Can you believe May is finally here? This is one of the absolute best seasons to enjoy in Ottawa. Our world-famous Tulip Festival doesn’t start until next weekend, but there are still plenty of fantastic events to enjoy this weekend in the city:
Ottawa PoutineFest
Yes, you read that right – PoutineFest. Head down to Marion Dewar Plaza this weekend for a taste of this Canadian classic. Twenty vendors from Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto will offer their takes on traditional and experimental/fusion poutine. Also enjoy live music and imbibe at the beer gardens, featuring Ottawa’s award-winning craft brewery Broadhead Brewery. There’s even a poutine-eating fest, so get ready. Admission is free (though of course you have to pony up for delicious poutine), so come and try something new! You are also invited to bring a non-perishable food item in support of St. Joe’s Supper Table.
Activate Health & Fitness Expo
Once you’ve finished indulging in pounds of poutine, you’ll probably want to refresh by heading down to the Activate Health & Fitness Expo this weekend at the EY Centre. This weekend, it’s all about “inspiration, motivation, and FUN.” Whether you want to change your life or just get some more fitness and healthy living tips, this expo with plenty of great exhibitors and featured speakers is right up your alley. Today is your last chance to get the early-bird online price of $13.99 ($24.99 weekend pass). Otherwise, tickets are $20 at the door ($30 for the weekend pass).
MC Escher: The Mathemagician
The National Art Gallery’s feature exhibition on MC Escher wraps up this week. MC Escher is a Dutch draughtsman, book illustrator, muralist, and tapestry designer, but he is best-known for his stunning prints. Escher combined art with math, symmetry, order, and spatial logic in a way that had never been seen before. This weekend is your last chance to view this collection of 54 iconic MC Escher prints at the National Art Gallery.
Ottawa AutoRama
Formerly known as the Ottawa Classic and Custom Car Show, Ottawa AutoRama takes place at the EY Centre. This is great fun for car lovers of all ages. Admission is $12 for adults. WWII jeeps, monster trucks, dragsters, and some of the most stunning vehicles in all of automobile history. There are also many great exhibitors with car-related products and services, so come check it out!
Arctic Voices
The Arctic Voices special exhbition at the National Museum of Nature wraps up this weekend. It’s no secret that Canada’s geography is vast and varied, and the Arctic is just one of our many treasured biomes. Arctic Voices is a study of an environment undergoing rapid change. As part of this interconnected planet, the Arctic and its inhabitants are directly affected by environmental changes around the globe. The Arctic Voices exhibit features many interactive components which are sure to engage adults and children alike. Explore life with the polar bears, learn about Arctic scientists as they study and track Arctic whales, and take a tour of plant life which is sturdy enough to survive in one of our planet’s most unforgiving environments.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
