Things to do in Ottawa: May 8-10

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CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at things to do in Ottawa during the Mother’s Day weekend.

Canadian Tulip Festival

The tulips are in bloom across Ottawa.

The Canadian Tulip Festival kicks off this weekend, with over 300,000 tulips blooming at Dow’s Lake.

Check out the Tulip Trek, the Tulip Trail, the Tulip Market, the Arteast Pavilion, the Dutch Pavilion and more.

The festival is free.

• Here’s what you need to know about tulips in Ottawa

For more information, visit https://tulipfestival.ca/.

Ottawa Charge

Don’t miss Ottawa Charge playoff hockey at Canadian Tire Centre this weekend.

The Charge host the Boston Fleet for game 3 of their first round PWHL playoff series Friday night. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday.

For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.ca.

Ottawa Titans

The Ottawa Titans open up the Frontier League season this weekend at the Ottawa Baseball Stadium.

The Titans host Quebec for a three-game series this weekend. Friday’s game starts at 7 p.m., followed by games at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

For tickets, visit www.ottawatitans.com.

Tulipfest at Saunders Farm

Tulipfest blooms this weekend at Saunders Farm.

Nearly half a million tulips burst into bloom at Saunders Farm. Check out the tulip fields, walk the colourful floral displays, enjoy local Dutch-themed food and Saunders cider, and visit the tulip-themed farm shop.

For tickets, visit https://saundersfarm.com/tulipfest/.

National Arts Centre

Here is a look at what is happening at the National Arts Centre this weekend.

• On until Sunday: Invisible – Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare at the Babs Asper Theatre
• On until May 19: Beaded Vamp and Moccasin Workshop with Colleen Nolan
• Friday-Saturday: Passion simple – an intimate tale of waiting at the Azrieli Studio
• Friday: Sooshi Mango – the Home Made World Tour at Southam Hall
• Saturday: An evening with Fran Lebowitz at Southam Hall

Events happening in Ottawa

• Friday: The Box at the Bronson Centre
• Friday: Fresh Horses – Garth Brooks Tribute at the Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe
• Friday: In the Black 2.0 – The East Canadian Edition at the Shenkman Arts Centre
• Friday: Michael Bean at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa
• Friday: Backbeat – Dance music at the Hard Rock Café
• Saturday: The Ottawa Bach Choir’s third concert – Sacred and Profane at the Knox Presbyterian Church.
• Saturday: Fleetwood Mac Mania at the Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe
• Saturday: Dwayne Gretzky at the Bronson Centre
• Saturday: Glow of Live – Mother’s Day market and Concert at the Shenkman Arts Centre
• Saturday: Skyler Radmore Duo at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa
• Saturday: UK Calling – British 80’s at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa
• Sunday: Seasons of Bengal at the Shenkman Arts Centre

NCC Weekend Bikedays

It’s the first weekend of the NCC’s Weekend Bikedays for the summer.

The National Capital Commission closes sections of the parkways to vehicles to allow people to bike, walk, in-line skate or walk along the road.

Here is a look at the schedule:

• Kichi Zībī Mīkan closed to vehicles 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday between Vimy Place and Carling Avenue
• The Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway closed to vehicles between Aviation Parkway and St. Joseph Boulevard from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• Queen Elizabeth Driveway closed to vehicles between Fifth Avenue and Somerset Street from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Jade Circle

See Jade Circle at the Great Canadian Theatre Company.

The plan, written and performed by Jasmine Chen, runs until Sunday.

For tickets, visit www.gctc.ca.

The Birds and the Bees

The rural comedy The Birds and the Bees is at the Ottawa Little Theatre until May 23.

The show is written by Mark Crawford.

For tickets, visit www.ottawalittletheatre.com/the-birds-and-the-bees/.

Best Fest Ottawa

It’s a weekend of food and drinks at Lansdowne.

Best Fest Ottawa, hosed by The Best Eats 613, runs Friday and Saturday. Check out food and drink vendors.

For tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/best-fest-ottawa-premium-food-drink-local-goods-festival-tickets-1985932426347.

Kanata United Church Book Fair

Browse through the books to find your summer reads at the Kanata United Church Book Fair.

Approximately 30,000 books will be on sale, with funds supporting local and national outreach programs.

The sale runs Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spring Art Festival

Discover 30 artists and original work at the Spring Art Festival.

The one-day event is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jim Tubman Chevrolet Sens Rink on Arch Street.

Adapt Expo and Ottawa Inclusive & Para Sports Expo

The Adapt Expo and Ottawa Inclusive & Para Sports Expo is Saturday at the Carleton University Fieldhouse.

Discover the latest in accessibility and adaptive living, explore innovative tech and adaptive sports.

The expo runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mother’s Day Market

Spend part of Mother’s Day weekend at the Mother’s Day Market at St. Laurent Centre.

The market is open Friday and Saturday at Centre Court.

Lansdowne Farmers Market

The Lansdowne Farmers’ Market outdoor market is Sunday at Lansdowne.

Join over 75 vendors in the Aberdeen Square at Lansdowne every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Carp Farmers Market

The 36^th season of the Carp Farmers Market kicks off on Saturday.

The market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Carp Fairgrounds.

Museums

Visit each museum’s website for details.

• Canadian Museum of Nature
• Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
• Canada Science and Technology Museum
• Canada Aviation and Space Museum
• Canadian War Museum
• Canadian Museum of History
• National Gallery of Canada
• Ottawa Art Gallery
• The Bytown Museum
• The Diefenbunker

Things to do in Kingston

• Friday-Sunday: Hadestown Teen Edition at the Kingston Grand Theatre
• Friday: Ian Thomas … Not Gone Yet! At the Kingston Grand Theatre
• Saturday: Gerry Dee – Funny You Should Say That at the Kingston Grand Theatre
• Saturday: Spring Vendor Show at the Tett Centre
• Saturday: Science Rendezvous Kingston at the Slush Puppie Place

Things to do in Brockville

• Saturday: Brockville Farmers Market on Market Street West
• Friday-Sunday: Candance 2k26 Tour at the Brockville Arts Centre
• Saturday: Miles for Moms at Hard Park

Things to do in Cornwall

• Saturday: Smoke on the Seaway at the Cornwall Civic Complex