Dorothy's Closet - Ottawa Local Events

Ottawa Spring Home Show has more than 300 companies showcasing furnishings, swimming pools and services, landscaping, plumbing, kitchens, baths, windows and doors. Decoration and renovation seminars, how-to tips and a do-it-yourself centre round out the entertainment. A beautiful feature garden gets visitors in the mood for spring, and guest presenters talk outdoor and garden design on the Landscape & Garden Stage.

Canadian Tulip Festival

May 7th – 24th, 2010
Ottawa/Gatineau - Canada's Capital Region
Tel: (613) 567-4447 / 1-800-66-TULIP

The Canadian Tulip Festival seeks to preserve the heritage and character of its fifty-five year old historyaround its original founding idea, International Friendship. In 2007, the tremendously successful International Pavilion featured the Embassies and community groups of 15 participating countries, attracting a record 125,000 visitors to Major’s Hill Park in just 11 days. In 2009 we plan to extend the International Pavilion to the full 18 days of the Festival with more countries and enhanced international entertainment.

The Ottawa Flotilla Ottawa fFlotilla

May 19 – 20th, 2010
Rideau Canal
Tel: (613) 447-5254

The Flotilla is an Ottawa tradition that has been taking place for over 50 years and this year the tradition will continue with a new name - OTTAWA FLOTILLA. The Ottawa Flotilla is an annual parade of decorated boats that cruises from Dows Lake and along the Rideau Canal to downtown Ottawa. Held on the May long weekend, participants entertain visitors and residents of Canada's Capital Region in celebration of the arrival of spring.

It's been an annual event for years and the residential streets of the Glebe, Ottawa's trendy little shopping neighbourhood, overflow with people searching for hidden treasures and bargains. You can find everything here, including clothes, records, toys, and furniture. Every new house is a new world of possibilities. Some of the shoppers are Glebites who have left their own sales to explore the wares of their neighbours. However, many people come to this event from all over Ottawa. It's a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning. This is the perfect event for students looking for cheap furniture and household items, and is a great place for expectant mothers and fathers looking for pre-loved baby items. Of course, it's also the ideal place for anyone who has a secret penchant for knick-knacks and do-hickeys.

It’s WESTFEST and it’s FREE! In 2010 you’ll see the best in Canadian and Local Ottawa multidisciplinary arts, including music, performance art, literature, spoken word, media art, visual art, dance, theatre, and live animation. Starting Friday, June 11 through Sunday, June 13 an estimated 200,000 people will stroll through the community of Westboro Village in Ottawa. Everyone is welcome!

Don't miss the boat! If you haven't experienced the sport of dragon boat racing, start your summer at Mooney's Bay. 180 teams participate in corporate, government and community challenges. Combine the excitement and competition of the races with multi-cultural food and entertainment and charitable fundraising and you have something for the whole family to enjoy. Some examples of on-site events include the following: Multicultural performances all day on the Festival's main stage A children's activity area that includes rides, a crafts tent and much more!

Ottawa Fringe Festival

June 17 - 27, 2010
Arts Court, University of Ottawa Theatre Dept.
Tel: (613) 232-6162
Fax: (613) 569-7660

A Fringe Festival is a forum that unites artists and audiences in a fun, exploratory environment. The guiding principles of the Fringe include unrestricted artistic expression, accessibility and community development.

The Fringe encourages artists to explore and test boundaries and make bold choices in the creation of art.

TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival Ottawa Jazz Festival

June 24 – July 4, 2010
Confederation Park
Tel: (613) 241-2633
E Mail: info@ottawajazzfestival.com

The TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival is the premier music event to take place in downtown Ottawa. Entering its 29th year of consecutive programming, the Festival boasts the biggest loyal audience of any event in eastern Ontario. It has presented some of the most dynamic jazz artists on the scene, from the traditional to the avant-garde, such as Herbie Hancock, Salif Keita, Dave Brubeck, Roy Haynes, Toots Thielemans, Branford Marsalis, Béla Fleck, Kenny Werner, Stanley Jordan, Sonny Rollins, Terence Blanchard, Diana Krall, D.D. Jackson, Maynard Ferguson, and John Mayall to name only a few.

Canada Day

July 1
Parliament Hill, Major's Hill Park, Confederation Park and Jacques Cartier Park in Hull
Tel: 1-800-465-1867 or (613) 239-5000

Canada's Capital Region celebrates our national holiday with shows, street performers and concerts!

Join us on Parliament Hill where some of Canada's best artists perform for the entire country. The whole family can share in the excitement of the festivities at sites around the Capital Region including Major's Hill Park and Jacques Cartier Park in Hull. Don't miss the spectacular fireworks display!

Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest

July 7 - 18, 2010
Tel: (613) 247-1188
Fax: (613) 247-2220

Canada's Biggest Blues Festival presents an outstanding array of the finest blues musicians over two weekends in a spectacular outdoor setting in downtown Ottawa.

The Changing of the Guard Ceremony Ottawa Changing Of The Guard

June - August
Tel: (613) 993-1811 or 1-800 465-1867
One of Canada's most outstanding attractions, this half-hour ceremony is presented daily on the lawn of Parliament Hill at 10 a.m., from late June until late August, weather permitting. It offers an unrivaled combination of colour, tradition, pageantry and military precision. The Guard is also seen at Rideau Hall, where sentries are posted at the gate and main entrance. The massed bands, pipes and drums of the Canadian Forces meet on Parliament Hill. The evening closes with a traditional Sunset Ceremony. Go early (9:45) to learn about the symbolism, history, regiments and proceedings of the ceremony.

Alcatel HOPE Volleyball BeachFest Ottawa Hope Volleyball

July 10, 2010
Mooney's Bay Beach, Ottawa
Tel: (613) 237-1433
Fax: (613) 237-1601

The world’s largest beach volleyball tournament with as many as 1,000 teams and 10,000 players participating in 5, 000 games is a spectacle in and of itself. But HOPE pumps up the event a few more notches by providing six continuous hours of live entertainment from its main stage featuring prominent headliners drawing in upwards of another 20,000 spectators. Since its inception 23 years ago, the BeachFest has raised more than 5 million in support of over 100 local charities.

Ottawa Greek Summer Festival Ottawa Greek Festival

August 12 - 22, 2010
1315 Prince of Wales Dr.
(between Baseline & Merivale)
Tel: (613) 225-8016
Fax: (613) 225-8545
E-mail: festival@helleniccommunity.com
Website: www.ottawagreekfest.com
The Annual Ottawa Greek Festival is all about fun, food & festivities! We have something there for everyone. LIVE A DAY THE GREEK WAY !!! OPA!!

Ottawa SuperEX Ottawa Super X

August 19 - 29, 2010
Tel: (613) 237-7222

Ottawa’s end of the summer family bash returns to Lansdowne Park in the heart of Ottawa for 11 days of thrills and non-stop entertainment. The area largest midway and games returns to provide thrills for all ages. Ten performance areas give you non-stop professional and amateur entertainment including the famous Fernandez, the Power of Suggestion show, a thrilling high flying motocross motorcycle jump show as well as plenty of pets and farm animals. Call (613) 237-7222 for information.

CKCU Ottawa Folk Festival

August 13 - 15, 2010
Tel: (613) 230-8234
Fax: (613) 230-7887

The annual festival celebrates Canada's rich folk tradition with music, dance, storytelling and crafts. Evening concerts featuring North Americas finest acoustic musicians. Over 150 performers on six stages Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Children's concerts and family activity area.

Ottawa Lumière Festival Ottawa Lumiere Festival

August 13 - September 9, 2010
Tel: (613) 745-2742
Fax: (613) 745-4153
Email: cccc@bellnet.ca

The Lumière Festival is an enchanting evening event that brings together professional artists and performers with community members to celebrate the beauty and magic of light and lanterns. Stanley Park will be lined with enchanting lantern sculptures created by professional artists and a variety of performers – dancers, musicians, stilt walkers and story tellers will add to the magical atmosphere.

Musical bands lead the way along the water’s edge, and participants carry handmade paper lanterns that they have created at a Lumière lantern workshop or purchased at the Festival. Dressed in midsummer eve costume - fairies, pixies, dragons and elves - children proudly carry their own lanterns as their fairy wings bump behind them.

Capial Pride - Ottawa's Most Colourful Festival Gay Pride Ottawa

August 20 - 29, 2010
Pride Committee Ottawa-Gatineau
Tel: (613) 252-7174

The 25th anniversary of the Capital Pride Festival features more than 60 events put on by your Capital Pride Committee and Community Partners! See the 2010 Festival Event Schedule for all the details. Join us and celebrate 25 years in colour in the nation's capital!

Ottawa International Animation Festival

October 20 - 24, 2010
Tel: (613) 232-8769

One of the largest festivals of its kind, OIAF attracts over 1000 animators, producers, distributors, industry leaders, cultural representatives, students and animation fans from around the world. A rare chance for the general public to come and see the best new animation from around the world in the company of the filmmakers, including many Academy Award winners!

La Vendemmia – Ottawa’s Celebration of Italian Wine and Food Ottawa Little Italy

September 20 - 26, 2010
Preston Street (Little Italy), Ottawa
Tel: (613) 422-9399
Fax: (613) 482-4774
Email: lavendemmia@prestonstreet.com

Do you LOVE Italian Wine and Food? Since 1997, La Vendemmia has been Ottawa 's Celebration of Italian Wine & Food held in the heart of Little Italy, Preston Street. La Vendemmia is a series of Italian wine and food seminars, dinners, cooking demos, wine tastings and a charity grape stomp. September 22-28, 2008 for the 12th year of La Vendemmia.

Winterlude / Bal de Neige Ottawa Winterlude

February 5 - 21, 2010
National Capital Region
Tel: 1-800-465-1867 or (613) 239-5000

Every February, Canada's Capital Region is host to Winterlude, North America's greatest winter festival. Three fun-filled weekends of excitement and activity await the whole family! From spectacular ice carvings to an amazing playground made of snow, Winterlude is a great way to take in the best of our Canadian winter. Skate the Rideau Canal, the world's longest skating rink! Marvel at the spectacular ice and snow sculptures.

Ottawa Symphony Orchestra

2010-2011 Series
2, Avenue Daly, Suite 250
Ottawa ON K1N 6E2
Tel: 613 231 7802

The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra is now the National Capital Region’s largest orchestra with 100 musicians, specializing in performing music from the large symphonic repertoire. Thanks to the support of its growing audiences, the OSO’s commitment to continuing the distinguished orchestral heritage begun in 1894, is alive and thriving. We invite you to join the OSO for a fabulous season of Five Great 7th Symphonies.

Ottawa Little Theatre

400 King Edward Ave.
Ottawa, ON K1N 7M7
Tel. (613) 233-8948
Fax (613) 233-8027

Theatre worth loving! For ninety-six years, we have provided Ottawa with popular affordable plays.

Each summer, thousands of music lovers travel from across Canada and around the world to attend the largest chamber music festival in the world and one of the country’s most important cultural events. Concerts are presented in acoustically perfect heritage churches. Over 250 of the top chamber musicians from Canada and the international scene will perform.

Local Ottawa Events of interest