Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all you wonderful moms out there! I hope you are being spoiled in the way you choose…whether that’s some “me” time away from the kids, or spending lots of time with your children, or getting to spoil your own moms. You do you…it’s your day! As for me – Mother’s Day is my due date for this very large baby I’m hauling around. It looks like I will go overdue (again), but fingers crossed he or she makes an appearance soon. There is a lot going on around Ottawa for the family including the start of the Canadian Tulip Festival! Check out my blog HERE for more on that wonderful event. Here is your line-up of events for May 11-12.

Saturday:

• Opening Day of the Carp Farmer’s Market – Carp Fairgrounds, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm (more than 70 vendors, food court, free admission, gifts to first 100 moms)
• Canadian Tulip Festival – Commissioner’s Park, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (opening weekend for the Tulip Festival, keep in mind it has been a cold start to spring and not all of the tulips are blooming just yet)
• Gardening with a Parent – Nepean Sportsplex, 9:30 am – 11:00 am (for kids age 3-5 and a parent, fun workshop to make a special project together to take home, tickets are $39)
• 13th Annual Peter Larmand Outdoors Kids Fishing Tournament – Lower Reach Park, Smiths Falls, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (kids fish from 10 am – 1pm, then lunch, and prize ceremony at 1:30 pm)
• Sheep Shearing Demonstration – The Log Farm, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (watch the sheep being shorn, there will be one Ewe every half hour. The sheep are only shorn once a year and it is also the first day of their Farmers Market)
• Ottawa Children’s Festival – Lebreton Flats, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (ticketed shows for all ages of kids plus plenty of free activities and entertainment to check out)
• Mammoth Used Book Sale – 100 Tallwood Dr, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (The Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association present their monthly sale. Hundreds of used books at prices as low as $1.)
• Ottawa Comiccon – EY Centre, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm (pop-culture fan convention that showcases artists and products from entertainment, featuring many special guests)
• Maman Chic Spring Pop Up Shop – The British Hotel, Aylmer, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (such great clothes for moms, whether its maternity, nursing, or just awesome womens clothing)
• Mother’s Day Craft Market – National Arts Centre, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Celebrate Mothers + Tulip Fest in the Capital with 45 local artisans at the National Arts Centre. Free kids colouring. Free entry.)
• Science Rendezvous at OAG – Ottawa Art Gallery, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (explore the exciting interactive exhibition Carbon + Light: Juan Geuer’s Luminous Precision with gallery educators, and discover how science and art come together to investigate the world around us.)
• Ottawa Bird Day – Lebreton Flats, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Learn more about local birds on guided tours and talks, don’t miss the exciting Birds of Prey Flight Demonstration Show at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM)
• Orleans Poutinefest – 255 Centrum Blvd, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm (tons of different poutine vendors, live entertainment and a kids zone with bouncy castles)
• Dumbo in 3D – Ottawa Family Cinema, 2:00 pm (Disney classic reimagined, All proceeds from this show will be donated to the Children’s Wish Foundation.)
• Mother’s Day Weekend Family Yoga – Pure Yoga Westboro, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (intended for children and the special women in their lives, $20 non members, $10 members, $5 per child)
• Outdoor Chemistry Magic Show – Carleton University, 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm (Hands-on activities start at 7:00 p.m., Chemistry Magic Show starts at 8:45 p.m., free show, guests are invited to bring along lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the show)

Sunday:

• Canadian Tulip Festival – Commissioner’s Park, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (opening weekend for the Tulip Festival, keep in mind it has been a cold start to spring and not all of the tulips are blooming just yet)
• The Zoo Crew Mother’s Day Drop In – 5721 Osgoode Main St, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (Open Drop in – all ages – come and hang out with the animals. 40 mins shows each hour with animals out between shows. $5 drop in)
• Spend Mother’s Day at the Village – Upper Canada Village, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (mother’s get free admission to the village)
• Ottawa Comiccon – EY Centre, 10:30 am – 6:00 pm (pop-culture fan convention that showcases artists and products from entertainment, featuring many special guests)
• Ottawa Children’s Festival – Lebreton Flats, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (ticketed shows and lots of onsite free activities and entertainment for kids)
• Mother’s Day at the Diefenbunker – Diefenbunker Museum, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (fun family activities such as card making for mom, a Mother’s Day themed scavenger hunt, and a movie playing! Tea and cookies will also be available for guests. Mothers get in for free when accompanied by child.)
• Opening Day – Pinhey’s Point Historic Site, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (explore the beautiful grounds and enjoy a sampling of the demonstrations and activities planned for the summer from heritage cooking and gardening to lawn games and more. Admission by donation)
• Who Let the Cows Out – Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Explore the new permanent exhibition, Dairy in the Interwar Period, and enjoy activities inspired by local dairy farming history. Learn more about the heritage breed animals on site with a farm animal tour and activities)
• Mother’s Day at the Gallery – National Gallery of Canada, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Take part in special mother’s day art-making activity and play art games, make a paper bouquet of flowers at Artissimo from 10 am to 4pm. Included with admission to the Gallery.)
• Mother’s Day Relaxation – Fairfields Heritage House, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (drop in style, recommended for ages 8 and up, explore the history and DIY techniques behind some of our favourite self-care treats. Add essential oils to create a bath bomb, roll a beeswax candle, and create your own tea mix.)
• Orleans Poutinefest – 255 Centrum Blvd, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm (celebrate Mother’s Day with lots of poutine plus live entertainment and a kids zone)
• Mother’s Day Free Play Brunch – House of Targ, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (enjoy a special brunch menu while enjoying all you can play classic video games for free)
• Mother’s Day Fury Match – TD Place, 2:00 pm (first official Ottawa Fury match of the season and mother’s get in free)
• Zumba on the Hill – Parliament Hill, 4:00 pm (fun, free, outdoor Zumba class open to everyone and all ages)