If you aren’t out of town this long weekend at the cottage, at a friend’s cabin, or camping in the wilderness, keep an eye out for these great events happening around the city this weekend:
Capital Ribfest
Yes, you read that right! Capital Ribfest is on this weekend at Festival Plaza at City Hall. How about some juicy slow-cooked ribs to kick off your long weekend on the right track? Check out the websites of this year’s vendors and tell me your mouth isn’t already watering: Smokehouse Bandits, Jack the Ribber, D.D. Stutz Catering, Fitz’s BBQ Smoke House, Brickyard BBQ, and Crazy Canuck Smokers. There’s also chicken, pulled pork, and great drinks for sale. Admission is free!
Ottawa International Buskerfest
Head down to Sparks Street for the 24th annual Ottawa International Buskerfest, which continues until the Civic Holiday Monday. This is a great event for the whole family, with talented performers from all around the world. What are some of the things you can expect to see? Acrobats, escapologists, firemen, magicians, unicycle stunts, the World’s tallest Pogo stick…and much more! The event is totally free, but please tip the performers!
Bytown Days
Bytown Days is a celebration of many things that make the Ottawa area a place of rich history. Come to the Ottawa Locks on the Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa to celebrate the Rideau Canal and 400 years of Francophone history in the region. Come see heritage characters, music, dance, talks, guided tours, and enjoy heritage food and drink! This free event only runs until August 3, so now’s your chance to check it out!
Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival
The Ottawa Chamber Music Festival continues until August 6 at Dominion-Chalmers United Church in downtown Ottawa. On the docket this weekend: Order of Canada recipient and pianist André Laplante performs works from Bach, Mozart, Schubert, and Liszt. Saturday is an exploration of the seminal works of Joseph Haydn, followed by an evening performance of MetamorfosI: an exploration of 17th-century Italian music. Finally on Sunday we have “Beethoven, the Man Within,” an evening of music and story about Ludwig van Beethoven. Tickets are $35 to the headlining shows.
Street Eats
If you didn’t get your fill at Capital Ribfest, head to the Aviation Museum for Street Eats on Saturday between noon and 8pm. Tickets are $20 and include access to food trucks, local chef creations, local brews, live entertainment, and even access to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. You can also purchase additional sample tickets to skip the line and get tasty food faster.
Have a wonderful long weekend, everyone!
