Things to do in Ottawa this week: June 21–27
Daniel Tosh brings his farewell tour to the National Arts Centre on Saturday; We Were Sharks headline a hometown show Friday night; the week's clearest evening lands midweek.
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This week the weather does you a favour: three drizzly days bookend a genuinely clear stretch midweek, with Friday's rain returning just as you'd want to stay inside anyway. Plan accordingly, and you'll hit the city's best moments perfectly.
Start Sunday with Ottawa Rapid FC hosting AFC Toronto at TD Place at noon—a local soccer match on what will be a cool, damp morning (drizzle, 15 to 22 degrees), so dress for it and grab a hot drink. If you're looking for something less outdoor-focused that day, Paper Moon Theatre Presents: Rock Of Ages runs at Hard Rock Casino Ottawa in Gloucester at midday; it's about 16 kilometres out of the city, so only worth the drive if you're committed to the show.
Tuesday through Wednesday is your window. By Tuesday the drizzle clears and the overcast softens to something workable; Wednesday stays mostly dry and reaches 24 degrees. If you've been meaning to try Le Mien Craft Noodle in the ByWard Market, hand-pulled bowls made to order and a rotating menu of styles, this is the week to walk there and eat outside. Wednesday evening, if live music calls, Meghan Patrick—a Canadian-American country singer-songwriter from Bowmanville—plays Rum Runners in London, about 519 kilometres south, so that's a full drive for a single show; skip it unless she's a genuine pull for you.
Friday brings We Were Sharks, Keep Flying, and Fake Friends to The 27 Club at 7:30 p.m. We Were Sharks is an Ottawa pop-punk band, so this is a hometown show worth catching before the rain hits hard (light drizzle, 76 percent chance). Grab dinner beforehand at Speakeasy Tapas Lounge if you want something quick and shareable that fits the neighbourhood energy. Friday's weather isn't perfect, but it's the night to be out before the week turns genuinely wet.
Saturday evening, Daniel Tosh brings his farewell tour to the National Arts Centre at 7 p.m. Tosh is an American comedian, writer, and producer—a sharp, recognizable name with real draw. The National Arts Centre sits in the heart of the city, and Saturday itself stays overcast with a 24-degree high and only 21 percent rain chance, so it's a manageable evening to get downtown. This is the week's marquee event: a tour called "My First Farewell Tour," a comedian with substantial cultural footprint, and a venue that anchors the city. Book it.
Beyond the stage, Château Laurier has opened Émilie's Terrace, a new patio overlooking the Rideau Canal locks with shareable plates and cocktails made from local ingredients. It's the kind of spot that rewards a clear midweek evening—pull a reservation for Wednesday or Thursday lunch if you can swing it, when the weather is kindest. Cactus Club, meanwhile, has dropped a summer patio menu headlined by The Niner (a $9 smash burger) and the returning Frosé cocktail; if you want casual, outdoor dining with real food and a loyal crowd, that's your answer.
With one night out this week, I'd take Saturday at the National Arts Centre to see Daniel Tosh—it's the event that will feel like an actual occasion, not just another show.