Winterlude facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Winterlude |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
An ice sculpture bearing the Winterlude logo.
|
|
| Genre | Winter festival |
| Begins | January 31, 2025 |
| Ends | February 17, 2025 |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Confederation Park Jacques Cartier Park Rideau Canal Skateway |
| Location(s) | Ottawa, Ontario Gatineau, Quebec |
| Country | Canada |
| Inaugurated | 1979 |
| Previous event | February 2 - 19, 2024 |
| Next event | January 31 - February 17, 2025 |
| Organised by | Canadian Heritage |
Winterlude is a super fun annual winter festival that happens in Ottawa, Ontario, and Gatineau, Quebec. These two cities are right next to each other and are known as Canada's National Capital Region.
This amazing event is organized by the Department of Canadian Heritage, which is a part of the Canadian government. Winterlude first started way back in 1979. It's one of the biggest attractions in Ottawa, bringing in hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. In 2007, a record 1.6 million people visited the festival! It's even been named one of the top 100 yearly attractions in Canada and the United States.
Contents
What to See and Do at Winterlude
Winterlude is packed with exciting activities and cool places to explore. It's all about celebrating winter in a big way!
Skating on the Rideau Canal
The most famous part of Winterlude is the Rideau Canal Skateway. Imagine skating on the world's largest natural ice rink! It's about 7.8 kilometers (or 5 miles) long. That's like skating from one end of a big town to the other!
Snowflake Kingdom Fun
Another main spot is the Snowflake Kingdom. You'll find this in Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau. This park turns into a giant "snow park" with huge ice slides that are super fast. There are also amazing snow sculptures and lots of activities just for kids.
Crystal Garden and Rink of Dreams
Confederation Park is also known as Crystal Garden during Winterlude. This is where you can see incredible ice sculptures carved by artists. They even have an ice lounge and live music concerts. Right across the street, at Marion Dewar Plaza, there's the Rink of Dreams. This ice rink hosts fun skating shows, DJ dance parties, and cool art displays throughout the festival. You can also find a large skating area and other activities at Dow's Lake.
Other Cool Activities
Beyond the main sites, many museums in Ottawa have special exhibits for Winterlude. You can also find fun events in areas like the ByWard Market and Sparks Street. The whole city gets into the spirit!
Meet the Ice Hogs
The festival has its own special mascots called "Ice Hogs." These are fictional creatures that look a bit like groundhogs. The story says they came from a magical ice vortex during the last Ice Age. They add a touch of magic to Winterlude and are loved by everyone who enjoys the winter season.
Winterlude Races and Sports
Winterlude isn't just about skating and sculptures; it also hosts some exciting races!
Cross-Country Skiing and More
The Gatineau Loppet is a famous cross-country ski race that started in 1979. It takes place in Gatineau Park. This event also includes races for snowshoes and Fatbikes, which are bikes with super wide tires for snow.
The Winterlude Triathlon
Since 1984, the Winterlude Triathlon has been a part of the festival. A triathlon is a race with three different parts. This one usually involves skating across the Rideau Canal, running along Colonel By Drive, and skiing at Mooney's Bay Park. There are also other fun races like "bed racing" and "ice dragon boat" racing!
How Long Does Winterlude Last?
Winterlude usually takes place over three weekends, typically in February. It often ends on Family Day, which is a Monday holiday.
Quiet Weekdays
During the weekdays between the busy weekends, there are fewer events. This means the skating rink is much less crowded, and the ice is in perfect condition. You might share the ice with only a thousand skaters instead of thousands! The places where you can change your skates and get food along the skateway stay open during the week.
Weather Challenges
Ottawa's weather can be a bit tricky. Sometimes, warm temperatures can make it hard for the Rideau Canal to stay frozen. For good skating ice, the temperature needs to be around -10°C (14°F). If it gets too warm, the ice and snow sculptures might melt a bit early. The length of the skating season changes a lot each year. For example, in 2015–2016, the canal was only open for 18 days, but in 1971–1972, it was open for 95 days!
Gallery
-
Mexican ice sculptor Abel Ramírez Águilar with his amazing creation.
-
Confederation Park ice sculptures look magical when lit up at night.
-
The H2Orchestra performs outside the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
-
People enjoying skating at Dow's Lake.
-
A stilt performer entertains visitors at Jacques-Cartier Park.
See also
- Winter festival
