"Events & Happenings" a Ottawa Travel Page by bkathryn

Send Photo to a Friend

Australia - Centenary of Freedom (2001)

Winterlude (Bal de Neige)

Winter can be very long in Ottawa. But we try to make it fun. There's quite a bit of cross-country and downhill skiing nearby. When the weather is suitable and the Rideau Canal freezes, people skate along 8 km of skateway! There's also a winter festival in February, known as Winterlude (or Bal de neige). People make snow and ice sculptures and there are lots of interesting events. In February 2001, they were helping to celebrate Australia's centenary and had several relevant ice sculptures.

Send Photo to a Friend

Sugar bush in Cumberland, Ontario

Maple Sugar Bush visit

Another activity we've done from Ottawa is to go to a sugar bush and have lots of food with maple syrup slathered all over it. It's wonderful! So is the maple taffy on snow that you can get at a sugar bush.

Send Photo to a Friend

The "Man With Two Hats" at Dow's Lake, Ottawa

Tulip Festival

OK. Spring is tulip festival time in Ottawa. Millions of tulips bloom, the weather starts to warm up, and many visitors arrive. Check out the festival's web site at www.tulipfestival.ca.

Send Photo to a Friend

Canada's Musical Ride

RCMP Musical Ride

Each summer (July-August) Canada's Musical Ride travels the country and gives shows demonstrating their riding skills. Before they leave Ottawa, however, they do about a week of shows at the Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), near Rockliffe, in Ottawa. We took our lawn chairs and umbrellas in June 1990 and watched. Fabulous!

Send Photo to a Friend

Bluesfest July 2004

Bluesfest

Another fun event in Ottawa is the annual blues festival. They get some pretty good bands in and it's always fun to go and discover new ones. The event usually takes place in July and it's mainly on outdoor stages.

Send Photo to a Friend

The Massed Bands!

Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville

We've been to this event a few times since we've lived in Ottawa. It's always held the long weekend in August (1st Monday in August). We went again this year. It's very entertaining and lots of fun, assuming you like bagpipes! Maxville is about 45-60 minutes' drive East of Ottawa on Highway 416.

Send Photo to a Friend

Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival

Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival

Every year, Gatineau (Quebec) hosts a large hot air balloon festival. It's on the long weekend in September. While we went a couple of times when we first moved here, we have noticed that it is a festival we can enjoy, even without paying to park!