The BreakFest Blog
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
Dandelion Festival in Kemptville May 27th-29th
This year the festival takes play on May 27th – 29th and is poised for a giant step forward with the addition of several activities and events as well as a concentrated effort to raise the Dandelion Festival’s profile, not only in North Grenville, but also in the surrounding areas. The EMC has joined as the title sponsor of this year’s Main Stage! Bell Canada, CIBC, The Advance and the North Grenville News Letter have all come on board as a major sponsor to help make this year’s festival even bigger.
Our goal is to attract over 6,000 visitors to the festival this year from Barrhaven to Brockville and the surrounding areas.
Some new activities and events planned for this year include:
- An expanded and more active CIBC kids’ zone located in front of the new Library
- Sunday morning church service on the EMC Main Stage followed by a mini gospel and blue grass music festival
- Street performers and buskers adding energy to the streets at The Advance Buskers’ Zone
- The Dandelion Grand Prix regional race takes place in Oxford Mills this year and moves to a cup race next year, which will attract over 600 riders from Toronto to Montreal to the U.S.
- Beau’s beer will be on hand with a special Dandelion beer “weed wacker” in the beer tent directly across from the main stage.
- Saturday stroll through the Church zone and enjoy baked goodies and hand crafted art from our local Church groups.
Some returning activities and events include:
- EMC Main Stage street dance Saturday night
- Sunday opening of the Kemptville Kinsmen Farmers` Market
- Old Town side walk sale on Prescott street
- KBC Stage performing artists
- Artist and Artisans lining the streets form Clothier to the old Fire Hall
- Friday night youth night on the EMC Main Stage
By joining in the fun you can help to create greater awareness, appreciation and enjoyment of local art and culture in North Grenville. Without your support, this event would not be possible. If you would like to get involved with The Dandelion Festival as a vendor, artist, artisan, volunteer or sponsor please check out our new website for contact information
Ottawa Symphony Orchestra presents Community Day on May 15th!
Ottawa Symphony Orchestra presents Community Day! We invite you to Get to Know your OSO. Join us for fun, hands on, interactive ‘music-tivities’. Sit in on live OSO Rehearsal. Meet and greet our fantastic musicians.
Sunday May 15th 1:30pm-5:30pm Southam Hall, National Arts Centre FREE
For ages 9 and up. Refreshments will be served. Visit our website for more details www.ottawasymphony.com
‘Jane’s Walks’ to celebrate Ottawa, Jane Jacobs
Maria Cook, The Ottawa Citizen
In her famous book, The Death and Life of American Cities, Jane Jacobs urged city-dwellers to get to know the places where they live, work and play.
“While you are looking, you might as well also listen, linger and think about what you see.”
Inspired by Jacobs, the fourth annual Jane’s Walk Ottawa festival is this Saturday and Sunday. The event features 45 free walking tours of Ottawa neighbourhoods and spaces.
In Ottawa, a number of tours are also in French. The program is at www.janeswalkottawa.ca.
Read more: ‘Jane’s Walks’ to celebrate Ottawa, Jane Jacobs
The Chamber Players of Canada present Angela Hewitt in Recital
The Chamber Players of Canada present Angela Hewitt in Recital.
This ia a very special recital featuring Ottawa’s Angela Hewitt. All ticket sales go to support the Bruyère Foundation, champions of the well-being of aging Canadians.
Ticket Information:
Adult: $30
Student: $25
Special fundraising tickets: $200
For more information or to purchase tickets click here.
Special Fundraising Tickets in support of the Élizabeth Bruyère Hospital are available for this concert.
$200 tickets include reserved seating at the concert, Post-Recital Cocktail Reception and a tax receipt for $125.
Ottawa South Relay for Life looking for more teams
Source: Ottawa This Week
By: Emma Jackson
Ottawa South’s second annual Relay For Life fundraiser is still accepting teams for its May 6 event, which will raise money for cancer research during a night of walking and running at Stanley’s Old Maple Lane Farm.
Already seven teams have signed up for the event, which will start at 7 p.m. at the Edwards farm, but owner Earl Stanley said he’d like to have at least 15 teams relaying around the track on May 6.
The Relay for Life program is organized by the Canadian Cancer Society, which runs events across Ontario throughout the spring and summer. In 2010 more than $16 million was raised across Ontario through Relay for Life donations alone.
The event begins at 7 p.m. and runs all night until 7 a.m. Teams of 10 or 15 people collect pledges, usually with a team goal of $1,200, and take turns walking the track throughout the night.
Interested teams can contact the Ottawa chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society at 613-723-1744, or register for the Edwards event online at www.cancer.ca.
For the full article click here.
Ottawa Turkish Festival
The Festival will be open to general public free of charge and will display Turkish art, folk dance, music and gourmet food, where visitors will get an opportunity to celebrate, learn, and savour Turkish hospitality, culture, heritage and cuisine.
The first Ottawa Turkish Festival was organized in 2007, based on the fantastic initial success it has expanded to weeklong festival. Turkish culture, dance and music have mesmerized audiences for the past four years and this year’s schedule promises no different.
Visitors will be able to browse and buy Turkish products, souvenirs and handcrafts, participate in activities for children, view many authentic demonstrations and performances, sample Turkish cuisine, and do much, much more at the Festival.
| Flag Raising Ceremony 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2011 Ottawa Police Headquarters 474 Elgin Street |
Turkish Parade Noon – 1 p.m. Friday, July 22, 2011 Sparks Street Mall (Starts at Lyon to Elgin) |
| Festival Opening Gala 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Friday, July 22, 2011 Ottawa City Hall 110 Laurier Avenue West |
Festival Grounds Noon – 9 p.m. Saturday, July 23 & Sunday, July 24, 2011 Confederation Park Ottawa |
What to expect at the Festival?
- Performances of Turkish Folk Dances, Whirling Dervish of Rumi and Live Turkish Music.
- Watch an Ebru (Water Marbling) painting demonstration on paper and Classical Calligraphy Drawing.
- Relax at the Turkish Oriental Corner, decorated with pillows, rugs, arts, handicrafts, traditional jewelry and more.
- Enjoy Turkish cuisine, sample gourmet foods including kababs, donair vegetarian & olive oil dishes, Gözleme (Turkish Pancake), Börek (Turkish Flaky Pastry), Mantı (Turkish Ravioli), as well as drinks like Ayran (Turkish Buttermilk). A meal would not be complete without desert! Taste Baklava, Turkish delight and more.
- Don’t miss popular Turkish coffee and tea served in an authentic setting
- Let your kids enjoy all sorts of activities: face painting, games, cotton candy, the inflatable village and more!
- Browse the different vendors and booths for books, souvenirs, fine arts and crafts.
- Visit our employment corner to discuss career opportunities with the Canadian Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ottawa Police.
- Support charitable organizations like Northern Lights Educational Services (NLES) providing top quality Child Care services and the Canadian Institute of Intercultural Dialogue (CIID) hosting monthly Interfaith Dialogue Talk Series (IDTS).
- Plan your trip to Turkey, to the land of ancient civilizations! Pickup a copy of touristic brochures available at our information booth.
This year the Festival promises to be even better with International performers and increased programming! It will take place on Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24 at Confederation Park in Ottawa. For the complete week-long Festival Events Schedule please visit www.ottawaturkishfestival.com.
Local Bands and Café Dekcuf to host “Rock Out with Your Paws Out”
Local Bands and Café Dekcuf to host “Rock Out with Your Paws Out” A fundraiser for Friends of Abandoned Pets Friday, April 29, 2011, 9pm at Café Dekcuf.
The event is a fundraiser concert featuring 3 local rock bands (Dopamine, Alice’s Stone Garden and Lovenbodyparts) and stand-up comedian and MC (Skip Phillips). The goal of this event is to raise funds for FOAP, with all of the door proceeds being donated directly to the organization.
Friends of Abandoned Pets (FOAP) formed in 1992, is a volunteer-run, no-kill charity responsible for rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing abandoned dogs and cats. Using the funds that they obtain through various fundraisers, FOAP has successfully been able to match thousands of deserving cats and dogs with loving families.
Read the full article from Ottawa Start.
Exhibition No. 6, Work from the SPAO Portfolio Program, Straight Up.
On Friday April 29, 2011 between 15:00 and 21:00, the School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa will open its doors to the public for the vernissage of Exhibition No. 6. This exhibit is the latest of the annual series showcasing outstanding photographs produced by SPAO Portfolio Program students. The entire school will become the students’ gallery and open to the public during the following hours:
Friday, April 29th 15:00-21:00
Saturday, April 30th 10:00-18:00
Sunday, May 1st 10:00-18:00
Monday, May 2nd 11:00-19:00
Tuesday, May 3rd 11:00-19:00
Wednesday, May 4th 11:00-19:00
Thursday, May 5th 11:00-19:00
Friday, May 6th 11:00-15:00
A compelling blend of work from Level 1 and 2 students will be on exhibit as well as in complete portfolios. This group of work reflects ideas of identity, intense emotion, self-discovery, and individualism, but above all, this work is honest. Artists’ talks will be given on Saturday April 30th and Sunday May 1st 12:00 – 14:00.
Each of the 23 exhibiting students has a unique and compelling story behind their body of work. Olivia Johnston spent her second year at SPAO photographing and interviewing girls and women who have recovered from eating disorders.
“When I began this project, I expected to learn a great deal from the women I photographed, and intellectually I have; I now know much more about eating disorders than ever before. However, since getting to know the beautiful, confident, captivating, intelligent women who participated in the project, the diseases make less sense than ever. How and why does this happen to our best and brightest?”
One of Kathy Roussel’s photographic projects was photographing mayoral candidates of the 2010 election.
“What started off as a very simple exploration of the political candidates of Ottawa became a dialogue between the camera and each candidate. This series, a blend of documentary work and portraiture, does not answer political questions, but asks them.”
Exhibition week will also feature two publications for sale: a catalogue of the works on exhibit, and the third issue of PUSH/PULL, the annual student magazine. A limited edition of the poster designed especially for the exhibition by Neville Smith will also be available for purchase.
SPAO is celebrating its 6th academic year. The school and its Portfolio Program were founded to offer comprehensive, intensive photographic training in an intimate environment. The year-end exhibition is the public’s annual opportunity to view the work produced by the small classes, mentoring and collaboration at SPAO. Please come celebrate with us and see the works of this exceptional group in their pursuit of VISION, CONTENT and CRAFT.
If you have any questions about Exhibition No. 6, or would like to receive images for publication, please contact SPAO directly at: 613.562.3824 or khalia@spao.ca
Contact: Khalia Scott – SPAO Director
For more inforamiton visit http://www.spao.ca/specialevents.html
Tea party brings royal wedding style to Ottawa
Jessica Smith, Metro Ottawa
A high tea and fashion show at the Museum of Nature tomorrow will give Ottawans who weren’t invited to the royal wedding a chance to enjoy some of its perks.
Formal attire worthy of the upcoming royal wedding, supplied by the St. Laurent Centre, will be modelled in a show presided over by Canadian fashionista Jeanne Beker.
Rather than a typical runway show the models will walk about the guests and be able to answer questions about the pieces.
“It’s great to combine fashion, fun and fundraising. With the royal wedding coming, it’s a great opportunity to host an afternoon tea,” said Bernice Rachkowski, marketing director for the St. Laurent Centre.
The event will be hosted by the CTV’s Carol Ann Meehan and adding to the pomp and circumstance of the occasion will be an appearance by the Governor-General’s foot guards.
The Royal ParTea is a fundraiser for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.
Tickets are available at www.ottawacancer.ca.
Visit Metro Ottawa for the full article.
Tasty challenge – Enjoy a fabulous meal out and savour Taste for Life
Ron Eade, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — Who knew that helping charities could be so easy, and so darned tasty?
Small wonder the popular 13th annual Taste for Life dining-out event, which takes place on April 27, now involves 48 restaurants across Ottawa and the Outaouais that pledge to donate 25 per cent of their food and drink sales to help people living with HIV and AIDS.
The program, now touching 28 communities in Ontario and Alberta, raises about $95,000 in the nation’s capital each year. To date it has raised about $1.5 million nationwide.
“People love it because they can try a new restaurant they’ve been meaning to visit, and help a charity at the same time,” says Martha Scott, development consultant at Ottawa’s Bruce House, who was instrumental in starting the program in 1999. The other beneficiary is Snowy Owl AIDS Foundation.
Taste for Life is supported by TD Canada Trust with money and volunteers at each dinner. For a list of restaurants and to make a reservation, check the website www.atasteforlife.org.
For the full article visit The Ottawa Citizen.
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