City of Ottawa Museums: June 2025

 

Learn all about animal helpers

Visit Cumberland Heritage Village Museum on Sunday, June 29 to explore how animals help with many important jobs and tasks from search and rescue to pest control. This event features special guests including Wilhaven Ridge Alpacas, Working Whiskers (Ottawa Humane Society), Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club, and more! The Ottawa Valley Live Steamers and Model Engineers will also be on site between 11 am and 3 pm demonstrating their large-scale model locomotives.

Get creative at the Curiosity Café

The Curiosity Café returns at Nepean Museum on Thursday, June 26. Adults ages 50 and up are invited to drop in anytime between 10 am and 3 pm to enjoy light refreshments, take a closer look at the collection, play retro games, and chat with us about how the museum can better serve older adults in our community. Bonus! We’re offering a special pottery painting activity between 1 pm and 2 pm (while supplies last). Registration is open for July workshops “Initiation au travail du cuir” – Cumberland Heritage Village Museum July 6 from 1 pm to 5 pm Learn to layout, emboss, and stitch a 4” x 6” notebook slipcover with a skilled heritage interpreter. *Presented in French. Introduction to watercolour illustration – Fairfields Heritage House July 6 from 10 am to 4 pm Gain confidence with watercolour and create nature-inspired illustrations with botanical artist and arts educator Crystal Beshara. Introduction to woodcarving – Pinhey’s Point Historic Site July 18 from 1 pm to 5 pm Practice basic whittling and carving skills to create a “comfort bird” with Martin Thornell from Ottawa City Woodshop. Follow Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, Fairfields Heritage House, and Pinhey’s Point Historic Site on Facebook for more great workshop opportunities all summer long Upcoming programs and events Weekend Crafters (ages 6 to 12): Enjoy drop-in craft activities and a scavenger hunt inspired by local history. June 29 from 1 pm to 4 pm (garden wind chimes) – Fairfields Heritage House July 6 from 1 pm to 4 pm (button making) – Nepean Museum Can You Dig It (ages 8 to 11): Learn to dig for artefacts, identify mysterious objects, and practice techniques that scientists use every day. July (Wednesdays) and August (Thursdays) – Billings Estate National Historic Site August (Thursdays) – Fairfields Heritage House Time Travellers (ages 5 to 7): Explore heritage chores, skills, and pastimes inspired by daily life on the Billings family farm. July (Thursdays) and August (Wednesdays) – Billings Estate National Historic Site Tales of the Magical Museum: Inspired by tabletop role playing games, create a character with special abilities influenced by heritage trades and cross paths with figures from Ottawa’s history as you decide where the story will take you next. July 26 to August 23 (ages 12 to 14) – Fairfields Heritage House July 27 to August 24 (ages 9 to 11) – Nepean Museum Vintage Vehicle Experience: See pre-1940 restored, partially restored and unrestored vehicles and learn about the rapid design and mechanical advancements during the early automotive era. July 13 – Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Pinhey’s Past-Times: Explore a heritage trade, pastime, or recipe through a drop-in activity or demonstration.  June 29 (Outaouais Wood Carvers) - Pinhey’s Point Historic Site July 5 (Ottawa Guild of Lacemakers) - Pinhey’s Point Historic Site July 6 (Medicine bags with Makatew Workshops) - Pinhey’s Point Historic Site School’s in for the summer! Become a student in the one-room schoolhouse at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum and experience how life in the classroom has changed over the past 100 years. Families with kids and adults of all ages are encouraged to take part in these activities together. Visitors are welcome to participate in a single activity or return throughout their visit to experience the full school day. Stay tuned Follow us on social media to make sure you don’t miss a single announcement. Billings Estate National Historic Site (or @billingsestatemuseum on Instagram) Cumberland Heritage Village Museum (or @cumberlandmuseum on Instagram) Fairfields Heritage House Nepean Museum Pinhey’s Point Historic Site (or @pinheyspoint on Instagram)