Hot enough for you yet? Remember when we were complaining about it being too cold? Well, July has brought the heat. Strawberry U-Pick farms are pretty much all open for business this weekend. If you go, just be prepared with a hat and water. It will also be a great weekend to hit up one of Ottawa’s many wading pools and splash pads. For other ideas, here is my list of family friendly events for July 6-7.

Saturday:

• 5th Annual Arnprior Fishing Derby – McLean Park, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm (free kids fishing derby for children aged 3-12 years old)
• Wonders of Sand – Parc du Lac-Beauchamp, Gatineau, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (A sand and water festival offering free activities for the whole family featuring sand sculptures. This year’s theme is Canada’s History Over Water)
• Strawberry Fest – Main St Farmer’s Market, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm (Foster’s will have fresh picked berries. Rigby Fiver will have strawberry gelato. The last day Cadence Ecological Farm will be selling live strawberry plants.)
• Annual Kitten Shower – Ottawa Humane Society, 245 West Hunt Club Rd, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (visit with the kittens plus enjoy family friendly games and activities, refreshments, cookie decorating, register through eventbrite)
• Almonte Celtic Fest – Gemmill Park, Almonte, 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm (gate entry by donation, celtic music acts, face painting, dance lessons, kids games, food)
• Hands on History – Goulbourn Museum, 10:00 am and 1:00 pm (experience that allows visitors to stand in the shoes of a soldier from the War of 1812 and fire a Brown Bess musket, no registration required. The cost to fire three rounds is $20 (taxes included). Hands on History is restricted to ages 16+.)
• 613 Flea – Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm ( artisans, designers and makers come together with antiques dealers, food merchants and vintage clothing vendors)
• Tales and Tunes – Ben Franklin Place, Ottawa Public Library, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm ( free, family-oriented celebration of storytelling and literacies of many kinds. Enjoy Indigenous, French and English storytellers, drumming workshops, ukulele jams, a strolling musician, a magic show, dance workshops, crafts and musical performances by Twin Flames, Ariko, Monkey Rock Music, and Juno Award winning Splash N’ Boots.)
• Storytime at Rideau Hall – Rideau Hall, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Frontier College’s volunteers are happy to welcome children and their families. They provide books and other materials and hold a variety of different activities.)
• A League of Their Own: A Capital Pop Up Cinema Production – 280 Beechwood Ave, 8:00 pm (bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy this free outdoor movie)
• Lansdowne Movie Nights: Small Foot – Lansdowne Park, if it rains it will take place inside the Aberdeen Pavilion, 8:30 pm (free movie nights open to everyone)
• Bugs Bunny at the Symphony – Southam Hall, NAC, 7:00 pm (Bugs Bunny at the symphony celebrates the beloved Looney Tunes, playing their original scores while projecting their images on screen)
• Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park: Romeo and Juliet – Windsor Park, 7:00 pm (by donation, outdoor production of Romeo and Juliet, bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy)

Sunday:

• NOKIA Sunday Bikedays – Sir John A MacDonald Parkway, Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, Colonel By Drive and Gatineau Park, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (scenic parkways closed down to cars and open for cyclists)
• Wonders of Sand – Parc du Lac-Beauchamp, Gatineau, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (A sand and water festival offering free activities for the whole family featuring sand sculptures. This year’s theme is Canada’s History Over Water)
• Amazing Thailand Festival – Horticulture Building, Lansdowne, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (free admission, try authentic Thai cuisine, enjoy classical Thai dances, martial arts demonstrations, handcrafted products, kids corner)
• Kids Free Fishing Day – Lower Reach Park, Smiths Falls, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (everyone welcome to this free event. There are extra fishing rods and tackle on site if you don’t have your own. Every child who registers will also receive a free lunch and prize.)
• Almonte Celtic Fest – Gemmill Park, Almonte, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (gate entry by donation, celtic music acts, face painting, dance lessons, kids games, food)
• Mickey and Minnie Mouse Visit Monkey Around – Monkey Around Play Centre, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Mickey and Minnie will be making an appearance at at the play centre, where kids can have a meet and greet, included with regular admission)
• Bark in the Park – Ottawa Champions Baseball, 300 Coventry Rd, 1:35 pm (all dogs welcome to join you for the baseball game)
• Zumba on the Hill – Parliament Hill, 4:00 pm (free zumba class on the hill, open to all ages and levels)