10 Fun Activities in Ottawa to Take Your Kids to This Spring
There are plenty of fun indoor activities for kids in Ottawa, especially during the cold fall and winter weather. And while indoor play can be fun, and there are many benefits to indoor play, with spring just around the corner, it’s time to get outdoors and check out the many fun activities in Ottawa for the whole family to enjoy.
Read More: 4 Great Indoor Activities for Kids In Ottawa
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So if you’re looking for fun family activities to do in Ottawa this spring, look no further. Here’s a list of the top upcoming family-fun activities in Ottawa this spring and summer.
#1 Butterflies in Flight
In this live exhibit, experience a warm tropical garden filled with plants and hundreds of live butterflies.
Since tickets sell out daily, the museum recommends that you buy your tickets in advance. This exhibit has timed entry, with admittance every 15 minutes. So when purchasing tickets, you will be asked to choose a time.
- When: Ongoing until April 28th, 2019
- Where: Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, ON
- Cost: $5 (plus tax and museum admission), free for members and children ages 0 to 2.
#2 Maple Syrup Fun
Enjoy all things maple, including sleigh rides and walking trails among the maple trees, organic maple syrup on pancakes, and the all-time favourite springtime treat—maple taffy on snow. There are also fun activities and a tobogganing hill, so bring your own toboggan or borrow one from Fulton’s.
Weekend and holiday activities are available between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Weekday hours are from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and weekend hours are from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Please note that the Pancake House doesn’t take reservations. Guests are served on a first come, first served basis.
- When: February 16th to April 22nd, 2019
- Where: Fulton’s Pancake House & Sugar Bush, 399 Sugar Bush Road, Packenham, ON
- Cost: Maple taffy $3, maple cotton candy $5, horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides $3. View the Pancake House menu here.
#3 Sugaring Off at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm
This sugar bush has a sugar shack, Pancake House, petting farm, children’s play area, and an education centre. The Pancake House is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm and weekend activities run from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm.
While this sugar bush is only open on weekends, it will be open for March Break, Tuesday, March 12th to Friday, March 15th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. And they will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on April 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, and 20th. Tickets for the Easter Egg Hunt can be purchased in advance online.
- When: Saturdays and Sundays from February 23rd to April 21st, 2019, and March Break
- Where: Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, 2452 Yorks Corners Road, Edwards, ON
- Cost: Free admission, taffy on the snow $3, sleigh rides $4.75.
#4 Sparks Street PoutineFest
Celebrate the start of Ottawa’s nice weather by getting outside and indulging in different variations of Canada’s favourite fare—the poutine.
This outdoor festival spans Sparks Street, from Elgin Street to Bank Street, and will have food trucks and restaurants serving up poutine to enjoy on patios. There will also be live local music and street performers to watch while chowing down on fries, gravy, cheese curds, and more gooey goodness.
The festival runs from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm Thursday to Saturday, and 11:00 am to 7:00 pm Sunday.
- When: April 25th to 29th, 2019
- Where: Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON
- Cost: Free admission, the price of poutines vary by vendor.
#5 Ottawa Children’s Festival
This festival celebrates the performing arts for young audiences with five days of family-fun activities in Ottawa. The festival features performances from international and local artists in theatre, dance, arts, and music which can help spark your child’s interest in extracurricular activities.
Some performances are for all ages, while others are more appropriate for different age groups. For more information, check out the Ottawa Children’s Festival website.
- When: May 8th to 12th, 2019
- Where: LeBreton Flats, Ottawa, ON
- Cost: Family Fun packages start at $52 for a family of four, and additional tickets are $13 each.
#6 World Migratory Bird Day with the Ottawa Children’s Festival
Nature Canada will be celebrating World Migratory Bird Day with the Ottawa Children’s Festival on Saturday, May 12th, starting at 10:00 am.
There will be three naturalist-guided nature walks throughout the day at 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:30 pm. At 11:00 am and 1:00 pm, visitors can enjoy the Birds of Prey Flight Shows.
- When: May 12th, 2019
- Where: LeBreton Flats, Ottawa, ON
#7 Ottawa Comiccon
Calling all comic book, sci-fi, fantasy, movie, TV, gaming, toy, and pop culture lovers. The Ottawa Comiccon is the place to be to dress up as your favourite character and meet celebrities in the comic book universe.
Visit the Ottawa Comiccon website for more information on the conference, guests, and attractions.
- When: May 10th to 12th, 2019
- Where: EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa, ON
- Cost: Day tickets are $25 online and $35 at the door for general admission. Admission is free for children ages 6 to 12.
#8 Canadian Tulip Festival
The Canadian Tulip Festival is one of the top activities to do in Ottawa in spring. As noted on the Canadian Tulip Festival website, the festival is “a celebration of the gift of tulips and Canada’s role in the liberation of the Netherlands in WWII.”
Along with admiring the many tulips in bloom, visitors to the festival can enjoy many attractions, including live music and performances, a kid’s zone, food trucks, vendors, and a fireworks show on May 19th.
- When: May 10th to 20th, 2019
- Where: Commissioners Park at Queen Elizabeth Drive and Preston Street, Ottawa, ON
- Cost: Free admission to Commissioners Park, the Tulip Plaza & Festival Pavilions. Prices vary for tours and packages.
#9 Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival
In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st, Canadians are invited to experience the diverse Indigenous cultures of the National Capital Region.
This family-friendly festival features First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists, live performances, food and artisan vendors, a family fun zone, cultural pavilions and workshops, and a competition pow wow.
For more information, visit the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival website.
- When: June 20th to 23rd, 2019
- Where: Vincent Massey Park, Ottawa, ON
- Cost: Free admission
#10 Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival
Celebrate the start of summer with the annual Dragon Boat Festival. This fun-filled weekend features boat racing, concerts, a family fun zone with a playground, and plenty of food, drinks, and vendors.
- When: June 20th to 23rd, 2019
- Where: Mooney’s Bay Park, Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON
- Cost: Free admission
Read More: Family Fun in Ottawa With Outdoor Activities
With the warm weather just around the corner, get out and celebrate the start of spring and summer with these upcoming family-friendly activities in Ottawa.