OttawaFest(s)

Summer in Ottawa: Blink, and you’ve missed it. That’s why it’s so important to make the most of it! Back by popular demand, we present the Savvy Guide to some of the best, most family-friendly summer festivals around the nation’s capital.
The TD Canada Trust International Jazz Festival opens today, bringing more than 400 jazz musicians from across the country and around the world to a 10-day musical event with something for everyone. You don’t have to love jazz to have fun—it’s all about enjoying open-air concerts on warm summer afternoons and evenings at a variety of downtown venues. This is not the festival for you if what you need is a giant amusement area just for children, but you might be surprised at how readily your little ones can be captivated by musicians on stage. Surprise them with a fun snack and settle in for some listening.

From July 30 to August 3, don’t miss Buskerfest 2009 on the Sparks Street Mall. A detailed schedule isn’t available yet (check the website later this summer), but a stroll down the mall any time during the festival is guaranteed to yield a variety of unusual performances that will fascinate and amaze kids of all ages, from flame-throwers to sword-swallowers, puppeteers and break-dancers. Bring your jar of coins—the kids will love depositing change into the always-present collection hats.