Ottawa: A City Which Celebrates 180 Festivals Each Year

In Ottawa, there are three festive days for each week. No matter what you’re into, a drama lover, Marathon runner, movie goer, fine beer lover, or gourmand, you can enjoy it in Ottawa.

Snow Festival: Feb. 3th - 20th, 2017

The Snow Festival is the longest festival in Ottawa, which nearly covers the entire February, and each year there may be up to 700,000 participants in this festival. During the festival, the entire of Ottawa will be teeming with glistening ice sculptures and on-site music performances. In addition, thousands of skaters will whoosh about in the largest outdoor ice rink-Rideau Canal. The scene is spectacular. There are dozens of festive activities during the festival.

Poutine Carnival: May 4th - 7th, 2017

Poutine is a snack with cheese and fries covered with gravy, which tastes sweet and delicious. Sparks Street is the oldest street in Ottawa, and the Gravy Cheese Fries Carnival is held in the city every year.

Events in Tamarac this Weekend: May 27th - 28th, 2017

The largest-scale weekend running event, Events in Tamarac this Weekend, includes the children’s Marathon, two-km running, five-km running, 10-km running, Half-Marathon, and Full Marathon.

Ottawa Fringe Festival: June 8th - 18th, 2017

This is the largest experimental drama festival in Canada, and is the stage of independent dramatists. There are more than 10 performances each day, held in each small venue. Upholding the tradition of the Fringe Festival, all the performers are finally chosen by a draw, and all the revenues belong to these performers.

Glowfair: June, 2017

This is the most flourishing street party held at the business district of the bank street. In the summer evening of the weekend at the annual Glowfair, the most brilliant independent local musicians and bands come here and perform throughout the night. There are also lamps and art exhibits, and the specially prepared activities for children. Therefore, it is also suitable for those who come here with their children.

Canada Day: July 1st, 2017

This will be the most exciting moment for both Ottawa and Canada in 2017. The whole nation will be soaked in the happiness of holding different celebrations, as if this is a garden party of the country. People will wear maple leaf costumes to parade on the streets, no matter where you come from and which race you belong to. All the activities that you can think of will be held, such as parades, carnivals, barbecues, outdoor music concerts, firework performance and so on.

Bluesfest Music Festival: July 6th - 16th, 2017

This is Canada’s first and North America’s second largest Blues music festival, which has experienced 20 years of history! Since 1994, the Bluesfest has already attracted thousands of participants. In Ottawa, this is a festival known to everyone.

Ottawa Craft Beer Festival: August, 2017

This festival is held each year at Aberdeen Pavilion, which was once one of the oldest indoor ice hockey rinks in the world. During the festival, more than 40 local breweries will provide all varieties of beers for visitors.

House of Paint: August, 2017

Each year during summer, street artists, rappers, and hip hop musicians perform on the bank of Rideau Canal. Under the Dunbar Bridge is the traditional “main venue”. Among all the performers, those who are approved by the public will have the opportunity to perform on this stage. There will be lots of graffiti art for visitors to enjoy on the piers of the bridge. Visitors can also view the new art pieces which will be drawn on the piers by the coming graffiti artists.

Ottawa International Animation Festival: September, 2017

Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), launched at the Canadian Film Institute in 1976, is the largest and most important animation festival in North America, and also one of the largest animation festivals in the world. The most prominent characteristic of it is that it nearly takes no notice of commercial artworks.