Summer is in full swing and I hope you are all having a wonderful July with your families. Ottawa is such a great place in the summer, and it’s looking like another solid weekend for family friendly events. This could be the final weekend for U-Pick strawberries at most farms. If you haven’t been yet, check out my list for Ottawa’s best spots, and be sure to check ahead to make sure U-pick is still available. Here is my list for other ideas of what’s going on for families July 13-14.

Saturday:

• Westboro Strawberry Social – Westboro Farmer’s Market, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm (sample strawberry delights from 75 local producers and grab some Strawberry Shortcake from Parkdale Food Centre by donation)
• Purple Martin Banding – Dick Bell Park, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (Innis Point Bird Observatory is hosting this event where kids can hold baby birds as they are being banded, taking place at Nepean Sailing Club)
• Yoga in the Park – Parkdale Park, 9:45 am (These classes are free and all ages and levels are welcome! Bring your yoga mat or beach towel and get ready to practice yoga outdoors)
• The Changing of the Guard Ceremony – Parliament Hill, 10:00 am (Performed daily on the lawns of Parliament Hill in Ottawa during the summer, the Changing of the Guard ceremony is the most recognized military tradition in Canada.)
• Parliament Hill Archeological Site Visit – tent site on Parliament Hill, 10:00 am 5:00 pm (Come check out the archaeology work that is currently underway on Parliament Hill. Learn about the guardhouse foundations and other historic objects that have been found. )
• Summer Family Mornings – National Arts Centre, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ( free activities, games, musical guests and more, for children of all ages. )
• 123 Children’s Dance Party Class – Billings Bridge Shopping Centre, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (Parents bring your children to dance with you. This interactive activity will include parachute, bubbles, and lots of movement, register with Eventbrite ahead of time by the end of Friday, donations accepted on day of)
• Summer BBQ and Playground Farewell Party – Woodroffe Park, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (say “Thanks” and ” Farewell” to the Woodroffe Park play structure before it is replaced with a new version. There will be games, pool activities, a BBQ and more)
• Ottawa Kite Flying Festival – Andrew Haydon Park, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm (all day family event that includes a variety of kites for purchase, kite workshops, live music, BBQ, bouncy castles, face painting and more)
• Ottawa’s Guyana Fun Day 2019 – Eccolands Park, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm (free admission, open to all, bring your blankets and coolers and enjoy live music and Guyanese food will be for sale)
• Ghana Fest Ottawa – Brewer Park, 12:30 pm – 8:00 pm (come celebrate Ghana with activities including soccer, three legged race, badminton, 3 on 3 basketball and games tables)
• Storytime at Rideau Hall – Rideau Hall, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (join volunteers from Frontier College for children’s stories and fun literacy activities)
• Get Up and Grow – Billings Bridge Shopping Centre, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Learn how to grow your own food. Educational interactive gardening and healthy living workshop suitable for children of all ages with their parents, reserve a spot on Eventbrite, donations accepted at the event)
• Family Yoga in the Park – Alta Vista Park, 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm (family yoga class open to all ages, by donation, donations go to the Alta Vista Park Renewal Project)
• Monkey Joe’s Cruise Nights – outside Monkey Joe’s restaurant at Westgate mall, 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm (These cruise night/car shows are open to all years, makes and models of vehicles)
• Lansdowne Movie Night: Ballerina – on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne, 8:30 pm start (free outdoor movie night showing the animated film Ballerina)
• Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill – Parliament Hill, 10:00 pm (Northern Lights is a free show illuminating Canadian stories and images on Parliament Hill)

Sunday:

• Nokia Sunday Bikedays – Sir John A MacDonald Parkway, Colonel By Drive, Sir George Etienne Parkway and Gantineau Park roadways, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (roadways closed to cars and open to bikes)
• Lansdowne Park Strawberry Social – Lansdowne Farmer’s Market, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (sample strawberry delights from a variety of local producers and grab some Strawberry Shortcake from Parkdale Food Centre, also take part in Strawberry Jam tasting contest)
• The Changing of the Guard Ceremony – Parliament Hill, 10:00 am (Performed daily on the lawns of Parliament Hill in Ottawa during the summer, the Changing of the Guard ceremony is the most recognized military tradition in Canada.)
• Parliament Hill Archeological Site Visit – tent site on Parliament Hill, 10:00 am 5:00 pm (Come check out the archaeology work that is currently underway on Parliament Hill. Learn about the guardhouse foundations and other historic objects that have been found. )
• Vintage Vehicle Experience – Cumberland Village Heritage Museum, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Experience first hand the significance and history of early automobiles. Restored, partially restored, and un-restored vehicles manufactured prior to the 1940s will be exhibited on site. )
• Firefighting Heritage Day – Dickinson House Museum, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (free event where the Bytown Fire Brigade and the Manotick Volunteer Firefighters Association will bring vintage firefighting vehicles and equipment to Dickinson House Museum. This will be a “hands on” event where you will be able to sit in the vehicles and handle some of the equipment)
• The Band of the Ceremonial Guard in Concert – Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm (free admission to this concert by the Band of the Ceremonial Guard of the Canadian Armed Forces)
• Zumba on the Hill – Parliament Hill, 4:00 pm (free outdoor Zumba class open to all ages)
• Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill – Parliament Hill, 10:00 pm (Northern Lights is a free show illuminating Canadian stories and images on Parliament Hill)