What to do this weekend in Ottawa, ON (29-30 August 2026)
Late August in Ottawa has a particular kind of magic — that last stretch of summer where the city seems determined to squeeze every drop of sunlight out before the season turns. This weekend, August 29-30, the capital's energy shifts outdoors, onto the water, and into its own storied streets, and honestly, there's no better time to grab tickets before everyone else has the same idea.
The Lilo Floating Tiki Bar bobbing along the Ottawa River is exactly the kind of only-in-summer indulgence that disappears the moment the weather turns — think cocktails, sunshine, and skyline views you can't get anywhere else. If you'd rather glide past that same skyline in style, the private yacht cruise on the Ottawa River turns an ordinary Saturday into something worth bragging about. And for those who want their history with a chill down the spine, the Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa remains one of the city's most atmospheric ways to spend an evening, weaving ghost stories through cobblestone alleys most tourists walk right past.
Prefer your culture with a little more daylight and a lot more context? The Canadian War Museum offers one of the most powerful, unflinching looks at the country's past, while a self-guided bike ride through Ottawa-Gatineau lets you cover ground — literally — that no bus tour ever could. This is a weekend built for movement: on foot, on two wheels, on the water, through history.
Scroll down and start planning — this Ottawa weekend fills up fast.
Candlelight concert 'Tribute to Michael Jackson' at the Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa. A string ensemble performs the King of Pop's biggest hits live in a hall lit by thousands of candles.
A Candlelight concert at Knox Church in Ottawa. A string quartet reworks TOOL's catalogue by candlelight: string arrangements of Schism, Lateralus, Forty Six & 2 and other landmark tracks…
A metal and hardcore night at the Westboro Legion in Ottawa, headlined by Kruelty, the Tokyo quintet fusing beatdown hardcore with '90s death/doom. Also on the bill: Dead Heat, Anhedonia,…
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, the American alt-rock band known for the track "Face Down," plays Overflow Brewing Co. in Ottawa. Broken through with the album Don't You Fake It, the group is…
Candlelight concert at The Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa, an intimate venue on Gladstone Avenue lit entirely by candles. A string quartet reworks metal classics — Metallica, Iron Maiden,…
Canada's longest-running dinner musical, staged in a log-cabin-style room at 330 Kent Street in Ottawa. A 2-hour family-friendly show with 70+ songs by Canadian artists (Paul Anka, Celine…
Paranormal Cirque Nightmare pitches its big top at Ottawa's St. Laurent Shopping Centre. Produced by Cirque Italia, this adult show blends circus, theatre and cabaret in a horror setting:…
The Ottawa REDBLACKS host the BC Lions at TD Place Stadium. East-West CFL matchup, three-down football, a relaxed atmosphere in the Glebe and a good excuse to grab pre-game on Bank Street…
A Canadian Football League (CFL) game between the Ottawa REDBLACKS and the BC Lions at TD Place stadium, in Ottawa's Glebe neighbourhood. This East-West clash pits the Ottawa side against…
Official ticket-and-hotel package for an Ottawa REDBLACKS home game at the TD Place complex on Bank Street in Ottawa. The REDBLACKS play in the Canadian Football League, and the package…
One-hour guided tour aboard the Lady Dive amphibus, departing from 2 Rideau Street in Ottawa. The vehicle rolls through the heart of the capital, then splashes into the Ottawa River for the…
A two-hour guided city bike tour of Ottawa, leaving from Sparks Street downtown. The route covers the headline stops: Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, ByWard Market, embassy row and…
A self-guided bike rental to discover Ottawa on your own terms, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. You map your own route along the canals, riverside paths and landmarks of the nation's capital. A good…
Hop-on hop-off bus loop covering Ottawa's main sights from Sparks Street: Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, the ByWard Market, the Canadian Museum of History across the river in Gatineau,…
A private 90-minute cruise on the Ottawa River aboard the Lilo, Ottawa Palapa Tours' floating tiki bar. Hawaiian-style vessel capped at 12 guests, departing from Mill Street Pub on…
Admission to the Canadian War Museum at 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa. Canada's national military history museum spans the colonial era to modern peacekeeping: the two World Wars, Korea, armoured…
The Chef's Table at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa: bespoke menu by a guest chef, full table service, hushed atmosphere. Premium gastronomic format in the NAC's prestigious setting.
The Chef's Table (Chef à l'affiche) offers an exclusive gourmet dinner at Ottawa's National Arts Centre on August 29, 2026. A private table hosted by a guest chef, built around a signature…
