Amazing Events and Activities at Ottawa’s Winterlude Festival 2024
Every year people from across Canada travel to the capital to revel in the winter season during Ottawa’s Winterlude festival. As the ultimate celebration of winter, Winterlude has tons of amazing family-friendly winter activities taking place over three weekends each February. From skating the Rideau Canal Skateway and maple taffy on snow, to ice carving competitions and a huge winter playground filled with snow tubing and giant snow sculptures, you won’t want to miss these fun events at this year’s Winterlude festival.
When does Winterlude take place?
Winterlude 2024 takes place on weekends from February 2-19, 2024. While most events and activities get underway on Saturdays and Sundays, there are some activities and events open on Fridays as well. We recommend coming for a full weekend, Friday to Sunday, to enjoy the festival fully.
Where does Winterlude take place?
Below are the main Winterlude sites across Ottawa and Gatineau, as well as the activities you’ll find there during every weekend of the festival. While most events take place at these locations, there is also additional programming at other venues across the city. Find the full official 2024 Winterlude schedule from Canadian Heritage here.
Snowflake Kingdom, Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau
• Chinook Super Slides – Giant snow slides
• Kids Zone - Mini-igloos, slides, structures and games for kids from 2 to 5 years old
• Winterlude maze, lil’ breeze obstacle course, Snow tug of war, snow snake, Giant Foosball
• Zip Lining ($)- zip line over the Snowflake Kingdom for a cool view of Parliament Hill
• Intro to Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
• Meet the Winterlude mascots, the Ice Hogs
• Ice Dig -Treasure hunt in the ice and find treasures
• Maple Taffy on snow, Beavertails, food vendors
Sparks Street, Ottawa
• Ice-Carving showcases: Ojibwe Spirit Horses, The Dragon and the Rabbit, Wings of Legacy - Centennial of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Celebration of Nunavut’s 25th anniversary, 2024; Year of the Wooden Dragon, Eiffel Tower ice sculpture
• Parliament: The Immersive Experience (free ticket reservation)
• Public art installations: “149 White Balls, 1 Red”, e/motion, INFRA 2024, Golden Hour, Light Wave, The CUBE 2.0, The DOOR(S), The TUNNEL, Wazaakone Woodland Bears
• Dinosaur Ice Dig and Dino Dance with the Canadian Museum of Nature
• Nunavut Sivuniksavut (traditional Inuit songs, games and demonstrations)
• Indigenous performances and entertainment
• Meet and Greet with Ice-Carvers
• Beavertails, Maple Taffy on snow, food vendors, Ice Hogs Lounge
Rideau Canal Skateway
• Day and night skating on the largest outdoor skating rink in the world *weather dependent
• Beavertails
• Ice sleds, trikes and skate rentals available
Check out our Guide to skating the Rideau Canal Skateway
ByWard Market
• Interactive art installations: Drawn Together
• Free Horse-drawn sleigh rides (Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm)
• Free concerts and performances at The Rainbow
• ByWard market shopping, Beavertails, Outdoor patios
Winterlude Events February 2-4, 2024
36th Annual Winterlude Triathlon
When: February 3 | 7:30 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Dow’s Lake, Ottawa
Cost: Free to watch, cost to participate
Meet and Greet with Ice-carvers
When: February 3 | 7:30 pm-8:00 pm
Where: Sparks St, Ottawa
Cost: Free
OLG Buskerfest - Winterlude Edition
When: February 2 | 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, February 3 | 10:00 am to 9:30 pm, February 4 | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Sparks St., Ottawa
Cost: Free
Rideau Hall Winter Celebration - Skating, tours, traditions winter activities from around the world
When: February 3 | 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa *Shuttle bus information TBD
Cost: Free
Indigenous Beading Workshop
When: February 3 & 4 , 2023 | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Beandigen Café, 106-900 Exhibition Way
Cost: Free
Winterlude Miini Pow-Wow and Indigenous Artisans’ Market
When: February 4 | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Canadian Museum of History, 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau
Cost: Free
Winterlude Events February 9-11, 2024
BeaverTails Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival
When: February 9 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, February 10 |9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Where: Dow’s Lake, Ottawa
Cost: Free to watch, cost to participate
OLG Buskerfest - Winterlude Edition
When: February 9 | 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, February 10 | 10:00 am to 8:30 pm, February 11 | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Sparks St., Ottawa
Cost: Free
Drag performance by Devona Coe, Omari B Johnson and Abysskiss
When: February 9 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Sparks St, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Winterlude's Breakdance Battle
When: February 9 | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Jacques-Cartier Park North, Gatineau
Cost: Free
Snowboard Rail Jam
When: February 10 | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: 1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Meet and Greet with Ice-carvers
When: February 10 | 7:30 pm-8:00 pm, 8:30 pm-9:00pm
Where: Sparks St, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Capital Pride Ice Parade
When: February 11 | 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Where: Rideau Canal Skateway: Start at KM 1.0 Waverley and ends at the Fifth Avenue rest area
Cost: Free
Winterlude Events February 16-19, 2024
Ice-Carving Demonstrations
When: February 18 | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Where: ByWard Market, Ottawa
Cost: Free
OLG Buskerfest - Winterlude Edition
When: February 16 | 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, February 17 | 10:00 am to 9:30 pm, February 18 | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, February 19 | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Sparks St., Ottawa
Cost: Free
Meet and Greet with Ice-carvers
When: February 17 | 7:30 pm-8:00 pm
Where: Sparks St, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Big Bang Festival, National Arts Centre – Musical performances, workshops, concerts
When: February 17 | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, February 18 | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Pibòn (Winter) Festival - Indigenous programming, traditional food, art workshops ($)
When: February 17-19 | 10:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Madāhòkì Farm, 4420 West Hunt Club Rd.
Cost: Free
Diefenbunker Winter Carnival
When: February 17 | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Diefenbunker Museum - 3929 Carp Road, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Accora Village Bed Race
When: February 17 | 12:30 to 2:30 pm
Where: Byward Market on York Street, Ottawa
Cost: Free
How to get to Ottawa and around the city
Ottawa is easily accessible by daily domestic flights from many Canadian cities, as well as VIA Rail. Driving is also a good option if you want more flexibility, however it isn’t necessary to have a car while in town.
Ottawa’s light rail transit system provides an easy way to get around the city from east to west, while buses service all other areas of the city. There is a light rail station located at the VIA Rail Train station, providing quick access to the downtown core for train travellers.
Ubers are readily available around the city, as well as many taxi services. Note that Ubers can drop off in Quebec, however they do not pick up there.
