Visitors and locals to Ottawa can kick off the winter season by watching the annual Christmas Lights Across Canada dazzle and illuminate the city. Every December to January, Ottawa radiates over 300,000 Christmas lights. Visitors can bundle up, grab a hot cocoa and watch the official Illumination Ceremony on Parliament Hill.
Ottawa officially celebrates the winter solstice during the first three weekends of February with the Winterlude Festival. Thousands of visitors participate in this outdoor festival to gaze upon breathtaking ice and snow sculptures, special museum exhibits, listen to musical performances, skate or relax at the 'Ice Lounge.' Registration and fees apply to sporting events but most activities are free and an excellent family-friendly event.
Winterlude Festival
613-239-5000
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Taste of Winterlude celebrated its fifth annual event in 2010. From late-January to mid-February, diners can enjoy some of the best regional restaurants in the city of Ottawa. More than 50 fine dining restaurants offer an exclusive price-fixed menu, wine pairing and other special offers as an introduction to dining enthusiasts. The event is a great experience for restaurant aficionados who enjoy innovative cooking at an affordable price.
It is only appropriate, with the unique climate and love of winter, Ottawa is home to the world's largest skating rink, Rideau Canal Skateway. During the Winterlude, many events, such as the Winterlude Triatholon, the Bedzzz Annual Race, skating demonstrations and workshops take place at Rideau. However, the rink is opened from late December to late February or early March depending on the weather. In addition to skating, visitors can also enjoy the skateway on rented sleds or on foot.
Rideau Canal Skateway
613-239-5000
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Just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa is the Gastineau Park which offers 21 miles of its 224 miles to winter trails specifically for hiking and snowshoeing. Snowshoeing is an age old activity which gives the hiker the ability to walk over deep snow by distributing the body's weight with special snowshoes, without worrying about falling in. It is a fun, alternative way of hiking in the winter and can be enjoyed recreational or as exercise. The Visitor Center also offers the free program, "Animal Tracking on Snowshoes" in February, as well as, rental snowshoes.
Gastineau Park Visitor Center
33 Scott Road
Chelsea, Quebec
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The blankets of powder, white snow that falls every year in Ottawa makes it a perfect place to blaze the trails with snowmobiles in the Ottawa Valley. Snowmobile enthusiasts can explore small villages, old mine sites, ghost towns and 1,580 miles of groomed Trans Ontario Provincial Trails. Regional club houses offer a wide variety of tours and community events such as Bonnechere Club.
