See our daily events listings for bars and clubs in the Ottawa area at the link below, followed by an editor's pick of events throughout the year.
February 7, 2015, annual Jazz fest celebrating Ottawa's unique and vibrant music scene. Also each June-July a 10-day festival with the finest jazz musicians from Canada and around the world performing in open air venues such as Confederation Park, next to the Rideau Canal; also at the National Arts Centre, and various other intimate studio spaces & clubs.
June 7 - October 11, 2015 at 5525 Dickinson St, Manotick, ON, across from Watson's Mill. Every Saturday 9am - 2pm a “producer-only” market. Meet the people who make the meats, cheeses, vegetables, grains and baked goods in the local community and learn about their ideas about growing food. A project supported by Watson’s Mill.
June 11-13, 2015 at Parc Major's Hill. The annual festival of music of Francophone Ontario. Get a taste with video clips on their website, or go direct to the site of one young local, Louis-Philippe Robillard
June 18-28, 2015, annual celebration of the arts, Ottawa's largest theater festival; providing local, national and international artists the opportunitiy to showcase their original works.
June 27-28, 2015, at the Rideau Carleton Entertainment Centre, 4837 Albion Rd, Ottawa. Two days on four stages. Headliners: Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, Knife Party, Mark Knight, Markus Schulz; plus Blasterjaxx, BORGEOUS, Ferry Corsten, Grube & Hovsepian, KhoMha, Nifra, Solid Stone and more. See website for updates.
July 1, 2015, annual holiday celebrating the birth of Canada in 1867 with the British North America Act that established the Dominion of Canada. Hundreds of thousands of people come to the capital city for concerts, street performances, picnics, and fireworks displays.
July 9-19, 2015, LeBreton Flats, west of Parliament Hill. Among world's largest annual international music events, over 220 musical acts perform on outdoor stages for over 300,000 fans each summer. Bike to the ‘fest! Site is bordered by the Trans-Canada Trail, a tree-lined bike path through Ottawa, along the Ottawa River. Find secure bike parking beside the festival site.
July 30 - August 3, 2015, at Sparks Street Mall. Clowns, jugglers, acrobats, fire-eaters, comedians, magicians, other street performers from around the world in North America's original pedestrian street mall. Lots to eat and drink too.
August 15-, 2015 week of LGBT celebrations with dances, exhibits, film screenings, sports events, and parties. See the website for full schedule.
September 3-7, 2015, five days of events in parc de la Baie, Gatineau: hot air balloons aloft; amusement park rides, shows, live entertainment, magic and circus acts on stage and around the site; over 200,000 people in attendance.
September 16-20, 2015 Each September, the Ottawa International Animation Festival presents the world’s most cutting-edge, quirky and important animation, transforming Ottawa into the center of the animation universe. The OIAF receives over 2100 submissions each year, selecting approximately 100 finalists for competition. Others are shown out-of-competition in Showcase screenings.
October 22-26, 2015 at the National Gallery of Canada, BENT LENS presented by InsideOut. The best queer cinema from Canada and around the world. Typically more than 4,000 attendees come to the film programs and parties.
November 7-9, 2014 Leather/Fetish Pride -one of Ottawa's largest gay organized single day events. Leather VIPs, hardcore fetishists bring the leather family together, providing learning opportunities, & meet new friends. There is no dress code at MLO, but people are encouraged to dress in whatever helps them to feel sexy. Leather will be admired, but is in no way required.
November 22, 2014, 10:30pm, Babylon Nightclub, 317 Bank St. Queer Mafia awesome parties unite Ottawa's queer/ social justice networks, build community, support artists/ not-for-profit groups; share collective passions, creativity, and skills; raise awareness and funds for grassroots organizations. All communities allies welcome, all genders/sexual orientation. DJ Dan Valin + Kitty.