Happy Father’s Day weekend to all you wonderful fathers and grandfathers out there! You deserve to be spoiled and I only wish the weather forecast was looking better for celebrations. To help you make your weekend plans, here is my list of family friendly events for June 15-16.

Saturday:

• The Original Navan Market – 3470 and 3480 Trim Rd (two locations), 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (over 50 vendors at the market and bbq fundraiser, live entertainment, kids father’s day craft centre, CHEO bear appearance, raffle)
• Lambs Down Park Festival – 142 Franktown Rd, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (family festival with pancake breakfast, craft beer tent, sheep shearing demos, pony rides, kids corner, live music, food vendors and more)
• Pterosaur: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs – Canadian Museum of Nature, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (opening day for a brand new exhibition, free for museum members)
• Festival Franco Ontarien – Major’s Hill Park, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm and 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm (family programming includes singing and entertainment, face painting, inflatables and mini workshops)
• Family Discovery Day – Boldt Castle, 1000 Islands, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (if you want to take the drive you can enjoy a fun-filled day will give parents and children the opportunity to explore a wide variety of fun, educational topics including music, geology, art, animals, reading and horticulture.)
• Richmond Family Fun Day – Richmond Fair Grounds, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (free event with live music, bbq, bouncy castles, face painting, children’s play and craft area, magic show and more)
• Kayser the Magician – Carlingwood Mall, 10:30 am – 11:30 am (fun and free family event magic show, no tickets required)
• Manotick Food Truck Rally – 5492 S River Dr, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (food trucks and vendors plus kids activities)
• The Army Horse Academy Open House – Smith Rd, Navan, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (meet the horses and petting zoo animals, free pony rides, face painting, riding demonstration and bbq)
• Crafts and Drafts – Beyond the Pale Brewing Company, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm (rain or shine, local crafts, bouncy castle for the kids, live entertainment, beers, and artisan food)
• Iran Day – Ottawa City Hall, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (learn about Iranian culture through artists’ paintings, publications, photography, handcrafts, and Persian pastries and sweets.)
• 10 Years of Pascale Ice Cream – 571 Gladstone, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm (enjoy a parking lot block party with local neighbourhood vendors plus ice cream samples and more)
• Glow fair – Bank Street, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Glowfair goes into the night, but these are the hours of the Play Station kids area which includes jugglers, face painting, super heroes, performance by Monkey Rock Music.
• Italian Car Parade – Preston Street, 1:15 pm – 2:00 pm (enjoy the Italian Festival along Preston and take in the car parade featuring more than 100 Italian cars)
• The Sandlot: A Capital Cinema Production – Parkdale Park, 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm (Bring a picnic, chairs and blankets and enjoy this free outdoor classic movie)

Sunday:

• NOKIA Sunday Bikedays – Sir John A MacDonald Parkway, Colonel By Drive, Sir George Etienne Cartier Parkway, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (Enjoy car-free cycling on Ottawa’s scenic parkways)
• Spend Father’s Day at the Village – Upper Canada Village, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (Dad’s get free admission to the village all day)
• Vintage Car Show – Billings Estate National Historic Site, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Antique car owners are invited to display and share stories about their vehicles. Cast your vote for the fan favourite car, plus tours of the estate, a scavenger hunt and a bbq)
• Father’s Day Challenge – Pinhey’s Point Historic Site, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Travel back in time to the era of the March Township Gentry to complete a series of challenges before time runs out , the experience takes approximately 60 mins)
• Father’s Day Builders – Nepean Museum, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (work together as a family to complete three different building challenges)
• Operation Father’s Day – The Diefenbunker, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm ( fun family activities such as card making for dad, a Father’s Day themed scavenger hunt, and a movie playing! Fathers get in for free when accompanied by child.)
• Princesses and Heroes Party – Algonquin College Salons A & B, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm (live stage shows, face painting, craft stations, magic and games, refreshments, and a silent auction, proceeds raised go to Children’s Wish Foundation…purchase tickets in the link)
• Zumba on the Hill – Parliament Hill, 4:00 pm (free Zumba class on the Hill for all ages)