The Ottawa summer festival season kicks off this weekend with thousands gathering for events across the city.
Many in attendance are seeking to return to normal, unseen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
At the Ottawa Jazz Festival, people took a minute to dance and celebrate the return of the event at Confederation Park.
“It’s really nice to go back there and see that Ottawa can be a bustling city and just walk into it,” said Kabir Bhatia, who was enjoying the event on Saturday afternoon.
For Bhatia, life is beginning to feel like it was before the pandemic.
“I am concerned about COVID, but I have been vaccinated three times,” Bhatia said. “At the end of the day, I try to live my life to the fullest, so I’m excited to be here, but I’m obviously taking precautions.”
At Mooney’s Bay Beach, the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is back for the first time in years.
“It’s nice to see all the energy and meet people who have finally returned to row,” said Joan Barrett, who attended the event on Saturday.
A jubilant atmosphere of rowers who aspired to the first race in years.
“It’s good to have the opportunity to organize a dragon boat festival again,” said William Sagle, who was watching his friend’s race. “I think it’s important for athletes to be able to go out and compete with some of the best athletes in their field.”
Meanwhile, the Escapade electronic music festival has attracted people from all over the province and Quebec.
The three-day concert takes place at Lansdowne Park and TD Place in Glebe.
On Bank Street, artists gathered for the Cranium Festival.
“It’s an opportunity to network and talk about production and what’s going on in the music industry right now,” said Naledi Sunstrum, an artist.
The group has shown support for each other, but not without acknowledging the challenges the pandemic has brought to the industry.
“It’s almost like learning again how to communicate with each other after two years of blocking and two years of isolation,” Sunstrum said.
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