Happy last weekend of March! We have tons of maple-themed fun plus egg races and family sports scheduled for Saturday, March 28th, and Sunday, March 29th, 2026. Don't miss the Vanier Sugar Festival celebrating its 40th anniversary or the chance to build and race your own egg car!
See our top picks
Rink of Dreams
City Hall
Free ice skating downtown until Sunday evening.
24-Hour Puzzle Social Fundraiser
Holiday Inn Ottawa Downtown
Drop in for a few hours of quiet, indoor puzzle fun for all ages.
Vanier Sugar Festival
Richelieu Park
Free entry to a massive, family-friendly celebration of maple syrup.
· March 28
7FREE : Celebrate the 40th anniversary of this huge, family-friendly festival dedicated to all things maple syrup. Come enjoy maple treats, check out local artists, and soak up the culture.It's a massive, long-running local celebration of maple season happening right this weekend.
: Spend the day designing, building, and racing your own egg car against others! There are also free activities like glitter tattoos and an egg hunt available.This is a unique, one-day hands-on competition perfect for creative kids.
: Combine your maple syrup fun with an Easter hunt! You get tractor rides out to the sugarbush, maple treats, and a hunt for eggs.It perfectly merges the seasonal maple theme with the upcoming Easter holiday activities.
: Celebrate the end of maple season with taffy on snow and live folk music performances. They serve up pancakes until 3 PM.This is one of the last weekends to catch a traditional, family-friendly farm maple festival.
: Take a wagon ride out to the sugarbush to see traditional maple syrup making demonstrations. This is the final weekend for this activity.This marks the absolute last chance to visit this sugarbush experience before it closes for the season on Sunday.
: Join a massive, fun jigsaw puzzle event running for a full 24 hours! You can drop in for a few hours with the family to support the Canadian Jigsaw Puzzle Association.It’s a unique, all-ages indoor activity that lets you choose how long you want to stay.
: Hunt through over 120 vendor booths filled with toys, comics, Lego, anime, and geek art. This is perfect for older kids and parents looking for memorabilia.A dedicated toy and collectible show is a huge draw for school-aged kids and teens.
· March 29
2: The museum’s tropical butterfly exhibit wraps up this Sunday! Enjoy watching live tropical butterflies, including the massive blue morpho, flutter around the warm room.This popular exhibit closes on Sunday, making this the final weekend to visit.
: This original Canadian production is bursting with music and imagination, specifically tailored to entertain kids aged four to fifteen.It’s a classical music concert explicitly designed to be delightful for grade-school-aged children.
Also On· anytime this weekend
4FREE : This is your last chance to skate at Ottawa's most popular outdoor refrigerated rink, located right downtown at City Hall, as it closes Sunday.It is a major downtown attraction and closes this Sunday, making it a weekend must-do if you haven't gone yet.
: Cheer on Ottawa's junior hockey team as they face the Kingston Frontenacs in the playoffs. It's loud, exciting, and affordable family fun!It’s playoff hockey! Great energy for older kids and teens.
FREE : Visit the winter market indoors at Lansdowne to stock up on local produce, baked goods, and crafts from vendors located within 100km of the city.A great free way to support local artisans and grab food supplies for the week ahead.
: Take an afternoon to de-stress with 'forest bathing,' a guided meditation practice focused on connecting with nature. This session is in English.It offers a unique, calming outdoor experience that contrasts with the busy weekend markets and festivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What free kids events are on in Ottawa this weekend?
This weekend (Mar 28-29) you can enjoy free activities like skating at the Rink of Dreams (City Hall) or the Rideau Hall Rink, and the free entry to the Vanier Sugar Festival, which also has activities.
Are there any special Easter activities this weekend?
Yes, Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on both Saturday and Sunday, which includes tractor rides and maple treats.
What's happening outdoors for active families?
You can go skating at the Rink of Dreams or Rideau Hall (last weekend!), or head to the Vanier Sugar Festival or Proulx Maple Farm for classic outdoor maple fun.
