Lanterns, lion dances, and skewers on the grill: Ottawa's Chinatown is getting ready for its Mid-Autumn Night Market, running Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27.
The free event takes over Somerset Street West between Bronson Avenue and Bell Street, transforming the neighbourhood into a weekend-long celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the biggest dates on the Chinese cultural calendar. Instagram account @ottawalist shared the details in a recent reel, pointing followers toward a weekend packed with performances, food, and free admission.
What's happening
Expect live entertainment throughout the three days, including lion dances, band performances, and martial arts demonstrations set up along the strip. It's the kind of programming that turns a stroll through Chinatown into an actual event, with crowds gathering around performers between food stops.
Speaking of food, organizers are promising a solid lineup of Asian street food vendors dishing out dumplings, barbecue skewers, sugar cane juice, bubble tea, noodles, and tanghulu, the candied fruit skewers that have become a social media staple. For anyone who hasn't tried tanghulu yet, a night market is about as good an introduction as it gets.
When to go
The market runs on a slightly different schedule each day:
- Friday, September 25: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, September 26: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, September 27: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday offers the longest window if you want to catch multiple performances and work your way through the food stalls without rushing.
Why it matters for Ottawa
Chinatown's night markets have become a reliable highlight on Ottawa's fall events calendar, drawing crowds from across the city to a stretch of Somerset Street that doesn't always get the foot traffic it deserves outside of festival weekends. With free admission and a full slate of performances, it's an easy way to spend an evening or afternoon without spending much beyond a few food tickets.
Organizers say more details are available through the ottawachinatownnightmarket account for anyone planning their visit.
Source: @ottawalist on Instagram
