Okay, it’s pretty cool that this weekend includes a leap day! February 29 is kinda special, no? Happy Birthday to any of you who happen to have a February 29 birthday (sidenote: I’d love to hear from you in the comments if you do!) This is probably a great weekend to get out and play in all that snow that just dumped on us – perhaps visit a sugar bush? And if you are looking for some indoor options instead, there are some great family events taking place inside too. Here is my guide to the weekend of February 29 and March 1.

Saturday:

• Woodroffe Avenue Public School Used Book Sale – Woodroffe Avenue PS, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm (Children & Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction Comics, and Games. Books all 1-3 dollars. Bake sale as well)
• Sugarbush Opening Weekend – The Log Farm, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm (BeaverTails- Taffy on the Snow – Wagon Rides – Animals – Pioneer homestead)
• Kidsfest – EY Centre, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (performances by Spash N Boots, magic shows, petting zoo, characters, climbing wall, bouncy castles and tons of kids vendors)
• Artissimo Studio: Imagination Station – National Gallery of Canada, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Boxes, yarn, wire, tape, paint! Each week there will be new materials to spark your imagination. Get inspired, start working, and see where your ideas lead you. Included with museum admission)
• Outdoor Shinny Hockey Tournament Fundraiser – Ottawa Alexander Community Centre, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (outdoor 4 v 4 shinny hockey tournament to help raise funds for under-serviced youth in the Ottawa area.)
• 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.)
• Winter Princess Party – Boston Pizza Barrhaven, 11:00 am – 2:30 pm (crafts, photo opportunities and even a concert with the Snow Queen, Winter Princess and a certain snowman! Seatings at 11 am and 1 pm, reservations recommended, fee of $1.50 per person with meal)
• Rideau Hall Public Skating – Rideau Hall, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (free public skating on a heritage outdoor rink)
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Ottawa Family Cinema, 2:00 pm (the final episode in the skywalker saga)
• Llama Llama Live – Meridien Theatres at Centrepointe, 2:00 pm (A hilarious new musical from Bay Area Children’s Theatre based on the bestselling books by Anna Dewdney…last I checked there were tickets still available!)
• Toonie Hot Dog Day at the Ottawa 67s – TD Place, 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm (Toonie Hot Dogs for all when the Ottawa 67’s face off against the Barrie Colts.)

Sunday:

• Kidsfest – EY Centre, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (performances by Spash N Boots, magic shows, petting zoo, characters, climbing wall, bouncy castles and tons of kids vendors)
• Family Appreciation Day in Support of CHEO – NUTS, 1550 Laperriere Ave, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (come have fun and support a great cause, N.U.T.S will donate $5 to CHEO for every kid that goes on the obstacle course.)
• 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.)
• Rideau Hall Public Skating – Rideau Hall, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (free public skating on a heritage outdoor rink)
• Malenitsa: Spring Festival and Fair – Horticulture Building, Lansdowne, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm (general admission is free to this traditional Multicultural Spring Festival of Eastern European communities. Taste traditional Blini, Russian, Moldavian and Ukrainian ethnic food and drinks. Enjoy a concert of Eastern Slavic folk dances and songs and you can buy handcrafts and sweets at the fair.)