Saturday Morning Cartoons: A Symphonic Pyjama Party

Pyjamas, cereal and a full symphony orchestra: Ottawa Pops Orchestra opens its 2026–27 season with Saturday Morning Cartoons (Les petits bonhommes du samedi matin) at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre on October 23–24, 2026. Conductor Jonathan Dagenais leads a concert that brings the music of animated favourites into the concert hall, with three performances across Friday evening and Saturday.

The program moves from early animation to recent family favourites, pairing familiar television themes with the orchestral music that helped shape cartoons. Whether you grew up with Bugs Bunny or now watch Bluey with your kids, the invitation is to settle into a less formal concert experience and bring a little living-room nostalgia along.

Three performances

All times are local Ottawa time. Each concert is presented bilingually and runs approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, including intermission.

The Saturday 2:00 pm matinee is the designated Relaxed Performance. The orchestra describes it as a more flexible, welcoming environment for young children and anyone who benefits from a less formal setting. That designation applies to the afternoon show; the Saturday evening concert is a separate performance.

Music from the cartoon couch

The announced program spans nearly a century of animation, including music associated with Steamboat Willie, Tom and Jerry, The Simpsons, The Pink Panther, Batman: The Animated Series, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Bluey.

There is also a Pokémon theme singalong with the orchestra. Classical connections feature too: Rossini’s The Barber of Seville overture appears alongside What’s Opera, Doc?, the Looney Tunes cartoon that plays with Wagner’s music. Together, the selections explore how cartoons introduced generations of viewers to the sound of an orchestra.

The orchestra behind the nostalgia

In the orchestra’s announcement, artistic and executive director Mathieu Roy describes the season opener as a way to recover the easy joy of first discovering music at home. The familiar themes, singalong and pyjama invitation are meant to help families feel comfortable in the concert hall.

For Jonathan Dagenais, that playful atmosphere comes with demanding music. The scores move rapidly between theatrical outbursts and lyrical passages, with sudden tempo changes and musical characters that can shift from one bar to the next. The orchestra has to place each comic moment precisely on the beat. Hearing those details played by a full ensemble brings attention to the musicianship behind cartoons that many listeners first encountered on television.

Make it a pyjama party

Pyjamas are strongly encouraged. Arrive an hour before your performance for vintage cartoon screenings at the venue’s intermission bar. Cereal will be served during intermission alongside themed refreshments.

After the concert, audiences may stay for an optional selection of darker, slightly spooky cartoons timed for the Halloween season. Families can choose whether to join that extra screening after the main performance.

Watch the concert preview

Official promotional video provided by Ottawa Pops Orchestra. Press play to watch.

Venue and tickets

The concerts take place at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 290 Lisgar Street, Ottawa.

Book through Ottawa Pops Orchestra’s official box office. Tickets are sold through Tuxedo Ticket Solutions. Under30 pricing is available for eligible inventory, including children and teens; check the selected performance for current prices and availability. The orchestra’s ticket policy requires a ticket for each person occupying a seat unless otherwise stated.

See the official event page and Under30 program for current performance information and ticket eligibility.

Artwork and video supplied by Ottawa Pops Orchestra. Event details are based on the orchestra’s October 16, 2026 media release and official event page.