2010 marks the 28th year for the HOPE Volleyball Summerfest event.  The event combines 3 categories of volleyball (Competitive, Recreational and Corporate) along with all-Canadian talent rocking the Ampitheatre.  10,000 players register and play on more than 80 courts.  Each year, up to six charities in the National Capital region receive significant funding from the HOPE event.  In its history, HOPE has provided over $5 million to more than 100 local charities.

• competitive, recreation and corporate team volleyball
• amphitheatre with concerts featuring all-Canadian talent
• vendor village
• refreshment tent

Festival Information:

General information: 613.237.1433
General information email: info@hopehelps.com
Location: Mooney’s Bay Beach, Ottawa

On the Web:

Website:  www.hopehelps.com

Map:

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 This award winning, 12-day, multi-staged music extravaganza is the largest Blues Festival in Canada and ranks as one of the most popular music festivals in North America. Thousands of national and international performers are featured at the NCC festival site at LeBreton Flats Park, adjacent to the Canadian War Museum, in the heart of downtown Ottawa. The site is fully licensed and offers a wide variety of food concessions and an even wider variety of musical genres.

Our charitable activities include our annual Blues in the Schools program and new initiatives such as ongoing music lessons for Ottawa students in conjunction with the Ottawa Folklore Centre and our ‘Be in the Band’ mentorship program (ensemble training for younger musicians ages 12-17).

Festival Information:

General information: 613.247.1188; toll-free: 1.866.258.3748
General information email: info@ottawabluesfest.ca
Location: LeBreton Flats (adjacent to the Canadian War Museum – 1 Vimy Place), Ottawa

On the Web:

Website:  www.ottawabluesfest.ca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Cisco-Ottawa-Bluesfest/9971056370?ref=mf

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ottawabluesfest

Map:

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Photo Credit: NCC/CCN

Join us as we celebrate our country’s birthday in Canada’s Capital Region! A myriad of free activities take place throughout the day on both sides of the Ottawa River — including street entertainers, games, ceremonies and performances — all culminating in a breathtaking fireworks show in the night sky. Don your red and white, and take part in the festivities, as we proudly celebrate our country’s history and our Canadian traditions.

Festival Information:

General information: 613.239.5000 ● 1.800.465.1867 ● 613.239.5090 (TTY) ● 1.866.661.3530 (toll-free TTY)
General information email: info@ncc-ccn.ca
Location:   Parliament Hill, Jacques-Cartier Park, Major’s Hill Park &  Confederation Park, Ottawa, ON

On the Web:

Website:  www.canadaday.gc.ca

Map:

View Canada Day in a larger map

This year, Ottawa’s Canada Day Arts Festival is being launched on June 30th, 2010 at Haydon Park and July 1 at Queen Juliana Park. The Canada Day Festival has talented performers, unique entertainment and fun for the whole family all weekend until the finale on July 4th, 2010.

Haydon Park

There’s something for everyone – midway rides and games, a mini-circus, a petting zoo, a car show, a water park, face painting, live DJ, band shell entertainment, cultural events and a Canada Day fireworks display like no other. Best of all, admission to the entire festival is free!

At Andrew Haydon Park, June 30 – July 4, we have HELICOPTER RIDES, at $40 per person.

Queen Juliana Park

This year’s Festival promises to be a fun-filled week of family and children oriented activities – Bubble Bounce Amusement park, coloring contest, mascots and other kid approved activities. Admission to the park is free. There is also limited free on site parking.

Festival Information:

General information: 613.567.4532

General information email: info@canadadayfestival.com

Locations:

Andrew Haydon Park, 3169 Carling Avenue (near Richmond Rd.)

Map:
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Queen Juliana Park, 850 Carling Avenue (faces Carling and Prince of Wales Dr. near Navy Private)

Map:
View Larger Map

On the Web:

Website:  www.canadadayfestival.com

Individual Canadian choirs representing all the provinces come together to share concerts as well as joining together as one massed choir on Canada Day at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., singing with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Festival Information:

General information: 613.234.3360 / 1.800.267.8526
General information email: Lois Harper – abc@abc.ca
Locations:

National Arts Centre
Rotunda of Parliament
Rideau Park United Church
St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church
Parkdale United Church

Concerts are free and do not require tickets.

On the Web:  www.abc.ca

Map:

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The TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival is a dynamic event that takes place right in the heart of Ottawa. Entering its 30th year of consecutive programming in 2010 the Festival continues to present the most dynamic jazz artists from around the world and across Canada. Festivities will take place from June 24 – July 4 at Confederation Park and several satellite venues throughout the city. Visit ottawajazzfestival.com for the complete schedule.

Festival Information:

General information: 613.241.2633
General information email: info@ottawajazzfestival.com
Location:  Main Stage - Confederation Park  (Elgin St. at Laurier Ave.), Ottawa.

For all satellite venues, visit the website.

• Free and ticketed concerts throughout the day
• Lunchtime shows
• Headlining Concert Under the Stars
• Jazz continues on Canada Day at Confederation Park
• Jazz Youth Summit

On the Web:

• Website: www.ottawajazzfestival.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ottawa-Jazz-Festival/
• Flickr: www.flickr.com/search/?q=ottawajazzfestival&s=rec
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/OttawaJazzFestival
• Twitter: twitter.com/ottawajazz @Ottawajazz (English)

Map:

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The Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Festival welcomes everyone to join in the celebration of our rich and diverse aboriginal cultures from across Canada, in honour of National Aboriginal Day.  On Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20, 2010, Victoria Island, downtown Ottawa (just across from the War Museum), offers a two-day FREE family event with lively children and family entertainment, Aboriginal artists, cultural performances and workshops, along with a mainstage concert series.  Throughout the day, families will enjoy free pony rides, petting zoo, circus workshops and children’s craft stations.  All of our guests enjoy an opportunity to witness Aboriginal artists at work and participate in some of our ongoing Aboriginal arts workshops where you create your own unique piece or collaborate on a community artwork.  The mainstage is lively all day with the “Aboriginal Canada, We Got Talent” contest, which draws incredible singers, dancers and other great talent from across Canada.  As night falls, the mainstage lights up with some of Canada’s most recognized musical talent, with past headliners like Susan Aglukark and Eagle and Hawk.  It is an event not to be missed, with something for the whole family and everything is FREE – admission and activities.  Look for more program details on our website.

Festival Information:

General information: 613.722.0315
General information email: nadottawa@gmail.com
Locations:

June 19th and June 20th – Victoria Island, 100 Middle Street, Ottawa
June 21 – Canadian Museum of Civilization, 100 Laurier St., Gatineau, QC

On the Web:

Website: www.nadottawa.ca

Map:

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The Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival (formerly known as the Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival) is an annual, culturally diverse festival held at Mooney’s Bay Park in June. What began in 1993 with 25 dragon boat teams competing in a half-day event has grown into a three-day festival with 190 teams in competition. 5,000 paddlers compete to win on the water while immersing themselves in a wide variety of cultural performances and workshops. The festival is in its 17th year and is recognized as North America’s largest dragon boat festival. In addition to cheering on the paddlers, thousands of visitors enjoy free admission to the live entertainment, children’s area activities and various on site vendors and exhibitors.

Event Highlights:

• Non-stop racing
• Live entertainment
• Beer Garden
• Children’s Area activities & live entertainment
• Multi-cultural food vendors and exhibitors
• Friday night kick-off party
• Spectator bleachers on the beach

Festival Information:

General information: 613.238.7711
General information email:  info@dragonboat.net
Location: Mooney’s Bay Park

On the Web:

Website:  www.dragonboat.net

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=501153579961

Map:

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The Festival franco-ontarien (FFO), held in June every year, is an unmissable event for francophones and francophiles in Ontario and especially the National Capital Region. Since 1975, it has attracted thousands of festival-goers. The Festival is a showcase for a host of French-speaking artists, both local and from further afield, who come to lead a musical celebration of all things French in a warm and friendly atmosphere. It’s a chance to meet people, sing along and enjoy a series of captivating and original shows of a very high quality. The FFO is also a dream opportunity for English-speaking citizens to discover or find out more about a hugely vibrant community, as well as French arts and culture.

Festival Information:

General information:  613.321.0102
General information email:  info@ffo.ca
Location: Marion Dewar Plaza (formerly Festival Plaza – corner of Elgin and Laurier, Ottawa)

                     and

                     Festival franco-ontarien (2006) Inc.
                     123, rue Beechwood
                     Ottawa, ON

On the Web:

Website:  www.ffo.ca

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/pages/FESTIVAL-FRANCO-ONTARIEN/10487897185

Map:

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The thirteenth Ottawa Fringe Theatre and Arts Festival will be held again this Summer in venues around the historical Byward Market in downtown Ottawa and at various locations throughout the University of Ottawa. Established in 1997, the Ottawa Fringe encourages unrestricted artistic expression and accessibility and therefore artists are not censored by the Festival and the choice of performers is made by ballot.

Patrons can choose from over 20 different productions per night (more on weekends) covering the range from theatre, comedy stand-up, music, dance and everything in-between. Tickets to shows cost, on average, $10 and five or ten show passes are also available at all venues. ALL ticket revenue goes directly to the artists. In between shows patrons are welcome to stroll around the beautiful downtown and Market area of the Nation’s Capital or join us at the licensed Fringe Courtyard for a beverage, a snack and to chat to artists and fellow Fringers.

The Ottawa Fringe Festival always opens with a bang, with an opening night party in the Courtyard, and closes with an even bigger bang with Closing Night festivities and an awards ceremony on the last night of the Festival. Throughout the Festival there are also various other events in the courtyard, including a karaoke night and live music.

Festival Information:

General information: 613.232.6162
General information email: info@ottawafringe.com
Locations:
Alumni Auditorium
85 University, University of Ottawa
Academic Hall
133 Seraphin-Marion, University of Ottawa
Studio Leonard-Beaulne
135 Seraphin-Marion, University of Ottawa
Arts Court Library
2 Daly Avenue, Elevator A
Arts Court Theatre
2 Daly Avenue, Elevator B

OUTDOOR VENUE:  Tabaret Lawn, 550 Cumberland Avenue, University of Ottawa

We also host several Bring Your Own Venues for groups who do not win the lottery but want to organize their own venues, but these will only be determined nearer the time.

Tickets:  Through the Ottawa Fringe Festival website.

On the Web:

Website:  www.ottawafringe.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ottawafringe

Flickr: http://www.clickr.com/groups/ottawafringefestival2010

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ottawafringe

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ottawafringe

Map:

View Ottawa Fringe Locations in a larger map