After a difficult week, it is important to come together and celebrate the community of Ottawa, and enjoy all of the activities and cultural events which help to make this city great. Here is a weekend preview:
Poutine Fest
This annual Sparks Street festival is a celebration of a Canadian culinary treasure. Come downtown this weekend and awesome food and music in a positive atmosphere. On Saturday afternoon, there is even a poutine eating contest. This year’s Poutine Fest features a $30 “poutine fast pass,” which comes with two large poutines, two Sparks Street toques, and allows you to jump to the front of any food truck line. This year’s festival features trucks from all over the country, and of course Sparks Street restaurants will offer their own versions of poutine, so come “get your curd on.”
Senators vs. Devils
As a result of the cancelled game on Wednesday night, the Ottawa Senators will play their first game in a week when they host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. The Sens are on a four-game winning streak and hope to continue their perfect home form and keep pace with the better teams in the Eastern Conference. The Devils, meanwhile, have had a disappointing 3-2-1 start to the season. They will host the Dallas Stars at the Prudential Center in Newark tonight before flying into Ottawa, and the Sens should try to get an early jump on a tired team. The crowd should be phenomenal and the singing of the national anthem will very emotional, so don’t miss it.
Inside Out LGBT Film Festival
The Ottawa edition of the Inside Out Film Festival takes place this weekend at the Bytowne Cinema and SAW Gallery. The 2014 Festival will screen 13 feature-length films and 3 short programs, and showcases creative films and documentaries from Canada and around the world. UpFront Ottawa ran a featured piece on the festival, which is celebrating its eighth year in Ottawa, last week. Tickets are available through insideout.ca and in person at Venus Envy (320 Lisgar Street, Ottawa).
Ottawa Ski, Snowboard, and Travel Show
If there’s any doubt that winter and all its outdoor goodness is just around the corner, Saturday and Sunday’s Ski, Snowboard, and Travel Show at the EY Centre should be a good reminder. This show features booths from iconic Ottawa retailers like Kundstadt sports and Trailhead Paddle Shack, and is the place to go for ski and snowboard information, great sales and discounts, and a huge selection. Admission is free, and whether you’re looking to plan a vacation at a ski resort, pick up a stylish new winter jacket or take up snowboarding as a hobby, this show has it all.
National Women’s Show
The fall edition of the National Women’s Show is also taking place at the Ernst & Young Center on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $12 and includes access to a variety of themed “zones,” featuring fashion and style, travel and adventure, business and career, beauty and wellness, house, home and design, and world of taste. Melody Thomas Scott, star of The Young & the Restless, is this year’s VIP Guest. There is plenty to choose from with fashion shows, workshops, a culinary stage, and tons of great discounts and giveaways.
Running Scared
On Sunday morning, the fourth edition of this fun run for a great cause takes place in Barrhaven/Manotick. The run, which now includes a 15km option in addition to the 1.5km family run and 5km and 10km options, raises funds and awareness for the Canadian Diabetes Association. What makes this run so much fun is that the racers wear Halloween costumes, and prizes are given for the best and most creative costumes in each division, along with medals for the best times. Even if you don’t want to run, come out and cheer on the costume-clad racers.
Title image courtesy of senators.nhl.com
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