Things to do in Ottawa this week: July 19–25

This week splits clean: Sunday and early in the week offer outdoor breathing room, but rain moves in hard on Tuesday and lingers through Wednesday before clearing into a cool but dry weekend. Plan accordingly—the best strategy is catching Bluesfest and the REDBLACKS game in full sun Sunday, then pivoting indoors as the weather turns.

Ottawa Bluesfest takes over LeBreton Flats on Sunday starting at 5 p.m., and it's the week's main draw. The festival doesn't need a marquee act to justify the trip; the grounds, the beer garden, and the sheer scale of live music across multiple stages make it a rare city event. Arrive early enough to stake ground and graze. Little Victories, the city's coffee stand, is debuting its first-ever festival location at Bluesfest with espresso martinis and nitro brews—a decent signal that the festival is also thinking about daytime rhythm. The weather on Sunday runs overcast but dry, highs around 23°C, so layers and comfort shoes are the play.

That same Sunday evening, the Ottawa REDBLACKS face Winnipeg at TD Place Stadium at 7 p.m. It's tight timing with Bluesfest winding down, but both are outdoor, both draw crowds, and both are worth the double if you're willing to move fast.

Tuesday brings Otoboke Beaver to the Bronson Centre at 7 p.m.—a Japanese punk rock band from Kyoto, formed in 2009, now touring North America. The band has built a loyal following for raw, propulsive energy; if you're looking for something harder and weirder than the Bluesfest mainstream, this is it. Problem: Tuesday carries a 90 per cent rain chance and highs only reach 23°C, so dress for wet. The Bronson is indoors, so you're safe once you're there.

Wednesday's forecast is worse—light drizzle, a chilly high of 18°C, 90 per cent rain again. This is a night to stay inside, eat well, and let the city drain. Head to Little Italy and Sanguiccio Deli-Cafe on Preston Street, where owner Genio Ienzi bakes his panini buns, grinds his pepper, and makes his sausages by hand. Sandwiches run sixteen dollars and the waits are real, but the work shows. Pair it with a coffee from somewhere dry and you've got an afternoon sorted.

Friday sees Trooper at Hard Rock Casino Ottawa at 7 p.m.—a Canadian rock band, located about 16 km outside the city. Friday's forecast shows drizzle and a high of 26°C, so conditions are cool but not cold; the drive is short and the casino is a decent venue if arena rock is your lane.

Saturday closes the week with Souls of Mischief at Overflow Brewing Co. at 7:30 p.m., tickets from forty-five dollars. Souls of Mischief formed in Oakland in 1991 as part of the hip hop collective Hieroglyphics; they've held their own for three decades on pure musicianship and taste. Saturday carries light drizzle and a high of 23°C, so it's still cool, but Overflow's indoor setup means you can settle in with a beer and let the music carry the night.

If the weather holds and you want to get outside midweek, the Glebe and Westboro neighbourhoods both have strong patio game—check out the rooftop setups on Preston Street or the water views out toward Dow's Lake. But honestly, with rain dominating Tuesday through Friday, your best single move this week is Sunday: hit Bluesfest in daylight, catch the REDBLACKS after dark, and call it a win.