OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: June 20-26, 2013

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Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa this week. This list is published every Wednesday night in this space. You can bookmark this link for easy access: http://ottawastart.com/weekly

** Thursday-Sunday, June 20-23: Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival **

The festival is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary from June 20 to June 23 with tons of free family-friendly activities at Mooney’s Bay Park. Namely, the festival is offering a series of free live shows featuring Sam Roberts Band, Born Ruffians, Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, Sloan, and Great Lake Swimmers among others.

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Eliane Laberge _

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** ** Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23: Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival **

The largest dragonboat festival in North America, if not the world, takes place at Mooney’s Bay beach this weekend, kicking off Friday evening with the Parade of Champions at 6:45pm and then the official opening ceremony at 7pm. In addition to two days of dragonboat races, you’ll find an impressive lineup of musical acts. There’s a children’s area with lots to do on Saturday and Sunday. Racing starts at 8pm Friday evening, with the main races on Saturday and Sunday starting at 7am. And if all that’s not enough, you’ll find food vendors on-site and a beach bar for refreshments. The best part is that admission is free. The event raises money for several worthy charities, and this year’s goal is $450,000. People can make a donation at the festival, online through the website or they can support one of the dragonboaters such as me. Click here to donate.

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Gordon Dewis _

** Wednesday, June 19-Sunday, June 23: Ottawa RibFest **

Last year, 350,000 people headed downtown to Sparks Street to stuff themselves on ribs, chicken, pulled pork and other barbecued meats. Daily from 11am until night time. Bring some extra wet wipes.

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Glen Gower _

** Thursday-Sunday, June 20-29 **

** : In the First Place: Insight Theatre at Ottawa Fringe! **

In the First Place gives teens a place to speak honestly about their experiences when it comes to sex, love and identity. From the feeling of needing to grow up too fast to the awkwardness of a first blow job, these monologues are raw, funny and from the heart.

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Laura Gauthier _

** Thurday, June 20 to Sunday, June 30: Ottawa Jazz Festival’s good jazz, for free! **

The Ottawa Jazz Festival pass can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to hear a variety of great jazz at the ‘fest: some of it is free! Whether you like vocal jazz, straight-ahead modern jazz, Brazilian, or something funkier, you can catch it all on two free local stages at noon (and also 2 PM on weekends). Also this weekend, student big bands, which include talented young musicians who have recently won national music awards, will play free concerts in Confederation Park during the day.

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Brett Delmage _

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** ** Friday, June 21  to Sunday, June 23: Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Festival & International Competition Powwow **

The third annual Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Festival & International Competition Powwow is being held this weekend at Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa. The 2013 edition, which offers free admission to all, will feature a variety of traditional powwow dance competitions along with free music shows, a drum contest, a children’s village, workshops, artisans, crafts, a selection of traditional aboriginal foods and more.

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Eliane Laberge _

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** ** Thursday, June 20 to Sunday, June 23: Aboriginal Day and Aboriginal Arts Festival **

Get to know Indigenous cultures at two free outdoor events. On Thursday, the Odawa Native Friendship Centre, Dovercourt Recreation Centre, Aboriginal Experiences and the Ottawa Art Gallery bring culture, food and entertainment to Westboro from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. On Friday through Sunday, the Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Festival in Vincent Massey Park will have superb music and dance performances, an artisan village, family activities including pony rides, an International Competition PowWow and much more. The Festival is hosted by the Native Women’s Association of Canada in collaboration with several First Nations, Metis and Inuit organizations and Aboriginal Experiences. (I went last year and it was great.)

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Denise Deby _

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** ** Saturday, June 22: Teddy Bears Picnic **

Every bear that’s been gone is sure of a treat on Saturday at CHEO’s annual Teddy Bears Picnic on the grounds of Rideau Hall. Breakfast served by celebs start at 8…real doctors and nurses treat teddy bears in the BASH Tent starting at nine. Stage shows and entertainment throughout the day. Shuffle service for people parking down the street at the NAC. It’s free except for food and building a bear; CHEO’s thank you to the community.

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Max Keeping _

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** ** Saturday, June 22 (to June 29): _ Emissions: A Climate Comedy _ at the Ottawa Fringe Festival **

There’s always plenty of fun and thought-provoking theatre at the Ottawa Fringe Festival (June 20-30), but word of one performance caught my attention. _ Emissions: A Climate Comedy _ is a satirical play that invites us to see the funny side of the very human way we deal with everything, whether it’s climate change or something less overwhelming.

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Denise Deby _

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** ** Tuesday, June 25: The Naughty Bits Book Club ** 6:30pm at Dundonald Park. Chats about “With a Rough Tongue,” edited by Amber Dawn and Trish Kelly. This monthly book club is brought to you by Venus Envy. This month they’re outdoors.“With a Rough Tongue is a rebellious anthology of stories about sex and the modern femme.

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Amanda Earl _

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** ** Have a great week! **

** See also: ** Ottawa Events Guide

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