50 events you won’t want to miss this weekend in Ottawa – Feb 2-4

Winterlude is already here!! This is an amazing time in Ottawa: three weekends with tons of exciting winter activities! Don’t miss the fun and start planning your Winterlude’s opening weekend! Share this post with your family and friends! Enjoy!!

1. Winterlude Snowflake Kingdom

The Snowflake Kingdom is where all the action is during Winterlude! It’s a huge playground with snow slides, zipline (paid), a maze, snow sculptures, obstacle courses, breakdance battles, introductory classes for downhill skiing and snowboarding for kids, a kiddie zone, and much more! FREE.

When: This weekend schedule: Friday Feb 2 to Monday Feb 5 from 9am.

Where: Parc Jacques Cartier, 350 Laurier St, Gatineau.

2. Ice carving

Come to Sparks St to watch the carving of impressive ice sculptures showcasing the 25th anniversary of Nunavut, the Métis Nation, and the First Nations. FREE.

When: This weekend Feb 2-3, starting 11am to 9pm.

Where: Sparks St.

3. Rideau Hall Winter Celebration

Tour the state rooms where the governor general fulfills official duties, skate on the historic skating rink, and participate in winter activities on the grounds of the official residence. FREE. There will be a free shuttle running in a loop from downtown (intersection of Metcalfe and Queen Streets) to Rideau Hall every hour.

When: Only day, Saturday Feb 3 from 12pm to 4pm.

Where: 1 Sussex Drive.

4. Mini Pow Wow

Watch an opening ceremony and performances given by drummers and dancers of different ages and styles from several Indigenous communities. There will also be an indigenous market.  FREE.

When: Sunday Feb 4 from 11am to 4pm.

Where: Canadian Museum of History, 100 Laurier St, Gatineau. 

5. Buskerfest Winter edition

Enjoy street performances by entertainers from across Ontario and Quebec. FREE.

When: Friday Feb 2 (6-9:30pm), Saturday Feb 3 (10am-9:30pm), Sunday Feb 4 (10am-6pm)

Where: Sparks St.

6.Eiffel Bridge Illumination

Enjoy this 10-min show of amazing choreography of more than 40 spotlights in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Gustave Eiffel’s death. FREE.

When: Every weekend between Feb 2 and 19 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

Where: Montcalm bridge, rue Montcalm, Gatineau.

7. Unikkaaqtuarniq: Stories from the North

Experience Indigenous films from the circumpolar North, outdoors in a theatre made of snow! FREE.

When: Only weekend Feb 2-3 from 6pm to 9pm.

Where: Lansdowne park, 1000 Exhibition Way. (Outside the Horticulture building and Aberdeen Pavilion.

8. Indigenous Performances

Watch pow wow dancers, throat singers and Métis jiggers. FREE. (Only this weekend). 

When: Feb 2-3 from 6pm to 9pm.

Where: Sparks St. 

9. Winterlude Roller Disco

Warm up with a retro roller disco in the Aberdeen Pavilion! Bring family and friends to enjoy the disco lights and an awesome DJ! There are three sessions: 2-4pm, 5-7pm, 8-10pm. *Walk-ups will be possible if there is room. Tickets: $9.53 for children 14 years old and under; $10.77 for 15 years old and up.

When: Saturday Feb 3. 

Where: Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne park.

10. Winter Crafts

Make winter crafts, build your own Snowfolk, enjoy shows and street artists and hot drink service. FREE. When: Every weekend Friday-Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Where: Bytown Museum, 1 Canal Lane.

11. Community Winter Pentathlon

Embrace winter with 5 fun free sessions that will have you laughing, sweating and smiling: snowshoeing, tobogganing, running/walking, winter bowling and a winter workout adventure. FREE. 100 max. Saturday Feb 3 from 11am to 1pm. At Lansdowne park (Meet at Horticulture building), 1525 Princess Patricia Way.

12. Winterlude Triathlon

Participants are supposed to skate all along the canal for 8km, run 5km and cross country ski for 6km at Mooney’s Bay. Saturday Feb 3 at 8 am. Starting point: Dows Lake.

13. Nibi Indigenous Arts Festival

Join this family-friendly arts festival to honour water. Presentations by Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous dancers and singers. Free hands-on activities and workshops. Demos by Indigenous artists and artisan vendors. Culinary Samplings of moose meat chili, three sisters soup, bannock, traditional strawberry drink, and caramel cake! FREE. Saturday Feb 3 from 10am to 1:30pm. At Shenkman Arts Centre, Lower Lobby, 245 Centrum Boulevard, Orleans.

14. Live @ The Rainbow

The Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival presents “Live @ The Rainbow, a series of free indoor concerts from Feb 2 to 19.  FREE. At Rainbow Bistro, 76 Murray Street/ Byward Market. 

Friday Friday February 2: 10:30pm Wintersleep; 9:15pm M.T. Walker; 8:00pm Steph La Rochelle (Wintersleep is a Canadian indie rock band formed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2001.)

Saturday February 3: 10:30pm JJ Wilde; 9:15pm The New Hires; 8:00pm Stoby

Sunday February 4: 10:30pm OMBIIGIZI; 9:15pm Pony Girl; 8:00pm Jasmine Trails

15. Emma Bovary, Angels’ Atlas

Featuring two amazing female choreographers. Emma Bovary by Helen Pickett is a psychological exploration of the central character of Gustave Flaubert’s 19th-century novel Madame Bovary. Angels’ Atlas by Crystal Pite is an examination of the human condition. With the National Ballet of Canada and the NAC Orchestra. PAID. Feb 1-3, 8pm. Southam Hall, National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street Ottawa. 

16. Manotick Shiverfest

Shiverfest 2024 is slightly different this year – although it continues to feature many of our popular activities (pancake breakfast, chili cook off and bingo to name a few!). A new event this year: SnowShoe Races on Saturday afternoon. FREE. Feb 2-3. 414 Manotick, Ontario. 

17. Ottawa Winter Jazz Fest

Enjoy live performances from Kenny Barron, Sarah Neufeld, Afro-Cuban artists OKAN, Canada’s great bassist Fraser Hollins and The Phoenix and more. February 3-4 at Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue.

18. Ottawa RV Expo & Sale

The Ottawa RV Expo and Sale is your chance to meet with Ottawa’s TOP RV dealers, access learning opportunities hosted by industry experts, and enter exciting contests and giveaways! The show has something for every family, lifestyle, and budget! General admission: $15. Feb 2-3 at the EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive.

19. PWHL Ottawa vs New York

Cheer on Ottawa’s professional women hockey team against New York. Sunday Feb 4 at 1pm at TD Place, 1015 Bank St.

20. Bouge Bouge

The unique indoor 5K in Ottawa’s Rideau Centre and Shaw Centre is back! This is a 5K race through the secret corridors of Ottawa’s two largest indoor centers. The start and finish will be on the 3rd floor of the Shaw Centre and all participants will have the unique opportunity to run the corridors of the Rideau Centre on a 2.5km loop to be repeated twice. **Online registration is now closed. Possibility to register Saturday Feb 4 at Loblaws Rideau. Monday Feb 5 from 7am to 11 am. At Shaw Center, 55 Colonel By Drive.

21. Ottawa Bagelshop Storytime

Storytime will feature 8 Ottawa and area authors presenting their most
exciting literary works on Sunday afternoons over the next 8 weeks. FREE. Every Sunday at 2pm. This Sunday Feb 4: Don Butler – “A Life Of Bliss” Part mystery, part romance, part ghost story & wholly entertaining.. with an opera twist! Written by former journalist for the Ottawa Citizen. At Ottawa Bagelshop & Deli, 1321 Wellington St West. Parking out front.

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