Looking for something to do before September hits?
Here are some of the best summer events happening in Ottawa this August!
Aug 3: Jaws on the Water
Can your nerves handle it?
Interactive Flick is hosting a movie night where you can float on the lake, canoe, paddleboard, eat food, and just chill. With the movie, they’ll also be having a BBQ and some other activities - be sure to bring a tube or you can get one from them! Grab your tickets here.
Aug 2-5: Ottawa International Buskerfest
Take in all Sparks Street has to offer and then some! The Ottawa International Buskerfest is an amazing event with street talent from across the world! While the event is free, it’s strongly encouraged to help support these artists by coming prepared to make donations to your favourite performers!
Get the deets here and find out more about the performers and vendors.
Aug 2-5: Capital Ribfest
Swing by City Hall and don’t forget your appetite! With free admission, Capital Ribfest is a great daytime date with live music, a craft beer garden and all the rib options for you to dive into!
Learn more here.
Aug 6-10: Raised by Wolves event
Raised by Wolves is hosting their second annual Ottawa warehouse sale from August 6–10 with past seasons at up to 80% off. If you drop by Friday from 6-10 pm, they’ll be hosting their end-of-season party with Beau’s Beer and a DJ on deck.
The best part? The team will also be holding a drive for the Ottawa Food Bank and providing a free gift with donation of a non-perishable food item.
Aug 10: West End Food Truck Rally
Over a dozen food trucks will be opening shop at Christ Church Bells Corners from 11am-7pm in support of FAMSAC Food Cupboard. It’s a great event to take your kids or nephews and nieces or check out with some friends!
Take time to explore Ottawa’s culinary talents and find out more info here.
Aug 10: Flora St Block Party
From Percy to Bronson on Flora St, this will be the third Flora Street Block Party! Tthe street will be filled with great food, music, and local businesses such as Flora Hall Brewing, Moo Shu Ice Cream, Seed to Sausage and others. Get the schedule breakdown and deets here.
Aug 11: Fanaticcon Ottawa
Geek out with pride while you explore collectibles, comics, gaming, art and cosplay. Hosted at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre, you’re guaranteed to find something you love if you’re into celebrating fandom of all geek culture.
Grab your tickets here and surprise your best geek pal.
Aug 9-11: The Great India Festival
Explore Indian culture from specialty dishes to music and dance. Stop by City Hall and expand your horizons!
Want more details? Find them here!
Aug 10-11: Perth AND Carp Garlic Festival
In love with garlic? Well apparently it’s your lucky weekend! Perth AND Carp are both hosting their annual garlic festival August 10-11.
Aug 13: Royal Air Force Red Arrows
Great Britain’s Royal Air Force precision Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, will be putting on a sky-high special performance. This will be their first performance of a 6-week North American tour!
Want tickets? Grab them from the AERO Gatineau-Ottawa website.
Aug 14-28: Lansdowne Movie Nights
Free movies outdoors? Heck yes! Lansdowne Park is hosting free movie nights open to the public every Wednesday at dusk (around 8:30 pm). This month’s movies include La Bolduc, Storks, Hidden Figures, Lego Movie 2, and Ready Player One.
Click here for the full schedule. Oh, and don’t worry about rain. They’ve got a backup plan in the Aberdeen Pavilion!
Aug 15: Boathouse Summer Party
In support of Canadian Red Cross, the Ottawa Rowing Club is offering you a “life-changing foodie and dance event with a special thematic, in a unique historical heritage site where you will rejoice, be happy and have a memorable and unique experience.”
Sound tempting? We think so too! Find out more and grab tickets here.
Aug 17: Water Lantern Festival
Check out the Water Lantern Festival at Andrew Haydon Park and catch the moment with a loved one as the lanterns light up the water. Your ticket covers a lantern, a marker to decorate it, and the cost of cleaning up the lanterns to keep our city looking fine!
The event is also in support of water.org. You can find out more about it at WaterLanternFestival.ca.
Aug 17: A Taste of Manotick
Get to know your community and your neighbours! Head to Manotick to explore the local shops and treats available!
Find out everything you need on their official website here.
Aug 17: Bunker Beer Tasting
Bunker AND beer? Can’t beat that.
Featuring three unique breweries, you can explore the bunker and try some of the city’s homegrown beers! Get your tix here.
Until Aug 17: Centretown Movies Outdoor Film Festival
Every Friday and Saturday, grab your significant other and cuddle up! Bring a lawn chair, blanket, even your own snacks, and pay what you can!
This annual outdoor event is created for the community, by the community. Take a look at their lineup here.
Aug 17: Dodge for a Cause
Looking for a reason to revisit childhood memories? There is a co-ed charity beach dodgeball tournament happening in the city that’s right up your alley! Get the info here.
Aug 17-18: Westboro Fuse
Explore one of the city’s trendiest neighbourhoods: Westboro! The weekend-long street party will have live music, vendor pop-ups and some treats you HAVE to try!
See what’ll be featured or explore Westboro’s local shops here.
Aug 10-24: Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light
Each year, Casino du Lac-Leamy hosts some of the most amazing firework shows you’ve ever seen. The five nights feature lights, music and entertainment with performances from Chile, Italy, Greece, France, and the grand finale!
Find out more about the schedule breakdown here!
Aug 23: 613nightmarket
The not-for-profit marketplace 613flea is hosting its ongoing 613nightmarket event with artisans, designers and makers coming together with antiques dealers, food merchants and vintage clothing vendors.
The event is free to attend and a great way to support local talent. Set yourself a reminder through Facebook here.
Aug 23: Palestinian Fest
It wouldn’t be summer in Ottawa without our cultural festivals! With free admission, it’s a great excuse to learn more about Palestinian music, culture, and food!
Find out more about the City Hall event here.
Aug 24: The Big Sit
Join nonprofit Warrior Yoga in Ottawa's biggest mass meditation session. From 2-3pm at Confederation park, you can gather together for a guided meditation taught by Alex Ure to connect to the power of community.
This event is free, but 100% of donations will go to Warrior Yoga, a not-for profit making the benefits of yoga and meditation more accessible to people in need of healing.
Get your ticket and make a donation here.
Aug 24: National Capital Pride Run
A great way to motivate yourself to keep up with your fitness this month, the National Capital Pride Run is a totally affordable 5km run or 2.5km walk fundraiser!
Show your city’s pride community you stand with them and sign up here.
Aug 24: House of PainT
Head to Brewer Park for the 16th year of House of PainT! The Main Event starts at 11 am and features concerts, competitions, workshops, and academic talks – celebrating and elevating hip hop in Canada.
“As the largest urban arts event in the Nation's Capital and one of Ottawa's fastest growing community events, House of PainT Festival of Urban Arts & Culture showcases the elements of hip hop culture in Ottawa. DJing, MCing, graffiti art and urban dance are the four elements that flood Brewer Park annually for the past 16 years!”
Get the full info on the Facebook event page.
Aug 24: Capital Fair Monster Truck Show
Check out some bad boy trucks and catch the "Monsters in Motion" show on Saturday, August 24th at 1:00pm. It’ll be an outdoor event, no boards or anything. Grab your tickets here!
Aug 24: Crafts and Drafts
Freewheeling Craft + Beyond the Pale are hosting their third and final Crafts and Drafts for this summer!
It’ll be a full day of shopping local crafts, craft beer, live music and DJ sets through the day, artisan food and drinks.
It gets started at 11 a.m. if you want a strong kick off! Check out the Facebook event here.
Aug 31: National Capital Car Show (Barrhaven Aug 18)
Rescheduled for August 31, the second annual National Capital Car Show is just a $5 entry as a donation towards the Rotary Club Ottawa South. The event will have sweet cars, Steam Whistle Brewing, and some pop-up vendors.
Can’t make it and out in the suburbs? Barrhaven is hosting its own event Aug 18!
Disclaimer: These recommendations are purely personal opinion. Any businesses mentioned have not endorsed this post.