WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK

TODAY

There are two free walking tours of Chinatown and Little Italy today, showcasing the contributions of immigrants to the community in fascinating ways, from food to architecture to the myriad shops (including some you may have overlooked), starting at 1 p.m. at Pub Italia, 434 Preston St, part of annual Welcoming Ottawa Week events. There’s a country songwriting

workshop with award-winning, Nashville-based writers Byron Hill, who has written 32 Top 10 hits, recording artist Gil Grand and Jeffrey East (Dierks Bentley, The Grascals) starting tonight over three days at the Calabogie Peaks Resort.

Shake a tail feather at salsa dance night at the Mill St. Brew Pub, including an introductory class at 6 p.m., 555 Wellington St. (There will also be salsa to eat.) Entrance: $5, or included if $15 spent.

TUESDAY

One Tuesday each month, do warrior pose while gazing at beautiful (or possibly perplexing) art at the Ottawa Art Gallery’s free, lunchtime yoga class with Anne Wanda Tessier, 12:15 to 1 p.m., starting today. Registration required. East Coast hard rockers The

Motorleague play Mavericks with local metal-punk bands Sidelines, and Colorsfade, and Winnipeg punk group Grave Party, 8 p.m., 221 Rideau St. Tickets: $8 in advance.

WEDNESDAY

See a movie in the beauty of Rideau Hall’s gardens in one of two outdoor screening events, 8 p.m. tonight, and tomorrow. Wednesday’s show will feature Being Canadian, which follows Calgary comedy writer Robert Cohen from coast to coast. Thursday’s show is Guibord s’en va-t-en guerre. For something splendid inside,

Cirque du Soleil is opening its show Toruk: The First Flight at the Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 p.m. The show was inspired by James Cameron’s film Avatar — hence the blue skin — using puppetry, multimedia visuals and cinematic music to create an immersive experience for the audience as two young boys and their friend quest to save the Tree of Souls. Tickets: from $45.

THURSDAY

The Wings Over Gatineau Air Show is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the British Commonwealth Air training plan, with RCAF CF-19 Hornet demos, Snowbirds Squadron and more aerobatic performances in vintage planes and other civilian and military crafts to explore, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1699 Rue Arthur Fecteau, Gatineau. Tickets: $5-$85 (with higher priced tickets including meal, drinks and seats for the show). Nature Nocturne, the final party of the season at the Museum of Nature, this time with a red-and-white theme, a performance by urban dancers Flava Factory and DJ Rise Ashen, Katrella, and TDot spinning, 8 p.m. ($25, nature.ca)

FRIDAY

It’s fireworks, Canada this Day year and from there Nepeanwill be Point, in a musical show, starting at 10 p.m., best viewed from anywhere along the Ottawa River. Before that, there’s a Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill at 10 a.m., then the Canada Day noon show includes some great Canadian bands: Metric, Coeur de Pirate, Alex Cuba, Les Hay Babies and more, with the same group performing again at 7:30 p.m. (this will also be televised). Major’s Hill Park has lots of hands-on activities for the entire family, starting at 9 a.m. with a science carnival, slackline balancing and parkour to try, 24th Great Canadian Chicken BBQ, face painting, street performers and miniature train, cultural shows and non-stop live music performances ending in the evening show from 7 to 10:45 p.m., and more. There’s a free shuttle bus connecting Major’s Hill Park to the Museum of History, where from 9 a.m. there will be Canadian wildlife to meet, crafts to do, inflatable structures, interactive percussion, giant puppet show, acrobatics, roaming performers and more activities (and free admission to the museum). The free concerts are not over: Just wander over to City Hall from Parliament Hill where the Jazz Festival has a full, free show from 2 p.m. to after 7 p.m. at the Marion Dewar Plaza, starting with the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces (2 p.m.), Riot Police (4 p.m.), Les Poules à Colin (6 p.m.), and NAC Orchestra (7 p.m.); Marion Dewar Plaza.

SATURDAY

The first ever Ottawa Jerk Fest is a celebration of spicy food (not obnoxious people), on the grounds of Lansdowne Park, with familyfun including domino tournament, kiddie zone, live music, a youth basketball tournament. There’s also an open jerk food cook off, open to amateurs or professionals, noon to 11 p.m. Tickets: $5-$10.

SUNDAY, JULY 3

It’s the last day of the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and the day legendary Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys will be playing Pet Sounds, on its 50th anniversary tour, 8:30 p.m., Confederation Park. Charter Beach Boys member Al Jardine is among the group assembled to play Pet Sounds in it entirety, and often some more of Wilson’s iconic hits. Tickets: $65. Comedy BattleCom returns to LIVE on Elgin, described as part improv, part game show and part theatre with a geek twist, and this time in an all-ages show, 4 to 7 p.m., 220 Elgin St. Send your event information to kendemann@postmedia.com, by 8 a.m. Monday, two weeks before it starts. Photos and audio/video files are welcome.