Things to do in Ottawa on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at things to do in Ottawa on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
OC Transpo
OC Transpo is ringing in 2025 with free transit on New Year’s Eve.
The transit service says there will be no-charge transit on the O-Train, buses and Para Transpo after 6 p.m. Tuesday.
OC Transpo bus service will be operating on a reduced weekday schedule on December 31, with additional resources "available to supplement busy routes as required," OC Transpo general manager Renee Amilcar said.
The O-Train will operate on a reduced Friday schedule from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m., with peak period service every five minutes. The B2 buses will operate on a special schedule from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Para Transpo will operate until 3 a.m.
World Junior Hockey Championship
The preliminary round of the World Junior Hockey Championship wraps up on New Year’s Eve in Ottawa, including Canada and the United States facing off at Canadian Tire Centre.
Games will be played at Canadian Tire Centre and TD Place on Tuesday.
- 12 p.m. – Switzerland and Kazakhstan at TD Place
- 2:30 p.m. – Latvia vs. Finland at Canadian Tire Centre
- 5 p.m. – Czechia vs. Sweden at TD Place
- 8 p.m. – Canada vs. United States at Canadian Tire Centre
The quarterfinal games for the World Junior Hockey Championship will be played on Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre and TD Place.
For information on the tournament schedule, visit www.hockeycanada.ca.
World Junior Fan Fest
The World Junior Fan Fest will be open at Lansdowne on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
There will be free, family-friendly activities, live bands, watch parties, a synthetic ice rink and ball hockey rinks.
The Fan Fest will be open until midnight on New Year’s Eve, with the Canada game on the big screen, live music from the Wilderness from 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and fireworks at midnight.
For more information, visit https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/men/junior/2024-25/fans/fan-fest.
Hogman-Eh!
Ring in the New Year with Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year’s Eve celebration in Ottawa known as Hogman-Eh!
This year, the event is being held at the Infinity Convention Centre on Gibford Drive. Just before 7 p.m., the RCAF pipe band will help ring in the New Year in Scotland, and then the party will continue until midnight to welcome 2025.
For tickets and information, click here.
MJ the Musical
Broadway Across Canada presents MJ the Musical.
The multi–Tony Award-winning musical centres around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour.
See MJ from New Year’s Eve to Jan 5 at the National Arts Centre.
New Year’s Eve events in Ottawa
- New Year’s Eve Comedy Night at the Shenkman Arts Centre
- Dance Through the Decades New Year’s Eve Party at the Rideau Carleton Casino
- New Year’s Party at the Casino du Lac Leamy
- SBK NYE 2025 – The Latin Ball 2 at the Double Tree by Hilton Ottawa
New Year’s Eve Ottawa Charity Ball
The New Year’s Eve Ottawa Charity Ball at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre includes Paul Langlois of the Tragically Hip. The evening includes a four-course meal and champagne at midnight.
For tickets and information, visit https://ottawacharityball.ca/.
Great Canadian Theatre Company
See the Humbug Hustle: A Holiday Phantom-ime at the Great Canadian Theatre Company until January 5.
For tickets and information, visit https://ottawamusicals.com/.
Restaurants
Some restaurants in Ottawa will be hosting New Year’s Eve events and will be open on New Year’s Day.
You can book reservations on OpenTable for select restaurants that will be open, or you can call ahead.
Museums
Click on the links for the schedules at museums in Ottawa
- Canadian Museum of Nature. The museum will be closed New Year’s Day
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Canada Science and Technology Museum
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Canadian War Museum
- Canadian Museum of History
- National Gallery of Canada
- Ottawa Art Gallery. The gallery will be closed on New Year’s Day
Outdoor skating rinks
You can go for a skate, weather permitting, on City of Ottawa outdoor rinks.
- Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall
- Lansdowne Park skating court
- Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink at Canterbury
- Ben Franklin Place skating rink
Ottawa Christmas Market
The Ottawa Christmas Market will continue on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day at Lansdowne.
The market features over 50 vendors, entertainment, holiday lights and decorations and more.
The Ottawa Christmas Market will be open from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on New Year’s Day. The Ottawa Christmas Market runs until Sunday.
For more information, visit https://www.ottawachristmasmarket.com/.
Magic of Lights
Celebrate the holidays with a drive through the Magic of Lights at Wesley Clover Parks.
The holiday lights experience features your favourite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations.
The Magic of Lights runs until Jan. 4. For tickets and information, visit https://magicoflights.com/locations/ottawa-on/.
Winter Lights Across Canada
Downtown Ottawa and Gatineau are lit up for the holidays.
Check out the Winter Lights Across Canada every night until Jan. 7.
Several buildings and parks are illuminated for the holidays, including Confederation Park, the National War Memorial, Jacques-Cartier Park and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Alight at Night Festival
The historic village at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg is decorated for the holidays during the Alight at Night Festival.
Over one million lights illuminate the village’s buildings, creating a one-of-a-kind magical backdrop.
Alight at Night runs until Saturday.
For tickets and information, visit https://www.uppercanadavillage.com/.
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