Amazing Events and Activities at Ottawa’s Winterlude Festival 2025
*Full Winterlude programming to be announced in January. The activities below reflect 2024 programming.
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 2025 takes place on weekends from January 31-February 17, 2025. 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 2025 Winterlude schedule by visiting Canadian Heritage.
Snowflake Kingdom, Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau
• 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 (weekends 10:00am- 6:00pm)
• 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: Enduring symbols of Métis heritage, Ice Sculpture in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag, Tribute to Oscar Peterson, The Beaver: a Canadian Symbol,
• Parliament: The Immersive Experience (free ticket reservation)
• Indigenous Experiences on Sparks - Pop-up Bannock & Tea Station (February 1, 8 & 15)
• Public art installations: Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0, Poetry Shack (installation that uses AI to create colorful visual and poems compositions)
• Dinosaur Ice Dig and Dino Dance with the Canadian Museum of Nature
• Ice Carving Demonstrations
• Beavertails, Winterlude Urban Sugar Shack, 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
• Wood carving demonstrations
• Free Horse-drawn sleigh rides (Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm)
• Glow skate nights, outdoor rink
• ByWard market shopping, Beavertails, Outdoor patios
Winterlude Events, Weekend 1
Annual Winterlude Triathlon
When: February 1 | 8:00 am to 11:00 am
Where: 2960 Riverside Dr., Ottawa
Cost: Free to watch, cost to participate
Ice Carving Demonstrations
When: February 1 & 2 | 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Where: Sparks St, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Rideau Hall Winter Celebration - Skating, tours, traditions winter activities from around the world
When: February 1 | 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Indigenous Beading Workshop
When: February 1 & 2 | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Beandigen Café, 106-900 Exhibition Way, Ottawa
Cost: Free, registration required
Winterlude Mini Powwow
When: February 2 | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Canadian Museum of History, 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau
Cost: Free
Winterlude Events, Weekend 2
Ice Carving Demonstrations - Sparks St.
When: February 8 & 9 | 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Where: Sparks St, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Ice Carving Demonstrations - ByTown Museum
When: February 8 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: 1 Canal Lane, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Snowga Yoga - Free Outdoor Community Yoga
When: February 8 | 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Where: 1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa
Cost: Free to watch, cost to participate
Unikkaaqtuarniq—Stories from the North, Outdoor Films, DJ & VJ performances
When: February 8 & 9 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: 1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Winterlude Events Weekend 3
Ice-Carving Demonstrations
When: February 15, 16 & 17 | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: Sparks St. Ottawa
Cost: Free
Wood Carving Demonstrations
When: February 15, 16 & 17 | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: ByWard Market, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Winterlude in the Stars - Night Drone Show
When: February 14 & 15 | 7:00 pm to 7:15 pm
Where: Snowflake Kingdom, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Big Bang Festival, National Arts Centre – Musical performances, workshops, concerts
When: February 15 | 11:00 am to 5:30 pm, February 16 | 10:30 am to 5:00 pm
Where: National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa
Cost: Some Free Events, others ticketed starting at $7
Diefenbunker Winter Carnival
When: February 15 | 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Outdoor Rink, Huntley Community Centre 108 Juanita Ave, Carp
Cost: Free
Igloofest - Music Festival
When: February 13, 14 & 15 | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Where: Place des Festivals Zibi, 60 Jos-Montferrand St, Gatineau
Cost: Ticketed
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.
