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    • What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Dec. 24-27

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    CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at activities and events happening in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec over the Christmas weekend.

    SKATING

    The city of Ottawa's outdoor skating rinks are open for the season.

    Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall

    • Daily: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
    • Dec. 24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Dec. 25 and 26 – 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

    Lansdowne Park Skating Court

    • Daily: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

    Ben Franklin Place Skating Rink

    • Daily: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

    Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink

    Skaters on the Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020.

    SKIING

    Ski resorts are open across eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Visit each resort's website for details.

    CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ACROSS CANADA

    Parliament Hill and downtown Ottawa are dressed up for the holiday season with the Christmas Lights Across Canada.

    Checkout the multimedia projection on Parliament Hill and the Pathway of Lights in Canada's Capital Region.

    Christmas Lights Across Canada continues until Jan. 7.

    MAGIC OF LIGHTS

    The Magic of Lights light up Wesley Clover Parks this holiday season.

    Don't miss this dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favourite holiday scenes and characters of the season.

    Every ticket to Magic of Lights benefits CHEO.

    The Magic of Lights runs until Jan 8.

    For tickets, visit https://magicoflights.com/events/ottawa/.

    A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS AT SAUNDERS FARM

    Celebrate a Country Christmas at Saunders Farm with a drive-thru light and sound experience through its 180-year-old family farm and forest.

    The Country Christmas Light and Sound Show runs until Dec. 30.

    Guests visiting Saunders Farm for the drive-thru experience only do not need to be vaccinated. All guests 13 years old and older must be fully vaccinated to visit the Farm Shop, CiderHouse and Christmas Tree lot.

    For more information, visit https://saundersfarm.com/.

    ALIGHT AT NIGHT AT UPPER CANADA VILLAGE

    Alight at Night is billed as eastern Ontario's biggest outdoor light festival.

    Lights adorn the heritage buildings, trees, and fences of Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ont. creating a one-of-a-kind magical backdrop for its annual Alight at Night Festival.

    Alight at Night runs until Jan. 1

    Visit uppercanadavillage.com for details and tickets.

    St. Nick's workshop at Alight at Night at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ont.

    MUSEUMS

    A look at museum hours in the national capital region over the holidays.

    Museum of Nature

    • Open:  Dec. 27 to Dec. 30
    • Closed: Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 26, Dec. 31, Jan. 1.

    Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

    • Open: Dec. 24, Dec. 26, Dec. 27, Dec. 28, Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Dec. 31, Jan 1, Jan. 2
    • Closed: Dec. 25

    Canada Science and Technology Museum

    • Open: Dec. 24, Dec. 26, Dec. 27, Dec. 28, Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Dec. 31, Jan 1, Jan. 2
    • Closed: Dec. 25

     Canada Aviation and Space Museum

    • Open: Dec. 24, Dec. 26, Dec. 27, Dec. 28, Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Dec. 31, Jan 1, Jan. 2
    • Closed: Dec. 25

     Canadian War Museum

    • The Canadian War Museum is closed over the holidays.

     Canadian Museum of History 

    • The Canadian Museum of History is closed over the holidays.

     National Gallery of Canada

    • Open: Dec. 24 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Dec. 26 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Dec. 27 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Dec. 28 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Dec. 29 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Dec. 30 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.), Dec. 31 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Jan. 1 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
    • Closed: Dec. 25

     The Diefenbunker

    • Open: Dec. 29, Dec. 30. Dec. 31 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
    • Closed: Dec. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and Jan. 1.

    As of Dec. 1, all guests 12 and older must show proof of full vaccination to visit the Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of History and the National Gallery of Canada.

    OWLS RENDEZ-VOUS

    Come face-to-face with live owls at the Canadian Museum of Nature.

    Don't miss this outdoor exhibition, created in partnership with Little Ray's Nature Centre. See owls and an eagle in their specially-designed habitat enclosures.

    BYWARD MARKET AND PARKDALE MARKET

    The ByWard Market and Parkdale Public Market are open.

    For more information, visit www.ottawamarkets.ca.

    PARC OMEGA

    Parc Omega is open in Montebello, Que.

    For more information, visit https://www.parcomega.ca/en/.

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