28 events you won’t want to miss this weekend in Ottawa

Posted bycardensal20Posted incanada, canadians, events, newcomers, ontario, ottawa, tourism, winterTags:, , , , ,

This weekend will be a more normal cold again so there is no excuse for not going to the numerous events and activities happening in Ottawa starting with Winterlude. Have a look at this list!

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1. Winterlude

Second weekend. Visit the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau, go for a stroll on Sparks St to admire beautiful ice sculptures, and visit the Byward Market for many fun activities. FREE.
When: Feb 3 to 20.
Where: Various venues

2. Rideau Hall Winter Celebration

Come to Rideau Hall to discover winter traditions from countries around the world, skate on its historic skating rink, and enjoy family-friendly outdoor activities. FREE.
When: Saturday Feb 11 from 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Where: Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Drive.
Details: https://www.gg.ca/en/visit-us/rideau-hall/what-see-and-do/winter-celebration

3. Capital Bachata Festival

Three days of workshops, social dancing, performances by international dancers, and a competition featuring Bachata, a sexy Latin Dance from the Dominican Republic. Tickets $50 (individual), $80 (couple).
When: Feb 10 to 12
Where: Palais des Congrès de Gatineau, 50 Boul Maisonneuve, Gatineau, QC J8X 4H4
Details: capitalbachatafestival.ca

4. National Health and Fitness Day

Celebrate this day with some outdoor fun: cross-country ski rentals, free use of snowshoes, free Nordic Walking classes, activities for kids, firepits. FREE.
When: Saturday Feb 11 from 11am to 3pm.
Where: Rideau Sports Centre, 1 Donald St
Details: rideauwintertrail.ca

5. Fête Frissons

Entertainment for the whole family, indoors and outdoors. Ice sculpture and carving demo, Maple Taffy on snow, face painting, storytelling, workshops, dancing. FREE.
When: Saturday Feb 11 from 10am to 2pm.
Where: Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Boulevard, Orleans.
Details: https://shenkmanarts.ca/en/fete-frissons-2023

6. Love Is In The Air Craft Market

Shop from over 40 local artists and craft makers. FREE.
When: Sunday Feb 12 from 10:30am to 3pm
Where: Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Ave.
Details on Instagram @squarelemon_ottawa

7. Big Love Mrkt

Come to shop at the Horticulture Building in Lansdowne park. DJ live. FREE.
When: Friday Feb 10, 5pm-9:30pm; and Saturday Feb 11, 10am-4pm.
Where: 1525 Princess Patricia Way.
Details on Instagram @freewheelingcraft

8. Fly Market

Shop some vintage, retro, designer, arts goods. FREE.
When: Saturday Feb 11, from 11am to 5pm.
Where: Queen St Fare, 170 Queen St
Details on Instagram @therealflymarket

9. Concert for a Cause

Come dance with local bands for a great cause! Ottawa rock band No Hits and Montreal indie band Frownline will be on stage to raise funds for Immigrant Womens Services Ottawa. Tickets from $14. Thursday 9 Feb at 8pm. At Club Saw. Details on Instagram @aedsa_uottawa 

10. Valentine`s Day Market

Saturday Feb 11 from 10 am to 4pm. At Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St.

11. Drag Queen Show 

Second Annual Queer Black Excellence Showcase in recognition of Black History Month. FREE. Friday Feb 10 from 7pm to 10pm. At the auditorium of the National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Drive.

12. Drag on Sparks St

Outdoor Drag show on Sparks St. Friday Feb 10 from 6pm to 9pm. FREE.

13. DJ Roxy Sunset at the Musical Shack on Sparks St.

Outdoor dancing on Sparks St. Friday Feb 10 from 6pm to 9pm. FREE. 

14. Snowshoeing

The Catholic Centre for Immigrants will organize a guided snowshoeing hike in Gatineau Park. Snowshoes are provided. Registration required. All ages. FREE. Friday Feb 10 from 12 to 4pm. Contact: laurie@cciottawa.ca or noah@cciottawa.ca 

15. Layali Arabian Music Festival

Multiple dance floors, food vendors, indoor bars, unique photo ops, and an upscale VIP section will have you feeling like you’ve escaped to the Middle east for a night! Friday Feb 10 from 4pm to 12am. At EY Centre Hall 3, 4899 Uplands Drive. info@giza.ca

16. Mutchmor Rink Party

Free community party. Food and drinks, music, games, prizes. Saturday Feb 11 from 4:30 to 6:30pm. At Mutchmor rink, Third Ave and Lyon St.

17. Musical Evenings at Casino Lac Leamy

Bar 7 at Casino Lac Leamy is launching its musical evenings with a multimedia screen, and live performances, from Thursdays to Saturdays. FREE.
When: Thursday Feb 9 (Latin Fiesta) at 8:30pm ‘Sandra and the Latin Groove’. Friday Feb 10 and Saturday Feb 11 ‘Tonic Band’ at 9:30pm.
Where: 1, Boulevard du Casino, Gatineau, QC J8Y 6W3.

18. Ottawa Senators vs Edmonton Oilers

Game of the National Hockey League. Saturday Feb 11 at 12:30pm. Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Drive

19. Ottawa’s 67’s vs Niagara Ice Dogs

Game of the Ontario Hockey League. Friday Feb 10 at 7pm. At TD Place, 1015 Bank St.

20. Celebrate Africa!

This a kinder concert series for ages 3 to 8 featuring traditional songs, stories, dance and stunning musicianship. Sunday Feb 12. Tickets: $15. At the NAC. Azrieli Studio, 1 Elgin St.

21. Ice Dragon Boat Concerts

The Ice Dragon Boat races were cancelled but not the free indoor concerts scheduled. Friday Feb 3, 4 and 5. At The Rainbow starting at 8pm. 76 Murray St. Check out: https://www.icedragonboat.ca/liveattherainbow/

22. Bank of Canada Winterlude weekend

Family Day Weekend: see (and touch) unusual currency, build a piggy bank, learn what’s a need, and what’s a want. FREE. Saturday Feb 10 and Sunday Feb 11. Where: 30 Bank St. Details: bankofcanadamuseum.ca

23. Northern Lights Trade Show

Exhibits from private busineses, all levels of government, indigenous communities, and not-for-profit organizations mainly from Nunavut, Nunavit and Labrador/Nunatsiavut. Over 200 exhibitors.
Feb 10, 1:30pm-5:30pm and Feb 11, 10am-4pm. At Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive. Admission: $10.

24. Fringe. Ottawa Freedom Convoy Photo Exhibition

The latest photo exhibition by photographer Paul Ozzello. Jan 26 to Feb 9. At Art+ Gallery, 531 Sussex Drive. FREE.

25. Farmers’ Winter Market

The Farmers’ market is back for the winter season every Sunday until April 30. Fresh vegetables and fruit, meat, baked goods, spirits, crafts and more. FREE.
When: Sundays from 10am to 3pm.
Where: Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park. 1000 Exhibition Way.

26. Ice skating at the Rink of Dreams

Grab your skates and head to the most popular ice-skating rink in Ottawa for some winter fun! FREE. You can rent skates there!
When: Everyday from 9am to 11pm
Where: 110 Laurier Ave West.

27. Owl Rendez-Vous

Watch live owls in a special outdoor exhibition. At the Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St, from Dec 14 to April 3, 2024.

This weekend will be a more normal cold again so there is no excuse for not going to the numerous events and activities happening in Ottawa. Have a look at this list!

28. Exhibition: Uramado AR, the awakening of the Tanukis

Uramado is a treasure hunt route in augmented reality. It tells the story of Tanukis which are spirits of the forest from Japanese mythology. The participants are invited to download the free app Uramado AR, Tanukis awake ( on IOS and Android ) to start this treasure hunt. FREE.
When: Mon to Fri from 9am to 12pm; and 2pm-4pm until April 30.
Where: Alliance Française Ottawa, 352 MacLaren St.

Enjoy!!

Follow me on Instagram @ottawaisnotboring

Five years living in Ottawa and still finding new spots I've never heard about before! I wouldn't imagine that in the middle of the Vanier neighborhood there would be a park with a Sugar shack there and where Maple syrup is produced. Sugar Shacks are usually found on the outskirts of the city or in the countryside. So, they say that makes the Vanier Sugar Shack the only one in North America located in the middle of a city. So worth a visit! And this weekend is the perfect occasion because they are running their Sugar Festival with lots of activities for the visitors. First, they will be offering Sugar Shack meals, you know, the classic scrambled eggs, sausages, pancakes and maple beans, and Maple Taffy, (the sweet made right on the snow). There will be a First Nations area, axe throwing, a lumberjack competition, indoor playing for toddlers, inflatable games, a mini petting farm, pony rides, sled dogs, beer tasting and musical performances. Have an awesome weekend!! The spring vibe invites us to go out and enjoy the longer days. If you don't know what to do this weekend yet, check out this list of events and share it with your friends. If you know about other events happening this weekend, feel free to share them in comments. 😊 How refreshing it is to take a stroll around downtown and Parliament Hill! I don't know if it's just me but I love it!! 😍 I love the architecture of those amazing Parliament buildings. I love to see the Peace Tower framed against the blue sky on a sunny day!! And I love to see people, probably tourists, at the Centennial flame taking pictures or throwing coins into the fountain. I feel their enthusiasm and I feel like a tourist or a newcomer, even though I've been living in Ottawa for 5 years. 😄 If you are a newcomer to Ottawa, or to the eastern part of Canada, you may want to experience the spring tradition of the Sugar Shack. The Sugar Shack season happens usually between March and April when the Maple tree sap begins to rise. It's the start of Maple syrup production. The Maple farms open their doors to visitors and offer delicious meals where the star is the Maple syrup. These meals usually are pancakes, 🥞 scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes wedges, and baked beans. Then you can enjoy Maple taffy on the snow, go on wagon rides, visit the petting farm, and of course visit the shacks where Maple syrup is made. My family and I went today to Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm, and we had a great time! We loved the food, and my daughters enjoyed watching the animals at the farm: cows and their newborns, horses, chickens, ducks, turkeys, peacocks, pigs, and goats - so many animals! The wagon ride around the farm was nice too. ☺️ We are in that part of the year where it's not winter but it doesn't look like spring yet, and we can even have some surprises like the snowfall that has been forecast for today. The winter sports season is almost over, the snow is melting, the brownish dead grass is visible, it's muddy, and it rains a lot. It's the ugly first part of spring. 😏 The bad news is that it usually lasts a whole month in Ottawa, from the end of March to the end of April. 🙄 The time passes very slowly this time of the year, or it seems to when one is impatient to see colours!! At least I saw a Robin yesterday. Canadians know that this bird appears in spring. That's the first signal, a sign of hope! But so far, that has been the only one for me. What spring signals have you got? Birds chirping? Tree buds? Wildflowers maybe? None? 🤔 If you're a newcomer, you might have heard that spending summer weekends in a cottage by a lake is for many people a big part of the Canadian lifestyle. My family and I tried that our second summer in Ottawa and it was amazing!! We loved it!! ❤ But what we hadn't tried before was going to a cottage in the winter until last weekend. Definitely it had a different vibe but was equally awesome and enjoyable!! ☺️ We have arrived at the last weekend of March and the first one of spring! 😃 Do you feel your moods are changing? Do you feel like going out? Check out this list of events and share it with your friends! EXPECTATIONS VS REALITY: We'll have to wait a bit longer for the spring colours to arrive in Canada. 🙁 But the worst has already passed! We're almost there, hold on! Did you really think that by the end of March winter was going to finally end? 😁 Tomorrow March 20, spring officially starts. Just the thought of this makes me so happy! 😃☺️ However, the reality is that it will be another month or so before we start seeing the spring colours, trees budding, and flowers start to bloom. What? Did you think that spring started at the end of March?? No way!! This is Canada, my friends! Canada's weather doesn't necessarily follow any official calendar. Sorry to disappoint you. 🙁 It's totally different here. So, if it follows what I have seen the last 5 years in Ottawa, we'll see one last snowfall in April. But you know, spring is in the air no matter what, even as we still see snow everywhere. Probably you are going to hear birds singing one of these mornings and your heart will feel joyous! 💗 That's the magic of spring! You feel it in the soul! I'd never experienced this in my country. It's a gift Canada has given me, and I love it! 😍 Welcome spring!! 🌸💐🏵🌺 We were waiting for you so badly!! If you are a newcomer and you have experienced your first winter in Ottawa or Canada, how are you feeling about spring? Are you impatient? Are you feeling the change in your moods?

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