Things to do in the Outaouais in June

With the end of the school year, the start of summer, a host of festivities and the return of seasonal tourism enterprises, June is sure to put a smile on your face! Check out our suggestions for activities and events to help you make the most of June.

Get back to nature and relax

Immerse yourself in the peaceful wilderness of the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve. Explore the lakes, go wade fishing in the rivers and streams, and embrace the full experience in a cottage, at a rustic campsite or in a ready-to-camp tent. At the Lac Echo campground, hire your own boat or introduce your children to family fishing from the floating platform on beautiful Lake Taku.

Looking for a little rest and relaxation? During your summer holidays, unwind at the resort-style Kōena Spa. Escape to a peaceful oasis with packages including overnight stays at the Château Cartier Hotel & Resort, gourmet meals, and access to the spa.

Join the party

Start waving your Quebec flags: Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is on June 24! To celebrate, visit the L’Outaouais en Fête festival, June 22 to 25 in Des Cèdres Park. With an amusement park, fireworks, and performances by top Francophone artists from Quebec and beyond, you won’t want to miss it!

If you’d rather party in your cowboy boots, the Traversée country music cruise will be held on June 24. Get ready to dance to the music aboard the River Queen. Join host Valérie Cormier and Thalie Boyer and her guests, including Ghys Mongeon, Daniel Bertrand, André Varin and many more!

To celebrate in Old Hull, head to La p’tite St-Jean street festival on June 24! Celebrate in style with friends and family. Rock out to the music of YOCTO and sing along to the lyrics of Vulgaires Machins. A free and exciting evening!

Next, get ready to celebrate Canada Day in Gatineau–Ottawa on July 1! This year, the celebrations will take place in LeBreton Flats Park and in the downtown core of both cities. And as usual, you’ll be able to visit Parliament Hill. Join us for the daytime ceremony, the evening show, and the Tim Hortons Canada Day fireworks.

This summer, Thursday nights are Latin Fiesta nights at the Casino du Lac-Leamy‘s Bar 7! Show off your best moves and dance to Latin music with your partner or with friends. It’s a caliente experience that will blow your mind!

For even more suggestions, check out the full schedule on our Events page. 

Tour an exhibition

Take a good look: the Empreintes exhibition of Jean Paul Riopelle prints from the City of Gatineau’s permanent collection will blow your mind. View 50 works of art from our collective heritage, including lithographs and etchings produced between 1967 and 1990. Inspired by nature, the seasons, fishing and hunting, these cultural treasures will be on view at Galerie Montcalm until August 20.

Visit the must-see Museum of the Bank of Canada, where your kids can learn how to manage their piggy bank and have fun doing it. The museum invited kids across the country to send in their questions about money. From the hundreds of responses received, a handful was selected for the play-based exhibition Money in 10 Questions: Kids Edition, on view until fall 2024. A great way to learn and prepare your children for the future!

Combine a bike tour, a museum visit and two nights in Gatineau with an all-inclusive package from Experience Outaouais. Thanks to RentABike, you can bicycle to the capital’s highlights: Parliament Hill, the Ottawa River, Chaudière Falls, Little Italy, Dows Lake and the Rideau Canal. Then take a break from cycling to visit the Canadian Museum of Nature. For a fun, hassle-free experience, book your stay now!

Bicycle on car-free parkways

NCC Weekend Bikedays are back this year! Every weekend until October 9 inclusive, Ottawa’s Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier parkways will be closed to vehicular traffic to encourage active mobility and a new way of exploring the region.

Take the opportunity to get moving on the car-free parkways along the Ottawa River. Whether you’re biking, walking, in-line skating, using a wheelchair, or pushing a stroller, this program is for you! You can also take a break on the patio of an NCC Bistro and discover some mouth-watering menus. Come for the food, stay for the view!

Savour summer … literally

Yes, it’s hot, and you know what that means! There’s nothing like a refreshing ice cream cone after an active day, or just for the sheer joy of it. Visit some of the Outaouais dairy bars that are definitely worth the trip. A little bird tells us you’ll be making several discovery stops this summer.

Meet local artisans and producers at public markets in the Outaouais. Discover a number of markets where you can find local produce, artistic creations, and all kinds of treasures!

More to discover in the Outaouais

Try wilderness camping at Camping du Pont Blanc or pitch your tent on one of the sites with access to washroom facilities. While you’re there, sign up for activities offered by Aventure Hélianthe and test your skill at axe throwing—an original and fun activity that will bring out your primitive side.

Sample the culinary delights of the new Caméline neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of Old Hull. Savour the meticulously prepared fresh pasta, complemented by an aromatic wine or a microbrewery beer. A mouth-watering treat for all foodies!

Inhale the irresistible fragrance of a variety of flowers and pick your own bouquet at florAnik ferme florale. Grown right on the family-run Papineauville farm, the plants are not only beautiful, they also reduce waste thanks to their recycled containers.

Make unforgettable memories with your children at an indoor playground. Le Rond-point milieu de jeux is a fun and creative space featuring play structures, interactive zones such as a mobile arcade, and much more! It’s also the ideal place for an action-packed children’s party.

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Book a package with Experience Outaouais and discover what the Outaouais has to offer in June.