Experience the magic of Winterlude, which has transformed Canada’s Capital Region into a festive destination since 1979.
This vibrant festival offers an array of indoor and outdoor activities, perfect for families, individuals, couples, or groups. Discover performances, street art, and interactive installations that light up the region. Outdoor enthusiasts will revel in majestic ice sculptures, the iconic Rideau Canal Skateway, and Snowflake Kingdom’s exhilarating Tim Hortons Chinook Super Slide.
Families can enjoy the Snowflake Kingdom’s diverse activities, visit enriching museums, and partake in sonic adventures at the National Arts Centre. Sparks Street hosts the OLG Buskerfest and the breathtaking Ice-Carving Showcase.
The event also highlights Indigenous culture, celebrating its heritage and contributions, and embraces diversity with Winter Pride and Lunar New Year festivities. Join us for a celebration of winter, culture, and community at Winterlude!
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1. OLG Buskerfest
Ottawa Buskerfest is returning for a special winter edition. Celebrate winter with a series of family-friendly outdoor shows featuring entertainers from Ontario and Quebec. The event spans over three weekends, starting February 2, 2024. Showtimes are Friday evenings from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Saturdays (except February 10) and the final Sunday from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm, while other Sundays and February 10 offer activities from 10:00 am to 6:00 or 8:30 pm. The event concludes on Monday, February 19, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
You can also get FREE hot apple cider (while supplies last) on Saturdays, Sundays and Monday, February 19 (Family Day), 10 am to 3 pm.
Weekends, February 2 to 19, 2024 @ Sparks Street, Ottawa
2. Canadian Culinary Championships
Experience Canada’s top culinary showdown as Ottawa defends its title in a gripping contest to be crowned the 2024 Canadian Culinary Champion. Join in an exhilarating weekend featuring 10 of Canada’s finest chefs competing in three intense challenges. Savor exceptional cuisine, enjoy drinks, and cheer for your favorites in this unforgettable culinary experience.
February 2 to 3, 2024 @ Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa
3. Snowflake Kingdom
Zoom down the tube slides, take a selfie amongst gigantic snow sculptures or scale, crawl, climb and dive through challenging obstacle course and more! Snowflake Kingdom runs from 9 am to 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Plus, Mondays (5th & 19th), 9 am to 6 pm and Thursdays(8th and 15th), 9 am to 4 pm.
This year’s highlights include:
- Tim Hortons Chinook Super Slide
- Zip-Line (ticketed)
- Winterlude’s Maze
- The Infinite Cave
- The Big Blizzard (an obstacle course for 8–16-year-olds)
- FREE hot beverage in the Tim Hortons Chill Zone
Weekends, February 2 to 19, 2024 @ Northern part of Jacques-Cartier Park, Laurier St, Gatineau
4. Annual Winterlude Triathlon
Cheer the participants of the historic Winterlude activity, embodying Canada’s Capital winter spirit with skating on the Rideau Canal, and complemented by running and cross-country skiing.
Saturday, February 3, 2024 from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm @ Dow’s Lake, Rideau Canal Skateway
5. Winterlude mini pow-wow
Experience a mini pow wow with Grand Entry, inter-tribal and guest drummers, and diverse dancers from various Indigenous communities, organized by Indigenous Experiences, offering a condensed yet spectacular cultural showcase.
Sunday, February 4, 2024 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm @ Candian Museum of History – 100, Laurier Street, Gatineau – Free
6. Capital Pride Ice Parade
Experience the vibrant Capital Pride Ice Parade on the Rideau Canal Skateway! Gather your friends, put on your skates, and immerse yourself in a celebration of pride and community. Enjoy performances by local drag artists, and groove to music and DJ sets from OK Naledi and DJ Roxy Sunset. Starting at Concord Rest Area and concluding at Fifth Avenue rest area, join the parade at the beginning or catch up along the route for an unforgettable day of fun and inclusivity.
Sunday, February 11, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm @ Rideau Canal Skateway, Ottawa
7. Rideau Hall’s Winter Celebration
Celebrate winter at Rideau Hall’s event with a focus on reconciliation. Enjoy a variety of free, family-friendly activities including skating on a historic rink and touring the Governor General’s residence. Experience international winter traditions and take advantage of the free Winterlude shuttle bus running hourly from downtown to Rideau Hall between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., with the last bus at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. @ Rideau Hall, Sussex Drive
8. Amazing Ice Sculptures
Marvel at the ice sculptures along Sparks Street and meet world-class ice carvers and view their masterpieces on February 3, 10, 17. Featured artists include Kevin Ashe, Antonio Baisas, and more, with special appearances by Julien Doré and others at different times.
Themed sculptures to checkout include:
- Feb 2 to 4, 2024 — Ojibwe Spirit Horses, inspired by Ronda Snow
- Feb 2 to 3, 2024 — Celebration of Nunavut’s 25th anniversary
- Feb 9 to 10, 2024 — Dragon’s Dance
- Feb 9 to 10, 2024 –The Dragon and the Rabbit
- Feb 9 to 10, 2024 — The Eiffel Tower Ice Sculpture
- Feb 16 to 17, 2024 — Wings of Legacy – Centennial of the Royal Canadian Air Force
- Feb 17 to 19, 2024 — National Flag of Canada Day Ice Sculpture and Trivia
9. Glowing Public Art installation
Incredible interactive art will be on display along Sparks Street:
- “The Light Wave,” a 12+ meter interactive sculpture by Studio F Minus, comes alive with color and light as participants move and wave, creating a captivating display of luminous trails and reflections.
- “149 White Balls, 1 Red” by Pascal Demonsand is a 7x7x7 foot steel structure with wind tunnels and LED lights, showcasing 150 polystyrene balls (one red) and biodegradable beads. Created for Canada’s 150th anniversary, this interactive installation challenges viewers to find the red ball, reflecting Demonsand’s diverse artistic expertise.
- “Golden Hour” by Tonya Hart is a light-based sculpture emulating sunrise and sunset’s warm glow. Its circular pattern represents the radiating sun, symbolizing spiritual enlightenment and eternal renewal.
- “INFRA 2024” by Toronto-based Tonya Hart features a wolf pack sculpture in radiant, thermal-imagery colors, symbolizing instinctual vitality within an urban setting, reflecting Hart’s focus on nature through light and energy.
- “The CUBE 2.0” invites participants to use an interactive console to communicate with a mysterious entity by controlling lights and deciphering its language, a concept by Big Art Work. #bigartworks
- “The DOOR(S)” is an interactive art project exploring the symbolism of doors as opportunities or barriers, offering over 200 unique animations for a varied experience each time, created by Big Art Work.
- “The TUNNEL” offers an immersive journey from reality to imagination, where participants control the experience, leading to a transformative and inspiring new reality. Created by Big Art Work and produced by Creos.
- “Wazaakone Woodland Bears,” a luminous metal sculpture co-designed by Adam Monture and Jeremy Freiburger, brings to life Monture’s “The Bear” painting in three-dimensional form. Illuminated by LED lighting, it showcases the grandeur of woodland animals, reflecting Monture’s Mohawk heritage and acrylic painting style, and Freiburger’s creative industry expertise in Ontario.
- “e/motion,” created by Olivier Landreville in collaboration with Serge Maheu and produced by Init, is an interactive marine-themed installation with luminous waves and a sea-like soundscape, inviting exploration and imagination, powered by Creos.
Weekends @ Sparks Street
10. BougeBougeOttawa
The unique indoor 5K race in Ottawa’s Rideau Centre and Shaw Centre returns! Run through secret corridors on a 2.5km loop, repeated twice, starting and ending at Shaw Centre’s 3rd floor.
Sunday, February 4, 2024 @ 55 Colonel By Drive Ottawa
11.. Sleigh rides around ByWard Market
Experience the ByWard Market’s winter tradition with sleigh rides, offering a unique perspective on the area’s heritage while dashing through the snow.
Weekends @ 55 byward market square
12. Free Concerts
The BeaverTails Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival presents “Live @ The Rainbow” headlined by Chris Murphy, Dizzy, Elliott BROOD, JJ Wilde, Joel Plaskett, OMBIIGIZI, Rare Americans, and Wintersleep.
February 2 to 19, 2024 @ Rainbow Bistro, 76 Murray St, Ottawa
13. BeaverTails Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival
Boats are equipped with skate-like blades and participants propel themselves along the 200-meter race course using spiked ice-pick. This year’s Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival will host the IIDBF World Club Crew Ice Dragon Boat Championships.
February 9-10, 2024 @ Rideau Canal Skateway at Dow’s Lake,1001 Queen Elizabeth Dr, Ottawa
14. Outdoor Ice Bar
Chill out at Ottawa’s only Outdoor Ice Bar, in the ByWard Market. 10ft bar made of crystal clear ice blocks. Enjoy maple taffy & roast marshmallows around fire pits or warm up with hot chocolate, tea and coffee.
Weekends @ The Grand Pizzeria and Bar, George Street, Ottawa
15. Annual Accora Village Bed Race
Raise funds and participate in the super fun bed race in support of the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa’s projects and the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. At the Accora Village Bed Race during Winterlude, 30 teams race decorated beds for titles like fastest, best decorated, and top fundraisers, starting with a bed parade.
Saturday, February 17, 2024 @ York Street near Dalhousie, ByWard Market, Ottawa
16. Winterlude at the Diefenbunker
Join the Diefenbunker for Winterlude with diverse activities:
- Inuit Art Workshop (Feb 3-4): Learn and create Inuit art, reflecting cultural landscapes and traditions. Hour-long workshops at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Museum admission and registration required; suitable for ages 8+.
- Follow the Rainbow (Feb 7-11): Explore the Diefenbunker with a color-themed scavenger hunt, inspired by its Rainbow Registered accreditation. Prize upon completion, included with admission.
- Diefenbunker Winter Carnival (Feb 17): Enjoy historic winter activities with modern twists like snow sculpting and tug of war, plus a temporary exhibit showcasing Winter Carnival traditions. Outdoor activities free; exhibit included with admission.
- Snowflake Scavenger Hunt (Feb 2-18): A family-friendly, indoor scavenger hunt for snowflakes, with varying difficulties. Included with museum admission.
17. BIG BANG Festival
BIG BANG is back, and it will transform the NAC into a joyful musical maze full of adventures in sound to explore.
February 17 & 18, 2024 @ NAC
18. Undercurrents Festival
This festival, produced by Ottawa Fringe, shows the best original, contemporary theatre created by Ottawa performers and visiting artists.
February 7 to 17, 2024 @ Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa
19. Pibòn (Winter) Festival
Enjoy free and paid authentic indigenous activities at Madāhòkì Farm’s Pibòn (Winter) Festival during Winterlude. Outdoors, visit animals and spirit horses, cook bannock, take sleigh rides, or snowshoe trails. Indoors, savour traditional foods and performances, join art workshops, experience storytelling with Rhonda Snow, and explore a marketplace of Indigenous crafts.
February 17 to 19, 2024 @ Mādahòkì Farm, 4420 W Hunt Club Rd, Ottawa
20. Ice Hog Family
Do not forget to take a few snaps with Winterlude mascots!
Trip Planning Winterlude:
When & Where: February 2 to 19, 2024 @ Various Locations, Ottawa & Gatineau.
1-844-878-8333 (toll-free)
Paid Parking:
Queen Elizabeth Drive on Bronson Avenue (temporary parking)
Dows Lake (corner of Preston Street and Prince of Wales Drive)
National Arts Centre (NAC)
Rideau Centre
World Exchange Plaza
Ottawa City Hall and other parking lots operated by the City of Ottawa
OC Transpo and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) offer an ongoing free shuttle bus service.