Discover Ottawa: Lansdowne Park

Those of us who live in Ottawa are pretty spoiled when it comes to summer fun. The city’s plentiful parks, music festivals, cultural activities, shops, and patios mean there is always lots to do when the weather turns beautiful.

And last year, Ottawans got even more to enjoy with the reopening of the revitalized Landsdowne Park. A historic site that has been reimagined as a modern lifestyle hub blending shopping, dining, living, cultural events, lots of green space, and big league sports, the new Lansdowne has become a must-visit place for locals and out-of-towners alike.

Let’s start with sports. As the new home for the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa REDBLACKS and the North American Soccer League’s Ottawa Fury FC, roaring crowds and electric energy fill the air at Lansdowne during warm summer days and evenings. Playing in the 24,000 seat TD Place Stadium, these teams give you the opportunity to watch world-class athletes compete against one another right in the heart of Ottawa.

But sports teams aren’t the only ones bringing unique experiences to Lansdowne.

Walking along Lansdowne’s wide pedestrian-friendly streets, delicious smells and good music drift from bustling patios of new restaurants like Local Public Eatery and South St. Burger Company. Specialty stores like Italian coffee specialist Lavazza Espression brings shoppers from across the city, while the LCBO VQA boutique brings some of the Ontario’s finest wines to Ottawa. Finally, a new 10-screen Cineplex Theatre is the only movie theatre of its size in downtown Ottawa, offering luxurious VIP seating and licensed in-seat food and drink service in select auditoriums.

Let’s not forget the “park” part of Lansdowne. More than 800 trees dot the grounds, and the Great Lawn area, which can comfortably fit up 17,000 people during festivals, provides space for people to relax, socialize and enjoy a beautiful summer day. New additions like a children’s water park, skateboard park, and basketball courts all provide free and fun outdoor activities for kids.

Lansdowne is also the home of the Ottawa Farmer’s Market, where local vendors line up in front of the historic Aberdeen Pavillion every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the summer to offer up locally-grown produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and crafts.

And we’ve only begun to scratch the surface. From football games to Full Moon Yoga sessions to the upcoming Cityfolk festival, there is so much to discover at Lansdowne.

Check out the TD Place event calendar or the City of Ottawa website to plan your first (or next) visit to this amazing hub of activity in Canada’s beautiful capital city.