What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Dec. 31-Jan. 2
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at activities and events happening in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec over the New Year's weekend.
For a list of events happening on New Year's Eve, click here.
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. 31: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Jan. 1: 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
- For skating times, visit https://ottawa.ca/en/jim-tubman-chevrolet-rink#schedule
A sign is seen advising a capacity limit for skaters on the ice due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant at the Rink of Dreams at City Hall in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
SKIING
Ski resorts are open across eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Visit each resort's website for details.
- Camp Fortune
- Calabogie Peaks
- Mont Cascades
- Mont Pakenham
- Mont Ste. Marie
- Ski Vorlage
- Sommet Edelweiss
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/.
ALIGHT AT NIGHT AT UPPER CANADA VILLAGE
It's the final two nights of Alight at Night, 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.
- Open: Jan 2, Jan 3.
- Closed: Dec. 31, Jan. 1.
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Open: Dec. 31, Jan 1, Jan. 2
- Closed: Jan. 3
Canada Science and Technology Museum
- Open: Dec. 31, Jan 1, Jan. 2
- Closed: Jan 3.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Open: Dec. 31, Jan 1, Jan. 2, Jan. 3.
- The Canadian War Museum is closed over the holidays.
- The Canadian Museum of History is closed over the holidays.
- Open: Dec. 31 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Jan. 1 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m.), Jan. 2.
- Closed: Jan. 3.
- Open: Dec. 31 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Jan 2.
- Closed: Jan. 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/.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former Liberal cabinet minister Marco Mendicino won't seek re-election
Marco Mendicino, a prominent Toronto member of Parliament and former minister of public safety and immigration, won't run in the next federal election, CTV News has learned.
Pickering pausing in-person meeting due to alt-right threats, mayor says
Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe says the city is pausing all in-person meetings, moving them to a virtual format, for the time being due to “alt-right” threats.
Athabasca 'chop shop' bust yields millions in stolen vehicles, heavy equipment: RCMP
RCMP have made what they call a "major recovery" of stolen property in Athabasca.
2 dead and 18 injured in Southern California plane crash
Two people died and 18 were injured Thursday when a small plane crashed through the roof of a sprawling furniture manufacturing building in Southern California where at least 200 people were working, police said.
Toys "R" Us Canada closing 5 stores, expand HMV and add play spaces to some shops
Toys 'R' Us Canada says it is closing five Ontario stores and revamping several others as it works to 'optimize' its business.
Wayne Osmond, singer and guitarist for The Osmonds, is dead at 73
Wayne Osmond, a singer, guitarist and founding member of the million-selling family act The Osmonds, who were known for such 1970s teen hits as 'One Bad Apple,' 'Yo-Yo' and 'Down By the Lazy River,' has died. He was 73.
Grieving orca mother Tahlequah carries dead baby for the second time
The famous mother orca who made waves around the world for carrying her dead calf for 17 days has suffered another tragic loss.
U.S. soldier shot self in head before Cybertruck exploded outside Trump's Las Vegas hotel, officials say
The highly decorated U.S. army soldier inside a Tesla Cybertruck packed with fireworks that exploded outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas shot himself in the head just before detonation, authorities said Thursday.
'Premeditated and an evil act': FBI updates on investigation into New Orleans 'act of terrorism'
The FBI now says that the pickup truck driver responsible for a deadly rampage in New Orleans acted alone.