Holy smokes — how is June almost over?
Last weekend I went to a concert at Rogers Stadium in an attempt to reconnect with my free-spirited, music festival frolicking self. I may have paid $20 for a warm tall boy and left before the encore to beat the traffic. Still glorious. Great venue, though I wish someone had told me you can BYO water bottle. Water stations set up everywhere!
OK, on to this weekend. I'm not going to overwhelm you — I know your brain is already juggling graduations, Father’s Day, teacher gifts, World Cup watch parties, strawberry picking, and long weekend planning. Take a breath. You've got this.
This Father's Day, I'll be doing what I do every other day — taking care of absolutely everything 😅 Kidding. We love you, Dada!
Hope you have a lovely weekend celebrating the incredible dads in your life.
What Ottawa is Talking About
⚽ Where to Watch the World Cup in Ottawa
Ottawa has great spots in every neighbourhood. In the Glebe: Glebe Central Pub, Craft Beer Market, Margaritas (873 Bank — opening early for select matches!), and The Bunker. In Westboro: The Wood on Wellington and Braumeister Bierhalle (175 Carruthers). Heart and Crown and The Senate Tavern have multiple locations across the city. Keep scrolling for watch party events this week!
♟️ Ottawa Youth Year-End Chess Tournament — June 20, Kanata
Registration is now open for the Ottawa Youth Year-End Chess Tournament — Saturday June 20 at the John G. Mlacak Community Centre in Kanata. A great end-of-season event for young chess players!
🌄 Hike to Sunrise with Happiness Habits 613 — June 20, 4:00 AM
Join Happiness Habits 613 for a FREE sunrise hike at King Mountain lookout in Gatineau Park — all ages, all fitness levels. Meet at P7 Gatineau Park at 4:00 AM. Headlamps mandatory! Register free.
🎬 Japanese Film Week at ByTowne Cinema — June 25–30 & July 2
The Embassy of Japan is bringing 7 incredible films to ByTowne Cinema — from Cannes Palme d'Or winner Shoplifters to Kurosawa's timeless Seven Samurai, plus anime, horror, and more. 325 Rideau St.
What to Do
Thursday, June 18 · 🌧 23°C
🎵 Jukebox Lunch Concert: Danielle Allard | FREE | 12:10 PM | National Arts Centre, Downtown Ottawa
🌾 Orléans Farmers' Market | FREE | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM | Ray Friel Recreation Complex, Orléans
💃 Dance at Zibi – Afro-Caribbean with SoulRhythms | FREE | 7:00 PM | NAC, Downtown Ottawa
💃 Street Seats: Moov Ottawa Dance Workshop | FREE | Somerset & Cambridge, Centretown
🧵 Stitch n' Bitch — Outdoor Summer Edition | FREE | 6:00–8:00 PM | Bank & Waverley St, The Glebe
🎵 Watson's Mill 5525 Music Series | FREE | 7:00–9:00 PM | Watson's Mill, Manotick
🎵 Stittsville Front Porch Concert Series | FREE | 6:00–9:00 PM | Various locations, Stittsville
Friday, June 19 · 🌧 22°C
🐉 Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival | FREE to spectate | 2960 Riverside Dr, South Ottawa (runs Fri–Sun)
🏛️ Tea on the Lawn: Billings Estate | FREE for kids | 10:30 AM–4:00 PM | Billings Estate, 2100 Cabot St, Nepean
🍺 Carleton Place Beer Festival | $ | 4:00–10:00 PM | 7 Beckwith St, Carleton Place
Saturday, June 20 · 🌧 20°C
⚽ German Embassy World Cup Watch Party | FREE (first 100 drinks on the Embassy!) | 4:00 PM | Braumeister Bierhalle, 175 Carruthers Ave, Westboro
🌿 Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival | FREE | 10:30 AM–10:00 PM | Wesley Clover Parks, 401 Corkstown Rd, Kanata
🌍 Welcome to Stittsville Multicultural Festival | FREE | 12:00–4:00 PM | Village Square Park, 6000 Abbott St, Stittsville
🏘️ Bridlewood Block Party | FREE | 11:00 AM–5:00 PM | Eva James Community Centre, 65 Stonehaven Dr, Kanata
🥁 Street Seats: KCT African Dance & Drumming | FREE | 4:00 PM | Bank & Waverley St, The Glebe
🌾 Westboro Farmers' Market | FREE | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM | Byron Linear Park, 579 Byron Ave, Westboro
🌾 Beechwood Market | FREE | 203 Stanley Ave, Beechwood
🌾 Metcalfe Farmers' Market | FREE | Metcalfe Fairgrounds, 2821 8th Line Rd, Rural Ottawa
🚛 3rd Annual Touch a Truck Fundraiser | FREE | 9:00 AM | Metcalfe Fairgrounds, 2821 8th Line Rd, Rural Ottawa
🌾 Alta Vista Market | FREE | St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 2345 Alta Vista Dr
🎵 City Sounds Live: May Davis | FREE | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM | 816 Bank St Courtyard, The Glebe
🎪 Wench Faire: Renaissance Festival | FREE | 2:00–7:00 PM | Parkdale Public Market, 366 Parkdale Ave, Westboro
🌸 Abbotsford Garden Tour 2026 | $35 adults, kids under 16 free | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Starts at 950 Bank St, The Glebe
🐉 Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival | FREE to spectate | 2960 Riverside Dr, South Ottawa
♟️ Ottawa Youth Year-End Chess Tournament | FREE | John G. Mlacak Community Centre, Kanata
🎬 FREE Movie Night: Jurassic Park | FREE (food $) | 1485 Duford Dr, Orléans
🎵 Dickinson House Afternoon Tea | FREE for kids | 1:30–3:00 PM | 5525 Dickinson St, Manotick
🎉 Carleton Place Summer Social | FREE | 5:00–8:00 PM | Carleton Junction, 42 Moore St, Carleton Place
🎉 Hammond Fest 2026 | FREE (spaghetti dinner $) | 9:00 AM–11:00 PM | Alphonse Carrière Park, Hammond
Sunday, June 21 — Happy Father's Day! 👨👧👦 · 🌦 22°C
🌿 Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival | FREE | 10:30 AM | Wesley Clover Parks, Kanata
🌾 Lansdowne Farmers' Market | FREE | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM | Aberdeen Square, Lansdowne, The Glebe
🌾 Barrhaven Farmers' Market | FREE | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM | Nepean Woods Park & Ride, Barrhaven
🐉 Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival | FREE to spectate | 2960 Riverside Dr, South Ottawa
🎻 Free Community Concert: Violin & Piano | FREE | 2:00 PM | Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Ave, The Glebe
🎨 TERRA TRIBUTA: Ontario Serendipity Tour | FREE | 2:00–4:00 PM | Ottawa Art Gallery, Downtown Ottawa
🌳 Carleton Place Park Party: Centennial Park | FREE | 2:00–5:00 PM | Centennial Park, Carleton Place
🌙 Father's Day at Nepean Night Market | FREE | 5:00–7:00 PM | 1442 Baseline Rd, Nepean
🎟️ Street Seats: Ty Pro Sticker Workshop | FREE | Bank & Frank St, Downtown Ottawa
🚗 Father's Day Car Show at Billings Estate | FREE for kids | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | 2100 Cabot St, Nepean
Tuesday, June 23 · 🌧 23°C
⚽ World Cup Watch Party | FREE | 1:00 PM | Braumeister Bierhalle, 175 Carruthers Ave, Westboro
🧚 Cirquonscient Faerie Pop-Up Picnic | FREE | 6:30–7:30 PM | Strathcona Park, Downtown Ottawa
🍔 Carleton Heights & Area Community BBQ | FREE | 5:00–7:30 PM | Carleton Heights Community Centre, Nepean
👶 NAC Toddler Tuesdays | FREE | 10:00 AM | National Arts Centre, Downtown Ottawa
Wednesday, June 24
🌾 Parkdale Night Market | FREE | Parkdale Public Market, 366 Parkdale Ave, Westboro
🥁 Street Seats: Oto-Wa Taiko Drumming | FREE | Bank & Waverley St, The Glebe
🧘 Free Hatha Yoga & Meditation | FREE | 7:00–8:00 PM | Alain-Fortin Catholic Elementary School, 676 Lakeridge Dr, Orléans
Thanks for reading! See you back here, next week!
