What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: July 23-25
A family picnics on the boardwalk at Dows Lake in Ottawa on the Labour Day long weekend, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
OTTAWA -
New festivals, exhibits and events kick off across Ottawa this weekend, as the capital spends the second full weekend in Step 3 of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen plan.
Under Ontario's COVID-19 reopening plan, movie theatres, museums and festivals can operate with capacity limits. Indoor gatherings of 25 people and outdoor gatherings of 100 people are now permitted.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at things to do in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec this weekend.
OTTAWA CHAMBERFEST
Ottawa Chamberfest continues in Ottawa until Aug. 4.
Canada's greatest chamber artists are at the forefront this summer at a Chamberfest 2021 packed with music and culture from around the world.
For more information on the lineup and tickets for in-person concerts, visit www.chamberfest.com.
BEYOND VAN GOGH
Immerse yourself in Van Gogh's artwork like you've never seen it before.
Don't miss Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park until Sept. 16. The visit will take an hour with final entry one hour before close.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit vangoghottawa.com.
OTTAWA LEBANESE FESTIVAL
The Ottawa Lebanese Festival continues all weekend.
Enjoy delicious food and celebrate the festival by ordering food online and picking it up.
Visit www.ottawalebanesefestival.com for details.
MUSEUMS
Museums in Ottawa are open now that Ontario is in Step 3.
For more information, visit each museum's website.
- Museum of Nature is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Advance tickets required for all visitors)
- Canada Science and Technology Museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Advance tickets required for all visitors)
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Advance tickets required for all visitors)
- Canadian War Museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- National Gallery of Canada is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- The Diefenbunker is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday
CANADIAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY
Don't miss the Canadian Museum of History's new exhibit, Queens of Egypt.
The museum in Gatineau is open Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, including tickets, visit www.historymuseum.ca.
MUSIC ON THE CANAL
Enjoy live music on the Rideau Canal on Saturday afternoon.
The Fiesta Cubana or NAC Orchestra Brass Ensembles perform as they float along the Rideau Canal.
The concert will begin at the Paul's Boat Line docks located on the Rideau Canal outside the NAC, and will arrive at Dow's Lake approximately 45 minutes later and then return back.
The concert begins at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
COOL OFF
You can cool off at beaches and splash pads in Ottawa and Gatineau.
In Ottawa, lifeguards are open daily at Ottawa's four public beaches from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public beaches are located at Mooney's Bay, Westboro, Britannia and Petrie Island.
Splash pads are also open daily in Ottawa.
In Gatineau Park, the NCC says lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at Meech Lake, Philippe Lake and La Peche Lake.
Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Leamy Lake.
Gatineau's beaches at Parc du Lac-Beauchamp, Parc Mousssette and Parc des Cedres are also open daily, with lifeguards on duty.
DRIVE-IN MOVIE EXPERIENCE
Enjoy a night at the drive-in.
The Drive-In Movie Experience is open this weekend at RCGT Park on Coventry Road and at Wesley Clover Parks.
Here is a look at this weekend's movies:
RCGT Park on Coventry Road:
- Friday: Mortal Kombat
- Sunday (night): Spiral: Book of Saw
Wesley Clover Parks
- Friday: Die Hard (1998)
- Saturday: Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
- Sunday (night): Grease (1978)
For more information, visit https://www.thedriveinottawa.ca/movies
INTERPROVINCIAL ZIPLINE
Interzip Rogers is open daily, allowing you to zip line between Gatineau and Ottawa.
The world's first interprovincial zip line, located at Zibi, is open until Oct. 1.
For ticket information, visit interzip.ca
CAMP FORTUNE
Camp Fortune in Chelsea, Que. offers a variety of unique summer activities.
Check out the aerial park, ziplining and mountain biking. New this summer is the Mountain Coaster, allowing you to twist and turn down an exhilarating one kilometre long monorail track with speeds up to 40 km/h.
For more information, visit campfortune.com
NCC WEEKEND BIKEDAYS
The National Capital Commission is opening the parkways for active transportation every weekend until October.
Cyclists, runners, walkers and other active transportation users can use the parkways on Saturdays and Sundays until October 11.
Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway (9 kilometres): 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Both westbound lanes of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, located on the south side of the Ottawa River just west of the downtown core, from Vimy Place to Carling Avenue.
Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway (8 kilometres): 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Both lanes of the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, running along the south side of the Ottawa River, just east of the downtown core, between the Aviation Parkway and St. Joseph Boulevard in Orléans.
GATINEAU PARK PARKWAYS
The National Capital Commission is reserving parkways in Gatineau Park for active use most of the time in 2021. Motor vehicle access will be allowed on Gatineau Park parkways on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays after 1 p.m.
HIKING IN OTTAWA AND GATINEAU
You can go for a physically-distancing hike in the Greenbelt and Gatineau Park this weekend.
For a list of trails in the Greenbelt, visit https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/hiking-and-walking-greenbelt
For a list of recommended trails in Gatineau Park, visit https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park-trails-in-spring
PARKWAYS FOR PEOPLE
The National Capital Commission is opening up a section of Colonel By Drive for active transportation this summer.
Colonel By Drive will be closed to vehicles daily until Sept. 6 from Daly Avenue to Canal Woods Terrance.
613 FLEA
The 613Flea marketplace returns on Saturday after a long COVID-19 hiatus.
Check out the popular 613Flea event at Lansdowne Park Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit www.613Flea.ca
BYWARD MARKET AND PARKDALE MARKET
The ByWard Market and Parkdale Public Market are open daily.
For more information, visit www.ottawamarkets.ca
BARRHAVEN MARKET
The Barrhaven Market is open on Sundays at Nepean Woods Park and Ride.
Visit the market between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
For more information, visit https://ottawafarmersmarket.ca/barrhaven-market/
CARP MARKET
The Carp Farmers Market is open at the fair grounds in Carp.
It's open every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
METCALFE FARMERS' MARKET
The Metcalfe Farmers Market is open on Saturday.
The market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Metcalfe Fairgrounds on 8th Line Road.
OTTAWA FARMERS MARKET
The Ottawa Farmers Market is open every Sunday at Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park.
The market is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PARC OMEGA
Parc Omega is open in Montebello, Que.
For more information, visit parcomega.ca
SAUNDERS FARM
Enjoy a campfire and find your way through the maze at Saunders Farm.
Campfire nights are the perfect family outing, date night or small gathering. Also, checkout Maze Days every weekend of the summer.
For more information, visit saundersfarm.com
A-MAZ-ING CORN MAZE
Ontario's most a-maze-ing corn maze opens this weekend at Ouimet Farms in Vankleek Hill.
The seven-acres corn maze will get you hunting for hidden mailboxes throughout the mazes.
For more information, visit ouimetfarms.com
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