Canada Day in Ottawa’s Original Downtown!
June 26, 2023
Eh, it’s Canada Day! What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than being in the Capital of Canada right in Ottawa’s Original Downtown?
We want to first to acknowledge the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation on whose traditional unceded territory that we are located on. We gratefully acknowledge them as past, present and future stewards of this land.
Canada Day in Ottawa is the city’s biggest event of the year a. There’s no shortage of things to do, from good eats, incredible museums, and an abundance of Canadian festivities.
We hope everyone has a great day full of fun and festivities, and please be safe and drink responsibly!
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill is the symbolic heart of our nation as it is not only home to Canada’s government but a place to visit, meet and celebrate.
Enjoy performances of bagpipes and drums from various marching bands that will be in rotation throughout the day!
📅 July 1st, 2023
⏰ 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
📍 Parliament Hill, Wellington Street
👪 For all ages
Canada Day Concert
Celebrate Canada Day at the National Arts Centre for a free concert celebrating Canada with a stellar lineup of homegrown artists performing music by great Canadian composers like Iman Habibi, Rita Ueda and Ana Sokolović.
Don’t miss this opportunity to come together to share in the love music with some of Canada’s young musicians shining on the Southam Hall stage.
📅 July 1st, 2023
⏰ 2:30 PM EST
📍 National Arts Centre, Southam Hall
👪 For all ages
Patios
Looking for a place to eat or drink? Check out these patios with the best views of the Nation’s Capital that offer exceptional drinks and delicious eats!
La Terrasse
Check out this beautiful patio at the historic Fairmont Château Laurier! This patio is a hidden gem in the downtown core and offers incredible views of the Rideau Locks, Ottawa River, Parliament, and the best sunsets in the city.
There is no better way to spend an afternoon on Canada Day than eating one of their charcuterie and cheese boards sourced from local Quebec and Ontario producers and sipping on their infamous Showstopper Cocktails.
📍 1 Rideau Street
📞 613-241-1414
🍔 Menu
Tavern at the Gallery
If you haven’t been to this patio, this one is a must visit this Canada Day! This lounge offers exceptional views of the historic Rideau Falls and serves up gourmet hot dogs with all the toppings you can think of and fruity, refreshing sangria with a choice of red or white.
📍 1 John Street
📞 No Reservations
🍔 Menu
Want to see more of the patio varieties that are offered here, check out Your Guide to Downtown Patios!
Museums
We are privileged to have a number of incredible art galleries and museums in our downtown! Ranging from local to national art and history, there’s something for every interest.
Bytown Museum
Learn about the history of Ottawa at the Bytown Museum showcasing how Ottawa became what it is today.
The museum is set along the Rideau Lock on the Rideau Canal in the heart of downtown and is walking distance to Parliament Hill or Rideau Street.
🖼️ Bytown Museum
📍1 Canal Lane
📞 613-234-4570
Ottawa Art Gallery
The Ottawa Art Gallery is home to some beautiful and breathtaking art that tells stories of Canadian communities through art.
Check out Mairi Brascoupé’s Chickadees and Flowers. Birch Bark Biting is an early form of mark-making done by Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island where birch trees are present. These bitings were, and continue to be used to illustrate stories, as a pattern for beadwork and artistic expression. They are created by using very thin pieces of birch bark, and with your teeth an image is bitten into the bark.
🖼️ Ottawa Art Gallery
📍 10 Daly Avenue
📞 613-233-8699
National Gallery of Canada
Enjoy beautifully curated art pieces at the National Art Gallery that offer a vast selection of art by historical artists like Emily Carr and world-renowned artists like Van Gogh!
The National Gallery of Canada is offering free admission on Canada Day for families and friends to enjoy. After a visit at the gallery, have lunch at Tavern at the Gallery and enjoy a light lunch of wood-burning pizzas and refreshing sangrias.
🖼️ National Gallery of Canada
📍 380 Sussex Drive
📞 613-990-1985
How to Get Here?
OC Transpo is offering free rides across the city and easier for you to enjoy the festivities without having to worry on where to park. If you are parking, click here to see road closures and to help you navigate where you need to go!