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.

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

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.

Photo of a trail head sign in Autumn — the Jack Pine Trail in autumn

Tranquility. It's not typically a word you’d expect to lead a blog about “finding fun,” but if you join me for this quiet detour, you’ll find one of the most rewarding experiences in Ottawa.

Chickadees!

No, this isn’t about birdwatching with binoculars. I’m talking about birds coming and landing right on your outstretched hand. Many find connecting with nature therapeutic—interacting with animals directly even more so. And no, you don’t have to be a Disney character to pull this off, trust me. I’ll give you some tips so even first-timers will have the Chickadees eating from their hands within a few minutes of arriving.

Location, Location, Location

Ottawa makes no secret of its expansive Greenbelt and the trails throughout—in fact, we’ve previously posted about some of the best trails for biking.

But let’s say you’re not in the mood to just zip through the trails. Or the chillier weather has you hanging up the bike for winter. Or maybe you’re looking for something you can do with the kids and grandparents simultaneously.

Well, I have just the paths for you. Nestled south of Bells Corners (east of Bridlewood) is a collection of NCC trails where the birds have become accustomed to people coming and feeding them. These paths have hundreds of volunteer-filled bird feeders all along their winding routes, but the real attraction is how birds will come right up to your outstretched hand.

Within the Stony Swamp area, the Lime Kiln Trail and Jack Pine Trail are beautifully maintained with boardwalks and relatively level terrain. These trails are by no means difficult to hike, so almost anyone of any age or fitness level can do them.

From October to November, the Chickadees are preparing for winter and are extra ravenous.

What to Bring

Sunflower seeds. They’re the favourite of Chickadees.
A convenient, easy-to-carry container or zip-lock baggy to bring the seeds.
Water and human snacks, so you can stay as long as you want.
Your phone or a good camera to capture the memories.
(Optional) Binoculars.

Don’t bring dogs, even leashed. Sorry, but Fido needs to stay home for this one, or else the birds won’t come near.

Always make sure you are dressed for the weather and are wearing comfortable outdoor shoes.

Make sure to use black oil sunflower seeds meant for birds. Don’t use sunflower seeds meant for human snacking.
You won’t find much success attracting Chickadees with Nyjer or other mixed bird seed blends. But if you bring some, be sure to leave a few handfuls in the numerous feeders along the way for the other, shier birds in the forest.

A small pile of sunflower seeds in the palm of an outstretched hand — Palm the seeds like this

What to Look For

As you make your way along the paths, keep an ear out.

When you hear the telltale “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call, you know you’re in the right spot to stop.

There may also be some feeders or even some seeds left by other trail-goers, signalling a good place to try.
But if seeds are available on rocks or in feeders, Chickadees may choose to grab those seeds over the ones in your hand.

Get the sunflower seeds out and look around for brush or low branches near the path.

Chickadees prefer to land at a safe branch nearby to scope you out first, so don’t stand in an area that’s too open.

A woman extending her arm away from her body with sunflower seeds in her palm — Extend your arm like this

What to Do

Sometimes, the Chickadees are bold and will surround you on nearby branches before you even extend your hands.

Either way, you’ll want to put a small amount of seeds on your palm and extend your arm away from your body.

You can choose to either sit or stand as long as you’re calm and remain still.

The most important thing is to remain patient.

Sudden or abrupt movements and noises can startle the Chickadees.
But don’t worry too much if you accidentally make some. If you wait quietly, they’ll get comfortable around you again.

A chickadee landing amongst the dappled light of a cedar grove

The Magic

Before you know it, the flaps of Chickadee wings as they dart to and fro will lead to the feeling of their tiny feet on your fingers as they land.

They’ll only stay for a very short moment, enough to pick a seed or two from your palm before they dart away.

Stay still and calm, as exciting as it is to have success. If you want to talk, do so in a relaxed, conversational tone.

Remember to leave some seeds on rocks and railings as you move along, or you can refill some of the feeders.

And enjoy the cute birds!

If you have several people with you, the Chickadees might favour one person for reasons known only to them. Don’t be jealous or let it discourage you. Find a different spot further away and see if they follow.

Some Sights and Sounds

A Chickadee flies in for a close up

Not just Chickadees are around, Nuthatches will land on you, too

A Chickadee lands on my hand near the Lime Kiln Trail’s ruins

A Few More Shots

Wrapping Up the Experience

I’m no photographer, but on one trip, I took hundreds of shots of Chickadees and Nuthatches landing on my hands. You’ll probably want to take photos, too.

If you’re an animal or nature lover, an introvert looking for a peaceful afternoon, or just looking for some incredible Instagram shots, then this adventure is for you. I really can’t recommend enough that you experience for yourself the unique delight that comes from these cute little birds choosing to land right on your hand.

Hunter Leclerc Brown (he/him) is Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk), born and raised in Ottawa. He is a professional writing student at Algonquin College, class of 2025. A lifelong sci-fi nerd, gamer, and martial artist, he’s now an aspiring author.

You’ll find him most days with a coffee, a good book, and snuggling with his cats.

Ottawa is not boring

Eight Activities to Brighten Ottawa’s Winter Days