March Break sneaks up on us every year. We think about it in January and start making plans and lists of plans and ideas. Then all of a sudden it’s mid-March and there are no spaces left in camps and nothing for our kids to do (other than hang out with us!). So we needed things to do with our kidlets in the capitol that won’t break the bank but will allow everyone to have some fun and stay busy while off school for at least a week.
There is a huge amount of stuff to do in Ottawa any time of year, but during March Break there is a mile-long list of awesome activities for you to do with the kidlets. Here are just a sampling of the many free and/or inexpensive things you can do this year.
Petrie Island offers you space to take walks or hikes. Take the kids there to teach them about nature and have some quality family time.
Kids can build a race car at the Home Depot’s Do-It-Yourself Kids’ Workshop on Saturday, March 10th. Online registration required.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on Saturday, March 10th. The parade begins at City Hall and winds it way to Landsdowne Park.
Participating Cineplex theatres are offering family favourites for $2.50 per ticket. Shrek is playing on Saturday, March 10th at 11 am at Silver City Gloucester and Cineplex Odeon South Keys, and E.T. will be playing on Saturday, March 17th at 11 am.
The final session of Animal Tracking on Snowshoes, a free guided tour through Gatineau Park(snowshoes included!) takes place on Sunday, March 11th.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is hosting a free stargazing session at the Helen Sawyer Hogg Observatory starting at 7:30 pm on Friday, March 16th (online registration is recommended but not required).
Enjoy Toonie Matinees every weekday from March 12th to the 16th at the Empire Theatre in Orleans and at the Rideau Centre.
The Nepean Museum is hosting a variety of events over March break at the museum and at Fairfields, their satellite site. Each site is offering two programs a day, at a cost of $5 per child, per program.
The Vanier Museopark is offering March Break activities on Monday the 12th (make a bird feeder), Wednesday the 14th (learn how to grow edible sprouts) and Friday the 16th (take part in a GPS treasure hunt). Activities will run from 10 am to 3 pm and will be offered in French and English.
The Currency Museum is open every day during March break and admission is free. The museum’s hands-on money workshops will also be touring various area library branches during March Break.
Heritage House Museum in Smiths Falls is hosting special March Break activities – experience Victorian times with tours, and enjoy special activities all week long. Call the museum for more details at 613-283-6311 or 613- 283-8560.
Many indoor city pools have swim times every day during the break; view the March Break swim schedule.
Enjoy a movie at Rainbow Cinemas over the break. They have Toonie Tuesdays, and frequent 10 am “Early Bird” showings for $3.00/person.
IKEA is hosting various free activities at their restaurant (where kids’ meals are just $1 during the break). There will also be activities at Smaland, the IKEA play area where you can drop off the kids for up to an hour for free.
Hazeldean Mall is offering several activities for kids during the week including cupcake decorating, crafts, exercise, an Angry Birds contest and a balloon show.
Place d’Orleans is hosting a variety of March Break events from the 12th to the 16th, including face painting from 10 am to 2 pm daily, and a variety of special shows.
Fulton’s Sugar Bush, has special March Break activities planned. It might be a bit of a trek from Ottawa, but unlike many other area sugar bushes, it has free admission and parking, as well as free access to various nature trails, free children’s play areas, and horse-drawn sleigh rides for only $2 per person.
The Ottawa Public Library always has terrific March Break programming, and this year is no exception. Most March Break activities at the library require registration. Visit the library’s website, choose your branch, and select “March Break” from the “Types” pull-down menu to find something for everyone.
Billings Estate hosts the Conservation Club for children aged 7 to 12 on Saturday, March 17th from 2 to 3:30 pm. The session topic is Insects and Pests; the cost is $6 per child. You can register by calling 613-247-4830.
The North Grenville Municipal Centre’s Skate & Movie Events are back! For $5 per person you can skate from 1 to 2:50 pm and watch a movie at 3 pm. If you choose to skate only the price is $2 per person; to watch the movie only costs $3.75 per person.
And of course, don’t forget about all the places you can go skating and skiing in and around the Ottawa area.
And make sure to check our listings for After School Programs and Weekend Activities, Amusement Centres, Art Classes & Supplies, Fun Things to Do with Kids, and Sports for Kids in Ottawa.
