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Labour Day may be creeping up on us, but there’s still lots of summer left to enjoy! Case in point: this week’s calendar of events. It features five fairs, six plays, two long-distance cycling events, a self-driving farm tour in Prescott-Russell and SDG, two wellness festivals in the Outaouais, dance lessons at Zibi, jumping dogs in Brockville, a whitewater festival in Maniwaki, a singalong at a cave in Eganville … honestly, that’s just the beginning! Read on for all the details.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Go to a night market in Alta Vista or Arnprior
The Canterbury Community Association is hosting a night market on Thursday, August 21, from 4pm to 8pm, at the Jim Tubman Rink. The event will run rain or shine.
On Saturday, August 23, the Cultural Night Market will showcase cultures from around the world in downtown Arnprior. From 4pm to 9pm, you can enjoy live performances and browse through dozens of vendor stalls (including food and drink vendors).
Meet farmers, bakers and other food makers in Prescott-Russell and SDG
Savour the Field is a three-day celebration of farmers, bakers, chefs and other providers of tasty foods. On Saturday, you can plan a route through the countryside east and southeast of Ottawa—to places such as Vankleek Hill, Williamstown and Rockland—to visit farms, shops and more. It’s a “doors open”-style event, but for food. All participants will be welcoming visitors on Saturday, but some will be open Friday as well. Then, on Sunday, there’s a farm-to-table meal in Apple Hill.
Catch a play In Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Morrisburg or Gananoque
This is your last week to see The Girl With No Hands outdoors at Strathcona Park in Ottawa, as well as Maggie’s Getting Married at the Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg and The Giant’s Garden at the Station Theatre in Smiths Falls. It’s also opening week for Five Alarm at Ottawa Little Theatre and Stag and Doe at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque (where Cottages and Indians also continues until August 30). For details on these and many other plays, check out my theatre post.
Be Greek for a day in Ottawa
Watch Greek dancers and enjoy live Greek music. Nibble on souvlaki, moussaka and more. Family-friendly Ottawa Greek Fest (August 22 to 24) is about as close as you can get to the Parthenon or Santorini without jumping on a plane! The video above is from a few years ago, but it will give you a taste of what to expect. The festival takes place at the Hellenic Event Centre at 1315 Prince of Wales Drive, between Baseline Road and Meadowlands Drive; check the website for details on shuttles and offsite parking. Free admission.
Go stargazing near Kaladar
Near the night of the new moon each month, weather permitting, the Lennox and Addington County Dark Sky Viewing Area offers a free Laser-Guided Stargazing Tour on Friday and Saturday nights. Each tour starts about an hour after dusk and lasts approximately 90 minutes. You’ll get a laser-guided tour of the night sky and perhaps peek through a telescope. The next tour nights are August 22 and 23. Even though the tour is free, you should go online to reserve a spot if you’re interested. The viewing area is in Erinsville, just south of where Highway 7 intersects with Highway 41 in Kaladar, Ontario.
Cheer for jumping dogs in Brockville
The concept behind dog dock jumping is pretty simple: Dog stands at shore end of dock. Handler stands at water end, dangling toy. Dog, predictably, bolts down dock—just as handler tosses toy over water. Dog leaps into air in hot pursuit, soaring over water. Splashdown. Cheering. Repeat with next dog. The Canine Watersports Canada Championships looks like a total hoot. This year’s competition is happening in Hardy Park (80 Water Street West, Brockville) from August 22 to 24 (so ignore the dates in the old video above).
Enjoy an Indian festival in Sandy Hill
Ratha Yatra is an ancient Indian celebration, and a version of it will be winding its way through Sandy Hill on Saturday, August 23. The chariot parade will start at the corner of Templeton Street and Marlborough Avenue at 11am and end at the Sandy Hill Community Centre Park at noon. Festivities—including a free vegetarian meal, musical and dance performances, and children’s activities—will continue in the park throughout the afternoon.
Sing along at a picnic in Eganville
Bonnechere Caves in Eganville is hosting a classic rock singalong picnic on Thursday, August 21. Bring a picnic and lawn chairs! The $10 ticket fee goes to the musicians leading the fun.
If you’re looking for more things to see and do while you’re in Eganville, check out my big guide to Eganville and Calabogie.
Try a triathlon in Cornwall or Ripon
The Cornwall Triathlon is a multi-part event. Saturday, August 23, is for kids, with a duathlon and a triathlon for competitors aged 7 to 14, and a duathlon for little runners aged 6 and under. (Kids’ events are non-timed.) On Sunday, August 24, adult events include a 5K run, a duathlon and a triathlon.
The first-ever Triathlon de la Petite-Monnaie is taking place on Sunday, August 24, in Ripon. Participants will swim 800m in Lake Viceroy, cycle 20km and then run a 5K. If they have any energy left, they’ll also receive free admission to the Festival Santé et Bien-être en Outaouais mentioned later in this post.
Nosh on corn in Stittsville
The fourth annual Stittsville Sweet Corn Festival (Saturday, August 2e) will celebrate corn in all its forms: corn on the cob, popcorn and lots of other variations. Door prizes and live music will round out the festivities at this dog-friendly event. It’s all happening in Village Square Park (6154 Abbott Street) from 10am to 3pm.
Take a free house dance lesson at Zibi
Dance at Zibi is a free series of beginner-friendly lessons running once a month at Zibi in Ottawa from May through August. During this month’s class on Thursday, August 21, you can join Capital Sessions for a house dance lesson. The class runs from 7pm to 8pm at The Warehouse on Albert Island (28 Booth Street, north of the Canadian War Museum). The organizers encourage participants to get there by foot, bike or public transit, but some parking is available for $5.
Enjoy a block party in Kingston
The Brock Street Block Party (Sunday, August 24) will keep things lively on the popular shopping street in downtown Kingston from noon to 4pm. The street will be closed to vehicles between King and Wellington streets. The fun will include $2 pizza slices at Atomica, a hands-on watercolour activity for kids at Martello on Brock, an outdoor jazz brunch at the Black Dog Tavern and the official opening of the Brock Street location of 23 & Co. (I popped in there in July, during the soft opening, and the cookies are amazing. They are also huge—one could easily be dessert for two people!)
Ease into wellness in Wakefield, Ripon or Clarendon
It seems to be a weekend of wellness in the Outaouais.
Gaiafest (August 22 to 24) in Wakefield will feature yoga, meditation, music, art, breathwork, sound therapy, drumming, vegetarian food, a vendor village, dancing and more. You can swim and paddle in a lake, or unwind on nature trails, too.
In Ripon, Quebec, the Festival Santé et Bien-être en Outaouais (August 22 to 24) offers workshops and activities covering a similar range of interests—yoga, drumming, sound therapy, breathwork—as well as forest bathing, qigong, stress relief and more.
And in Clarendon, Herboristerie La Fée des Bois—an herb farm that goes beyond organic farming and permaculture to practise what owner Mariane Desjardins Roy calls “regenerative agriculture—is holding an open house on August 23 and 24. Along with checking out workshops on herbalism and other wellness practices, you can check out the farm’s shop. Kids may enjoy the crafting activities and the chance to feed the farm’s chickens and sheep.
Get a taste of the valley in Laurentian Valley
The second of five Taste of the Valley events in 2025 is coming to the Alice and Fraser Recreation Centre in Laurentian Valley (Pembroke) on Saturday, August 23. These very popular events showcase food producers and artisans from across Renfrew County in the Ottawa Valley. Shop for fresh meats, vegetables and baked treats, handmade crafts, local honey and maple syrup, and more.
Celebrate world cultures with seniors in Britannia
At the Connecting Seniors Cultural Exhibition and Festival (Saturday, August 23), seniors from a wide range of backgrounds will be sharing their cultural traditions through performances and food. Guests can also enjoy a silent auction and a 50/50 draw. The free event runs from 10am to 5pm at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre in Britannia Park (102 Greenview Ave), and proceeds will support programs that reduce social isolation for seniors.
Cheer for soapbox racers in Manotick
The Allan Haan Manotick Soapbox Derby and Picnic in the Park will be drawing families to Centennial Park in Manotick on Sunday, August 24. Participants aged 7 and up are invited to enter their homemade hot rod. (A few sponsored cars will be available for use by kids who cannot make one.) After a morning of soapbox car racing on adjacent Beaverwood Road, everyone is invited to the park for a barbecue lunch, live music and kids’ activities. Note that you must register in advance, and registration closes on Friday. August 22 (or earlier, if the event reaches capacity).
Take your kids outdoors in Pakenham
Worried that your tots are spending too much time in front of a screen? The Festival of the Wild Child at High Lonesome Nature Reserve (867 Carbine Road, Pakenham) may be just the solution. At various points along the festival’s wooded trails and beside ponds, kids will have the chance to learn more about pond life, pollinators, trees and more. The day will feature guided nature walks, educational activities, a fairy-themed scavenger hunt and lots of other fun. Food and beverages will be available on site. It’s all taking place on Saturday, August 23 (rain date: Sunday, August 24). Advance reservations encouraged but not required.
Learn about honey in Alexandria
Have you ever wondered how bees make honey, or have you ever contemplated taking up beekeeping? Then you won’t want to miss the Glengarry Honey and Pollinator Festival at Island Park in Alexandria (102 Derby Street West) on Sunday, August 24, from 10am to 4pm. You can find out how to attract pollinators to your yard, taste and buy honey products, enjoy live music, and more.
Enjoy a scenic bike ride in the Ottawa Valley or the Kawartha Lakes
The Tour de Bonnechere (Sunday, August 24) isn’t a bike race. Rather, it’s a set of five bike routes—ranging from 20km to 100km—in the Ottawa Valley west of Ottawa. Everyone rides at their own pace and is rewarded with a BBQ lunch at the end. Note that this is a self-supported tour, meaning that you should bring all the food, water and repair gear (and know-how) you think you’ll need along the way. Helmets are mandatory. All rides start and end at Legion Field Park (8A Foran Street, Eganville). Last day to register online is Friday, August 22. Funds raised go toward local mental health, food bank and safe cycling initiatives.
About four hours southwest of Ottawa, the Kawartha Lakes Classic Cycling Tour on Saturday, August 23, features a variety of road and trail routes ranging from 22km to 160km. It’s a fundraiser for services for people experiencing homelessness. All rides depart (at staggered times) from the Oakwood Lions Mariposa Community Hall at 1008 Eldon Road in Oakwood. The video above (from the 2022 event, so ignore the date) gives you some idea of what to expect.
Channel your inner Scot in Almonte
With pipe bands, athletes galore, kids’ events and lots of dancers, the North Lanark Highland Games (Saturday, August 23) will bring a little bit of Scotland to Almonte. In between competitions and entertainment, you can nosh on Scottish food, cool off at the beer garden, and shop for Celtic souvenirs, clothing and crafts. The event runs from 8am to 6pm at the North Lanark Agricultural Society property (195 Water Street, Almonte). There’s free offsite parking at the Almonte Arena, with a shuttle.
Celebrate local history in Petawawa
Petawawa Heritage Village is hosting a Heritage Festival on Friday, August 22. After an opening ceremony at 4pm, there will be Indigenous drumming and dancing by the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan from 5pm to 7pm, followed by storytelling and songs by Gillan Rutz starting at 7pm. Admission to the festival is included with museum admission.
Catch a music festival in Ottawa, Val-des-Bois, Perth or Long Sault
The name of the Nostalgia Music Festival (August 20 to 24) couldn’t be more accurate: The five-day festival of tribute bands celebrates the music of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Acts will be recreating the music of everyone from Bob Seger and Shania Twain to the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. The festival’s happening at LeBreton Flats.
In the Outaouais, Val-des-Bois en musique is a three-day music festival (August 21 to 23) in the community of the same name. The headliners are Salebarbes, La Chicane and Québec Redneck Bluegrass Project.
In Perth, Top Shelf Distillers is hosting the Ontario Moonshine Festival (August 22 to 24). Live bluegrass music, food trucks, craft vendors, cocktails and moonshine will all be featured. Sunday is Family Day, with a petting zoo, lawn games, face painting and other kid-friendly fun. Free admission but space is limited, so register online if you’d like to attend.
And in Long Sault, the Lost and Sound Festival (August 22 and 23) will see almost a dozen acts—including the Glengarry Bhoys and the Chesterfields—take to the stage at the Long Sault Brewery. You can catch five concerts on Friday and six more on Saturday.
Paddle through whitewater in Maniwaki
At the Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival (August 22 to 24), paddlers can tackle the rapids of the Upper Gatineau River. If you’re an experienced paddler, you can try it on your own in a kayak or canoe; those with less experience can sign up for a guided rafting trip. The event also includes a film festival, camping and meals.
Get artsy in Alexandria, Wakefield, Westport or Haliburton Highlands
Sunwheel Farm in Alexandria is hosting Brushes and Bouquets on Saturday, August 23, from 1pm to 5pm. Visitors will have the chance to meet artist Paularo (Paulette Larocque Rozon), who is a member of the farm’s bouquet subscription program. Every two weeks, after receiving a bouquet from the farm, she creates artworks inspired by the blooms. At this vernissage, you can admire and buy her paintings, chat with the artist, and stroll through the farm’s gardens. Bouquets will be available for purchase, too.
Art in the Park continues in Parc Roquebrune (Turntable Park) in Wakefield on Saturday, August 23, from noon to 4pm.
The Rideau Lakes Artists’ Association annual Paint the Summer art show and sale returns this year to the Westport Arena (37 Spring Street, Westport). As in past years, the show offers the chance to buy artworks by dozens of local creators. It’s happening on August 23 and 24, from 10am to 4pm both days, and parking and admission are free.
If you’re looking for a weekend-long road trip, check out the Highlands East Art Tour, a studio tour on August 23 and 24 in the Haliburton Highlands, between Bancroft and Haliburton. The self-driving tour runs from 10am to 5pm on all days.
P.S.: If studio tours are, check out my big list of local studio tours.
Check out fairs all over
The Capital Fair (August 15 to 24) is at a new location this year (4899 Albion Road South, Ottawa), not far from its previous site at what is now the Hard Rock Casino. For its 50th anniversary edition this year, the fair boasts a big midway, arm wrestling, a demolition derby, an “extreme dog show” (colour me curious), magic shows, a cornhole tournament, live music and all sorts of other amusements. And if you’re planning ahead, Special Needs Day for visitors with physical and/or developmental disabilities is on Tuesday, August 19.
The amusements at the Chesterville Fair (August 22 to 24) include a baby show, truck and tractor pulls, an inflatable midway, a demolition derby, magic shows, and livestock competitions. Live music will be provided by AC/DC tribute band Great Scott on Friday night, a karaoke competition on Saturday and cover band County 43 on Sunday. The fairgrounds are at the corner of County Road 43 and Queen Street in Chesterville, next to the Chesterville Arena.
Meanwhile, at the Cobden Fair (August 22 to 24), you can enjoy a demolition derby, livestock competitions, a midway, wildlife shows, bingo and more.
The Riceville Fair (August 22 to 24) features bingo, a beer garden, a truck and tractor pull, horse shows, a spaghetti supper and other amusements.
At the Maberly Fair (Saturday, August 23), there will be agricultural and craft competitions galore, live entertainment, a petting zoo, a classic car show, and more.
Looking for more ideas? Check out my roundup of 20+ fabulous fairs.
See the latest fashions in Montreal
Fashionistas, rejoice: the M.A.D. Festival (the abbreviation stands for Mode, Arts, Divertissement, or Fashion, Arts, Entertainment) is taking over Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles for four days (August 21 to 24) of cool fun featuring local and international artists. Check out fashion shows of all sorts, music and dance performances, and more.
Browse for car gear in Ottawa
The Driven Ottawa Aftermarket Car Show will host hundreds of vehicles and displays for car aficionados at the EY Centre for one afternoon only (Saturday, August 23, 1pm to 6pm).
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.
