Mar 19-25 (Ottawa)

Hey, Ottawa. This Saturday marks both the first day of spring and Nowruz — the Iranian New Year celebrated by millions across the world and right here in our city. It's a tradition rooted in renewal and togetherness, and this year it feels especially worth pausing for. Happy Nowruz, Happy Spring.

Catch Us on CBC Radio One

We joined CBC Ottawa Morning yesterday to share our favourite free March Break activities happening across the city this week. Missed it? You can listen back below.

What Ottawa is Talking About

Ottawa's Outdoor Rinks Are Open This Weekend 

Four refrigerated rinks are ready for you this weekend — Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall, Lansdowne Park skating court, Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink at Canterbury, and Ben Franklin Place. Find your nearest rink here.

Free Drop-In Activities Every Saturday for Kids 

Don't forget — the City of Ottawa's Play Free program runs every Saturday at community centres across the city. Free swimming, skating, and gymnasium sports for kids and youth 17 & under, no registration needed. Find a location near you.

What to Do

Thursday, Mar. 19

• 🎨 Billings Bridge Mini Maker Studio: Backpack Decorating | FREE | Billings Bridge Shopping Centre, Billings Bridge

• 🧵 Laboba Origami Workshop | $ | Ages 6-12 | Laboba, Downtown

• 🎨 Rideau Centre Dino Days: Meet the Paleontologist & Face Painting | FREE | Rideau Centre, Downtown

• 🍕 Boston Pizza Barrhaven: March Break Pizza Party | $14.49/child | Ages 12 & under | Boston Pizza Barrhaven, Barrhaven

• 🎬 March Break Movies: The Little Mermaid | FREE | Charlie Conacher Building, Barrhaven

• 🌿 Exploring Biodiversity at OPG Saunders Visitor Centre | FREE | All ages | OPG Saunders Hydro Dam Visitor Centre, Cornwall

• 🧶 Friends of the Sanctuary: Sewing Craft | FREE | Friends of the Sanctuary, Ingleside

• ❄️ Free Snowshoeing – Gatineau Park | FREE | Ages 9+ | Gatineau Park, Gatineau

• 🎶 Boston Pizza Orléans: Dinner with Rumi | FREE | Registration required | Boston Pizza Orléans, Orléans

• 🎤 Place d'Orléans: Meet the KPOP Demon Hunters | FREE | Place d'Orléans, Orléans

• 🎪 WILD March Break at Bayshore: Princess Party & Costume Day | FREE | Bayshore Shopping Centre, Kanata/West End

Friday, Mar. 20

• 👕 Billings Bridge Mini Maker Studio: T-Shirt Decorating | FREE | Billings Bridge Shopping Centre, Billings Bridge

• 🎩 Rideau Centre Dino Days: Ben the Magician Dino Show | FREE | Rideau Centre, Downtown

• 🎬 Family Film Screening: The Wild Robot | FREE | Ottawa Library – Carlingwood Branch, Carlingwood

• 🍕 Boston Pizza Barrhaven: March Break Pizza Party | $14.49/child | Ages 12 & under | Boston Pizza Barrhaven, Barrhaven

• 🎬 March Break Movies: Toy Story | FREE | Charlie Conacher Building, Barrhaven

• 🏹 Wampum Belt Teachings & Loom Beading Workshop | FREE | Ages 10+ | Registration required | OPG Saunders Visitor Centre, Cornwall

• 🌿 Friends of the Sanctuary: Trail Scavenger Hunt | FREE | Friends of the Sanctuary, Ingleside

• 🏔️ Free Snowshoeing – Gatineau Park | FREE | Ages 9+ | Gatineau Park, Gatineau

• 🎬 Family Film Screening: The Wild | FREE | Popcorn provided | Ottawa Library – Nepean Centrepointe Branch, Nepean

• 🍕 Boston Pizza Orléans: Create Your Own Pizza Lunch | FREE | Registration required | Boston Pizza Orléans, Orléans

• 🍟 Place d'Orléans: Free Fries Friday from New York Fries | FREE | Place d'Orléans, Orléans

• 🐾 Tanger Ottawa: Meet Marshall & Skye from PAW Patrol | FREE | Tanger Outlets Ottawa, Kanata

• 🎪 WILD March Break at Bayshore: Wrap Up Party | FREE | Bayshore Shopping Centre, Kanata/West End

Saturday, Mar. 21

• 🎨 Knox Paper Scissors: Free Art Morning | FREE | Ages 5-14 | Register at [email protected] | 120 Lisgar St, Downtown

• 🦕 Rideau Centre Dino Days: Bee Workshop & Flower Planting | FREE | Rideau Centre, Downtown

• 🎬 Finding Nemo 3D | $ | Ottawa Family Cinema, East Ottawa

• 🎬 Family Film Screening: Monsters Inc. | FREE | Ottawa Library – Blackburn Hamlet Branch, Blackburn Hamlet

• 🏊 Kanata Leisure Centre: Play Free | FREE | Ages 17 & under | Kanata Leisure Centre & Wave Pool, Kanata

• 👸 Tanger Ottawa: Meet Gabby's Dollhouse Characters | FREE | Tanger Outlets Ottawa, Kanata

• 🌸 Adventure in Colour | FREE | St. Laurent Shopping Centre, St. Laurent

• 👑 Boston Pizza Orléans: Queen Elsa Lunch | FREE | Registration required | Boston Pizza Orléans, Orléans

Wednesday, Mar. 25

• 🧘 YSB Yoga Drop-In | FREE | Ages 16-24 | Youth Services Bureau, Downtown

Maple Syrup Season is Here!

🍁 Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm | $ | Edwards, Rural Ottawa
Weekends from Feb 28 to April 12
Heritage sugar shack, tractor rides, animal barn, walking trails, family activity centre, and traditional pancake breakfast at the Pancake House.

🍁 Log Farm | $ | Nepean + South Ottawa
Weekends from Feb 28 to March 29 (plus March Break days)
Pioneer-style working farm with animals, taffy on snow, wagon rides, sap collecting, and self-guided 1860s farmhouse tours. Reservations recommended.

🍁 Fulton's Sugar Bush and Maple Shop | $ | Pakenham, Rural Ottawa
Daily from Feb 28 to April 19
Sleigh rides, taffy, outdoor trails, and maple shop featuring unique maple culinary and spa products from local businesses.

🍁 Vanier Sugar Shack (Vanier Museopark) | $ | Vanier, East Ottawa
Feb 15–April 19 | Fri-Sun 9 AM–2 PM (no reservations) | Wed-Fri (group reservations)
Canada's only operating urban sugar shack! Features quality local food in an enchanting setting. Don't miss the FREE Vanier Sugar Festival with music, activities, and maple taffy.

Thanks for reading! See you back here, next week!