Ottawa is about to throw itself a 200th birthday party, and the whole city is invited.
According to a post from @ottawaisnotboring, Saturday, September 26 is shaping up to be one of the biggest days on the city's calendar this year, with a lineup of free, all-ages events stretching from morning into the early hours of Sunday.
What's happening
The day kicks off with the Ottawa 200 Street Block Party at Marion Dewar Plaza outside City Hall (110 Laurier St W), running 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with live music, performances, food vendors and family entertainment, capped off by a set from DEF Collective, the crew behind the city's Grown Up Pizza Parties. The full schedule is posted at ottawa200blockparty.ca.
When the sun goes down, Nuit Blanche takes over, turning the downtown core into an all-night art gallery from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with installations including a giant seesaw and a disco shower. Meanwhile, Pique, now in its 21st edition, is free for the first time ever, filling multiple floors of Arts Court (2 Daly Ave) with immersive art and performances from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Down by the river, Soundscape lights up the tunnel under the Plaza Bridge between the Château Laurier and Parliament Hill from 7 to 11 p.m., featuring Indigenous performers and Canadian indie rock act Hollerado. Metcalfe Plaza (151 Metcalfe St) closes out its summer season with one last event from 5 to 10 p.m.
Why 200?
The city's founding is traced back to 1826, when construction began on the Rideau Canal, making this the bicentennial of Bytown's transformation into what became Ottawa.
Getting around, and free BeaverTails
OC Transpo is making every trip free all weekend, Saturday through Sunday, so there's no excuse not to get downtown. And starting at 2 p.m., the BeaverTails location at the ByWard Market is giving away 200 free BeaverTails, first come, first served.
With free transit, free art, and free pastries all in the same weekend, this is shaping up to be a rare one for the city. Full details and updates are being shared on Instagram at @ottawaisnotboring.
Source: @ottawaisnotboring on Instagram
