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
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.