Things to Do in Ottawa in the Summer

*Please note that due to COVID-19, many of these events and activities are canceled or postponed indefinitely. We will update when more information becomes available. Please follow the directions from Public Health officials.

While the winters in Ottawa may be cold, the summertime is hot - and I’m not just talking about the temperature. Ottawa is a thriving city full of fun summer events and activities. As experts in this area, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite things to see and do in Ottawa in the summer.

Ottawa Bluesfest

Bluesfest is a music festival that has been taking place in Ottawa since 1994. While historically the musical acts tended to be focused on the blues, the festival has since diversified its acts to include big name and small artists from a variety of genres including pop, rock, hip hop, country and more. Tickets for the shows are fairly affordable for the number of shows you can see, especially if you consider purchasing a multi-day pass or full festival pass. So far, the Bluesfest lineup for 2020 includes Rage Against the Machine, Jack Johnson, Blink-182, Marshmello, Alanis Morissette, Boys II Men and dozens more.

Northern Lights - Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill

This show features a spectacular storytelling sound and light display against the backdrop of Parliament Hill that highlights key events, notable figures and achievements in Canadian history. The show starts after sunset, so times vary slightly each month. The 2020 schedule has not yet been posted but in 2019 the show ran from July 9th to September 8th. This show is also featured as part of our Scenic Ottawa Night Tour.

Ottawa’s Beaches

Is it even summer if you don’t go to the beach at least once? Ottawa boasts a number of public beaches that are great for spending the day with family and friends, including: Mooney’s Bay, Britannia and Westboro. We would probably recommend waiting until at least June to go swimming though, as the water tends to be quite cold earlier in the season.

Poutinefest

For those who aren’t familiar, poutine is a traditional Canadian dish consisting of french fries, cheese curds and gravy - and it is absolutely delicious. Ottawa is lucky enough to be home to more than one poutine festival. While these festivals technically take place in the spring, we figured it was worth mentioning since poutine is so tasty. That being said, if you do happen to be in Ottawa later on in the season and are looking for poutine - there are plenty of places to enjoy it year-round around the city. The first poutine festival is Sparks Street Poutinefest which will take place from April 23-26 for the 2020 season along Sparks Street. The second poutine festival is Ottawa Poutinefest. The 2020 season festival will take place at Ottawa’s city hall from April 30th to May 3rd.

Changing of the Guard Parade on Parliament Hill

The Changing of the Guard (sometimes referred to as Ceremonial Guard) is a tradition adopted from the British Army and it symbolizes the protection of Governor-General, who is the Queen’s representative in Canada, and the changing of guard from one shift to another. Soldiers are dressed in traditional scarlet uniforms with bear pelt hats (don’t worry - they’re very old and are no longer made). The parade itself starts around 10am on Parliament Hill the soldiers travel from Cartier Square Drill Hall (located near Ottawa city hall). The parade lasts about 30 minutes and while watching you’ll witness drill commands, marching and music played by members of Canada’s military. The parade starts at Cartier Square Drill Hall, located near Ottawa city hall. After the parade you can watch the soldiers head back as they march through the streets. The 2020 schedule dates have yet to be announced but typically takes place from late June to late August.

Canada Day

As the capital city, Ottawa is well-known for its grand Canada Day celebrations. Typically, the main event takes place on Parliament Hill with secondary official celebrations taking place at Major’s Hill Park and the Canadian Museum of history. For the year 2020, the main Canada Day celebration will take place at Major’s Hill Park instead of Parliament Hill due to renovations on the Centre Block. The main celebration tends to feature big-name Canadian artists and caps off with an evening fireworks show around 10pm.

Ottawa River Boat Cruise

There is something so enjoyable about taking in views of Ottawa from the river while learning about the area. Both our Best of Ottawa Tour (daytime) and Scenic Ottawa Night Tour (evening) feature boat cruises that offer a dreamy view of Ottawa’s cityscape, pass dozens of points of interest including: Parliament Hill, the Prime Minister’s Residence and Rideau Falls.