Welcome to the final weekend of March! The sugar bushes are open again this weekend and now the sap is flowing. If you haven’t checked it out yet be sure to read my guide to Ottawa’s best sugar bushes. And don’t forget this Saturday is Earth Hour. From 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm everyone is encouraged to turn off all electricity for the hour. Without further ado, here is what’s happening for families on the weekend of March 30-31…enjoy!

Saturday:

• Carleton Place Spring Mom 2 Mom Sale – Carleton Place Hockey Arena, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (More than 50 tables of new and gently used clothing, toys, movies games and more! Admission is free)
• The Easter Bunny at Hazeldean – Hazeldean Mall, Kanata, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Get your portrait taken with the Easter Bunny in the food court, 4 high res portraits for $20)
• Maple Sugar Celebration at the Market – Byward Market, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (wood working demo, face painting, see how traditional wooden sap collecting buckets are made, musicians)
• Little Ray’s Wildlife Festival – EY Centre, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (40 live animal exhibits, including a sloth, alligator, bobcat, groundhog, opossum, armadillo, owl, skunk, and many more mammals, snakes, and birds. Also a full petting zoo)
• The Kid Who Would Be King – Ottawa Family Cinema, 2:00 pm (PG movie, Old school magic meets the modern world in this epic adventure)
• Orchestra from Planet X – National Arts Centre, 2:30 pm (Lively bilingual one-hour performances, it’s always hands-on and fun, recommended for ages 5 and up)
• The Wizard of Oz with Live Orchestra – National Arts Centre, 7:00 pm (experience this technicolour movie classic on the big screen with music from the live NAC orchestra)

Sunday:

• The Next Step: Autism March – 3500 Fallowfield Rd, 8:30 am (This advocacy march will start at the Minister of Children, Communities and Social Services’ Constituency Office at 3500 Fallowfield Road, and finish at Parliament Hill.)
• Fresh Food Day: Featuring Chef Lynn Crawford – Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (array of demonstrations, culinary tips, tricks, and inspiration for feeding the whole family nutritiously. Meet Chef Lynn Crawford and enjoy a craft and reading corner for kids, included with museum admission)
• The Easter Bunny at Hazeldean – Hazeldean Mall, Kanata, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Get your portrait taken with the Easter Bunny in the food court, 4 high res portraits for $20)
• Maple Sugar Celebration at the Market – Byward Market, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (wood working demo, face painting, see how traditional wooden sap collecting buckets are made, musicians)
• Little Ray’s Wildlife Festival – EY Centre, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (40 live animal exhibits, including a sloth, alligator, bobcat, groundhog, opossum, armadillo, owl, skunk, and many more mammals, snakes, and birds. Also a full petting zoo)
• Capital Comic Book Convention – Ottawa Marriot Hotel, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (convention will focus on comic books, graphic novels, and trade paperbacks from collectors)
• Harlem Globetrotters World Tour – Canadian Tire Centre, 2:00 pm (enjoy this original basketball entertainment spectacular)
• Orchestra from Planet X – National Arts Centre, 2:30 pm (Lively bilingual one-hour performances, it’s always hands-on and fun, recommended for ages 5 and up)
• Wood Painting with Young Entrepreneur Jill – Oh So Good Coffeehouse, Richmond Rd, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm (join 10 year old young entrepreneur, Jillian, for a wood painting workshop. Jiliian will be demonstrating how to paint a beautiful landscape on a wooden disc. All supplies included, recommended for ages 8 and up, tickets are $15 on eventbrite)