Things you can do in Ottawa for free this winter
While the cost of groceries, property taxes and home ownership keeps rising, there are things you can do in Ottawa this winter without breaking the bank.
You can visit Winterlude in Ottawa and Gatineau, go cross-country skiing for free at several trails in Ottawa or tour the Parliament buildings.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at nine things you can do for free in Ottawa this winter.
Winterlude
Experience the best of Canadian winter at Winterlude.
The popular winter festival in Ottawa and Gatineau includes a number of free events on Sparks Street, the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau and in the ByWard Market.
Winter Pride is set for the weekend of Feb. 10 to 12.
Winterlude runs until Feb. 20. For information, visit www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/winterlude
The Winterlude National Ice-Carving Championship kicked off on Sparks Street Saturday morning. The competition was delayed one day due to the cold temperatures. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)
Rideau Hall Winter Celebration
The public is invited to Rideau Hall on Feb. 11 for the Winter Celebration.
Activities include:
- Eisstock – a traditional Alpine winter sport similar to curling
- Giant Skis
- Indigenous Activities - activities that reflect the diversity of Indigenous communities through traditional music, dance and various workshops
- Korean traditional games
- Nunavut traditions - Rideau Hall says students from Nunavut Sivuniksavut will share their Inuit culture and language through drumming, dancing, throat singing, Inukshuk building and other winter activities
- Obstacle Course and Winter Camp
- Sjoelen – Dutch shuffleboard
- Skate on the Rideau Hall outdoor skating rink
All activities are free of charge.
For more information, visit gg.ca.
Free Wagon Rides
Celebrate Valentine's Day with a free horse-drawn wagon ride in the ByWard Market.
The ByWard Market BIA is offering complimentary horse-drawn wagon rides on Feb. 14 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information, visit byward-market.com
Big Bang
Get ready for the ultimate musical adventure on Feb. 18 and 19 at the National Arts Centre.
The Big Bang Festival is back with a burst of colourful activities, including several free events.
For information on the free and ticketed events, visit https://nac-cna.ca/en/bigbang.
Skating
You can skate for free at Ottawa's four refrigerated outdoor skating rinks.
- The Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall is open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (weather permitting).
- Lansdowne Park skating court is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (weather permitting).
- The Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink (Canterbury) is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (weather permitting).
- Ben Franklin Place Skating Rink (101 Centrepointe Drive) Open daily (weather permitting).
Cross-country skiing
You can cross-country ski for free at the following areas, but donations are encouraged.
- Britannia Winter Trail offers nearly 17 kilometres of trails around Britannia Park
- Kichi Sibi Winter Trail features 18 kilometres from the Canadian War Museum to Ottawa's west end.
- Rideau Winter Trail loops through parkland beside the Rideau River, just east of downtown Ottawa.
- Ski Heritage East runs 17 kilometres of trails along the Ottawa River east of downtown.
- Ottawa West Winter Trail – Enjoy 21 km of groomed winter trails for cross-country skiing in west Ottawa this winter.
Tour Parliament
You can take a free tour of the Senate of Canada Building and the House of Commons in the newly restored West Block.
Senate Guided Tours last 30 minutes, while tours of the House of Commons take approximately 40 minutes.
For tickets, visit https://rts.parl.ca/
Visit a museum
You can visit the following museums for free during the following periods.
- Canadian Museum of Nature – Free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum – Free admission daily from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
- Canada Science and Technology Museum – Free admission daily from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Museum is closed on Mondays)
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum – Free admission daily from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
- Canadian War Museum – Admission is free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., but a timed ticket is required.
- Canadian Museum of History Admission is free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., but a timed ticket is required.
- National Gallery of Canada – Free admission every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. You must book your ticket in advance.
KIDS EAT FREE
Children can eat for free at several restaurants in Ottawa.
Zak's Diner – Kids 10 and under eat free Sunday to Thursday (holidays excluded) from 4 p.m. to close, with the purchase of one adult meal and beverage. Offer available at the Zak's Diner locations in the ByWard Market, on Elgin Street and in Kanata. Visit the restaurant's website for details.
Jonny Canuck's – Kids eat free on Sundays between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. For more information, visit the restaurant's website.
Mandarin Restaurant – Kids aged 4 and under eat free from the buffet (up to two kids per paid adult)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.