Farmers markets in Ottawa: Lansdowne, Parkdale, the ByWard Market and more

Ottawa sits in the middle of dairy farms, orchards, maple bush and market gardens, and its markets show it. The city has a long-running public market in the ByWard Market, a large year-round farmers market at Lansdowne Park, a city-run market in Parkdale, and neighbourhood markets in other districts.

Market days and hours change by season, so check the market's own page before you travel.

What is the Ottawa Farmers' Market at Lansdowne?

It is a weekly market at Lansdowne Park in the Glebe. It runs on Sundays, outdoors in the warmer months and indoors at the historic Aberdeen Pavilion in the winter. It describes itself as a producer-focused market, with vendors who grow, raise or make what they sell, and drawn from farms within a radius of Ottawa. It is the market to visit for vegetables, meat, cheese, eggs, bread, maple products and prepared food.

What is Parkdale Market?

Parkdale Market is a city-run market in the Hintonburg and Wellington West area. It sells produce, flowers and local products, and it has been part of the neighbourhood for a long time. Its seasonal schedule and hours differ from the Lansdowne market, so check the city's page before you go.

What is the ByWard Market?

The ByWard Market is a district of outdoor stalls, covered market buildings, bakeries, cheese shops, butchers and restaurants. It is a long-running public market and is open year-round, with more stalls in summer. It mixes produce stalls with souvenirs and food vendors, so it works for both shopping and eating. Look for the stalls with local farm names, and ask where something was grown.

What is the Main Street Farmers' Market?

It is a smaller neighbourhood market in the Old Ottawa East area, held in the growing season. Check its own page for days and hours. Smaller markets suit shoppers who prefer a quieter visit and a chat with the farmer.

What is in season at Ottawa markets?

• Spring: maple syrup and maple products in March and April, followed by rhubarb, asparagus, greens and herbs.
• Summer: strawberries in June, then raspberries, blueberries, peas, beans, tomatoes, sweet corn and peaches from Ontario's fruit belt.
• Autumn: apples, pears, squash, pumpkins, potatoes and root vegetables, plus cider and harvest events.
• Winter: stored vegetables, preserves, baking, meat, cheese, eggs and winter greens.

How do you shop well at an Ottawa market?

1. Go early for the best choice, or late in the day for bargains.
2. Walk the whole market first. Prices and quality vary.
3. Bring bags and a cooler. Meat, dairy and fish need to stay cold.
4. Ask what is in season and how to cook it. Farmers are happy to share.
5. Bring a card and some cash. Most vendors take cards, but not all.

Can you eat at the market?

Yes. Most markets have food vendors and coffee. At the ByWard Market, BeaverTails and other snacks are a local tradition. At Lansdowne you will find prepared food from local cooks. If you have a dietary need, ask the vendor, since many make their products in small kitchens that handle nuts, wheat and dairy.

How do markets change in winter?

Outdoor stalls shrink, and some markets move indoors. A warm coat is more useful than an umbrella. Check opening times for statutory holidays such as Christmas and New Year's Day.

Is shopping at a farmers market more expensive?

Not always. Peak-season produce at a market can be cheaper and fresher than a supermarket, but packaged and specialty products cost more. Fresh produce and groceries are mostly zero-rated for HST, but prepared food is taxable.

How do you get to Ottawa's markets?

Lansdowne Park is on the edge of the Glebe, reachable by bus and by bike along the canal. The ByWard Market is a short walk from the Rideau Centre and from the Confederation Line. Parkdale Market is on the edge of Wellington West and Hintonburg and is easy to reach by bus or bike. Parking near the ByWard Market and Lansdowne can be hard to find on busy days, so transit or cycling is easier.

What should you do with children at a market?

Markets suit children well. Let them choose a fruit or vegetable to try, find the stall with samples, or pick out a pastry to share. Strollers are easier on the wide paths at Lansdowne than in the crowded lanes of the ByWard Market on a summer Saturday.

How do you keep track of what you buy at the market?

A market trip is easier to repeat if you wrote it down. In the Mosey app, rate what you bought or ate by name, add a tag such as Market Stall or Farm Producer, and keep a list called Ottawa markets with a section for each one and a note on what was best that week. Invite a friend with the link and they can add the stall they never miss.

The daily food games, Ladle, Origin and Ingredient, are three quick puzzles with a new set every day, a good companion for a cold wait in the queue.

More guides to read next:

• Ottawa neighbourhood food guide: Chinatown, Little Italy, Wellington West and Elgin Street
• Halal food in Ottawa: neighbourhoods, cuisines and how to check
• Winterlude and the Rideau Canal Skateway: where to eat and warm up in Ottawa

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.

At your next Ottawa market, open the Mosey app and rate the first thing you taste.