Ottawa's cultural pulse is beating extra fast this weekend, with 42 shows transforming the capital into a playground for explorers and experience-seekers. While most cities slow down in early June, Ottawa is doubling down on immersive adventures that'll have you seeing the city through completely fresh eyes.
The ByWard Market Food Tour at Ottawa School of Art stands out as the weekend's most deliciously unexpected gem—imagine wandering through cobblestone streets while local chefs spill their best-kept secrets about the market's hidden culinary corners. Meanwhile, history buffs are in for a treat with skip-the-line access to the Canadian War Museum, where you can dive deep into stories that shaped this nation without wasting precious weekend minutes in queues. For those craving movement and discovery, the 2-Hour Ottawa Express City Bike Tour promises to unlock the capital's lesser-known landmarks at the perfect pace for curious minds.
What makes this particular weekend in Ottawa, ON special isn't just the sheer volume of shows and experiences—it's how they're designed to make locals feel like tourists in their own backyard and visitors feel like insiders. From self-guided cycling adventures that let you set your own rhythm to hop-on hop-off tours that give you the freedom to linger wherever strikes your fancy, every option feels crafted for maximum spontaneity.
Here's your complete guide to conquering Ottawa's weekend offerings.
Concerts
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical — Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Theatre (Saturday 6)
- Dan Bern, Orit Shimoni — Live On Elgin (Saturday 6)
- Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift — Knox Church (Sunday 7)
- Candlelight: Tribute to ABBA — Knox Church (Sunday 7)
Theatre
- Singin' In The Rain - Nepean — Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe (Saturday 6)
- Robert Lepage: Macbeth — Babs Asper Theatre at National Arts Centre (Saturday 6)
- Singin' In The Rain - Ottawa — Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe (Sunday 7)
Sports
- Ottawa RedBlacks vs. Edmonton Elks — TD Place Stadium (Saturday 6)
- Edmonton Elks at Ottawa REDBLACKS — TD Place Stadium - Ottawa (Saturday 6)
Experiences
- ByWard Market Food Tour — Ottawa School of Art (Saturday 6)
- Canadian War Museum: Skip-the-Line — Canadian War Museum (Saturday 6)
- Canadian War Museum Admission — Canadian War Museum (Saturday 6)
- Cycling the Nation's Capital, self-guided — The Famous Five (Saturday 6)
- Self-Guided Biking in Ottawa-Gatineau — 65 Sparks St. (Saturday 6)
- 2-Hour Ottawa Express City Bike Tour — 65 Sparks St. (Saturday 6)
- Ottawa Landmarks — 2 Rideau St (Saturday 6)
- Ottawa Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour — 44 Sparks St. (Saturday 6)
- Ottawa City Tour: Hop-on Hop-off Bus — Gray Line Ottawa Meeting Point (Saturday 6)
- Ottawa: Small Group Walking Tour with Boat Cruise — Parliament Hill (Saturday 6)
- Balade en yacht privé sur la rivière des Outaouais — Ottawa River Tour, Private Yacht (Saturday 6)
- Rideau Canal Cruise — British High Commission in Canada (Saturday 6)
- Ottawa River Boat Cruise — Port de plaisance Jacques-Cartier - Marina de Hull (Saturday 6)
- The Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa — Haunted Walk of Ottawa (Saturday 6)
- Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa — 46 Sparks St. (Saturday 6)
- Lilo Floating Tiki Bar on the Ottawa River — Mill Street Pub (Saturday 6)
- ByWard Market Food Tour — Ottawa School of Art (Sunday 7)
- Canadian War Museum: Skip-the-Line — Canadian War Museum (Sunday 7)
- Canadian War Museum Admission — Canadian War Museum (Sunday 7)
- Cycling the Nation's Capital, self-guided — The Famous Five (Sunday 7)
- Self-Guided Biking in Ottawa-Gatineau — 65 Sparks St. (Sunday 7)
- 2-Hour Ottawa Express City Bike Tour — 65 Sparks St. (Sunday 7)
- Ottawa Landmarks — 2 Rideau St (Sunday 7)
- Ottawa City Tour: Hop-on Hop-off Bus — Gray Line Ottawa Meeting Point (Sunday 7)
- Ottawa Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour — 44 Sparks St. (Sunday 7)
- Ottawa: Small Group Walking Tour with Boat Cruise — Parliament Hill (Sunday 7)
- Balade en yacht privé sur la rivière des Outaouais — Ottawa River Tour, Private Yacht (Sunday 7)
- Rideau Canal Cruise — British High Commission in Canada (Sunday 7)
- Ottawa River Boat Cruise — Port de plaisance Jacques-Cartier - Marina de Hull (Sunday 7)
- Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa — 46 Sparks St. (Sunday 7)
- The Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa — Haunted Walk of Ottawa (Sunday 7)