Feeling Festive This Weekend? Check Out These Ottawa Festivals!

Spring has passed and summer has officially arrived! The temperature is heating up, and so is the festival scene in Canada’s Capital! If you’re looking to experience unique cultural traditions, get down to live music, or try some mouth-watering BBQ and beer, there’s never been a better time to head out and enjoy yourself. Summer weather means fun together, so grab your friends and family and check out all the festivities going on around Ottawa this weekend.

Ottawa Ribfest on Sparks StreetJune 20 – 24, Spark Street

Five blocks packed with deliciously juicy ribs? How could any meat lover pass this festival up? The succulent spectacle has already begun along Sparks Street, but there are still three more days to visit the 13 vendors serving up their best for foodies from far and wide. Not into ribs? Not to worry! From chicken to donuts, there is plenty of other food is being offered as well. Looking for more than food? Ribfest’s got you covered with a dozen musical acts performing live on their stage at 300 Sparks. Admission is FREE! Get your gang together and dig in!

Tim Horton’s Dragon Boat FestivalJune 21 – 24, Mooney’s Bay Park

Back for its 25th edition, the Tim Horton’s Dragon Boat Festival is a staple event in the capital. It’s the biggest Dragon Boat festival in North America with over 200 teams made up of 5,000 paddlers competing for tens of thousands of festivalgoers. There are races every 10 minutes so there’s always something new to see. This festival also features traditional Chinese performances, a live concert series with 20 amazing acts, North America’s largest playground, and much, much more. It may seem too good to be true, but it’s all FREE! You’ll have to pay a visit to experience it all, and with everything that’s going on, there’s something for everyone to do!

Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival & Competition Pow WowJune 21 – 24, Vincent Massey Park

In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival brings people from all walks of life to Vincent Massey Park to celebrate Inuit, First Nations and Métis cultures and contributions! Come to learn about indigenous traditions and stay for the all the wonderful events planned for the weekend, including long table feasts, arts and crafts zones, live performances, and more. To finish off the festivities, join in the celebrations with the highlight Competition Pow Wow, which showcases the best singers and Dancers from across north America. Do not miss this fantastic cultural experience right here in Canada’s Capital!

TD Ottawa Jazz FestivalJune 21 – July 1, Various venues

Who doesn’t love a good jazz riff? Throughout the city until Canada Day, there will be scores of swingin’ beats around town for people of all ages to enjoy. The 38th edition of TD Ottawa Jazz Festival features dozens of unique musicians from all over the jazz world and is not to be missed by musicians and music lovers alike. There are concession stands to keep your stomach satisfied while you listen, and a merch tent in Confederation park to pick ensembles’ albums if you liked what you heard. Jazz it up this weekend and experience the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival!

Brewery Market’s Second DraughtJune 23, Hintonburg Park

The Brewery Market wants everyone to drink and be merry! That’s why they’re hosting Second Draught! Head on over to Hintonburg Park to grab a cold one and pick up some delicious food while you’re at it. From sausages to pretzels and ice cream, they’ve got it all. Though there is beer available, this is definitely a family friendly event. Bring your little ones and let them run wild on the playground or refreshing splash pad right on site. Admission is FREE so come one and all to the Brewery Market’s Second Draught!

Bud Light EscapadeJune 23 – 24, TD Place Lansdowne Park

One of the biggest electronic dance music festivals makes its return to Ottawa with a bang! This festival brings together some of the biggest names in EDM to take the stage at Lansdowne Park, right in the heart of Ottawa. It’s a 16+ event and is fully licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, and there will be plenty of food available as well. Want to take Escapade home with you? Merch is available on site to buy as well. Bring your friends and your dance skills (and water guns, they’re permitted if empty!) and catch the best from the EDM world without leaving the city! Which fantastic festival will we be seeing you at this weekend? Time to get out and

#GetFestive

Ottawa!