Ottawa is getting a mid-week treat this week, with a Bastille Day fireworks show set to light up the sky over the Ottawa River on Tuesday night.
What to Expect
The fireworks are scheduled to begin around 9:30 p.m., timed to cap off the French Embassy's annual Bastille Day reception. Bastille Day, celebrated every July 14th, marks the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789 and is France's national day — and Ottawa's sizable Franco-Ontarian and francophone community, along with the embassy itself, has long used the occasion to put on a show for the city.
Where to Watch in Ottawa
While the reception itself is typically a more private embassy affair, the fireworks over the Ottawa River are visible to the public from a number of vantage points around the city. Locals looking to catch the show without a ticket to the reception should consider heading toward the riverside pathways along the Ottawa River Parkway, Nepean Point, or spots in Gatineau across the water — all popular unofficial viewing areas whenever fireworks go up over the river.
As always with river-facing fireworks shows in Ottawa, arriving a little early to stake out a spot is a good idea, especially since Tuesday evening traffic and pathway congestion tend to pick up once word gets around that something is happening over the water.
An Ottawa Tradition Worth Watching
Ottawa's status as the nation's capital means the city plays host to embassy-driven events like this fairly regularly, and Bastille Day fireworks have become something of a recurring highlight for residents who enjoy a bonus fireworks show outside of the usual Canada Day and Winterlude calendar. For a city that takes its river views seriously, a fireworks display over the Ottawa River is always a welcome excuse to head outside on a summer evening.
Whether you're a longtime Ottawa fireworks-watcher or just looking for something to do on a Tuesday night, this is a low-key, free way to enjoy the summer evening with a view of the water.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
