If you’re willing to negotiate the rigorous security checks - yes, they have metal detectors and even an x-ray machine for your bags and personal belongings - then you can climb the Peace Tower inside the Parliament Buildings to look out across the whole city. Great views (if you don’t mind the heights).

On the ground, you can simply enjoy the spectacle of the large and prestigous historic buildings - a landmark in Ottawa since the small lumber town received the Canadian capital crown from Kingston in 1867. Infront, there is also a cool ‘fire fountain’ with the eternal flame burning brightly.

In the summer months, you can witness the changing of the guards on the grass by the Parliament Buildings, and when Parliament is sitting, you can ‘politician spot’ and even keep an eye out for the Prime Minister himself!

Only footsteps away from the downtown Byward Market and shops, as well as Sparks Street, Ottawa is a cool city to stroll and view a piece of history.

Whether you’re involved in the massive return to school (either yourself, or your family), or getting ready to party it up with the crazy frosh weeks that welcome thousands to Carleton and Ottawa U, September certainly gets off to a wild start.

The highlight of September is attending one of the many Country Fairs held all around the boarding villages on the outskirts of the city.  If you’re trying to decide which one to visit, I’d recommend the Richmond Fair, Metcalfe Fair, and Carp Fair as must-sees.  Lots of yummy food, tasty sweet treats, rides, games, competitions and of course there are the animals to see

If you’re looking for something more high-tech though, there’s always the Ottawa International Animation Festival.  The festival takes place mainly downtown, and features the premieres of many short and feature length animation flicks. Be sure to buy a festival pass if you’re planning to attend shows on multiple days.

October

Now that the leaves have started to change, and autumn is in full swing, nothing says ‘Fall’ like Thanksgiving.  Probably the happiest Canadian holiday, Thanksgiving gives everyone an excuse to eat turkey, hang out with family, and enjoy the long weekend.

Complementary to the Thanksgiving celebrations, are the colourful trees that dot the laneways and highways alike.  Gatineau Park offers a ‘Fall Rhapsody’ event which honours this techno-coloured display of nature.  Also, if making the venture to the Quebec side, consider taking the Fall Steam Train ride to Wakefield.  This gorgeous journey is beautiful any time of year, but particularly breathtaking with the fall foliage.

Halloween is the last event of the month. Insider tip: for the best pumpkins try the Byward Market, or the Parkdale Market.  Also, if you’re looking for a little scare or something in the days before trick-or-treating, the mazes and spooky antics offered up at Saunders farm are legendary. Boo!  

Two other events take place in October – the Writer’s Festival, and the Government Tech (GTEC) conference.  Each offers specialized, industry-centric workshops and sessions, but both also offer more accessible events, suitable for everyone.  Attracts a lot of folks to the Canadian capital….
 

November

Cheers and Bon appetite! November plays home to the Food and Wine Show! Enjoy the free samples, and imported food and drink – there’s some lip-smacking here to be done.  Though, if you’re planning on drinking a lot, be sure to go with a DD, or get a lift back.

On Remembrance Day, Nov 11th, pay tribute to the many veterans who fought for us in the wars -if you’ve never been, the parade and ceremony by the War Monument (Elgin and Sparks St.) is touching and poignant.  Be sure to wear your poppy.

Towards the end of the month, there’s another parade downtown as well, equally high-profile: the Santa Claus Parade.  Floats, bands, horse-drawn carriages, and plenty of mini-candy-canes, the people of Ottawa line the streets waiting for that last cart, to catch a glimpse of the man of the hour – Old St. Nick.

Usually, the Ottawa Firefighters walk throughout the spectacle, collecting toys for those in need, so remember to bring something to donate.

Ottawa Insider Tip: Bayshore, and most local malls begin their extended Christmas shopping hours!

December

Very few official events take place in the city this month.  The brightest happening is when they light up the city with the Christmas Lights (starting the first week of December). They really are quite nice and very atmospheric.  For the best view, stand on the bridge by the Chateau Laurier and look out towards the NAC, to see a fantastic night view of the canal, all lit up. 

Otherwise, December is usually just a sea of shoppers, hustling and bustling about, with loads of Christmas parties, and holiday festivities.  So, grab some eggnog and a beavertail and enjoy the holidays and the snow!

Jam packed with things to do, May is when the capital really kicks into full swing! The May weather is great, and daylight saving’s has come into effect, so the bright day light is to die for! Nothing beats this time of year with everyone out in their gardens, BBQ’s ready to go, and the first official holiday of summer with May 2-4 (24th of May long weekend) just around the corner. Who cares about work, let’s get outside and play!

Starting the Spring season is of course the beautiful Tulip Festival. This usually runs for a couple of weeks, but when the tulips are in bloom depends a lot on the weather – it really can vary by about 2-3 weeks.  Sometimes the frost hangs around and means a shorter Tulip Festival. But you can usually count on a good selection of tulips to be up (or still up), in the first half of May.  

Two of my favourite areas are the big multicoloured flower beds on the Quebec side of the Champlain bridge, and then by Island Park Drive, heading towards the Experimental Farm. They are just stunningly beautiful there.

The month of May really is terrific for the outdoors in Ottawa, as every weekend has something scenic to do.  The annual Ottawa Flotilla (lots of boats going down the river), is worth checking out at least once, and if you’re into fitness, or the cause, May is host to the National Capital Race Weekend . 

On a fit, but much less competitive note,  this month is also when they usually shut down parts of the Ottawa River Parkway on Sundays to let people walk and bike along, enjoying the views and fresh air, without the hassle of cars; great idea, and bags of fun.

But, without a doubt the two coolest events of May have yet to be mentioned – one specific to Ottawa, the other, a much more national event – the Great Glebe Garage Sale, and May 2-4 weekend! 

The Glebe Garage sale is worth going to, even if rummaging through other people’s junk isn’t your think.  With the Glebe being such a nice, posh neighbourhood, there are loads of good quality things up for grabs, and virtually everybody in the neighbourhood puts their stuff out for sale.  Whether it’s vintage goods, lost antiques, new technology and toys that have been replaced by the latest version (and definitely a bit of crap here and there), the day is a relatively inexpensive outing, that offers loads of laughs and conversation with friendly Ottawans.  Love it! 

May 2-4 weekend speaks for itself – the first national holiday of Summer for Canadians, so grab yourself a 2-4 (24 bottles/cans of beer), and hit the cottage/lake/backyard with your friends and simply enjoy the day off. It’s the one holiday that everyone chills out on, so act like a local, and grab a bottle and warm up the BBQ!

June

June is another awesome month in the capital, as the festive atmosphere carries over, and we can all see the upcoming warm and relaxed summer holidays just ahead.  Not only does June have the longest day of the year, coinciding with the official first day of summer, it also sees a significant influx of tourists and visitors coming to the city, everyone from foreign tourists, to our friendly American neighbours, to the hordes of school children on their end-of-the-year school trips.  (And of course, Ottawa’s Houses of Parliament officially shuts down for their Summer break this month, so there’s a lot less action on the Hill).

That being said, if you’ve never seen it, June marks the start of the Changing of the Guard ceremonies on Parliament Hill, usually every morning, 10-ish, I think.  It’s a bit of hoopla, with traditional pomp and circumstance, but worth checking out at least every couple of years.  See their red uniforms and swords, as they switch around for the cameras. After all, it’s not every city that can offer a daily parade of guards with nice hats, and fancy uniforms, doing an elaborate routine on the grass.  It’s a spectacle to be sure. 

A lot less formal, but still elaborate and fancy is the annual Dragon Boat Race that takes place this month. too.  The boat race offers several categories for competitors to row in, but don’t worry about entering a team in, it’s a fantastic show just from a spectator’s point of view.  Vivid colours, incredible boats, the inspired team uniforms on some groups, and the odd team with face painting to further intimidate their opponents. Bottom line - the Dragon Boat race is wicked fun!

Other events going on – Fringe Festival (an up-and-coming artist’s haven), with very affordable (sometimes free) shows taking place non-stop for about a week, usually downtown. Plus, the famous Jazz Festival begins – with incredible, established musicians taking to a multitude of Ottawa venues, attacking the city with their unpredictable rhythms and enchanting melodies. I’d highly recommend the Jazz festival, as in the past, the line-up has been top-notch, with the likes of James Brown, and Diana Krall.

Hey, and if nothing else, June signals the end of school – Hurray! Let those 8 brilliant weeks of summer begin!

July

Canada Day kicks off this month with fireworks, literally.  Nothing beats celebrating our country’s birthday in the capital.  There’s usually great weather, and a crazy amount of events to pick from.  I would stay on (or near) the Hill for most of the day. Basically, if you can get a parking spot, or take the bus in, once you get there, stay put.  You are one lucky so-and-so.

Favourite must-sees/must-dos: dress modestly or over-the-top in red-and white (don’t forget to lather on the sunscreen), start the day people-watching from Major’s Hill Park with either a Beavertail or Tim-Bit to go with your cup of Tim Hortons coffee; enjoy the ambiance of the often shy Canadian pride that’s everywhere, on this one day of the year, grab a blanket and a bit of grass, and picnic on the Hill, with the Eternal Flame and Peace Tower as scenery. Then, enjoy the free French, English, and Inuit entertainment on the main stage, with top Canadian acts performing (including in the past Nelly Furtado, Susan Agulkuk, Avril Lavigne and Roch Vosin), take in the official speech from the Prime Minister, and most importantly, stay for the phenomenal fireworks at dusk – simply breathtaking! Canada Day – hands-down - it’s the best event of the summer!

Also this month, Bluesfest begins – a festival that used to honour its name with top Blues artists headlining the event, but now is much more of a generic music festival (still getting top acts though, and they still have one stage dedicated to blues performers), lasting usually 10-14 days.  

Passes are definitely worthwhile if you plan to take in a couple of shows at Bluesfest, but the real trick here is to check their official website about volunteering for free tickets - visit www.ottawabluesfest.ca, or look in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper; check about a couple of months in advance, when they usually advertise for volunteers. If you get accepted, they ask you to volunteer for a few shifts (2-4 hours long) and in return you can attend the day’s performances for free.  

If you volunteer for multiple shifts, or get asked to help in a higher responsibility position, you can also get a free pass for the entire event.  Worthwhile if you’re a local with some flexi-time at hand, though the passes aren’t expensive when you think of what your average concert ticket costs nowadays.  And of course, if modern or blues isn’t your musical taste, there’s always the Chamber Music Festival, which is at the end of the month, start of August.

I think the only other staple event of July is the Hope Volleyball Tournament, which takes place in Moonies Bay every summer.  It raises money for charity, and is quite a party.  Competitive, Corporate and Recreational divisions ensure there’s a spot suitable for every team and it’s just a great time to socialize, meet some new people, BBQ with friends, swim (for the brave), and enjoy the sun.   If you’re not BBQ’ing, there’s a great spot for sandwiches on Hog’s Back and Riverside (it’s in the corner shop).

August

Like every glorious month of the Canadian summer, August begins with a Holiday Monday – can’t beat it! As with any official day off, we all (or should!) be flocking to the lake/cottage/river/beach to enjoy the sun, and play a little Frisbee, kick the soccer ball, or get in that quality family time.  If you haven’t roasted marshmallows this summer yet, try to squeeze in the campfire on this holiday!

Without a doubt the main event in August is Ottawa’s Super Ex!  For someone who’s never been, it’s like a small-town fair, mixed with a music festival, crossed with a midway (carnival)! It’s got everything from livestock and a petting zoo, to concerts every night (free with that day’s ticket, or a pass), and loads of themepark rides, games and carni food!  

Super Ex is one of those events that you probably wouldn’t schedule in as a tourist, but ask anybody in the area (from Pembroke to Cornwall, from Napanee to Smiths Falls), and they would all know Super Ex as the quintessential, end-of-summer event.  Check it out.

There’s two festivals in August that are also popular, but on different levels – Greekfest and Folkfest. 

Greekfest is accessible to everyone, with loads of people in costume, and the main attraction being a giant buffet of Greek food, with traditional music playing in the background. Oopa!

What could be better than authentic souvlaki, served up a few miles from home? Except for Folkfest, which isn’t just for the left-over hippies, there’s actually some cool talent that holds up in the city for the string of affordable concerts.

Last but not least, if you’re into the rainbow scene, the Pride Parade takes place in August, so check out the entertaining, colourful, and creative participants as they confidently walk through the downtown streets of the city.

Be proud in Ottawa!

Well, there’s not too much going on in January in the Capital.  Everyone’s back to school and back to work, trying desperately to get back into a routine.  We’re all spending a bit more time at home, be it from the cold, bitter weather, or feeling guilty about Christmas spending, Christmas eating, and holiday drinking.

The obvious event of the month is New Year! which can be spent in any number of ways – but with most of the ski hills open by now, one of the best places to spend it is on the slopes! Try Edelweiss, Camp Fortune, or Mount Pakenham for a fresh, fit start to the New Year ahead!

Rideau Canal ready for skating

Usually at some point, the January Weather is cold enough, and there’s been enough consistency of a freezing overnight temperature, that the canal has managed to get itself sorted out, and is ready to actually skate on.  If you’ve never done it, try skating to downtown! It’s the world’s longest ice-rink, you know… 

February

Packed full of events, February gets off to a rocking start with Ottawa’s most famous, most fun and most populated festival – Winterlude! Skate the Rideau Canal to its full length, eat Beavertail pastries right on the rink (or in the park), check out the ice and snow carving competitions, and try some traditional Quebecqois ‘maple syrup pops rolled on ice’.  

The whole thing is just the best Ottawa event of the year!  If you’re around in the evening, the concerts on Friday, and Saturday nights are pretty good, too.  They usually have some neat French-language groups, and some up and coming Canadian artists that play. 

Insider’s Tip: Be sure to catch a glimpse of the giant hedgehogs who are the official mascots of the event.

Mardi Gras in the market  - kicking off Lent for the Catholics, but the start of some indulgence for the rest of us, celebrate the Mardi Gras festivities in the Byward market!  If not in the market, but still downtown, our favourite is Big Daddy’s Crab Shack (on Elgin) where it feels uber-festive and decadent in so many ways.

Pancake breakfasts! And if Mardi Gras isn’t your scene, or if you’re more of a morning person, celebrate the start of the Lent/Mardi Gras season with a local Pancake breakfast.  Every neighbourhood church has one, many of the schools, and community groups as well.  Always yummy and there are some great pancakes to be had.  (And if you want more of a gourmet pancake on Shrove Tuesday, you can always stop by Zaks in the market, or the Elgin Diner where they serve pancakes all day long, everyday of the week! )

March

Without question, for those with any connection to school, March Break is the highlight event of this month.   The full week break of school affects everyone with a remote connection to education – the travel prices increase dramatically, the mall’s are doubled up with kids and their parents, and everywhere is just buzzing.

So, while the main event in Ottawa in March is getting out of the city, there is still lots going on at home, for those of us left to suck up the last of winter’s blues.

Personally, I head straight to Florida for some much-needed sun!

St. Patrick’s Day  - with a lively Irish community, St. Paddy’s day in Ottawa is a definite day/night to remember (or not remember, depending on how good a time you have There’s a parade that goes downtown, that’s worth taking in, and green beer can be found at any number of pubs.   The Irish village in the market, (known by us locals as the Aulde Dubliner, Heart and Crown (my favourite), the Black Rose, and the Earl of Sussex (though isn’t Sussex in England?).

Anyhow, another great pub to celebrate the day in is Darcy McGee’s – be it the Sparks Street location, or the one on Moodie Drive, both offer superb beer, great live music on the day, and plenty of atmosphere (helped of course by the waitresses in short kilts!).  

Home Show, Travel Show, & lots of shows – To help combat the SAD (seasonal affected disorder) effects, (basically sadness due to crappy winter weather), the city has loads of ’shows’ offered through the month of March.  There’s usually the Home Show, and then the Golf and Travel show, and a couple of others.  Though there’s often an admission fee, you can usually score free tickets from CJOH or one of the local radio stations.

April

Finally with days getting longer, and such a dramatic increase in light thanks for April Weather, everyone’s mood seems to brighten this month.   Thank G, because there’s not too much going on in April.  Other than April Fool’s Day (on the 1^st), which isn’t really celebrated by anyone older than 10… Though, the saving grace of April is Easter – with many having both Good Friday and Easter Monday off.  Not much to do in the city other than celebrating with friends and family, indulging on chocolate, and hunting for Easter eggs.

Stay tuned for Ottawa events in May, June, July and August! 

Plus, with the thermostat now hanging out in the low teens, and single digits at night, out come the jackets and woolly socks, while the tank tops and flip flops are put away for another year. Fall has definitely arrived!

While many in Ottawa know that these shorter days and colder nights are only foreshadowing towards the ominous Winter, there are certainly a few perks to Autumn that we all look forward to and enjoy.

Now that Labour Day is over, (the last great summer holiday, and official end to summer), I for one cannot wait for Thanksgiving (this year on October 8^th), and then you have Halloween, and of course we like to celebrate Guy Fawkes (Bon Fire Night) with all those Brit-Ex pats too!

But until the turkey and pumpkin pie get’s here, we as might as well enjoy everything that September has to offer. For sure, you need to grab a cup of something steamy from Tim Horton’s (the coffee and donut place, for the unitiated!) and take time to do the always fun (and romantic) albeit clichéd, walk through the park/forest/street and admire those Fall trees with their beautiful, multi-coloured leaves. 

A place in the city that is really worth a visit in September is the park near Somerset and Lyon. Also, Britannia Bay (at the end of Pinecrest, near Richmond). Beautiful spots. 

If you’re looking for more of a natural setting for the traditional Fall walk, there’s some great hiking just off of Hunt Club, in the west end (where Hunt Club meets Richmond). There are a few parking lots along the road there, and then onto Richmond that give access to the trails within these official preserved areas that belong to the City of Ottawa.

Of course, determining when the leaves will completely change colour is a lot like determining when the cherry-blossom season in Japan will take place. (ie: not easy) There are no hard and fast rules. Though, it must be said that, as of today, I’ve seen at least a dozen trees already in bright orange, red and yellow, so it’s already beginning here in the capital.

For the ultimate walk, however, hop in your car for a short drive to check out the town of Merrickville, about 30 minutes from Ottawa.  Wandering the main street and admiring the changing leaves by the Rideau canal is an experience that can’t be beat. 

So, while September signals a lot of not so fun things starting (back to school, shorter days, colder weather, winter just around the corner), it would be a shame to focus on so much of that, as then you might miss the up-side to this Autumn season.

Enjoy the leaves…

The weather was unfortunately cruddy - not what you’d expect for August Weather. Anyhow, we had a good day and drank a few Canadians (a Molson brand of beer - the Americans consider Canadian beer to be like moonshine because its a tad stronger than Budweiser!! But, we love it!)

 Got outside for a while, until it rained and things got soggy. Then watched a few movies.

 More news from the capital coming soon…!

Unfortunately the old adage about ‘April showers’ also can be true but, in recent years, we’ve been looking at the skies and waiting for them to pour, but often nothing happens. It seems global warming is ensuring that it’s drier at times when you expect rain, and tempestuous in months when you expect sunshine… But, hey, what do I know? Am I a meteorologist? Nope.

But, as an Ottawan I can say, hand on heart, that April is mostly a good month to visit Ottawa, and most of

The weather is nice and temperate, getting up into double digits on the plus side of the thermometer (hooray!), and mostly dry (but don’t quote me on that – it wouldn’t hurt to bring an umbrella if it’s cloudy outside).

So, if you prefer seeing some grass when you visit, consider avoiding the snowier months and visiting in April. There might even be some birds singing in the parks as picnic season heats up.

Moreover, the warmer weather – mixed with a drop or two of rain – is good news for the world famous Tulip festival, held annually in Ottawa. This year it’s in May…

In Ottawa, we pull out all the stops for a great Canada Day celebration - fireworks, cool people, and even the sun was shining!

Best place to see the fireworks is in front of the Parliament Buildings on Parliament Hill, where things ‘lift off’ around 10pm. See you there next year!!

So, it’s not unusual for everyone to jet off to sunnier climes… Personally, I hop on a plane southwards and have a week or two in Florida. Unbelievably, they are enjoying days of +20C (and hotter) and walking around in shorts and t-shirts, while we suffer the deep freeze.

This, of course, makes many Canadians wonder ‘why the hell are we walking around in snow pants and scarves, when it’s sunny just a couple of hour’s flight away??’ D’oh!

Well, at least I wonder that as I sit in the swimming pool and forget about freezing cold Ottawa… Then, upon returning for the second half of March, things are a little better. The snow is melting, the ice is cracking and Spring is on the way!

April weather brings flowers and grass (yep, that green stuff lurking beneath the white stuff). So, suddenly, winter doesn’t seem quite so bad… At least until the next winter comes along.

Although, in recent years, some unseasonal warmer spells (not much warmer, but warm for Feb in Canada!) has led to the famous Winterlude Festival being a bit of a wash-out!!

At the annual fest, the canal is normally opened to legions of ice skaters - but only if the ice is thick enough. If the weather is too warm, then the whole thing can be rather wet and slushy, and ultimately unsafe…

In the evening, they hose the ice on the canal with water to make it stronger and thicker. So, thankfully, the canal is usually open and icy.

But I have seen many of the ice sculptures, that are carved in the park, dripping in the bright sunshine - at least a few times!