We made it to February and the month is off to an exciting start as Winterlude kicks off! I have put together a comprehensive blog post on a Family Guide to Winterlude 2020, so be sure to check it out to find all the fun for the next few weeks! Hopefully the Rideau Canal will open again for the weekend, and you can check out up-to-date ice conditions HERE. So, here is everything that’s going on for families on the weekend of February 1 and 2.

Saturday:

• National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day – The Merry Dairy, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm (The Merry Dairy reopens to serve ice cream for this day, come wear your PJs and get a free hot chocolate or coffee courtesy of Equator Coffee Westboro)
• Winterlude Triathlon – Rideau Canal Skateway at Bronson and Dows Lake, 8:00 am (come and cheer on these brave souls who will skate, run and ski)
• Winterlude Ice Carving Challenge – Sparks Street, 8:30 am – 10:00 pm (come check out the artists as they create their works of art out of ice)
• The Snowflake Kingdom – Jacques Cartier Parque, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (snow slides, snow sculptures, live entertainment, skiing and snowboarding lessons, zip lining and more)
• Artissimo Studio: Imagination Station – National Gallery of Canada, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (It’s play time! Boxes, yarn, wire, tape, paint! Each week there will be new materials to spark your imagination. Included with gallery admission.)
• Paw Patrol at Countryside Adventures – Countryside Adventures, 16495 sixth Rd, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Come skate and meet Chase and Skye from Paw Patrol. Free hot chocolate will be handed out )
• Fête Frissons – Shenkman Arts Centre, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (oin us and celebrate a winter day full of family fun! Take in complimentary music, face-painting, arts and crafts, circus-performers, stories, dancing and outdoor fun in the snow)
• Byward Blizzard – Byward Market, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Enjoy maple taffy & roast marshmallows around fire pits or warm up with hot chocolate, tea and coffee. There is a family friendly outdoor beer market.)
• Winterlude at the Bunker – Diefenbunker, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (Enjoy a fun snowflake scavenger hunt through the bunker, plus enjoy some retro games like ping pong, darts, bean bag toss and more and have fun playing in a 3 on 3 mini Summit Series hockey game)
• 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.)
• Family Fun Day at Queen St Fare – 170 Queen Street, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm (bring the kids for a fun, free event that includes live music from Sing Song Party Time, games, and customizable pizza and donut stations)
• Meadowvale Park Winterfest – Meadowvale Terrace Park, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (skating, fun games, hot drinks and food)
• Winter in Brrrhaven – 76 Larkin Dr, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (celebrate winter at the local rink, Little Ray’s Reptiles from 11-12 pm, guest princesses 12-2 pm, arts and crafts, winter games, sleigh rides and more)
• Winter Celebration – Rideau Hall, 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm (lots of free activities including, skating, curling, kick sledding, science experiments, traditional food samples from around the world and more)
• ASNY Productions presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Meridien Theatres at Centrepointe, 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm (Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages)
• Annie Sing Along – Ottawa Family Cinema, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm (dress up and sing along to everyone’s favourite songs like Tomorrow, Maybe and Its A Hard Knock Life Tickets on sale now)
• Family Roller Skating – Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm (Warm up with a retro roller disco in the Aberdeen Pavilion! Family friendly with quad skate rentals available in advance from the Ottawa Quad Skating Club.)
• Winter Wonderland Family Gala – Kemptville Area Family Resource Centre, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm (Ticketed event, Enjoy at night of dancing, light snacks, sundae bar, photo booth, games, and fun)

Sunday:

• The Zoo Crew February Drop In – 5721 Osgoode Main St, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (Open Drop in – all ages – come and hang out with the animals. We will be doing 40 mins shows each hour with loose time in between. $5 per person)
• Winterlude Ice Carving Challenge – Sparks Street, 8:30 am – 10:00 pm (come check out the artists as they create their works of art out of ice, awards given out at 2 pm)
• The Snowflake Kingdom – Jacques Cartier Park, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (snow slides, snow sculptures, live entertainment, skiing and snowboarding lessons, zip lining and more)
• Byward Blizzard – Byward Market, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Enjoy maple taffy & roast marshmallows around fire pits or warm up with hot chocolate, tea and coffee. enjoy free horse drawn carriage rides around the market from noon until 4 pm)
• Artissimo Studio: Imagination Station – National Gallery of Canada, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (It’s play time! Boxes, yarn, wire, tape, paint! Each week there will be new materials to spark your imagination. Included with gallery admission.)
• Winterlude at the Bunker – Diefenbunker, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (Enjoy a fun snowflake scavenger hunt through the bunker, plus enjoy some retro games like ping pong, darts, bean bag toss and more and have fun playing in a 3 on 3 mini Summit Series hockey game)
• Welcome to the Red River Metis Village – Canadian Museum of History, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (The rich and vibrant culture of the Red River Métis comes to the Museum for a special day of storytelling, foods, music and dance. Free admission)
• 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.)
• Kinder Concerts – National Arts Centre, 11:00 am – 11:45 am (Latin american music great for ages 3-5 years old, Kinderconcerts are interactive – you will clap, dance, sing and of course learn a lot about music along the way)
• Rideau Hall Public Skating – Rideau Hall, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (come for a free skate at this beautiful outdoor pavilion)
• Anna and Elsa from Frozen visit The Grand – The Grand, Byward Market, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Enjoy an enchanted afternoon at the outdoor patio, warm up by the fire pits, and have a pizza or two. Meeting, greeting and photo opportunities. There will be hot chocolate and seasonal beverages at this free event)
• ASNY Productions presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Meridien Theatres at Centrepointe, 1:30 pm (Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages)
• Mechanicsville Winter Carnival – Laroche Park, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (free horse and sleigh rides, skating, kids activities, hot chocolate, and baked goods.)