Ottawa, summer is not going quietly. According to @ottawaisnotboring, the last weekend of August is packed with events across the city and just over the river in Gatineau, giving locals plenty of reasons to get outside before the season changes.
SoundEscape Ottawa
Kicking things off is a brand new immersive music and arts festival happening right in the Ottawa Plaza Bridge tunnel, the passage that connects Parliament and the ByWard Market. It runs Thursday, August 27 from 6 to 10 p.m. and will feature DJ Ok Naledy along with other artists bringing live music and art into one of downtown's more unusual venues. It is free, but registration is required, so check the event's Facebook and Instagram pages before heading down.
Capital Ukrainian Festival
Over at Lansdowne Park, the Capital Ukrainian Festival runs Friday through Sunday, August 28 to 30. Expect traditional food, live music, dance performances, and family-friendly activities, including hands-on workshops where visitors can learn Ukrainian dance and explore cultural traditions. The free, all-day Yarmarok marketplace runs Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Friday and Saturday featuring shorter sessions and some paid workshops. Full details are available at capitalukrainianfestival.com.
Festival La Croix in Gatineau
For those willing to cross into Quebec, Festival La Croix brings four days of music, dance, food, and family fun to 115 Boulevard Sacré-Coeur in Gatineau, running August 27 to 30. Organized by the youth group at St Paul Syriac Catholic Church, the festival opens with Roger Helou and his band and wraps with a grand finale featuring Wissam Amar, Alyabroudy, and Maestro Youssef. It is free to attend, with more details posted on Facebook and Instagram.
And that's just the start
As the original post notes, this is on top of an already busy weekend lineup that includes a rodeo, the Capital Pride Parade, food festivals, football and soccer matches, and yoga sessions around the city. Whether you are chasing live music, cultural celebrations, or just want to soak up the last bit of summer sunshine, Ottawa has options scattered across nearly every neighbourhood this weekend.
For the full breakdown of everything happening, check out the original post from @ottawaisnotboring on Instagram.
