Weekend Arts & Culture Roundup: Circus Festival, Races, Garage Sales

This weekend, Ottawa's coming alive with activity as warm weather brings the city outdoors and three major events overlap across the region.

**The Ottawa Circus Festival** takes over Arts Court with the big top back in town. Beyond the mind-blowing performances under the tent, the festival features workshops, collaborations with Music.Art.People., and industry programming for circus professionals and enthusiasts. It's a rare chance to see world-class acrobatics, aerialists, and daring acts in an intimate festival setting. The energy is electric—expect crowds, queues, and the kind of collective amazement that only live circus can deliver.

**Ottawa Race Weekend** kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday, transforming downtown and the surrounding roads. The races draw thousands of participants and spectators, making the downtown core noticeably busier than usual. Traffic patterns will shift; public transit will be crowded. Plan accordingly if you're commuting or trying to navigate the core on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

**The Great Glebe Garage Sale** also runs this weekend, turning the Glebe neighbourhood into a massive outdoor shopping event. Locals open their garages, driveways, and front lawns to sell everything from furniture to vintage finds to books. It's part treasure hunt, part community gathering—the kind of weekend activity that defines spring in the neighbourhood.

All three events pulling simultaneously means the downtown core and nearby neighborhoods will be buzzing. There's something for everyone: culture and performance, athletic achievement, and neighbourhood community. The downside is congestion and crowds, so arrive early if you have specific events in mind, expect parking challenges, and consider transit or walking if you can. The warmth has lifted the lid on the city's social calendar, and this weekend shows exactly why everyone was ready for it.