This long weekend offers a fiesta of festivals in Ottawa and the surrounding area. Whether you’re looking for a halal snack or haggis, prefer hurtin’ music or Haydn, there’s something for you. Metro offers a few festive suggestions:
The Ottawa Chamber Music Festival continues this weekend through Aug. 8, with performances by the NAC Wind Quintet and Peter Longworth, the Leipzig String Quartet, and Gene DiNovi, James Campbell and Friends. Consult the festival’s website, chamberfest.com.
Chamberfest is also partnering with the Rideau Canal Festival to present the Musical Breeze Bicycle Parade, a group bike ride along the canal past mini-concerts, culminating in a full performance at Marion Dewar Plaza at city hall. Riders depart Lansdowne Park at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The 18th annual Ottawa Busker Festival began Thursday on Sparks Street between Elgin and Bank, and continues through Monday with sword-swallowers, fire-eaters and assorted street performance oddities and surprises.
The Muslim Summer Festival comes to Britannia Park Saturday. The theme of this year’s festival is “Many Nations, One Community.”
Highlights include ethnic foods, an animal show and an Islamic bazaar, as well as games for kids.
For those willing to make a short road trip, Carleton Place this weekend hosts the 6th annual Riverside Jam on the Mississippi, a country music festival with headliners Terri Clark, the Wilkinsons and Doc Walker.
Also a short drive from Ottawa, the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville offers a weekend of traditional Scottish music, dance, sports and pageantry — including the North American Pipe Band Championships.
