Free Things to Do in Ottawa This Week (Sept 17–23, 2026)
Free events in Ottawa over the next seven days, Sept 17–23, 2026, followed by free events later this month and places that never charge admission.
6 free events this week·Updated
Friday, September 182 events
Saturday, September 192 events
Sunday, September 202 events
Free events later this month
Thursday, October 11 event
- 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 event
- 6:30 p.m.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, 4837 Albion Road, Ottawa, ON
Tickets
Monday, October 51 event
- 7:00 p.m.
Algonquin Commons Theatre, Robert C. Gillett Student Commons, Ottawa, ON
Tickets
Tuesday, October 61 event
- 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 81 event
- 8:00 p.m.
The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa, 4837 Albion Road South, Gloucester, ON
Tickets
Saturday, October 101 event
- 7:00 p.m.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, 4837 Albion Road, Ottawa, ON
Tickets
Thursday, October 151 event
- 7:00 p.m.
Always free in Ottawa
Parliament Hill grounds
Walk the grounds and the lawn in front of Centre Block, with views over the Ottawa River.
Rideau Canal pathways
Paved paths run along both sides of the canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from downtown south past Dow's Lake.
Major's Hill Park
Ottawa's oldest park, between the ByWard Market and the river, with some of the best views of Parliament.
NCC pathways
Hundreds of kilometres of multi-use pathways link the city for walking, running and cycling.
Central Experimental Farm
Open fields, gardens and the arboretum in the middle of the city, free to wander.
City beaches
Mooney's Bay, Britannia, Westboro and Petrie Island beaches are free to use in summer.
ByWard Market
Browsing the market stalls and streets costs nothing, and there is usually something going on.
Gatineau Park trails
Across the river in Quebec, with trails for every level. Some areas charge for parking, so check before you drive.
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Free things to do in Ottawa, all year
Ottawa is a good city to explore on a budget. As the national capital it has a lot of public space that is free to enjoy: the Parliament Hill grounds, the Rideau Canal and its pathways, and parks like Major's Hill. Many festivals run free outdoor programming, and several of the national museums offer free admission at certain times. Hours and free periods change, so check each museum's website before you go.
The events above are the ones listed as free by the organizer, taken from the listings we sync through the day. If an event shows no price, we leave it off this page rather than guess. Check back through the week, since new free events are added as organizers publish them.
Frequently asked questions
- How does ottown decide an event is free?
- Only when the event source lists its price as free or zero. Events with no price listed are left off this page.
- Are Ottawa museums free?
- Some national museums offer free admission at certain times, and some programs are always free. Free periods change, so check the museum's own website for current details.
- What are free things to do in Ottawa in winter?
- Outdoor rinks, the Rideau Canal Skateway when it is open, winter walks on the NCC pathways, and free outdoor events during Winterlude in February.