Winterlude's outdoor activities resume today after an extremely cold start to the festival

Winterlude's outdoor winter attractions opened to the public on Saturday, one day after the extreme cold weather forced the cancellation of all outdoor activities on the opening day of the winter festival.

Hundreds of people packed Winterlude sites in Ottawa and Gatineau for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I got to do the obstacle courses, snow tubing, paint my face," said Claudia while at Jacques-Cartier Park.

"Maple taffy, got to have it every time we come here," said another person.

The Winterlude National Ice-Carving Championship kicked off on Sparks Street at 10 a.m., while the Snowflake Kingdom and all activities in Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau at 12 p.m. 

Winterlude returns to Ottawa and Gatineau this weekend for the first time in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the festival got off to a cold start, with temperatures of -27 C forcing organizers to close the Snowflake Kingdom and postpone all outdoor events on Friday.

Speaking on Newstalk 580 CFRA's CFRA Live with Andrew Pinsent on Saturday morning, Canadian Heritage spokesperson Melanie Brault said cancelling outdoor events on Friday was a difficult decision. 

"We had to make some pretty tough decisions yesterday but I think, in the end, it's really about health and safety," Brault said.

The ice-carving will go from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and continue Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

With events resuming Saturday, Brault reminded visitors that there are ways to stay warm.

"We have a huge refuge (at Snowflake Kingdom), like a heated, huge space, so families can take breaks in there throughout the day whenever they come to visit us at Jacques Cartier Park," she said. 

Besides the Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park and the ice sculptures on Sparks Street, you are also invited to the free tours of the RCMP Musical Ride Stables on Saturday, the interactive light features in the ByWard Market, Snowphy Trophy in the Glebe and activities at the Canadian Museum of History and the National Arts Centre.

"We didn't know it was going to be this cold," said a woman on Sparks Street. "It's been fun. We've never been to Ottawa before."

"It's cold for the first half hour, and you get used to it," said another man.

Brault says Canadian Heritage is hoping Mother Nature will co-operate for the opening weekend.

"By Sunday, the weather is going to be so much better. Come on down to Sparks Street, you can see live carving," Brault said. "There will be 13 duos that will be carving for 20 hours, and the theme this year is Creatures of the Sea."

The Rideau Canal Skateway remains closed, and the National Capital Commission has said it will not open for the opening weekend of the Winterlude.

Winterlude runs until Feb. 20.

With files from CTV News Ottawa's Leah Larocque.