What to do on

Saturday, June 28 2025

• Canada's hard rock darlings The Damn Truth take a break from touring the UK and the EU to launch their new eponymous LP at Overflow Brewing tonight.

• 🚗 Road Trip Base Camp Brewing Co officially opens at noon in Almonte for a day of beer, music, and festivities.

• 🚗 Road Trip The Metcalfe Farmers Market is dog friendly and has plenty of free parking.

• Shop for vintage and streetwear to the sounds of great music at OohFest and Fly Market.

• 🆓 With a free breakfast pancake breakfast while supplies last, the chance to bring your stuffed animals to the CHEO Bear Hospital, and activities in the Family Fun Zone, the Teddy Bears' Picnic sounds like a great time for the family. 

• It's a night of fun for the kids and a night off for parents: the RA Centre's Kids Night Out lets the young 'uns play sports, games, and activities from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. A free slice of pizza and a drink are included. $32 per child.

• 🆓 Do you love epics, magical realms, or out of this world creatures? You'll want to go to the Fantasy Book Market at Parkdale Market. 

• Meet adoptable dogs and take a picture with your own pup in the Canada Day photo booth at the Freedom Dog Rescue Paws Giving and Pet Adoption Event.

• Join Ottawa Ruck Club on a 10km Silent Ruck starting from the Canadian War Museum at 11:00 am. The 10km rucking route (walking with a 20-30lb backpack) will also be open to walkers without backpacks.

• You'll have your pick of delicious food and beer at the 3rd annual ALS Awareness BBQ at Stray Dog Brewing Co.

• 🆓 Need to fill in some of the gaps in your garden? Visit the Native Plant Giveaway in Springhurst Park, where you'll find native species of Ontario and Québec up for grabs. Bring your own bags, containers, and labels.

• Rideau Hall opens its doors to curious citizens today and tomorrow. Explore the State rooms, the gardens, and the greenhouses.

• Fish without a licence during Family Fishing Week, which happens to start today.

• Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and Sparks Street present Live from the Booth outdoor DJ sets to start your Saturday night off right.

• The innovative combo New Jazz Underground play the Fourth Stage at National Arts Centre tonight. Check here for all Ottawa Jazz Festival listings.

• At THE OTTAWAN we love a new magazine launch, so we're thrilled that the new mag Orange Cube will greet the world at a special event at Next Door (4:00 pm to 8:00 pm).

• As you wish, Capital Pop-Up Cinema's annual screening of The Princess Bride is bigger and better than ever. The setting: Uplands Military Community Centre.

• Six Londoners search for love, sex, and a decent place to live in Alan Ayckbourn's Private Fears in Public Places. The show, mounted by Plosive Productions, closes tonight at the Gladstone Theatre.

• Also closing tonight: 37 Postcards at Ottawa Little Theatre.

• Experience world premiers of new works for brass quintet and percussion by local composers, courtesy of Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. Bring your own lawn chair as well as ice cream money, because Merry Dairy will be there too. This evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Cardinal Creek Park, Orléans.

• ByTowne Cinema: The Phoenician Scheme, Showstoppers: Nashville, Alien: The Director's Cut

• Mayfair Theatre: A Nice Indian Boy, The Life of Chuck, The Warriors, Saturday Night Sinema
  
  Gigs

• The Music of Casiopea performed by Finely Tuned Elephant. House of TARG

• The Magic Machine. Irene's Pub

• Saturday Night Karaoke. Hintonburg Public House

• Joeboy. Bronson Centre

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Learn knife skills, meet new people, and prepare a delicious recipe at the Cut Like a Chef workshop by Knifewear and Parkdale Food Centre. Friday July 18 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

• Ottawa welcomes the North American Festival of Wales August 27-31. A short list of the events include the Welshfest street party on Sparks St (Thursday August 28), a concert series at Church Cathedral, seminars, film screenings, a marketplace with vendors from Wales and North America, and more. The festival is run by the Welsh North American Association, which "strives to preserve, develop and promote our Welsh cultural heritage and traditions, including the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu, and to do all things necessary and appropriate to accomplish these goals."

• Tickets are on sale now for the 80s Silent Disco in the Canadian Museum of History on Friday December 12. So go on now, go, walk out the door, just turn around now and buy your tickets.