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 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 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.
March 9 to 11
Winter Brewfest
15 Jos-Montferrand (Ruelle Zibi), Gatineau (Québec)
The Winter Brewfest is back for march break!
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 21 to 21
Pleins Feux sur Riopelle
1 du Casino Blvd., Gatineau (Québec)
On May 21st, come to the Casino du Lac-Leamy and attend the Pleins Feux sur Riopelle event, a unique fireworks show presented by Loto-Québec and organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of painter Jean Paul Riopelle.
May 27 to 27
La journée des héros
85 Principale St., Chénéville (Québec)
Heroes' Day is a family event where various safety, health and prevention stakeholders will be present to provide demonstrations, entertainment and awareness.
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.
June 22 to 25
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.
June 24 to 24
La Traversée Country
895 Jacques-Cartier St., Gatineau (Québec)
On June 24th, participate in the second edition of La Traversée Country; presented by Thalie Boyer.
July 1 to 1
Canada Day
Join the celebrations at LeBreton Flats Park and elsewhere in the heart of Ottawa–Gatineau!
July 6 to 8
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 4
Northern Lights
111 Wellington St. (Parliament Hill), Ottawa (Ontario)
The Sound and Light Show returns to Parliament Hill in Ottawa this summer.
July 16 to 16
22nd Chénéville Vintage cars exhibition
(Québec)
On July 16th, participate with your family in the 22nd edition of the Chénéville Car Show organized by the Municipality of Chénéville.
July 19 to 29
Gatineau Brewfest
Place des festivals ZIBI, Gatineau (Québec)
The Gatineau Brewfest is 8 days of beer tasting, good food, music shows and all kinds of discoveries.
July 20 to 30
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 29 to 29
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 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 2 to 6
Festival Country du Grand Gatineau
333 Blvd. de la Cité-des-Jeunes, Gatineau (Québec)
For all fans of country music.
August 11 to 13
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 25 to 27
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.
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
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 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)
Come to the Festival Ripon trad for a unique Quebec experience you’ll remember for a long time!
September 15 to 17
Aero Gatineau-Ottawa
1717 Arthur-Fecteau St. (Gatineau Airport), Gatineau (Québec)
For its 6th edition, which will take place from September 15 to 17, 2023 at the Gatineau Airport, Aero Gatineau-Ottawa offers you a program that will include more than sixty aircraft, both on the ground and in the air, including the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the CF-18 Hornet and a MiG-17 jet!
September 15 to 17
Gatineau Tour
71 Principale St., Gatineau (Québec)
On September 15, 16 and 17, take part in the excitement of the Tour de Gatineau, an international-calibre women's cycling race!
September 29 to October 1
Symposium Gatineau en Couleurs
25 Laurier St., Gatineau (Québec)
A colourful weekend presenting the work of 70 Quebec and Ontario painters and sculptors selected by a jury.
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.
November 24 to December 3
Christmas in Old Aylmer
115 Principale St., Gatineau (Québec)
Old Aylmer comes alive with lighted floats, parked along Principale Street.
December 6 to January 7
Winter Lights Across Canada
111 Wellington St. ( Parliament Hill ), Ottawa (Ontario)
Winter Lights Across Canada is set to brighten up your winter.
February 9 to 11
Canadian Ski Marathon
220 Bonsecours St., Montebello (Québec)
58th edition: February 9 to 11, 2024 - The Canadian Ski Marathon is the longest and oldest cross-country ski event in North America.
February 16 to 18
Gatineau Loppet
397 Blvd. de la Cité-des-Jeunes, Gatineau (Québec)
The Gatineau Loppet is back this year, from February 17 to 19, 2023!
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.