Winterlude 2012

Ottawa Travel Guide

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Tuesday, 27 December 2011 15:25

Our much anticipated Winterlude festival is quickly approaching in the city of Ottawa. Visitors won’t want to miss all the amazing events and festivities that will be occurring throughout the winter festival in various venues. In town on February 3rd? You’re in luck; this is the day the entire celebration kicks off with a spectacular opening ceremony taking place near the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

The spectacle will be called Fire and Lights from 1812 to 2012: Forging the Canadian Spirit, and commemorates the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 through a series of fireworks and historical presentations. As of 5:00pm, guests can enjoy free admission to the museum to learn about past Canadian triumphs and attend lectures and storytelling sessions on military tales and folklore.

Professional drummers will perform for audiences around fire pits to offer a look into how Canadians have celebrated with song throughout history. For a fee, travellers can make plans to attend an IMAX movie that will be centered around historical events as well.

At night, the massive fireworks and music display will occur over the Alexandra Bridge, which crosses the Ottawa River and overlooks the entrance to the Rideau Canal. After the presentation concludes, all are welcome to dance the night away to tunes spun by DJ Kytami and the PhonoGraFF group, which is appropriate for all ages.

Along with the fireworks display, there are many other activities happening throughout Ottawa honouring the country's role in the War of 1812. For the kids, there will be some great storytelling and reenactments happening in the Snowflake Kingdom that will provide education and entertainment.

Adults can also have some fun in Snowflake Kingdom by checking out the soldiers' barracks that painstakingly recreate the kinds of conditions experienced during Canada's military past. Travellers who download the Parks Canada Heritage Gourmet food app on their smartphones can learn even more about how these soldiers lived by browsing the recipes of classic national dishes. If cuisine is your fancy, then extend the experience with Taste of Winterlude, an annual culinary showcase that brings the city’s best chefs out to play.

Or course, this year like every year, Winterlude will be filled with the many signature experiences that draw 700,000 people to the party: Confederation Park’s world-class ice carving competition, skating on the Rideau Canal, and the chance to savour Ottawa’s own Beavertail pastries.