Ottawa festival season in full swing, boosting business and tourism

There is so much to do in Ottawa in the summer, and all the festivals and events are a boon for the local economy. CTV’s Camille Wilson reports.

It’s another big weekend in Ottawa and Gatineau as the festival season hits its peak.

ChamberFest and the Ottawa Lebanese Festival are all drawing crowds. Ottawa Bluesfest continues for its final weekend, and Festival Parasol is underway in Gatineau.

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“Bluesfest is definitely one of the biggest festivals that we have. It’s one of those festivals that we call a marquee festival, the kind of festivals that people will make the decision to travel and visit Ottawa for,” says Jerome Miousse, director of public affairs with Ottawa Tourism.

Trinity Lacasse is from Ottawa and says festival season is her favourite time of year.

“It just brings in a lot of diversity too. With the crowds coming in, it’s just insane to see people from America, see people from all over. It’s just it’s amazing,” says Lacasse.

The festivals are fun for the whole family but also a big driver for tourists and business in the city.

“It’s a big economic contributor to Ottawa because these people, they come here but they don’t just come for the festival. They sleep in our hotels, they dine in our restaurants, they shop around, they visit our attractions and all of that,” says Miousse.

Summer festival season runs from May to September with a nonstop flow of festivals, but mid-July is the peak time for tourism.

“It’s also the season where we see the most international visitors to Ottawa. It’s a very good time for people to come visit Ottawa for fun,” says Miousse.

Cecil and Nicky Santucci are visiting from the United States to see Green Day at Bluesfest.

“I think it’s awesome. I love it whenever a place has a great live music culture,” says Cecil.

“I’ve seen the lovely Ottawa for the first time. We were very excited to be here,” says Nicky.

The Lebanese Festival kicked off Friday afternoon for its 35th year, with everything Lebanese cuisine and culture.

“The great thing about Ottawa is we have so many different cultures and so many different festivals and the Ottawa Lebanese Festival is very proud to be one of those marquee events that you can come to enjoy for five days. Enjoy the music, enjoy the great food, have some fun and still get to go and enjoy all the other events going on in the city,” says Ray Skaff, organizer of The Ottawa Lebanese Festival.

“We want to celebrate the Lebanese culture and the dynamics of being part of Ottawa and the nation’s capital, and this is an opportunity for you to totally immerse yourself in the culture,” says Skaff.

You can find more events, festivals and attractions in the Ottawa region by clicking here.