Final Sunday of Winterlude

OTTAWA – The Rideau Canal Skateway is closed until further notice and people are being asked to stay off the ice for their own safety.

With or without the canal, there will be no shortage of fun or family activities to enjoy during the the third and final weekend of Winterlude. You can take in a wide range of events from hot fashions and cool science to some cross-country ski races.

Here is an overview of some of the activities and some of the closures due to warm temperatures.

Rogers Crystal Garden in Confederation Park:

– Ice carving demonstrations

Sun. Feb. 19 (noon, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.)

– Young sculptors will learn basic techniques with professional ice carvers; tools and safety goggles will be provided

Sun. Feb. 19 (10:30 a.m. to noon – ages 8 to 12); (1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. – ages 13 to 17

Confederation Park

– Popular evening destination during Sub-Zero Music Series

In Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau, visitors will also have the chance to:

– Find their way through the A-maze-ing Fort Wellington
– Learn about life of people who lived in 1812 through interpretation, demonstrations and games
– Take part in a day in the life of a Coast Guard employee
– Test their physical fitness in Canadian Forces Winter Obstacle Course
– Experience downhill skiing with qualified instructors
– Feel the rhythm at Snowflake Stage featuring talented performers and acrobatic stunts

NOTE**THE RIDEAU CANAL SKATEWAY IS CURRENTLY CLOSED BECAUSE OF MILD TEMPERATURES AND POOR CONDITIONS**

Visitors to the Rideau Canal Skateway will have the opportunity to:

– Discover Portraits on Ice, an outdoor art gallery presented by Library and Archives Canada, which commemorating the War of 1812  
– See Fire Weavers and other talented acts at  WestJet Fun ‘n Festival Zone
– Enjoy culinary demonstrations and sample creative Canadian dishes in American Express Lounge at Fifth Avenue
– Learn how to stay safe on skates, and receive helmet information and skating tips at State Farm Skate Safe tent
– Sign up for the 45-minute Subway Learn to Skate session
– Take par in storytelling theatre, traditional dances, songs and hand drumming with Aboriginal Experiences at Pig Island
Programming Partners

Other events you can check out on weekend three of Winterlude:

– Ottawa Fashion Week (Finishes Sunday)
– Eighth Annual Cracking-Up the Capital for Mental Health
– Cool Science Saturday at  Canada Science and Technology Museum
– Largest cross-country ski event in Canada: the Gatineau Loppet
– Winterman Marathon and Marathon Relays
– Winter Wines and Beers at Maison du Citoyen de Gatineau
– Free, all-night screenings at National Gallery of Canada of The Clock

Also happening:

– Downtown Rideau CHILL FACTOR including Russian-inspired party at Ottawa Art Gallery called “On the Rocks” and “POLYTECTURES”, a free winter sound walk that marries music and architecture
– Great games and Inuit doll-making at the Canadian Museum of Civilization;
– NAC English Theatre Family Day free activities
– Snowshoe Into History at Canadian War Museum
–  Design Your Own Timber Stamp at  Bytown Museum
– Wintermuse at Bank of Canada Currency Museum
– Friends of Gatineau Park celebrate Heritage Day and Snowshoe Under the Stars, or visitors can reserve through Gatineau Park Visitor Centre for Animal Tracking on Snowshoes

This is the final weekend of the 34th edition of Winterlude, the Capital Region’s winter celebration, which kicked-off on February 3 and ends on February 20.