Things to See and Do

The fun never stops in Oshawa! If nothing catches your eye in the list below, be sure to check out our Community Calendar for exciting events happening in and around the city!

Must-see attractions

• Parkwood National Historic Site boasts outstanding architectural and landscape designs. The site is also a popular location for television and film, including blockbuster films X-Men and Billy Madison.
• The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is an exciting, engaging public art museum with a permanent collection of over 4,000 works, an outdoor public sculpture and 4 galleries of changing exhibitions.
• The Canadian Automotive Museum is Canada's only museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Canada's automotive industry.
• The Oshawa Regiment Museum houses the largest collection of operational military equipment in Canada.
• The Oshawa Museum illustrates our rich heritage. Stretching back thousands of years, the museum is a great place to learn about our amazing city!

Entertainment opportunities

• Check out what is going on at the Tribute Communities Centre, one of the world's top rated venues of its size. It is home to the Oshawa Generals and has hosted many popular entertainers.
• Ontario Philharmonic is one of the most highly respected professional regional orchestras in Canada! Their performances are based out of U.O.I.T.'s Regent Theatre.
• Regent Theatre hosts many cultural events and entertainers in downtown Oshawa. Its stage has welcomed many, from the likes of Gerry Dee and the Jim Cuddy Band.
• Oshawa is also home to community theatre with the Oshawa Little Theatre and Durham Shoestring Performers.

• Fun annual festivals include the award-winning Fiesta Week and Peony Festival and also:

  • AutoFest
  • Bikes on Bond
  • Canada Day
  • Doors Open Oshawa
  • Kars on King
  • Oshawa Firefit Challenge
  • Purple Woods Conservation Area's Maple Syrup Festival
  • Show and Shine 
  • Tank Saturdays

Get outside

• The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens is the site of North America's largest Peony collection.
• The Oak Ridges Moraine is home to Treetop Eco-Adventure Park, the G.T.A.'s newest zip-line and outdoor adventure park.
• Pumphouse Marsh, Second Marsh and McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve host beautiful wildlife reserves.
• Lakeview Park is the scenic location of the Oshawa Museum's century homes, several picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, a waterfront pier and sandy beaches.
• One of the first cities in Ontario to be designated a bike-friendly community, we offer nearly 60 kilometres of bike lanes/routes and 27 kilometres of paved trails in our extensive trail network.