Ready, set, celebrate: 17 Ottawa events for 2017

It's time to gear up for a milestone year where the emphasis will be on big, spectacular and unique events.

From major sports events to one-of-a-kind spectacles, the capital'sdance card is full of activities of every kindin a 12-month celebration of the nation's 150birthday. Ottawa is rolling out the welcome mat, making sure that no matter what the season, there's something to enjoy often forfree.

New details, events and surprises are still to be announced, but here, in chronological order, are 17 highlights for the coming year.

1. Tennis, anyone? February

Ottawa will play host next year to Canada's first-roundDavis Cup match-up, which mayseetennis greats Andy Murray of the U.K. and Canada'sMilosRaonicbattle it out at Lansdowne's TD Place.The Davis Cup is an annual tournament that pits countries from across the world against each other. Tickets for the match are still available here.

Andy Murray squeaks past Milos Raonic at ATP Finals

8 years ago

Duration 0:58

Murray advances to the final of the ATP Finals, while Raonic will finish the season ranked 3rd

2. Red Bull Crashed Ice:March 3-4

Expect thrills, chills and spills when Red Bull Crashed Ice holds its Ice Cross Downhill World Championship on the locks of theRideauCanal between Parliament Hill and the ChateauLaurierHotel. It's anextreme winter sport that's a mash up of roller derby, speed skating and downhill skiing pursuedby winter warriors racing at lightening speed. Free.

Ottawa 2017 Promo for Red Bull Crashed Ice

8 years ago

Duration 0:30

Red Bull Crashed Ice Competition in Ottawa March 3-4

3. March madness for Canada's game

Hockeyis celebrating three major milestones in 2017: it's the125thanniversary of the Stanley Cup, theNHL'scentennial, and the Ottawa Senators'25thhockey season. The celebrations start March 9with anexhibit of memorabilia, vintageequipment and more at the Canadian Museum of History. Hockey in Canada, More Than Just a Game, runs until October. And the museum will be the location for a March 15 gala to honour the Stanley Cup.

The next daythe famed cup heads to RideauHall, where it will sit beneath the official portrait of Canada's sixth governor general, Lord Frederick Stanley, who commissioned the trophy in 1892before making an appearance at the Abderdeen Pavilion on March 17. The cup will be available for viewing (and selfies) at both RideauHall and Lansdowne Park.

And while we're talking about hockey, odds are good that the NHL will hold an outdoor game at TD Place at Lansdowne in December to commemorate the first NHL game played 100 years ago. Watch for an announcement in January.

4. Ottawa Rocks: March 27-April 2

The biggest stars in the Canadian musicbusiness are heading to the Canadian Tire Centre on April 2, but in the week leading up to the Juno AwardsOttawa's clubs will be swinging with of all kinds of tunes, asa wide array of contemporary national and localmusic makers play in venues across the city.

5. Rethinking Canadian art:May

The National Gallery of Canada opensits brand new Canadian Galleries, an extensive journey through the country's creative history that aims to correct historical omissions and highlighta wide range of artistic expression. It's a huge exhibitionwith more than 1,000 works of art featuring marquee Canadian artists such as Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and Alex Colville, but also work by Indigenous and contemporary artists.

6.Inspiration Village:May 20-Sept. 4

Stackable steel sea containers the kind used to transport goodson shipsare the building blocks of "Inspiration Village", an artistic installation on ByWard Market's York Street. Sea containers are increasingly being reused as durable, cost-effective building materials, and this project will house a series offreeexhibitsandperformances showcasing Canada's provinces and territories.

7. A tunnel to the future: mid June

According to the people behindKontinuum, the Rideau Street sinkhole wasn't the only glitchthat occurred during the construction of Ottawa's LRT. Turns out excavators accidently tapped into a tunnel into the future. That's the science-fiction premise behind theunderground multimedia experience of light, sound and special effects created by Moment Factory forthe Lyon Street LRT station. It's free to the public,and the first chance most of us will have to get a glimpse of a light-rail station.

Promo for Kontinuum- Ottawa 2017

8 years ago

Duration 0:46

Kontinuum- a multimedia underground excursion in Ottawa LRT Tunnel coming this summer.

8. Canada Scene at the NAC: June 15-July 23

TheNational Arts Centre will host 1,000 Canadian artists from across the country who are doing notable and creative work in music, comedy, theatre, media arts and literature. Some of the highlights include performances by Rufus Wainrightand BuffySainte-Marie, and a new opera about Louis Riel.

By July 1, construction at the NAC should be complete and the arts centre will celebrate its grand, glassentrance at 1 Elgin(its recently adoptedbilingual address)and a new public space.

9. Happy 150th, Canada!: July 1

Canada Day festivities haven't been announced yet, but expecta sea of red and white, spectacular fire worksand a star-studded concert on Parliament Hill to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. There are even rumours that Prince William and Kate will return to help us celebrate.Watch this space for what are sure to be excitingannouncements about how we'll celebrate Canada's sesquicentennial.

10. The story of Canada:July 1

The Canadian Museum of History opens the doors to itslong-awaited, revamped Canada Hall. Unlike the previous Canada Hall, which told the story of Canada beginning with the arrival of the Vikings, the $30-million redevelopmentspans 13,000 years fromthe earliest Indigenous peopleto the present.

• Architect Douglas Cardinal shares new vision for Canada Hall

11. Picnic on the Bridge: July 2 (sold out)

An old-fashioned picnic with atwist: the Royal Alexandra Bridge is the setting for a summery outdoor meal. The bridge will be closed to traffic and covered with sod, providing a lawn-like setting above the Ottawa River. The idea caught the imagination of the National Capital Region, with the event selling out in hours.

12. Dine in the Sky:July 7-22

If you didn't get a ticket for the bridge picnicbut still want to dine in the sky, you're in luck. Sky Loungeemploys amusement-park technology to hoist dinner guests150 feet in the air for a bird's-eye viewof the region, while sipping wine and nibbling tapas or even enjoying a full meal. Tickets are still available here.

Promo for Sky Lounge Ottawa 2017

8 years ago

Duration 0:24

Dine above the skies of Ottawa in July 2017

13. 17 'epic stunts' for 2017

Take a yoga class set to live musicon a barge floating down the Ottawa River. Watch a 4D movie screened on a building rooftop. Impromptu performancesin, err, public fountains. These are just a few events that will be part of"Ignite 150," billed as a series of 17 "epic stunts"that will takeplace throughout theregion, throughout the year.

14. Monsters in the streets!July 26-30

A fire-breathing dragon and massive spider will roam the streets of downtown Ottawa in late July.Creations of La Machine, the famed French theatre production company, getting the giant and frightening human-controlled machines to the capital is considered a major coup for the Ottawa 2017 office. Next year will markthefirst time the fire-breathing and water-spraying creatures will invadeNorth America.

Promo for La Machine Ottawa 2017

8 years ago

Duration 0:19

France's La Machine bring their gigantic monster to Ottawa in July

15.ChaudireFalls alive with light and music:September-November

A soundscape evoking the heritage of the Algonquin people will accompany a multi-coloured light show that will putChaudireFalls in a whole new light. The illuminatingexperience will include the story of the Indigenous people. A free event.

16. Canada Science and Technology Museum re-opens:Nov. 17

It seems all the capital region's museums and gallerieshave something to offer in 2017. But for the Canada Science and Technology, whichclosed its doors in 2014, next year will be extra-special as it will reveal its $80.5-million renovation on Nov. 17. Expect interactive, cutting-edge exhibits, as wellold favourites such as the Krazy Kitchen and the vintage steam engines.

17. The Grey Cup: Nov. 26

Ottawa'sRedblacks will bethe defendingCFL champs in 2017 and they'll belooking to repeat their glory on their home turfwhen the Grey Cup finals comes to TD Place in November.