Event Dates
From: Awaiting dates
To: Awaiting dates
Ottawa Pride takes place each year during the third week of August hosting a diverse celebration across the city’s parks, streets, clubs & bars.
Ottawa Pride takes place each year during the third week of August hosting a diverse celebration across the city’s parks, streets, clubs, bars and LGBT friendly businesses.
- Hotels in the gay village book up well in advance for pride and other events in the city, so plan ahead. Stay at the Alt Hotel Ottawa just a short walk from all the gay bars and clubs in the neighborhood.
Event Highlights
- Highlights of “Capital Pride”, as it is officially known, include sporting events, a Rainbow Party, a family picnic and the always-popular Pride Parade.
- Visitors can choose from a dozen signature events and more than 50 community events during the week long festival. Rainbow flags will be raised at six city buildings in Ottawa, including the Ottawa Fire Services, and Ottawa Paramedic Service.
Weekday Pride Events
- Next Edition: Awaiting dates – Saturday & Sunday in late August.
- Pride flag-raising ceremony will take place at Ottawa City Hall and at Gatineau City Hall
- Block Party takes place mid week at Aberdeen Square in Lansdowne Park.
- Capital Pride Pageant takes place at the Delta City Centre Hotel.
- Opening night on Friday features special performances on the main stage at Bank and Slater St, from 6.30 pm to 11 pm.
The Ottawa Pride Gay Village & Street Fair
The intersection of Bank Street and Somerset Street West, the center of Ottawa’s Gay Village, becomes an entertainment hub with live music, a community fair and a beer garden.
- The street fair on Bank Street starts at noon on both the final Saturday and Sunday.
- Festivities for families will take place Sunday at 2 p.m.
- Performances on the TD Main Stage at Bank and Somerset streets begin at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- Stay close to the pride village in your own short term luxury apartment at SOHO Residences Lisgar, rated “Fabulous” by guests with an outdoor pool and city views.
The Main Parade
- The Capital Pride Parade sets off at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday from Bank and Gladstone streets, heading up Kent Street and Laurier Avenue W. before ending at Bank and Somerset streets.
- Events end with the Final Dance – T-Dance from 2 pm on the Somerset Stage.
- The Main stage on Bank St funs a post parade party, also from 2 pm.
Gay Ottawa
- Ottawa’s compact downtown offers easy access to world renowned museums, beautiful art galleries, unique shops, fun tours, outdoor activities, great restaurants and fun entertainment.
- Ottawa is one of the oldest cities in North America and boasts many beautiful old streets, some with the original cobblestones lined with historic buildings as old as the 1700s. Many of these buildings have also been merged nicely with more historic architecture.
- This is a city with hot humid summers and cold and crispy winters. Residents ski in the nearby hills and go skating on the Rideau canal, which usually freezes completely over. It is home to Winterlude, Bluesfest, The Canadian Tulip festival, the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival and Fringe Festival.
Gayborhoods & Bars
- In Ottawa gay life is centered around the downtown corner of Somerset and Bank Street. This area is also sometimes known as Centertown and has famous gay hangouts, clubs and restaurants.
- Discover the busiest clubs just off Bank on Somerset, and as far up as Sparks and Queen Streets towards the river. Make this your first stop in finding gay Ottawa.
- The trendy downtown ByWard Market area is full of cafes and boutiques, with over 80 places to dine out.
- The Glebe neighborhood of South Ottawa has maintained a strong and lively traditional main street, home to many one-of-a-kind shops.
- The Lookout Bar – Ottawa’s most popular LGBTQ+ and all-welcoming bar located in the heart of the Byward Market with regular drag shows & karaoke nights offering late-night dancing & cocktails.
- Swizzles – Located Downtown with friendly staff featuring karaoke and cabaret nights.
Where to stay during Ottawa Pride?
The following hotels are close to all the city’s top attractions and the pride celebrations. They are highly-rated by our readers:
Fairmont Chateau, The Westin, The Metcalfe Hotel, The Business Inn
Where to stay close to all the gay bars
Our top selections with the best rates.
The Fairmont Chateau is where we
stay in Ottawa, close to the gay bars.
For further information and advice on
Ottawa Pride visit The Website
The Ottawa gay scene is is quite small and its easy to get from one bar to another
1 Rideau Street, K1N 8S7 Ottawa, Canada
Featuring an indoor pool, this historic hotel is located in central Ottawa, adjacent to the Parliament Buildings and Rideau Canal. It features elegant dining options and spacious rooms with a flat-screen cable TV.
Tea- and coffee-making facilities and a minibar are standard in every classically furnished room at Chateau Laurier Fairmont. All rooms include a work desk and windows that open to the outside. The en suite bathroom offers bathrobes.
101, Lyon Street North, Centretown, Somerset, (Old) Ottawa, Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, Ontario, K1R 7S8, Canada
This hotel is centrally located in downtown Ottawa, just a 10-minute walk to Parliament Hill. The 4-star hotel features a restaurant and bar and spacious rooms. Each guest room at Delta Ottawa City Centre offers contemporary furnishings, large windows and a work desk. A 42-inch cable TV, free Wi-Fi and pay TV are included as well as a coffee maker. Ottawa Delta City Centre provides a full-services business centre and a well-equipped gym on site. A sauna offers great relaxation.
Lord Elgin, 100, Elgin Street, Golden Triangle, Centretown, Somerset, (Old) Ottawa, Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, Ontario, K1P 5J4, Canada
Directly across from the National Arts Centre, this non-smoking, landmark hotel is only steps from major attractions, and offers spacious accommodations with 49-inch TVs and first-class amenities in the city centre of Canada's capital. The Lord Elgin Hotel is ideally situated close to a number of Parliament buildings as well as the National Art Gallery. Guests at the hotel can also enjoy ice skating on Rideau Canal in the winter or exploring the vibrant shops and restaurants in Byward Market.
11 Colonel By Drive, K1N 9H4 Ottawa, Canada
Featuring an indoor pool, the Westin Ottawa is located next to the Rideau Centre Shopping Mall and the Shaw Centre. The non-smoking hotel offers a restaurant, bar, and free public WiFi.
Every guest room at the Ottawa Westin is equipped with a 50" flat-screen TV. In-room films are also provided.
41 York Street, Ottawa, ON, Canada, Ontario
Ottawa's favourite LGBTQ+ bar weekly events include Karaoke, VOD night, Friday FIXX, and Drag Shows
246 B Queen St Ottawa, ON, Canada K1P5E4
Swizzles Gay Bar is open to all. Known as a BIAS free zone, where people come to enjoy the company and entertainment of others. If you haven't been in awhile, it's a whole new Swizzles
323 Somerset Street West Ottawa, ON, Canada K2P 0J8
Ottawa's newest Gay and All-Welcoming Bar with a patio featuring nibbly food, occasional drag shows, and karaoke
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Booking.com
We have chosen hotels in Ottawa that keep you close to all the shops,restaurants & bars
Exploring the Ottawa LBGTQ Community