October 8th - Health Day - All activities are free

Location:  Brewer Park at Brewer Pond 

10am - 3pm 

Large-Scale Photography Exhibit:  NEW!

PhotoSynthesis 2 is a photography exhibit that features winning submissions of Tree Fest Ottawa's 2016 Community Photography Contest. The exhibit includes large-scale images and captions that express why trees are spectacular, resilient and provide benefits to our health and our city. 

Craft tables, chairs, outdoor library, bird watching station 

Food/Drink Vendors

Free Coffee supplied by Bridgehead; cider and other tree-inspired treats available by donation

Free Tree Give-Away 

Tree seedlings available through Ecology Ottawa in memory of Jim MacNeill, Canadian environmentalist and international public servant. 

Special Events

10am - 3pm - POP-UP Adventure Play 

Come and play at our POP-UP Adventure Playground. Brought to the festival by Earth Day Canada, the POP-UP Adventure Play activity is an assortment of "loose parts" such as cardboard boxes, tires, tubs, etc. to foster children's imagination and enrich outdoor play experiences. The POP-UP Adventure Play activity is staffed by 'Play Rangers' who help observe and manage the play, which allows caregivers to sit back and enjoy the fun. 

11am - 1pm - Write-Along Sing-Along Workshop:  A Group Songwriting Experience with Alex Forbes

Alex Forbes, a hit songwriter and creativity coach from New York, will lead participants through the process of brainstorming on a catchy title, a meaningful lyric, and an unforgettable melody for an original song. With the addition of Alex's guitar and everyone's voices, a truly collaboration creative will arise. 

11am - 12pm - Insect exploring with Hume Douglas

Check out the insects of Brewer Park. Where do they hide? What do they eat? What eats them? How do insects relate to other species? Discover the wonders of bug exploration. 

1pm - 2pm - Meditative Arts:  Doodling and Patterning Trees and Nature, with Laura Daub 

The simple act of colouring in a colouring book has been recognized as a great way to relieve stress, and is a perfect meditation technique. Take Adult Colouring to the next level and learn to create your own design (doodling) using different patterning and techniques in this stress-free hour-long workshop. No previous artistic skills are necessary and the workshop is great for both children and adults. Limited space. Pre-register: treefestottawa@gmail.com

2pm - 3pm - Walk and Talk Tour from an Indigenous Worldview, led by Jaime Koebel  from Indigenous Walks 

Indigenous Walks presents a unique walk and talk tour at Brewer Park from an Indigenous worldview. The tour will be around the park sharing cultural stories on the origins and uses of trees, as well as the plant and animal world around the trees from time immemorial. Learn about the trickster, traditional medicine, and gain insight into an Indigenous Worldview.