Festivals Across the Ottawa Area
Wine, Food, Arts & Crafts, & Winter Excitement
Make your travel plans to visit Ottawa and experience an array of exciting and eclectic festivals. While you'll certainly want to make time to visit Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, set aside time to enjoy festivals like the One World Film Festival, and the Ottawa Folk Festival.
In early November, head for the Ottawa Convention Center for the Ottawa Wine and Food Festival. Nearly 25,000 people on average enjoy the yearly event, with close to 1,400 different wines to taste, and plenty of unique food to nibble on, you're sure to have a blast at the Ottawa Wine and Food Festival. Drive in from nearby Smiths Falls or Renfrew.
During your summer visit to Ottawa, head for the LeBrenton Flats in downtown for the Ottawa International Children's Festival. A five day celebration typically held the last week in May, the Ottawa International Children's Festival features live performance art, and a wide range of hands-on activities for the little ones. The drive in from Hawkesbury and Cornwall should prove to be scenic.
While visiting the Ottawa area, head for Pembroke and check out the Pembroke Arts Festival. Held inside the Recreation Center at the Pembroke Town Green, the Pembroke Arts Festival celebrates the work of local artists culminating with an awards ceremony.
In Ottawa, your winter visit should be met with a trip to Winterlude. Beginning in late January and rolling through the middle of February, Winterlude is the biggest winter festival in the Ottawa area – close to 600,000 people partake in the annual festival. The kids will enjoy Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park, while you'll want to sip and nibble on local wines and fine foods from vendors.
Winterlude
Drawing crowds of up to 1.6 million annually, Winterlude celebrates winter in venues across Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec, at the meeting of the central Ontario and Quebec regions. Primary locations of the festival are Rideau Canal Skateway, Confederation Park, and Dow's Lake in Ottawa, and Jacques-Cartier Park and Gatineau Park in Gatineau.
The celebration stretches over three weekends each year and provides visitors with an abundance of activities and attractions and shows. Rideau Canal Skateway, the world's largest skating rink, is a draw all season and serves as the focal point for the entire festival.
Attendees take part in skating shows, DJ dance parties and interactive displays, while ice sculptures line the parks and surrounding Ottawa and Gatineau streets.