Things to do in Ottawa this week: November 9 to 15, 2026

The week starts dry and overcast, turns wet on Tuesday, and then the snow settles in from Thursday through the weekend. Monday and Wednesday are your outdoor days, with small rain chances, so use them for walking the Market, errands on foot, and anything that involves being out of doors. Tuesday and Thursday are stay-in nights, and by Friday the snow showers make a warm room the right call.

Tuesday is the night the Washington Capitals visit Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre at 7 p.m. It is the biggest draw of the week, and on a 45 per cent rain day the arena is the right place to be. The rink is in Kanata, about 23 km out, so leave extra time for the drive. Wicked: For Good is also on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Algonquin Commons Theatre in Nepean, the 2025 musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. If you want a sit-down dinner before either, Bistro Ristoro is a dependable Italian pick for a wet evening. Ike Dweck plays Club Saw at 8 p.m. the same night.

Wednesday is the cleanest day of the middle stretch, with 10 per cent rain and overcast skies. Cannelle, the French rapper also known as canfrgu, performs at Club Saw at 8 p.m. Across the river, Guy Nantel takes the stage at Salle Odyssee in Gatineau at 8 p.m., about 7 km from downtown, which makes for an easy crossing on a dry night.

Thursday brings heavy snow with highs of 0 to 5 degrees, so plan around it. The Great Canadian Roadtrip, featuring Canadian Brass, plays the Hard Rock Cafe at 7 p.m., a classical-leaning group from Canada. Laugh Together, The Comedy Show is at the Algonquin Commons Theatre in Nepean at 7:30 p.m. For a pre-show plate in the snow, the Grand Pizzeria and Bar is a sensible choice.

Friday is the most interesting night for a local with a good coat. Allan Rayman, the Toronto singer-songwriter signed to Communion Music, plays Overflow Brewing Co. at 8 p.m., with tickets from $61 CAD. He has released six albums, from Hotel Allan in 2016 through The All Allan Hour in 2024. The Record Company, a Grammy-nominated blues rock band from Los Angeles, plays the Bronson Centre at 7:30 p.m. the same evening, so pick the room that suits your mood.

Saturday's snow is light at 1 to 3 degrees, and Nataly Aukar performs at the Algonquin Commons Theatre at 7 p.m. Sunday's light drizzle is the quietest day of the week, a good excuse for a slow brunch and a long read. For a cheap, filling dinner at any point, Meet Noodle 又见壹面 is worth the trip.

Two things beyond the stage deserve your attention. The Montreal Road restaurant Chahaya Malaysia served its final day Sunday after 41 years, so if you have a favourite dish there, it is worth telling someone about it. And Kanata Theatre opens Gunderson's Émilie du Châtelet on November 18, running through November 28, with tickets at kanatatheatre.ca or 613-831-4435. Book early. Finally, the Vaccaro family's fight for a Rett syndrome treatment, after a gene therapy trial was closed to their daughter Lucia because of her age, is a local story that deserves a read.

If I had one night out this week, it would be Friday with Allan Rayman at Overflow Brewing Co., because a warm room and a live set make the best answer to a snowy weekend.