OTTAWA, May 21, 2014 — 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 24-25. 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.

The National Arts Centre underground parking garage will be open both days. 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 8:00 a.m. Friday May 23 to 6 p.m. Sunday May 25
• The Laurier Ave. Eastbound off ramp onto Queen Elizabeth Drive is closed from 8:00 a.m. Friday May 23 to 6 p.m. Sunday May 25

RACE SCHEDULE – SATURDAY, MAY 24

TIME               EVENT                       LOCATION

3:00 p.m.         Ottawa 2K                   Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin heading South

4:00 p.m.         Ottawa 5K                   Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin heading North

6:30 p.m.         Ottawa 10K                 Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin heading South

 

RACE SCHEDULE – SUNDAY, MAY 25

TIME               EVENT                       LOCATION

7:00 a.m.         Marathon                     Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin heading North

9:00 a.m.         Half-Marathon             Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin heading South

 

NAC SCHEDULE – SATURDAY, MAY 24

TIME               EVENT                       LOCATION

1:30 p.m.         Gretel et Hansel          Studio

2:00 p.m.         Oil and Water              Theatre

7:00 p.m.         Ginette Reno               Southam Hall

7:30 p.m.         Oil and Water              Theatre

 

NAC SCHEDULE – SUNDAY, MAY 25

TIME               EVENT                       LOCATION

1:30 p.m.         Gretel et Hansel          Studio

3:30 p.m.         Gretel et Hansel          Studio

7:00 p.m.         Ginette Reno               Southam Hall

 

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.)
  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.
• 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.)
  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 nac-cna.ca or the Ottawa Race Weekend website at runottawa.ca.

—     30 —

For information, please call:
Sean Fitzpatrick, Communications Officer, National Arts Centre English Theatre
613-947-7000 ext. 389; e-mail: sean.fitzpatrick@nac-cna.ca
or visit the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca