Families check out Ottawa museums during March Break

Zoey and her grandpa John take a day at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum during March Break. Monday, March 16, 2026. (Camille Wilson/CTV News Ottawa)

As March Break kicks-off in the capital region, many families are making their first stop at Ottawa’s museums.

The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is a popular spot for families to see animals.

Zoey Joly-Holmes and her grandpa John Williams say they are hoping to check out different museums in the city.

“She wanted to go to museums for March break. She’s got three days to see some museums,” says Williams.

Joly-Holmes came to see the baby animals and hopes to come back in a couple of months to see how they grow.

“It’s an exciting time of year at the farm because there’s just new life springing up. We have lots of new life babies being born. We have new lambs, we have new kids, we have calves,” says Arianne Richeson, a content marketing officer with Ingenium.

The museum has many activities like bird crafts, scavenger hunts and maple collecting. There are daily cooking demonstrations featuring maple treats that families can help make and eat.

“We’ve been coming since they were babies. We come every year and we come at different times of the year. We also thought that there’s always babies in the spring and they really love that,” says Lindsay Sutherland, who was visiting the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum with her children.

There are also daily movies to enjoy with a bit of breakfast cereal.

“It is a rain or shine destination. Bring your rubber boots if it’s raining or if it’s snowing. We have lots of fun indoor and outdoor exhibitions but also animal demonstrations and lots of opportunities to learn more about how the food gets from your farm to the table,” says Richeson.

At the Canadian Museum of Nature on Monday, there was much to do, including the popular exhibit Butterflies in Flight, an interactive butterfly experience where one can learn all about the butterfly lifecycle.

Samantha Vanasse was visiting with her four children and her mom. She says they came to check out all the nature exhibits, but especially came to see the butterflies.

“I’ve been here before, but my mom’s never been here. The kids are finally at an age where I think they can enjoy it. With a big family, with four kids, you can take opportunities,” says Vanesse.

The second floor is filled with the Pacific Discovery Tank that has live invertebrates.

“We also have a brand-new exhibit called Life onto Land where we talk a little bit more about adaptations to the environment because the environment changed,” says Nathalie Rodrigue, lead of family and adult programing at the Canadian Museum of Nature.

“Animals back in the day that were fish eventually changed and became tetrapods or animals with four limbs. It’s all about what their physical characteristics are. How they adapted to their environment and really appreciate the whole evolution over time.”

The Canadian Museum of Nature has science interpreters who are knowledgeable and passionate about the museum to answer questions and explain how to protect your environment.

CTV News Ottawa has a full list of March Break activities around the city online.

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