The National Arts Centre wishes to advise all patrons that they may face significant challenges getting to, and parking nearby, the NAC during Ottawa Race Weekend, May 26-27. Tens of thousands of people will converge on the downtown core during the weekend, some roads will be closed, and parking may be difficult to find.

Because of road closures and the predicted high volume of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, we urge all NAC patrons to ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME to get to the NAC and/or find a parking spot, whether in the NAC parking garage or elsewhere.

NAC PARKING GARAGE
The National Arts Centre underground parking garage will be open both days (Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to the end of the last performance). Please bear in mind that it is a public garage and parking spaces are filled on a first come-first served basis. A ticket to an NAC performance does not guarantee a parking spot in the NAC garage. Patrons may experience significant delays in entering or exiting the NAC garage during Ottawa Race Weekend. Parking entrances are located on Elgin St. at the corner of Slater St. and on Albert St.

Below is a list of road closures, the Ottawa Race Weekend schedule, a schedule of performances at the National Arts Centre, and a list of alternate parking possibilities.

ROAD CLOSURES
• Queen Elizabeth Drive is closed from Somerset St. W. to the NAC all weekend from 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 25 to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 27.
• The Laurier Ave. East off ramp onto Queen Elizabeth Drive is closed from 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 25 to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 27.
• The Laurier Ave. West on ramp from the NAC main garage exit is closed from 4:45 p.m. Saturday, May 26 to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 27.

RACE SCHEDULE
Saturday May 26   9 a.m.  Running Room Friendship Run
    4 p.m.  Ottawa Family 2k
    5 p.m.  Ottawa 5k
    6:30 p.m. Ottawa 10k
    8 p.m.  Awards Ceremony

Sunday May 27  6:55 a.m.  Ottawa Wheelchair Marathon
    7 a.m.  Ottawa Marathon
    8 a.m.  Y Kids Marathon
    9 a.m.  Ottawa Half Marathon
    Noon  Awards Ceremony

All races start at or close to the corner of Laurier St. and Elgin St. and finish at the Cartier Drill Hall adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Driveway. Listed above are the main events of the Ottawa Race Weekend although several activities are taking place throughout the weekend. Visit www.runottawa.ca for more information and a full event schedule.

NAC SCHEDULE
Saturday May 26   
1:30 p.m.  Une lune entre deux maisons  (Studio, 40 minutes)
1:30 p.m.  Bolshoi Ballet (Southam Hall, 150 minutes)
2:00 p.m.  King Lear (Theatre, 155 minutes)
7:30 p.m.  King Lear (Theatre, 155 minutes)
7:30 p.m. Geggie Jazz Series (Fourth Stage, 120 minutes)
8:00 p.m. Bolshoi Ballet (Southam Hall, 150 minutes)
    
    
Sunday May 27  
 1:30 p.m.  Une lune entre deux maisons  (Studio, 40 minutes)
3:30 p.m.  Une lune entre deux maisons  (Studio, 40 minutes)  
8:00 p.m. B.B. King (Southam Hall, 120 minutes)

ALTERNATE PARKING
• Capital Parking   84 Gloucester St. (between O’Connor St. and Metcalfe St.)
120 Gloucester St. (between Bank St. and O’Connor St.)
• Chateau Laurier Hotel, 1 Rideau St., entrances from Rideau St. and MacKenzie St.
• Clarica Life Insurance Co., 99 Bank St., entrance at 123 Queen St. (between Bank St. and O’Connor St.)
• Impark   200-280 Metcalfe St. (between Gilmour St. and MacLaren St.)
150 Albert St. (between O’Connor St. and Metcalfe St.) under the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel
145 O'Connor St. (L’Esplanade Laurier between Gloucester St. and Laurier St.)
272 Queen St. (between Kent St. and Bank St.)
99 Gloucester St. (between O’Connor St. and Metcalfe St.)
Constitution Square, 320 - 360 Albert St. (between Lyon St. and Kent St.), entrance on Slater St.
320 Queen St. (between Kent St. and Bank St.)
• Gilad Parking, 265 Laurier Ave. (between Bank St. and O’Connor St.)
• Ottawa City Hall, 111 Lisgar St., entrance on Nepean St. east of Elgin St.
• Place Bell, 160 Elgin St., entrances on Gloucester St. and Nepean St. (between Metcalfe St. and Elgin St.)
• Place De Ville, 320 Queen St. (between Kent St. and Bank St.), entrances from Queen St. or Albert St.
• Rideau Centre, entrances on Daly Ave. (between Colonel By Drive and Nicholas St.) and on Nicholas St.
• Vinci Park 130 Slater St. (between O'Connor St. and Metcalfe St.)
199 Slater St. (between Bank St. and O’Connor St.)
88 Metcalfe St. (corner of Slater St. and Metcalfe St.)
261 Somerset St. (corner of Somerset St. and Metcalfe St.)
260 MacLaren St. (between O’Connor St. and Metcalfe St.)
L’Esplanade Laurier, 300 Laurier St. W., entrance on Gloucester St.
41 George St. across from The Bay in the Byward Market
• World Exchange Plaza, 45 O’Connor St., entrance at the corner of Albert St. and Metcalfe St.

For additional information, visit the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca.

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Information:  Marie-Chantale Labbé-Jacques
Associate Marketing and Communications Officer, NAC Presents
613-947-7000, ext. 526
  [e-mail]  mclabbe@nac-cna.ca

  Sean Fitzpatrick
  Communications Officer, NAC English Theatre
  613-947-7000, ext. 389
  [e-mail]  sean.fitzpatrick@nac-cna.ca