Events and festivals
In the Outaouais, we never miss an opportunity to celebrate the things we love! And it's a long list: sheep's wool, fireworks, coloured leaves, beer, tulips, hot air balloons, winter, and art, to name a few. Colorful events and festivals await you in all seasons. Come celebrate with us!
February is the month of love! Even if the outdoor temperature is dropping, the Outaouais is full of exciting activities to warm your heart. Discover our suggestions to show winter how much you love it, especially since it’s been a long time coming this year!
February 3 to 12
Aurora - Festive Winter Experience
84 Hanson St., Gatineau (Québec)
Aurora | Festive Winter Experience offers a new free winter activity for all tastes with an outdoor program that comes to life at nightfall on the magnificent site of La Filature at the Brewery Creek from February 3 to 12.
February 3 to 20
Winterlude
(Ontario)
From February 3 to 20, 2023, enjoy the joys of winter, discover Indigenous culture and celebrate diversity.
February 3 to 20
Snowflake Kingdom - Winterlude
Northern part of Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau (Québec)
Discover winter with your family in the huge playground of Snowflake Kingdom.
February 11 to 12
Canadian Ski Marathon
266 Viger St., Papineauville (Québec)
The Canadian Ski Marathon, North America’s longest and oldest cross-country ski event, will be held from February 11 to 12, 2023!
February 17 to 19
Gatineau Loppet
397 Blvd. de la Cité-des-Jeunes, Gatineau (Québec)
The Gatineau Loppet is back this year, from February 17 to 19, 2023!
February 23 to 26
Salon du livre de l'Outaouais
50 Blvd. Maisonneuve, Gatineau (Québec)
The Salon du livre de l’Outaouais is an integral part of the local cultural scene and one of the largest book fairs in Quebec.
May 13 to October 15
NCC Weekend Bikedays
Gatineau Park and Ottawa, Ottawa (Ontario)
Every weekend from May to October, take advantage of nearly 20 kilometres of parkways open for active use, along the Ottawa River.
May 27 to 28
Arts-aux-parcs
2197, mtée Paiement, Val-des-Monts (Québec)
Arts-aux-Parcs is an annual visual arts and crafts exhibition held in the municipality of Val-des-Monts.
May 27 to 28
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
Gatineau-Ottawa
It’s a must for runners and spectators alike.
August 2 to 19
Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy
100 Laurier St., Gatineau (Québec)
Every summer in August, the Outaouais' torchbearer event, Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy, offers four hours of entertainment: great pyromusical shows, fire cooking experience, artistic creations, activities for all, experiential paths and more!
August 31 to September 4
Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival
La Baie Park, Gatineau (Québec)
The largest summer event in the Outaouais is known for its diversified artistic program and offers surprising activities for the whole family in a magical atmosphere!
September 8 to 10
Riverside Festival
100 Laurier St., Gatineau (Québec)
The Riverside Festival is 3 electrifying days on the riverfront at the awesome site of the Canadian Museum of History.
September 14 to 17
Festival Ripon trad
31 Coursol St., Ripon (Québec)
Ripon trad is a unique musical experience in Quebec.
September 30 to October 22
NCC Fall Rhapsody
Gatineau-Ottawa (Québec)
Admire the magnificent fall colours everywhere in the Capital during the NCC Fall Rhapsody.
May 13 to 23
Canadian Tulip Festival
(Ontario)
One of Canada’s most colourful festivals celebrates the tulip, international symbol of friendship and peace.
June 23 to 26
Festival L'Outaouais en Fête
Parc des Cèdres, Gatineau (Québec)
Every year, the festival “welcomes the world” to Des Cèdres Park in Gatineau, a beautiful natural site on the shore of the Ottawa River.
July 1 to 1
Canada Day
Wherever you are in the country, come take part in the July 1 activities and celebrate what makes you proud, in your own way!
July 7 to 9
Festival d'Humour de Gatineau
Place de la Cité, Gatineau (Québec)
The annual Gatineau Comedy Festival adds a blast of fun and laughter to the Outaouais summer event calendar!
July 7 to September 5
Northern Lights
111 Wellington St. (Parliament Hill), Ottawa (Ontario)
The Sound and Light Show returns to Parliament Hill in Ottawa this summer.
July 9 to September 17
RECYCL'ART in Outaouais – Travelling exhibition
(Québec)
Recycl’Art presents a variety of temporary and permanent sculptures and installations created out of recycled materials by artists from Quebec and beyond.
July 20 to 30
Gatineau Brewfest
Place des festivals ZIBI, Gatineau (Québec)
The Gatineau Beerfest is 8 days of beer tasting, good food, music shows and all kinds of discoveries.
July 21 to 31
St-André-Avellin Western Festival and Professional Rodeo
530 Charles-Auguste-Montreuil St., Saint-André-Avellin (Québec)
Bring out your inner cowboy at the Saint-André-Avellin Western Festival!
July 23 to 23
Lac-Simon Fireworks
760 Tour-du-Lac Rd. (Municipal beach), Lac-Simon (Québec)
Get together with family and friends for the free annual fireworks display at Lac-Simon, in the Petite-Nation La Lièvre, just an hour’s drive from Gatineau and Ottawa.
August 4 to 7
Festival Country du Grand Gatineau
125 Carillon St., Gatineau (Québec)
For all fans of country music.
August 7 to 7
Auto Show Gatineau
15 Raoul-Roy St. (Des Cèdres Park), Gatineau (Québec)
The Gatineau Auto Show is taking place at Des Cèdres Park in Aylmer.
August 11 to 14
Twist Fibre Festival
530 Charles-Auguste-Montreuil St., Saint-André-Avellin (Québec)
Canada’s largest fibre festival, TWIST brings together the top players in the field.
August 26 to 28
Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival
211 Henri-Bourassa St. (Cité étudiante de la Haute-Gatineau), Maniwaki (Québec)
For the last 25 years, the Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival has been helping to preserve the Gatineau River by organizing whitewater canoe, kayak, and rafting expeditions.
September 8 to 10
Club automobile Défi Outaouais
66 Lafontaine SR, Montpellier (Québec)
The Rallye Défi is a performance automobile rally on paved and gravel roads where rally cars reach speeds of more than 190 km/h.
September 16 to 18
Aero Gatineau-Ottawa
1717 Arthur-Fecteau St. (Gatineau Airport), Gatineau (Québec)
For the 5th Aero Gatineau-Ottawa, which will take place from September 16 to 18, 2022 at the Gatineau Airport, the event goes above and beyond, with a program that will include more than 60 aircraft, both on the ground and in the air.
October 14 to 16
Symposium Gatineau en Couleurs
1170, d'Aylmer Rd., Gatineau (Québec)
A colourful weekend presenting the work of 70 Quebec and Ontario painters and sculptors selected by a jury.
November 25 to December 4
Christmas in Old Aylmer
115 Principale St., Gatineau (Québec)
Old Aylmer comes alive with lighted floats, parked along Principale Street.
December 8 to January 8
Winter Lights Across Canada
111 Wellington St. ( Parliament Hill ), Ottawa (Ontario)
Winter Lights Across Canada is set to brighten up your winter.