Find Party venues for rent in Ottawa, Canada

About Ottawa

Ottawa, Canada's capital, shares a border with Quebec in southeast Ontario. The Ottawa River is the provincial border between Ontario and Quebec. The government buildings and the seat of the Canadian government lie in this city on the river’s south side. Gatineau, Quebec, lies immediately across the Ottawa River, and these two cities are known as the National Capitol Region, the 4th largest metropolitan area in Canada with 1.5 million people.

The Algonquin tribe named the city Ottawa, meaning “to trade,” because it was the major trading hub between the tribes of the First Nations. The Ottawa and the Gatineau Rivers were the favored trade routes. The arrival of the French trappers and traders expanded the trade route to other European settlers to the south in the US colonies and other remote tribes within the interior.

With the seat of government, the clustering of universities and provincial colleges, and the diversity of the economy, the residents of Ottawa are known as the most educated in Canada. The high-tech start-up companies gave Ottawa the moniker of Silicon Valley North.

Ottawa continues to honor its trade history while embracing modern commerce and service. With a healthy economy, the city is a prime location for hosting celebrations. Here, you can find an array of party venues in downtown Ottawa for private events, birthday parties, and all the special moments of your next event. From multifunctional event spaces to vintage bars, you have many options to choose from when searching for a party venue.

Party Options in Ottawa

Most Ottawa venues often include pre-arranged services like catering, furnishings, and audio/visual equipment, all supplied by trusted vendors. If your event venue doesn't offer any of them, you can reach out to third-party service providers who would be more than willing to enhance the experience of your special event.

Event Planners
In cases where the party location does not offer pre-packaged services, hiring a professional party planner to manage decor, furnishings, and catering can transform a plain space into a great venue. Ottawa event planners will work with the host to understand the theme of the party and the budget from which to work.

Catering
The food options served at a party need to meld with the occasion and the style of the celebration. The caterers will need an understanding of the theme and the client’s expectations of the attendees’ experience. Depending on your preference as a host and the format of your party, you may need to serve finger foods or full-course meals at the tables.

Entertainment
What's a party without entertainment? Liven up the occasion by hiring a DJ, a musician, or a band—they know how to read a crowd and get the party going with fun songs that match the occasion. For a children's party, consider hiring a magician, a clown, face painters, or mascots—the kids will surely love them!

Party Vendors in Ottawa

It's a Bree’s Weddings and Events
It's a Bree’s Weddings and Events is sponsored by Best in Ottawa and has been nominated for many awards in the party planning industry through votes by peers and clients. Though they specialize in weddings, they also work on corporate events and life celebrations. Services offered include full planning, partial planning, day-of coordination, and event styling, setup, and teardown.

Epicuria
Since 1990, Epicuria has been catering to social and corporate events in Ottawa for over 30 years. In addition to made-to-order food for parties, Epicuria offers its food shop to the public for take-out meals. They also offer food sampling for special occasions like birthdays and holiday parties.

JVL Photo
Justin Van Leeuwen is the professional photographer behind JVL Photo in Ottawa. His specialties are social and corporate events, editorial, interior design, and architecture. Justin will work with each client to understand the occasion and how the client wants the party portrayed through the photography. JVL's photography captures you and your guests at party venues in Ottawa, showcasing images that are staged, natural, or a blend of both, all bathed in natural light.

Pros and Cons of a Party in Ottawa

Planning a party can be fun yet challenging since you'll be dealing with many elements. Before you finalize your party details, make sure to consider the pros and cons of hosting it in an Ottawa event space.

Advantages

Restaurants
Over the years, the restaurant scene in Ottawa has grown significantly, so it would be fun to explore what kind of foods to serve at your party.

Great summers
The seasons in Ottawa are distinct. On average, there are 11 days in the summer when the temperature is over 85°F. There are, on average, 17 days in the winter when the temperature is below 0°F. The hot summers make it easy to organize outdoor parties.

Underappreciated nightlife
While the nightlife in Ottawa is tamer compared to nearby bigger cities, there's much to be appreciated in its bars and clubs. This means you can continue partying until the night ends. The local music scene is also described as interesting by many residents.

Disadvantages

Cold winters
It will take ice skates and sleds to maneuver through the city when the canals and rivers completely freeze and when the bridges and roads are closed to traffic. The locals will not be homebound as life carries on; although, the short-term visitor may be at a standstill.

Unreliable transportation
Many locals express their frustration with the city's unreliable transit system. The buses, too, are said to be as inefficient.

Can be boring for some
Though it has big-city amenities, Ottawa has a small-town vibe which may be boring for some people. People here are interested in politics, and the art scene may be lacking.

Famous Locations in Ottawa

Three-Day Algonquin Park Canoe Trip
This true wilderness camping trip is for all experience levels of canoeing. The tour is guided with instructions on packing, portaging, and steering—an excellent way to see wildlife in its natural habitat. All meals, permits, and equipment will be provided.

ATV Tours in Calabogie
These guided tours will give the adventurous participants the experience of mountain vistas, pristine lakes, and wilderness trails. These places are not accessible by car and are difficult on foot, so don't miss joining a tour when you're here. Tours are held year-round with snowmobiles as the winter alternative.

Parliament Hill and Buildings
Three government buildings on the Ottawa River house the Senate, the House of Commons, and Parliament. These buildings are of Gothic Revival architecture with a European feel. The guided tours through the buildings are free and will give the visitors an overview of the workings of the government and Canada’s history.