20 years, the Ottawa International Children’s Festival has held a five-day festival featuring the finest quality dance, music, and theatre for young audiences.
The festival has hosted performers from Canada and around the world including Brazil, Kenya, Peru, England, Germany, and China. Experience amazing performing arts that will entertain the whole family!
Take the bus with your children to the Ottawa International Children’s Festival and give them a chance to learn about art. Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
Westfest Ottawa
Hop on the bus and come to Westfest to see the best in Canadian and local music, performance art, literature, spoken word, media art, visual art, dance, theatre, and live animation. Be one of the estimated 50,000 people who will stroll through the community of Westboro Village, one of Ottawa’s fastest growing neighbourhoods.
Visit their website for current information on activities and events. Use OC Transpo’s Quick Planner to find the fastest and easiest route.
Dragon Boat Race Festival
The Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival has its roots in a much larger Chinese cultural tradition dating back 2,400 years. Historically, the race was held to avert misfortune and encourage the rains necessary for a good harvest, and thus prosperity. The object of their worship was the dragon, and the act of boat racing was thought to show reverence and respect for him.
The dragon boat tradition in Ottawa started in 1993 with the assistance of the Hong Kong Canada Business Association. In 1998, the “Pledge Challenge” was instituted as a charitable component. To date, Ottawa’s paddlers have raised $1,231,000 for local charities.
Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
Ottawa Fringe Festival
A Fringe Festival is a style of theatre that brings the artist and audience together in a fun and exploratory environment. Fringe festivals typically veer away from traditional dramatic forms, permitting artists to produce unique, and sometimes startling, results.
A large variety of performances take place every day in a number of venues, all within walking distance of the University of Ottawa or ByWard Market. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.
Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
Ottawa Jazz Festival
http://www.ottawajazzfestival.com/e/
One of Ottawa’s most exciting music events, the Ottawa Jazz Festival showcases various styles of jazz, including Brazilian, funk, swing, and world, and draws crowds of all ages. The 2009 Ottawa Jazz Festival is 10 nights of captivating talent right in the heart of Ottawa.
Ottawa Jazz Festival has grown from a single outdoor location to a series of venues, both indoor and outdoor, all situated conveniently within walking distance: Confederation Park, National Arts Centre, and Crowne Plaza. Take the bus downtown and you won’t need to worry about parking!
Visit their website for current information on activities and events.
Canada Day
Canada Day is undeniably Ottawa’s biggest party of the year. On July 1st, more than 100,000 Canadians converge on Parliament Hill where there are ceremonies, performances, and entertainment from early in the morning up until the spectacular fireworks display at 10:00 PM. Don’t miss the flag-raising ceremony, changing of the guard, the RCMP musical ride, or the Canada Day show - take the bus to Parliament Hill and join the fun!
Performers in past years have ranged from Alanis Morissette to Great Big Sea - visit the official Canada Day website to find out who is playing this year!
Airport
Avoid Park and Fly charges by taking route 97 to the Airport. From downtown to the Ottawa International Airport, route 97 takes just 25 minutes.