March Break is just around the corner! If you are lucky, you may be headed out of town in the direction of some sunny beach. But, if you are like me, you will be home with the kids and looking for events and activities to fill the days. So here are some great ideas for family fun around Ottawa while the kids are off school.

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 guide to Ottawa’s best sugar bushes to get an idea of which one (or two) you might want to visit.

Fun at the Museums

• Canada Agriculture and Food Museum – Barnyard Break means special programming like preparing healthy snacks in the demonstration kitchen, meeting some of the newest members of the farm family in the barns and story time and a special winter-themed crafts.
• Canadian Aviation and Space Museum – imaginative activities, hands-on crafts, tours, and special guest speakers.
• Canadian Science and Technology Museum – fun-filled activities, experiments, and demonstrations that are sure to engage visitors of all ages. 
• Museum of History – Travel back in time and take on the role of Sherlock Holmes as you search for clues to help you find a missing object in the Canadian History Hall. And head to the studio at the Children’s Museum to create a special decoder. You can also watch the movie Dora and the Lost City of Gold on the giant screen, and check out the new Doc McStuffins exhibit.
• Canadian War Museum –  Use Imagination Playground blocks to create engineering and architectural marvels. Challenge your family to a game of giant chess. Learn to play strategy board games with a variety of classics.
• Canadian Museum of Nature – Discover the fascinating diversity of your own microbiome during the last few weeks of the Me and My Microbes exhibit. Wander among live butterflies with the Butterfly Exhibit . Embark upon a 3D movie adventure with prehistoric sea creatures or ice-age mammals, and don’t miss the special, live-animal presentations by Little Ray’s Nature Centre.
• National Gallery of Canada – enjoy the Artissimo programs which let children play art games, make their own artworks and share art.
• Bank of Canada Museum – special activities, presentations and crafts for March Break and to mark Fraud Prevention Month. Visitors of all ages are welcome. These activities, as well as general admission to the Museum, are FREE.

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.

Go for a Skate

There is free open skating at TD Place Arena from Monday to Thursday. Make sure you bring your own skates and helmet. Anyone under the age of 10 must have a helmet. The dates and times are as follows: March 16th from 11 am – 1 pm, March 17 from 1 pm – 3 pm, March 18 from 1 pm – 3 pm and March 19 from 11 am – 1 pm.

March Break Movies

Cineplex Theatres is showing five kid-friendly shows from March 16-20, with staggered start times. The five movies are: Arctic Dogs, Missing Link, The Addams Family, Paw Patrol: Ready, Race, Rescue and Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups. Admission is only $2.99 and it could be a great option for the family particularly if the weather isn’t great outside!

Visit a Local Library

The public libraries all over Ottawa are holding different activities throughout the March Break. These include crafts, story times, musical performances and more! This year’s March Break theme is Around the world. You can check out the full schedule of library locations and activities HERE.

Indigo & Chapters Book Stores

Indigo Bookstores are hosting free kids events in their stores such as crafts, scavenger hunts, giveaways and more. Every day during March Break will host a different activity. Check out the schedule of events HERE.