March break is upon us, and it’s important to have a plan on how to keep those kids busy and entertained! You may already have your kids signed up for a great March break camp, but if you’re like me, and you’re looking for some drop-in style activities for the week, let me help you with this useful guide to what’s going on in and around Ottawa.

Visit a Sugar Bush

March break is an awesome time to take the kids to the sugar bush for some pancakes, outdoor play and maple taffy on the snow. Most of the sugar bushes around Ottawa are open throughout the week of March break and many have special activities offered. Check out my blog post on my favourite sugar bushes to get an idea of which one (or two or three!) you might want to visit.

Fun at the Museums

Pretty much all of Ottawa’s awesome museums are running special programming during the March break. There is no additional cost – it’s included with admission price.

• Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum – from March 2-17 Barnyard Break is going on at the Farm, with lots of additional demonstrations and programming.
• Canadian Aviation and Space Museum – each day will focus on different careers and space and aviation through fun and interactive activities.
• Museum of History – find out more about the history of photography through learning activities aimed at children ages 6 and up.
• Canadian War Museum – use Imagination Playground blocks to create engineering and architectural marvels and challenge your family to a game of giant chess.
• Canadian Museum of Nature – don’t miss the continuing wonderful exhibitions of Butterflies in Flight and Survival of the Slowest.
• Canadian Science and Technology Museum –  fun-filled activities, experiments and demonstrations linked to coding, engineering, neuroscience and more.
• National Gallery of Canada – enjoy the Artissimo programs which let children play art games, make their own artworks and share art.

Parc Omega

This Canadian safari experience is an big favourite with our family. Parc Omega is located in Montebello, Que. – just a 45-minute drive from downtown Ottawa. This wildlife park is offering a variety of special programming during both the Quebec and Ontario March Breaks including live demonstrations by a chainsaw wood carving artist (Thursdays to Sundays), wagon rides, maple taffy in the traditional sugar shack, and farm animals in the heritage farm.

Little Ray’s Nature Centre

The Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo and Nature Centre will be open from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily during March break. There will be fully bilingual hand son and feeding demonstrations throughout the day. Little Ray’s is located at 5305 Bank St, about 8 minutes south of Hunt Club. Admission is $14.50 a person with children 2 years old and under being free, family admission is $48.

Skating Fun

There is free skating at TD Place from Monday to Thursday. No need to register or pay – just show up. Make sure you bring your own skates and helmet. The dates and times are as follows: March 11th from 12 pm – 2 pm, March 12 from 2 pm – 4 pm, March 13 from 12 pm – 2 pm and March 14 from 2 pm – 4 pm.

March Break Movies

Cineplex Theatres is showing four kid-friendly shows from March 11-15, with staggered start times. The four movies are: Smallfoot, Dr.Seuss’ The Grinch, Mighty Pups and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Admission is only $2.99 and it could be a great option for the family particularly if the weather isn’t great outside!

Library Events

The public libraries all over Ottawa are holding different activities throughout the March Break. These include crafts, story times, LEGO parties, songs and more! You can check out the full schedule HERE to find a library near you and see exactly what and when they are offering these programs.

Carlingwood Mall

Carlingwood Mall does such a great job of putting on family events and programming. They have an awesome line-up of ticketed and drop-in activities over the March break. The ticketed events include a weekend party for Pirates and Mermaids with a ton of fun to be offered, but the weekday line-up is looking so good too with – Brad the Balloon Guy offering a fun show on Monday from 11-12 pm, A Mad Science show on Tuesday from 11-12 pm, two shows by Mike the Magician on Wednesday, more Mad Science on Thursday, and Ray’s Reptiles will be there on Friday offering two show times! Be sure to check out their website link above for more details and times.

Chapters/Indigo

Chapters and Indigo locations around Ottawa are offering March break activities from Monday through Friday at 11 am. It’s worth checking in with your local store to find exactly what is going on and confirm, but the list of events includes arts and crafts, lego building and slime making.