The May long weekend is here and I am so happy to be spending it with my family – including our new daughter Ellie Marie! She was born just a few days ago. So typing out this list is taking a little longer than normal as it is being interrupted by cluster feeding demands. Nevertheless, here it is, my list of family friendly events for the Victoria Day long weekend of May 18-20.

Saturday:

• Canadian Tulip Festival – Commissioner’s Park, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (visit the beautiful flower beds which should all be blooming now, live entertainment, kids zone and food truck options)
• Outgrow Outplay Sale – EY Centre, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (admission is $2 plus a non perishable food item for the food bank, huge consignment kids sale event)
• Sheep Shearing Festival – Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (Learn all about wool by participating in various activities and demonstrations. Visitors of all ages can attend sheep shearing, sheep herding and sheepdog agility demonstrations)
• Westboro Farmer’s Market – Byron Park, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm (opening day for the 2019 Westboro Farmers market)
• Ottawa Dressage Festival – Wesley Clover Parks, (no entrance fee to come and watch Canada’s top riders, bring your own chairs)
• Refreshing Water – Museum of Nature, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Visit the refreshed Water Gallery for a special Science Odyssey event. Learn about the fascinating plant and animal life found in tidal pools. Included with museum admission)
• Season Opening Train Rides – Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, Smiths Falls, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (Hop aboard one of three cabooses, learning a history of railroading and cabooses as you head out on 2 km of track. Recommended to buy tickets on Eventbrite in advance)
• Ottawa Champions Opening Weekend – Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park, 7:00 pm (opening weekend baseball family fun as Ottawa takes on New Jersey)
• Disney in Concert: Around the World – Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe, 7:30 pm (Ottawa Pops Orchestra presents the original classics from the Disney movies we love)

Sunday:

• Canadian Tulip Festival – Commissioner’s Park, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (visit the tulip beds, live entertainment, kids zone and food trucks)
• NOKIA Sundays Bike Days – Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway, Colonel By Drive, Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (Enjoy cycling along car-free roads, and experience the beauty of Canada’s Capital Region)
• Outgrow Outplay Sale Event – EY Centre, 9:00 am (no admission on Sunday, many items are half price)
• Queen Victoria Birthday Celebrations – Upper Canada Village, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (sing God Save the Queen, hear historical patriotic speeches, see grand military maneuvers, enjoy a piece of birthday cake)
• Sheep Shearing Festival – Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (visitors of all ages can attend sheep shearing, sheep herding and sheepdog agility demonstrations)
• Awesome Sundays: Camouflage – War Museum, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Find out how animals blend into their environments, and compare their colours and patterns to military camouflage inspired by the natural world. Little Ray’s Reptiles, face painting and crafts, included with admission)
• Museum Day Free Admission – National Gallery of Canada, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (free admission to the collection for everyone)
• Street Food Social – Ottawa Region Cancer Foundation, 1500 Alta Vista Dr, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (everyone welcome for a day of street food sampling. There will be food trucks offering gourmet foods and desserts with 10% of sales supporting local cancer care)
• Season Opening Train Rides – Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, Smiths Falls, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (hop aboard 3 cabooses and go on a 2 km ride while learning all about the railroad, recommended to buy tickets in advance from Eventbrite)
• Zumba on the Hill – Parliament Hill, 4:00 pm (free Zumba class open to all ages)
• Ottawa Champions Opening Weekend and Fireworks – Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park, 7:00 pm (last game of the weekend vs New Jersey with fireworks to follow game)
• Tulip Festival Fireworks Show – Dow’s Lake, 10:00 pm (bring down a blanket or chairs and get a good spot to enjoy this Victoria Day show)

Monday:

• Canadian Tulip Festival – Commissioner’s Park, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (the final day of the tulip festivities including live music and food trucks among the tulip beds)
• Rideau Gymnastics Family Day – Rideau Gymnastics, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (children $5, adults free, play in the state of the art facility, running through various obstacle courses and playing games! There will be lots of prizes to be won, as well as a Barbecue.)
• Carlington Annual Family Fun Day – Ottawa Alexander Community Centre, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (lots for families including a rock climbing wall and a bouncy castle. There will be popcorn and cotton candy along with Halal and Vegetarian hot dogs.)
• Horse and Pony Rides – Royale Equestrian Centre, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm (drop in and enjoy a horse or pony ride for $10 cash only, after your ride you can visit the stables, pet the horses, visit the farm animals)