It’s looking like a wintery weekend ahead, and there is a lot going on to help you get out there and celebrate the season! Here is my guide to Ottawa’s best family events for January 18 and 19.

Saturday:

• Celebrate the Lunar New Year – Royal Canadian Mint, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm (Everyone is invited to celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Royal Mint boutique by participating in a free Year of the Rat hammer strike. One hammer strike per person. )
• G-Anime Convention – Palais Des Congres de Gatineau, 8:00 am – midnight (this event will welcome enthusiasts of Japanese culture, anime, manga and cosplay. There will be a drag show, games tournaments for Pokemon, Final Fantasy and more, plus a masquerade and costume contest)
• Animal Tracking on Snowshoes – Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, 10:30 am in French, 1:30 pm in English (Take a free guided snowshoe hike with a nature interpreter, and find out about animals and their tracks. Snowshoes are provided for this free, two-hour activity. Make sure you dress warmly for an outdoor activity. Recommended for children of age 8 and older. Space is limited and reservations are recommended.)
• Great Canadian Kilt Skate – Lansdowne Park Skating Court, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Nurture your inner Scot, come to a skating party with a spirit of Scottish fun and fortitude wearing tartans and kilts. Free event with hot chocolate and cake)
• Plaisirs D’Hiver – Aylmer Marina, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (fishing derby, fishing rod rentals, bonfire, inflatable structures, sleigh rides, music and more)
• Rideau Hall Public Skating – Rideau Hall, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (come for a free skate at this beautiful outdoor pavilion)
• Winter Carnival/ Magic Show – Tanglewood Hillsdale Community Association, 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm (horse drawn Sleigh Ride, tug-of-war, snowshoe races and skating. Indoors we will have a Magic Show by Chris Pilsworth, Monkey Rock Music will play children’s music and Food will be for sale)
• Arctic Dogs 3D – Ottawa Family Cinema, 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm (fun family movie)
• River Ward Free Movie Night – Ottawa Alexander Community Centre, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (watch Dora the Explorer and the Lost City of Gold. Free hot dogs will be served at 5pm with the movie starting at 5:30pm with free popcorn. )
• Community Barn Dance for All – 345 Richmond Rd, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm (all ages welcome, especially school age families. All dances are taught and led with live music. No experience necessary)

Sunday:

• G-Anime Convention – Palais Des Congres de Gatineau, 8:00 am – midnight (this event will welcome enthusiasts of Japanese culture, anime, manga and cosplay. There will be a drag show, games tournaments for Pokemon, Final Fantasy and more, plus a masquerade and costume contest)
• Chemistry Magic Show – Carleton University Alumni Park, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (This free event features fun targeted at the whole family with explosions, a look at the inner workings of fireworks, reactions that can tell time, and things that glow in the dark. There will be hands on activities starting at 9:00 am, first show at 10:30 am)
• Awesome Forts – Canadian War Museum, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Bring your family to the Museum for a day of awesome fort construction, using Mega Bloks®, Imagination Playground blocks and even gingerbread.)
• SJAM Winter Ski and Sports Festival – Remic Rapids, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (fun ski races for kids and adults, fat bike races, pre race registration is requested.)
• Animal Tracking on Snowshoes – Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, 10:30 am in English, 1:30 pm in French (Take a free guided snowshoe hike with a nature interpreter, and find out about animals and their tracks. Snowshoes are provided for this free, two-hour activity. Make sure you dress warmly for an outdoor activity. Recommended for children of age 8 and older. Space is limited and reservations are recommended.)
• Unicorn Party – Boston Pizza Barrhaven, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (free face painting brought to you by the Colourful Chameleon, free crafts, free activity sheets and a coloring contest with a grand mystery prize. Plus an actual unicorn to take photos with. Make sure you call to reserve as space is limited)
• 2020 Winter Carnival – Trend Arlington Community Association, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (horse drawn sleigh rides, music concert, balloons, magic show, ski and snowshoe races, tug of war and more)
• Rideau Hall Public Skating – Rideau Hall, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (come for a free skate at this beautiful outdoor pavilion)

One more thing..

I am just going to write one more time asking you to vote for me for a Faces Award as Ottawa’s Best Blogger. Voting is open until next Thursday, and everyone is entitled to one vote per day. So, if you enjoy the blog and feel so inclined, just click on this link HERE – then scroll down until you see the Digital/Social category and you will see ‘Embracing Ottawa’ under Bloggers. Thank you so much for following along and supporting me!