Ottawa Events in November: Festivals, Shows & Markets

November is the month Ottawa trades fall colours for poppies, parade floats and the first glow of Christmas lights.

Ottawa events in November 2026 follow a clear arc. The month opens with Veterans' Week and the National Remembrance Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 11, then turns festive fast: the Ottawa Christmas Market and Magic of Lights both open on Friday, November 20, the Help Santa Toy Parade rolls down Queen Elizabeth Driveway the next morning, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens bring The Nutcracker to the National Arts Centre from November 26 to 29. Add six Senators home games, the NSL Final at TD Place and free museum evenings, and a grey month fills up quickly.

Every date on this page was checked against the organizer's or venue's own website on October 12, 2026. Schedules can still shift, so open the official link before you buy tickets or drive out.

Key Highlights

TL;DR: Circle November 11 for Remembrance Day at the National War Memorial, the weekend of November 20 to 22 for the Christmas Market opening, Magic of Lights and the Help Santa Toy Parade, and November 26 to 29 for The Nutcracker at the NAC. Hockey fans get six Senators home games and three 67's home dates, and Canada's women's soccer championship, the NSL Final, comes to TD Place on November 14.

Image: November in Ottawa starts grey and damp and ends with the first holiday lights going up downtown.

November 2026 at a glance

For the rest of the year, our Ottawa festivals calendar covers the big annual events, and the Ottawa events in December page picks up where this one ends.

Remembrance Day and Veterans' Week in Ottawa

Image: Poppies and wreaths are the quiet centre of Ottawa's first big week of November.

The National Remembrance Day Ceremony takes place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the National War Memorial in Confederation Square. The Royal Canadian Legion runs it, and the program includes a veterans' parade, the arrival of dignitaries, two minutes of silence at 11 a.m., a 21-gun salute and the wreath-laying. It is free and open to everyone, and the crowd fills Confederation Square and the surrounding streets every year.

Veterans' Week builds toward the day, and Veterans Affairs Canada marks November 8 as Indigenous Veterans Day. Last year's Legion schedule had veterans forming up at 10:10 a.m. in front of the Château Laurier, and the City restricts road access around the memorial before and during the ceremony. Take transit or walk in, aim to arrive well before 10 a.m. if you want a sightline, and dress for an hour of standing still in raw November air. Many people stay afterwards to lay their poppy on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier once the official party has left.

If the crowd at the memorial is too much for young children or older relatives, the Canadian War Museum at 1 Vimy Place offers a calmer alternative. At 11 a.m. on November 11, sunlight passes through a single window in Memorial Hall and frames the headstone representing Canada's Unknown Soldier. Admission is free that day, but tickets for the hall are limited: they are handed out from 9 a.m. at the Information desk, two per person, with no reservations, and the lobby opens at 8 a.m. The moment is also shown on screen in the lobby.

The War Museum is worth a longer visit this month. Canada's Unknown Soldier runs until September 26, 2027, and Canada at War Against Japan, 1941–1945 closes on December 31, 2026. Regular admission is $23 for adults and $21 for seniors, plus HST, and general admission is free every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Parking on site is $2 per half hour to an $18 daily maximum.

Beechwood Cemetery, home of the National Military Cemetery at 280 Beechwood Avenue, holds its 9th annual No Stone Left Alone ceremony on Tuesday, November 3, at 10:30 a.m., when students and Canadian Armed Forces members place a poppy on every soldier's headstone (schools are invited to take part through the cemetery). The National Military Cemetery's own Remembrance Day service is also on November 11; Beechwood's event page lists 10:30 a.m., while its newsletter gives 10:45 a.m., so confirm the time before you go.

For background on the ceremony, its history and where to stand, read our Remembrance Day ceremony guide for Ottawa, and pair the day with a walk through our Parliament Hill guide if you are visiting from out of town.

The Christmas Season Starts: Market, Lights and the Toy Parade

Image: The third weekend of November is when Ottawa's holiday season officially switches on.

The weekend of November 20 to 22 is the busiest of the month, because three holiday traditions start within about 18 hours of each other.

The Ottawa Christmas Market opens at Lansdowne on Friday, November 20, 2026. It runs on weekends: Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. In November that means November 20 to 22 and November 27 to 29, with more weekends in December. The market has more than 60 local vendors, a skating rink, the Twinkle Tunnel, fire pits, Santa's Village and Blitzen's Bar, and its Cocktails and Crafts wreath and wood-frame workshops are booked separately through Ticketmaster. The official site does not list an admission price for 2026, so check it before you go. OC Transpo routes 6 and 7 stop at TD Place, which beats circling for parking on a market Saturday.

The Help Santa Toy Parade follows on Saturday, November 21, at 11 a.m. It starts on Queen Elizabeth Driveway at Somerset Street West, heads south along the canal and finishes at Lansdowne Park and TD Place. Watching is free, and the organizers ask spectators to give to the Help Santa campaign, with donations going to CTV and MOVE 100's Toy Mountain. The finish line is steps from the market, which makes the parade and a market lunch an easy family Saturday.

Magic of Lights opens the same Friday, November 20, at the Wesley Clover Parks campground, 411 Corkstown Road, and runs nightly to January 2, 2027. It is a drive-through display: Sunday to Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Prices are per vehicle. New this year is a November-only ticket at $25.99 online ($27 at the gate); the online-only "Santa Saver" prices, available until November 19 and valid any time this season, are $33.99 for an any-day ticket and $30.50 for a weekday (Monday to Thursday) ticket, and a season pass is $97.99. Our earlier look at Magic of Lights at Wesley Clover Parks explains how the route works.

If you can make a longer drive, Alight at Night at Upper Canada Village (13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg) opens on Friday, November 27, with its first nights November 27 to 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are online only and cost $18 for adults (25 to 64), $17 for seniors, $16 for students aged 13 to 17 and $15 for youth aged 5 to 12, plus HST; children 4 and under are free. Our Alight at Night guide covers the village layout, and the full holiday market picture is in our Ottawa Christmas markets guide.

Markets, Craft Sales and a Food Festival

Image: November is the month for early gift shopping at Ottawa's indoor markets.

November is when Ottawa's indoor markets fill the gap between the end of the outdoor farmers' market season and the December craft-sale rush. Most of the good ones are free to walk into.

613flea returns to the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne on Saturday, November 7 and Saturday, November 28 (the November 21 date was moved to the 28th). It brings together about 150 vendors selling vintage clothing, antiques, handmade goods and food, and admission is always free. The Sunday Lansdowne Market run by the Ottawa Farmers' Market also continues year-round at Aberdeen Square from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; its separate indoor Christmas market is relocating for 2026, with details still to be announced. Our Ottawa flea markets guide and farmers' markets guide cover both.

On Sunday, November 22, the National Arts Centre hosts the free HoliYay Craft Market from 11 a.m. in the Atrium O'Brien, which is easy to combine with a matinee or a walk along the canal.

Across the river, The Museum's Christmas Market at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau runs November 26 to 29: Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and no ticket is needed, the coat check is free, and there is an ATM on site. New for 2026 is a dedicated food market, so plan on lunch there. Arriving at opening on Thursday or Friday is the calmest way to shop.

Stay on the Quebec side that weekend for Noël dans le Vieux-Aylmer (Christmas in Old Aylmer), around 115 rue Principale in Gatineau's Aylmer sector. Tourisme Outaouais lists it for November 27 to 29 and December 4 to 6 but does not print a year beside those dates, so check the official listing before you go. Local food products and crafts fill the market, illuminated floats line the main street, and a walking route leads children to Santa's float.

Food lovers should look at the CRAVE Wine and Food Festival on Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, at HISTORY Ottawa, 47 Rideau Street. Admission tickets cost $20 to $35 depending on the date and time you pick, sampling coupons are bought separately, and the event is strictly 19+ with no minors or infants allowed. A limited number of door tickets are sold, but the festival recommends buying through its own website rather than resellers.

The big pre-Christmas craft show, the Originals Christmas Craft Sale, falls in December this year (December 9 to 13 at the Cohere Centre), so it is covered on our December events page. For gift ideas beyond the markets, browse our Ottawa gift shops guide.

The Nutcracker and November Shows at the NAC

Image: This year the NAC's Nutcracker lands in late November rather than December.

The headline show this month is The Nutcracker by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, presented by NAC Dance in Southam Hall from Thursday, November 26 to Sunday, November 29, 2026. The NAC recommends it for ages 4 and up, lists evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 1:30 p.m., and prices tickets from $33 to $139. Note the timing: in recent years Ottawa families have looked for the NAC's Nutcracker in December, but in 2026 it closes before December begins, so book early.

The rest of the NAC calendar is unusually deep for November:

Two things make the NAC easier on the wallet. Anyone under 30 can buy $15 tickets to many performances, and the free weekly programs in Peter A. Herrndorf Place (Toddler Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and SoulRhythms on Monday evenings at 7 p.m.) cost nothing at all.

For chamber music, Ottawa Chamberfest presents Many Faces of Orlando with Ema Nikolovska and Sean Shibe on Tuesday, November 10, at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre. Smaller independent stages are covered in our GCTC theatre guide.

Senators, 67's and the NSL Final: Sports in November

Image: Hockey is one of the most reliable weatherproof plans on Ottawa's November calendar.

The Ottawa Senators play six home games at the Canadian Tire Centre (1000 Palladium Drive, Kanata) in November 2026:

The arena is a long way from downtown, so plan the trip. The Senators' parking page lists general parking in Lots 5 and 9 at $21 for Senators games, and pre-buying through Ticketmaster is the fastest way in. OC Transpo runs event buses for larger games; the arena tells fans to look for stops with the Connexion 400 logo, with service scaled to the size and time of the event. Our Canadian Tire Centre guide covers seating, food and the post-game exit.

The Ottawa 67's have three home dates at The Arena at TD Place. The marquee one is Sunday, November 22, at 3 p.m. against the Gatineau Olympiques, one of the OHL and QMJHL interleague games on this season's schedule, and the 67's visit Gatineau's Slush Puppie Centre two nights earlier, on Friday, November 20, at 7 p.m. The 67's also host the Windsor Spitfires on Friday, November 6, at 7 p.m., and the OHL schedule lists a weekday-morning game against the Kingston Frontenacs on Wednesday, November 4, at 10:30 a.m. that does not appear on TD Place's public event list, so check ticket availability for that one.

TD Place makes game day easy without a car. Your event ticket is valid on all regular OC Transpo routes from three hours before to three hours after the event, routes 6 and 7 stop right at TD Place, and for 67's games a free OSEG shuttle runs from Carleton University's P-18 lot starting 60 minutes before puck drop. Doors open an hour before the game. Our Ottawa 67's game-day guide and TD Place venue guide fill in the details.

On Saturday, November 14, The Stadium at TD Place hosts the NSL Final, the winner-take-all championship of the Northern Super League, where the top two clubs in Canada's professional women's soccer league play for the Diana B. Matheson Cup at the end of the league's second season. Tickets are sold through TD Place, and the ticket-as-transit-fare rule applies to TD Place events like this one.

Two teams sit out November. The Ottawa Charge play only preseason games away from home this month and open their first season at the Canadian Tire Centre on December 6, and TD Place's calendar shows no Redblacks home games in November.

Museums and Galleries for a Grey November Day

Image: Ottawa's national museums make a dependable rainy-day backup in November.

November is a strong month for the national museums, partly because the weather pushes everyone indoors and partly because several big exhibitions are in full swing.

At the National Gallery of Canada (380 Sussex Drive), the 2026 Sobey Art Award exhibition shows work by the six shortlisted artists: Melaw Nakehk'o, Samuel Roy-Bois, Audie Murray, Lotus L. Kang, Caroline Monnet and Shane Perley-Dutcher. It opened on September 4, 2026 and runs into early January, and the winner of Canada's major prize for contemporary artists is announced at a special celebration on Saturday, November 14, 2026. Seeing the show before the announcement makes the result more fun to follow. Our National Gallery of Canada guide covers the building and the permanent collection.

Across the river, the Canadian Museum of History has Napoleon – The Immersive Saga on until January 10, 2027 and Spotlight on Soccer until January 3, 2027, and its Christmas market fills the Grand Hall at the end of the month.

For families on a budget, the Canadian Museum of Nature is free for general admission every Thursday from 5 p.m., and it stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Regular daytime admission is $26 for adults and $19 for seniors, students and children aged 3 to 12, plus tax; children 2 and under are free. The Canadian War Museum's free Thursday window runs from 5 to 7 p.m.

For the full list of free hours and passes, see our free museum hours in Ottawa guide and our roundup of winter museum activities in Ottawa.

Weather, Transit and Parking for November Events

Image: Short days and wet roads make transit the easier choice for most November events.

November is Ottawa's raw, in-between month. Environment Canada's 1991 to 2020 normals put the average high at 5.8°C and the average low at −1.8°C, with about 72 mm of precipitation and roughly 16 cm of snow, and the first real snowfall usually arrives around mid-month. Waterproof boots matter more than a heavy parka for most of the month, but bring a hat and gloves for anything where you stand still outdoors, such as the Remembrance Day ceremony, the toy parade or an evening at the Christmas Market.

An adult OC Transpo single fare is $4.10 in 2026 after a 2.5% increase, and an adult monthly pass is $138.50. Remember the TD Place rule: an event ticket for a 67's game, the NSL Final or any other TD Place event works as your transit fare from three hours before to three hours after. For the Canadian Tire Centre, watch for the Connexion 400 event buses. The O-Train's newer lines also help this season, since Line 4's Uplands station now serves the Cohere Centre (formerly the EY Centre); our O-Train Lines 2 and 4 guide explains the network.

If you drive to Lansdowne, the underground garage charges $4 for the first hour Monday to Thursday and $5 Friday to Sunday, to a $25 daily maximum, plus taxes and service fees; event-day prices vary and spaces run short. The Christmas Market warns that parking is very limited on event days, says pre-purchased parking is not available for the market and urges visitors to use transit instead. Downtown on November 11, skip the car altogether. Once the snow starts, overnight street parking rules change, so read our Ottawa winter parking ban guide before you leave a car on the street.

Free and low-cost picks this month

You can fill most of November in Ottawa without spending much. The Remembrance Day ceremony, the Help Santa Toy Parade, 613flea, the NAC's HoliYay Craft Market and the Museum's Christmas Market in Gatineau are all free. The War Museum is free on November 11 and every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., the Museum of Nature is free on Thursdays from 5 p.m., and the NAC's Toddler Tuesdays and SoulRhythms evenings cost nothing. For cheaper tickets, look at 67's games and the NAC's $15 seats for anyone under 30. More ideas are in our free things to do in Ottawa guide.

November Itineraries for Families, Couples and Free Days

Image: Pair one ticketed event with one free outdoor stop and November days stay relaxed.

Family weekend, November 21 and 22. On Saturday, find a spot along Queen Elizabeth Driveway for the 11 a.m. Help Santa Toy Parade, follow it south to Lansdowne and spend the afternoon at the Christmas Market, then drive out to Magic of Lights after dark if the kids still have energy. On Sunday, browse the free HoliYay Craft Market at the NAC at 11 a.m. and finish with the 67's against the Gatineau Olympiques at 3 p.m. Our family activities in Ottawa guide has backup ideas for tired legs.

Remembrance Day, November 11. Attend the 10:30 a.m. ceremony at the National War Memorial, or line up for a free Memorial Hall ticket at the War Museum from 9 a.m. In the afternoon, stay at the museum for Canada's Unknown Soldier, then warm up with something from our best hot chocolate in Ottawa list.

Couples' night out. Book The Nutcracker (November 26 to 29) or Brahms X Radiohead (November 17) at the NAC, and reserve dinner nearby; our holiday restaurants guide lists festive menus. For something looser, CRAVE on November 20 or 21 followed by the Christmas Market's Friday-night lights makes a good 19+ evening.

Free Thursday, November 26. Go to the Museum's Christmas Market in Gatineau when it opens at 11 a.m., cross back to Ottawa for the Museum of Nature's free Thursday evening from 5 p.m., or head to the War Museum's free window from 5 to 7 p.m.

For week-by-week updates as plans firm up, check our things to do in Ottawa this weekend page and the year-round things to do in Ottawa hub.

FAQ

Q: When is the Help Santa Toy Parade in Ottawa in 2026?

The parade is on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 11 a.m. It starts on Queen Elizabeth Driveway at Somerset Street West, travels south along the canal and ends at Lansdowne Park and TD Place. Watching is free, and donations to the Help Santa campaign support CTV and MOVE 100's Toy Mountain.

Q: When does the Ottawa Christmas Market open in 2026?

The Ottawa Christmas Market opens at Lansdowne on Friday, November 20, 2026. It runs on weekends: Fridays 5 to 10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The November weekends are November 20 to 22 and 27 to 29, and the market continues on weekends into December.

Q: What time is the Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa?

The National Remembrance Day Ceremony at the National War Memorial starts at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, with two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. It is free. Arrive well before 10 a.m. for a good view, take transit because roads around the memorial are restricted, and dress warmly.

Q: Is The Nutcracker at the NAC in November or December this year?

In 2026 it is in November. Les Grands Ballets Canadiens perform The Nutcracker in the NAC's Southam Hall from November 26 to 29, with tickets from $33 to $139 and a recommended minimum age of 4. December's NAC calendar has other holiday shows, including Handel's Messiah and The Vinyl Cafe Christmas Musical.

Q: What free events are on in Ottawa in November?

The main free events are the Remembrance Day ceremony (November 11), the Help Santa Toy Parade (November 21), the Museum's Christmas Market in Gatineau (November 26 to 29), 613flea (November 7 and 28) and the NAC's HoliYay Craft Market (November 22). The Museum of Nature and the War Museum also have free Thursday evening hours.

Q: How do I get to a Senators game without driving?

OC Transpo runs event buses to the Canadian Tire Centre for larger games; look for stops marked with the Connexion 400 logo, since service depends on the size and time of the event. The Senators' six November home games start at 7 p.m., except Monday, November 23, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

Final Thoughts

November in Ottawa rewards a little planning. Lock in the fixed dates first: Remembrance Day on the 11th, the Christmas Market, Magic of Lights and the toy parade on the weekend of the 20th, and The Nutcracker at the end of the month. Then fill the grey weekdays with hockey, museum evenings and the indoor markets, and keep a waterproof pair of boots by the door. When the calendar flips, our guide to Ottawa events in December and our New Year's Eve in Ottawa guide take over.

Source: Destination Ontario – Remembrance Day in Ontario

Source: Royal Canadian Legion – The National Remembrance Day Ceremony

Source: Veterans Affairs Canada – Remembrance Day and Veterans' Week

Source: Canadian War Museum – Memorial Hall on Remembrance Day, Exhibitions and Admission

Source: Beechwood Cemetery – No Stone Left Alone 2026 and Remembrance Day service

Source: Help Santa Toy Parade

Source: Ottawa Christmas Market

Source: Magic of Lights Ottawa

Source: Upper Canada Village – Alight at Night

Source: 613flea and Ottawa Farmers' Market

Source: Canadian Museum of History – The Museum's Christmas Market and Exhibitions

Source: Tourisme Outaouais – Christmas in Old-Aylmer

Source: CRAVE Wine and Food Festival and FAQ

Source: National Arts Centre – November 2026 calendar and The Nutcracker

Source: Ottawa Chamberfest – Many Faces of Orlando

Source: Ottawa Senators schedule, Canadian Tire Centre events and Senators parking

Source: Ottawa 67's schedule, TD Place upcoming events, NSL Final at TD Place, Getting here on a 67's game day and TD Place parking

Source: Ottawa Charge schedule

Source: Sobey Art Foundation – 2026 shortlist

Source: Canadian Museum of Nature – Admission

Source: Councillor Glen Gower – 2026 transit budget and Canadian Tire Centre – Public transportation

Source: 613today – Ottawa weather in November (Environment Canada 1991–2020 normals)