The summer is flying by WAY too fast for my liking, so here’s to making the most of what we’ve got left! There is a ton going on this weekend, lots of family friendly events to choose from. Here is my list for the weekend of August 17-18.

Saturday:

• 2019 Packenham Fair – downtown Packenham, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm (breakfast starting at 7 am, $5 admission, kids 12 and under are free, bouncy castle, puppet show, animal shows, a local market, petting zoo, a dog contest and more)
• Saturday 5 km and 1 km – Central Experimental Farm, 8:30 am (open to all, online registration is $10, free for kids)
• Honeybee Day – Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm (included with admission, learn how bees not only supply us with honey, but also have a huge impact on agriculture and our everyday lives, also enjoy honey ice cream, learn about bee keeping, crafts and more)
• Westboro Fuse Street Festival – Westboro Village, 10:00 am – 11:00 pm ( a block party on Richmond Road with street closures from Roosevelt to McRae – FREE. Live music and entertainment all day)
• The Capital Fair – Rideau Carleton Casino Fairgrounds, 11:00 am – 11:00 pm (midway, rides, petting zoo, pony rides, agriculture pavilion, monster trucks, stunt dog show and more)
• Bushtukah Tot Trot – 203 Richmond Road, 10:00 am (A 100 metre “dash” open to children aged 4 and under. Starting at the Bushtukah arch on Richmond Rd at McRae, a FREE event but pre-registration is required)
• Bushtukah Family Fun Relay – 203 Richmond Rd, 10:30 am (eams of four family members will run approximately 150 metres each on Richmond Rd between McRae and Churchill. Free event but pre registration is required)
• Summer Family Mornings – National Arts Centre, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (FREE activities, games, musical guests and more, for children of all ages.)
• Bytown Fire Brigade 2nd Annual Pump Day – Mooneys Bay Beach, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (free event where you can see Fire fighting at work over the decades, from present time, to a number of the Brigade’s antique fire apparatus going back to 1850. Pumpers will pump; there will be lots to see for all ages.)
• Derek McKinley Live Kids Concert – The Log Farm, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (Derek McKinley of Sing Song Party Time will be putting on a live show, $6 admission to the farm)
• Corn Roast – Goulbourn Museum 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (celebrate the grand opening of the new Heritage Garden and Outdoor Exhibit with an old-fashioned Corn Roast. Bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic lunch. There will be fresh corn on the cob, hot dogs, lemonade, children’s activities & musical entertainment! Cost is by donation.)
• Ottawa Greek Fest – 1315 Prince of Wales Drive, 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm (artisan court, dance, live music, food tasting and more)
• Storytime at Rideau Hall – Rideau Hall, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Frontier College’s volunteers provide books and other materials and hold a variety of different activities. All activities organized at Storytime are free.)
• A Taste of Manotick – Manotick Village, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm (shut down street for pedestrians, lots of vendors to check out, live entertainment and more)
• Water Lantern Festival – Andrew Haydon Park, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm (decorate lanterns, enjoy food, launch the lantern on the water, listen to music)
• Old Aylmer Festival – Rue Principale, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (BMX, wrestling, magic and music shows, giant games, inflatable structures, face painting for children and of course, the beer and cheese launching event.)
• Movie in the Park: Mary Poppins Returns – 665 Kilbirnie Park, Nepean, 7:00 pm (Everyone is welcome! Bring your blankets, camping chairs, mosquito repellent and your friends.)
• Clarence Rockland Ghostbusters Family Fun Night – The Lost Villages Museum, 8:00 pm – midnight (meet the Ghostbusters. Fun for kids of every age. Hunt for Slimer, Scavenger Hunt and much more, Ticket price is $18 per person)
• Casino Lac Leamy Fireworks: Greece – Bytown Museum, or anywhere along Parliament/the Ottawa River, 9:15 fireworks begin, entertainment before hand
• Lansdowne Movie Nights: Storks – Great Lawn, Lansdowne Park, 8:30 pm (free movie night open to the public)
• A Capital Pop Up Cinema Production: The Princess Bride – Westboro Village, 8:30 pm (free outdoor screening of the 80’s classic)

Sunday:

• NOKIA Sunday Bikedays – Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway, Colonel By Drive, Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (closed to cars, you can bike along the roadways)
• ICA India Day Parade – from Bank and Wellington to Ottawa City Hall, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm (enjoy a beautiful fun filled day to celebrate Indian culture and diversity)
• Westboro Fuse Street Festival – Westboro Village, 10:00 am – 11:00 pm ( a block party on Richmond Road with street closures from Roosevelt to McRae – FREE. Live music and entertainment all day)
• Awesome Sundays: Awesome Archeology – Canadian Museum of History, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (explore archeology through exciting demonstrations, fascinating guests and creative take-home crafts)
• Barrhaven Classic Cars Show – Clarke Fields Park, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (check out the classic cars and hot rods, food trucks, vendors, live entertainment and kids zone)
• The Capital Fair – Rideau Carleton Casino Fairgrounds, 11:00 am – 11:00 pm (midway, rides, petting zoo, pony rides, agriculture pavilion, monster trucks, stunt dog show and more)
• All Aboard Sundays – Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (join the Ottawa Valley Live Steamers and Model Engineers at the museum. Experience model steam trains and learn about railway operation and history)
• Ottawa Greek Fest – 1315 Prince of Wales Drive, 12:00 pm – 10:30 pm (artisan court, dance, live music, food tasting and more)
• TrinbaGo Day – Ottawa City Hall, 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm (a festival dedicated to celebrating Trinidad and Tobago’s unique culture, music, food, arts, and crafts)
• Bark in the Park: Ottawa Champions Baseball – 300 Coventry Rd, 1:35 pm (Bring out your furry Champs fans to the Bark in the Park Ottawa Champions game)
• Capital Pride Family Picnic – Hintonburg Park, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (To celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ families of all kinds, there will be an afternoon of family-friendly programming including face-painting, crafts, games, story time, a bouncy castle, and more)
• Old Aylmer Festival – Rue Principale, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (BMX, wrestling, magic and music shows, giant games, inflatable structures, face painting for children and of course, the beer and cheese launching event.)