May 14-20 (Ottawa)

Hey Ottawa👋 Mid-May check-in — how are we all doing? Ready for a long weekend? Heck yes.

Our family is stacked with May birthdays, so this weekend is a celebratory one for us. We head up north, get eaten by black flies, and kick off the unofficial start of summer. A few brave souls even go swimming.

However you're spending the long weekend, cheers. I hope it's full of good food, good people, and at least one moment where you forget what day it is.

Happy Victoria Day 🇨🇦

P.S. If this newsletter has made your week a little easier, pay it forward — share it with another parent who could use it. You'll earn Tim's cards and Amazon gift cards along the way.

What Ottawa is Talking About

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☕ Single Parent Business Owners Coffee Meetup — Thursday, May 14 
A coffee meetup for entrepreneurs who are also navigating solo parenting — real conversations, meaningful connections, and a room full of people who get it. Free to attend (just buy your own coffee). Thursday, May 14, 9:30–11:00 AM at Omni Cafe, Ottawa.

🌿 National Capital Greenbelt Master Plan Review — Community Open Houses 
The NCC wants your input on the future of the Greenbelt — drop by to share your thoughts on conservation, agriculture, recreation, and access. Three sessions this month: Nepean Sportsplex (May 20), Gloucester-St. Laurent Mall (May 21), and Richcraft Recreation Complex in Kanata (May 26). All run 3:30–8:00 PM.

🏊 Free Try Artistic Swimming Sessions — Ages 7+ 
GO Capital Artistic Swimming is offering free introductory sessions this May for kids ages 7 and up — no experience needed! Sessions at Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex (May 14) and Splash Wave Pool (May 26). Register online to secure your spot.

What to Do

Thursday, May 14 · 🌤 14°C

🎵 Jukebox Lunch Concert: Sophie Grenier | FREE | All ages | 12:10–12:50 PM | National Arts Centre, Downtown Ottawa

🛍️ Hintonburg Night Market | FREE | All ages | 4:00–9:00 PM | 1088 Somerset St W, Hintonburg

🎨 Free Thursday Night — National Gallery of Canada | FREE | All ages | 5:00–8:00 PM | National Gallery of Canada, Downtown Ottawa

🏛️ Free Thursday Night — Canadian Museum of History | FREE | All ages | 5:00–7:00 PM | Canadian Museum of History, Downtown Ottawa

⚔️ Free Thursday Night — Canadian War Museum | FREE | All ages | 5:00–7:00 PM | Canadian War Museum, Downtown Ottawa

🦕 Free Thursday Night — Canadian Museum of Nature | FREE | All ages | 5:00–7:00 PM | Canadian Museum of Nature, Downtown Ottawa

🌸 Holland Cross Spring Tulip Festival | FREE | All ages | 11:00 AM–7:00 PM | 160 Scott St, Downtown Ottawa

🎆 Police Week Community BBQ | FREE | All ages | 4:00–7:00 PM | Vanier Hub, 271 Marier Ave, Vanier

🏊 Try Artistic Swimming Session | FREE | Ages 7+ | 5:30–6:00 PM | Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex, East Ottawa

👶 Centrepointe In-person Playgroup | FREE | Ages 0–6 | 9:30 AM | Centrepointe Child Care Services, Nepean

Friday, May 15 · ⛅ 17°C

🍖 Barrhaven Ribfest and Poutine | FREE | All ages | 11:00 AM–9:00 PM | Clarke Fields Park, 93 Houlahan St, Barrhaven

🌸 Holland Cross Spring Tulip Festival | FREE | All ages | 11:00 AM–7:00 PM | 160 Scott St, Downtown Ottawa

🚔 Police Week Community BBQ | FREE | All ages | 4:00–7:00 PM | Osgoode Village Park, 5660 Osgoode Main St, Rural Ottawa

🛍️ Gloucester Night Market | FREE | All ages | 5:00–9:00 PM | Earl Armstrong Arena, 2020 Ogilvie Rd, East Ottawa

Saturday, May 16 · 🌦 22°C

🍖 Barrhaven Ribfest and Poutine | FREE | All ages | 11:00 AM–9:00 PM | Clarke Fields Park, 93 Houlahan St, Barrhaven

🌸 Ottawa Polish Fest | FREE | All ages | 11:00 AM–8:00 PM | York Street West & York Street Plaza, ByWard Market, Downtown Ottawa

🌷 Canadian Tulip Festival | FREE | All ages | 10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Commissioners Park, The Glebe

🌷 CIBC Tulip Trek | $5 | All ages | 10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Dow's Lake Pavilion, The Glebe

🛍️ 613 Flea Market | FREE | All ages | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park, The Glebe

🚴 Y Ride for Youth | FREE | All ages | Check-in 5:00 PM, Ride departs ~6:00 PM | First National Tree Park, Elgin St, Downtown Ottawa

🌸 Holland Cross Spring Tulip Festival | FREE | All ages | 11:00 AM–7:00 PM | 160 Scott St, Downtown Ottawa

🌿 May Plant Swap | FREE | All ages | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Stittsville Library, 1637 Stittsville Main St, Nepean

🌿 Domaine Perrault Spring Market | FREE | All ages | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM | Domaine Perrault Vineyard, Rural Ottawa

👨‍👩‍👧 Children's Spring Festival & GetGrowing Seed Kit Pickup | FREE | Ages 3–7 | 12:30–2:30 PM | Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre, 3320 Paul Anka Dr, South Ottawa

Sunday, May 17 · ⛅ 22°C

🌸 Holland Cross Spring Tulip Festival | FREE | All ages | 11:00 AM–7:00 PM | 160 Scott St, Downtown Ottawa

🌷 Canadian Tulip Festival | FREE | All ages | 10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Commissioners Park, The Glebe

🌷 CIBC Tulip Trek | $5 | All ages | 10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Dow's Lake Pavilion, The Glebe

🌿 May Plant Swap | FREE | All ages | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Stittsville Library, 1637 Stittsville Main St, Nepean

🎬 Community Movie Night: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (French) | FREE | All ages | 3:00 PM | Bob Monette Community Centre, 1485 Duford Dr, Orléans

Monday, May 18 — Happy Victoria Day! 🇨🇦 · 🌦 19°C

🌸 Holland Cross Spring Tulip Festival | FREE | All ages | 11:00 AM–7:00 PM | 160 Scott St, Downtown Ottawa

🌷 Canadian Tulip Festival | FREE | All ages | 10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Commissioners Park, The Glebe

🌷 CIBC Tulip Trek | $5 | All ages | 10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Dow's Lake Pavilion, The Glebe

Wednesday, May 20 · ⛅ 17°C

🌿 Community Open House: National Capital Greenbelt Master Plan Review | FREE | All ages | 3:30–8:00 PM | Nepean Sportsplex, Nepean

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