Welcome to the second weekend of Winterlude! Have you gotten out to check out any of the sites yet? Last weekend we hit up Sparks Street and the Snowflake Kingdom. Sparks Street had lots to check out, but I was a little disappointed there were not nearly as many ice sculptures as in previous years. Has anyone else found that? The Snowflake Kingdom did not disappoint however – we had a blast. For more info on the festival, check out my Family Guide to Winterlude 2020. And, here is a round-up of all the family fun going on for the weekend of February 8 and 9.

Saturday:

• Ice Dragon Boat Festival – Rideau Canal, Dows Lake, 8:30 am – 6:00 pm (super fun to watch these dragon boat racers compete across the ice. the day starts off with a success lion dance, then races begin at 9 am and continue to the championships running until 5:30 pm then awards)
• Fire and Ice Festival – Downtown Bank Street, between Wellington and Catherine St, 9:00 am – 11:30 pm (skating rink on the street, live entertainment, food and more)
• 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)
• Early ON Obstacle Course – 2303 rue Laurier, Rockland, 9:30 am – 11:30 am (Come with your child to participate in a program that encourages physical activity. Different activities for ages from birth to 6 years old. Free event)
• RCMP Musical Ride Open House – RCMP Rockcliffe Stables, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (free event where visitors can tour the stables and meet the horses and riders of the world famous Musical Ride. The event will also feature demonstrations from RCMP specialized units, family-friendly activities and displays of police equipment.)
• 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)
• Rogers Hometown Hockey – Marion Dewar Plaza, City Hall. 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (Join Sportsnet hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone for a live broadcast of an NHL game, fan experience with games, community hockey rink, live entertainment, kids zone and more)
• Hockey Day in Canada – Bridlewood Community Association 9 rinks, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (celebrate Hockey Day in Canada on the ice, and free hot chocolate and Timbits from 10:00-12:00 at Meadowbreeze Rink and from 12:00-14:00 at Sawyers Meadow Rink.)
• 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 St, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm (bring the kids for this free event which includes live music by Monkey Rock, customize your own pizza and donuts, great for kids aged 0 – 6 yrs)
• Byward Blizzard – Byward Market, 12:00 am – 4:00 pm (Enjoy complimentary wagon rides around the Market )
• Rideau Hall Public Skating – Rideau Hall, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (free public skating on a heritage outdoor rink)
• 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)
• Frozen 2 – Ottawa Family Cinema, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm (if you haven’t watched the latest Frozen instalment yet, or if you want to see it for a second, third, fourth..whatever time)

Sunday:

• 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)
• 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.)
• Family Sundays – National Gallery of Canada, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Explore new visions of the future and reimagined worlds through the works of Indigenous artists featured in our special exhibition Àbadakone | Continuous Fire | Feu continuel. Join us for a transporting series of tours, live performances and art making activities.)
• 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 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.)
• KCJ Ottawa: Code in the Stars with Astro Pi – Canada Aviation and Space Museum, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm or 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm (free for ages 14 and under, but limited spots so register in advance, Need to bring your own laptop, this workshop equips kids with the knowledge they need to take part in the Astro Pi challenge, which is a non-competitive challenge where kids can send some computer code to run on the Raspberry Pis that are currently on the International Space Station)
• Story and Paint with Beauty – Art Haven Barrhaven, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm (You will paint a ceramic princess, hear tales as old as time, and get to take pictures with Princess Belle, tickets are $30)
• French Story Time – Indigo Barrhaven, 10:30 am (Come join Hélène Fortin for some French story time fun! No registration required. All welcome)
• Fire and Ice Festival – Downtown Bank Street, between Wellington and Catherine St, 11:00 am – 11:30 pm (skating rink on the street, live entertainment, food and more)
• Family Pride Skating Event and Parade on Ice – Bank St Ice Rink at Gilmour and Florence, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Bring the whole family out to skate and participate in a mini Pride March/Parade for the celebration of Winter Pride)
• Carlingwood Winter Carnival – Woodroffe Park, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (sleigh rides, curling, skating, fire pit, fun and games)
• Ice Carving Demonstration – Bytown Museum, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (7^th annual Ice Carving Demonstration. Watch as a brand new ice sculpture takes shape right in front of you and do winter crafts and activities, and hot chocolate for everyone)
• Rogers Hometown Hockey – Marion Dewar Plaza, City Hall. 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm (Join Sportsnet hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone for a live broadcast of an NHL game, fan experience with games, community hockey rink, live entertainment, kids zone and more)
• Rideau Hall Public Skating – Rideau Hall, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (come for a free skate at this beautiful outdoor pavilion)
• Byward Blizzard – Byward Market, 12:00 am – 4:00 pm (Enjoy complimentary wagon rides around the Market )
• Winter Carnival at Fisher Park – Fisher Park Skating Rink, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (charity hot dog and bake sale, sleigh rides, skating races, shinny hockey, curling and much more)
• Anna and Elsa 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)