Location, Parking & Getting Here from Ottawa
Riverside Park in Carleton Place is about a 45-minute drive west of downtown Ottawa — everything you need to find us, and once you're here, you won't want to leave.
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Riverside Park, festival day
A small riverside town in Lanark County
Riverside Park sits right on the Mississippi River — the Ontario one, a tributary of the Ottawa River, not the American one — in the heart of Carleton Place. It's a small, historic mill town in Lanark County with a walkable red-brick downtown, riverside trails and mature shade trees, about a 45-minute drive west of downtown Ottawa.
The park's open lawns and waterfront setting are what make it work as a festival site — plenty of room for the stage, market and food tents, with the river as a backdrop and Carleton Place's downtown just a short walk away for anyone who wants to make a full day of it.
Driving directions
Planning a day trip from Ottawa — see what's on at Festival 2026 before you set out.
Parking & accessibility
Free along Lake Ave W on both sides of the entrance arch. The closer left strip fills first, so allow a few extra minutes after 12:30.
FreeRiverside Park has paved and accessible paths, with accessible washrooms on site.
Info & First Aid is the first stop on your left inside the entrance arch, with lost and found at the same post.
The whole layout, from the parking strips to the stage, is on the site plan below. For accessibility questions before the day, contact UAFest.
Where everything stands at Riverside Park
Tap a zone to see what stands there. The layout follows the 2026 site plan for Riverside Park.
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom · tap a number
Draft layout — positions and labels may change before the festival.
How do I get there from Ottawa without a car?
Ride with the Unity Ride & Drive convoy as a passenger: register in advance on the Unity Ride & Drive page and choose “I'd like a seat in someone's vehicle”, so the organisers can match you with a driver.
The column gathers in Ottawa from 10:00 AM and leaves at 11:00 sharp. The exact meeting point is sent to you once you register.
Coming by car? Free parking along Lake Ave W on both sides of the entrance.
While you're in Carleton Place
Riverside Park is a short walk from downtown Carleton Place — Bridge Street's shops, cafés and the historic mill buildings along the Mississippi River are all within easy reach if you want to make a full day of your visit before or after the festival.