Eight Activities to Brighten Ottawa’s Winter Days
/As the days get shorter and the cold sets in, it’s easy to find ourselves longing for the warmth and endless activities of summer. However, Ottawa’s winter offers its own unique charm and excitement. With these seven activities, you’ll soon forget about those measly nine hours of daylight and embrace the season.
rows of trees at Cedar hill christmas tree farm
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree
Get in the holiday spirit and cut your own Christmas tree this year at a farm in Ottawa. This is a great family activity, and dogs are welcome as well!
If you’re in Ottawa’s east end, check out Briggs Tree Farm, located in Navan. If you’re in Ottawa’s west end, check out Fallowfield Tree Farm.
Take in the Winter Lights
Keep an eye out around the city as public lights get strung up over the next two months. Notably, Lansdowne Park will be filled with glittering displays for the Ottawa Christmas Market, starting on November 22 (for more on Ottawa’s markets, check out this post).
From November 22 onward, you can also visit Magic of Lights’ drive-through light exhibition. Their more than a mile-long route features a giant Holiday Barbie display, life-size monster trucks and dinosaurs, and more. They are located a short drive from downtown, at Wesley Clover Parks, near Kanata. You can get your tickets here.
On Saturday, November 30, head out to Orleans and watch Santa’s Parade of Lights. This annual parade features light-filled floats and bands, and Santa is rumoured to make another appearance this year… Past crowds have exceeded 100,000, according to event coordinators.
family skating under the lights at an outdoor rink
Go Skating on an Outdoor Rink
Who needs sub-zero temperatures when we have refrigerated ice surfaces? The City of Ottawa operates four such rinks throughout the city: the Rink of Dreams at City Hall, Lansdowne Park skating court, Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink at Canterbury, and Ben Franklin Place rink.
These rinks typically open around November, so keep your eyes peeled for opening dates. Check the City of Ottawa website for more details.
Watch Canada’s National Sport
If you don’t feel like going skating yourself, then you can watch others do it instead. Ottawa is home to some of the highest-level hockey in the world, and this is the best time of year to enjoy it. This season is a particularly exciting one for the city.
The Ottawa Senators have a dynamic, young core of players, and the team’s stock is on the rise. So, get yourself on the bandwagon now and head out to a game.
Fans watch a hockey game
The Sens will play 10 home games over the next two months. Notably, Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers are in town on November 19. The team is also hosting a country-themed night at the Canadian Tire Centre (CTC) when they play the Red Wings on December 5.
One of hockey’s biggest tournaments, the World Junior Hockey Championship, is also being hosted in Ottawa this year. The Canadian team is looking to bounce back after a dissapointing result last year. The majority of games will be held at TD Place Arena and the CTC; you can get tickets here.
And if that’s not enough hockey for you, Ottawa also has an Ontario Hockey League team, the 67s. They play at TD Place Arena, in Lansdowne Park. You won’t want to miss their Teddy Bear Toss game on December 8. After the first 67s goal, fans will launch thousands of stuffed animals down from the stands. All of which will be given to children in need around Ottawa.
Watch the Debut of Canada’s Other National Sport
If hockey isn’t your cup of tea, consider checking out Ottawa’s brand-new lacrosse team, the Ottawa Black Bears in their inaugural season in the National Lacrosse League. Their season opener is on November 29, against the Toronto Rock.
Join a Sports League
Joining a sports league might provide the perfect motivation to get you out of the house. You can also make new friends or reconnect with old ones; a sport league will help you maintain your social life during those hibernation months.
The Ottawa Sport & Social Club (OSSC) hosts winter leagues. You can choose from more than 14 sports, including soccer, basketball, flag football, volleyball, and badminton. They also have drop-in options for those who don’t want to commit to a full season.
Go on a Santa Run
map of this year’s santa shuffle
Throw on your craziest festive running gear and join the Santa Shuffle Fun Run and Elf Walk on December 7. The walk is one-kilometre, and the run is five-kilometres; they both begin at Lansdowne Park.
There will be prizes for best dressed and free gear for those who fundraise more than $50. All proceeds from the race go to the Salvation Army.
Visit a Spa
When you’re done with all this activity, head to a spa to ensure optimal recovery. Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea is highly recommended.
Just a short drive from Ottawa, it provides a peaceful retreat from the city, with outdoor baths, saunas, and relaxation areas—the perfect place to unwind after a day of winter fun.
A lifelong Ottawan, Jack Rhoades has been finding fun in Ottawa for the past two decades. In his search, he has biked across the city, paddled over its rivers, and run across its paths. These activities have turned him into a staunch defender of his city and its underratedness. When he’s not out exploring the city, he can be found playing golf or tennis, and coaching minor hockey.
