Head to Ottawa's parks at night for the Lumiere Festival

Ottawa Travel Guide

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Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:11

An illuminating event will be taking place in the capital's New Edinburgh and Stanley parks this summer, which can be exciting for travellers to experience on their tours of Ottawa. In August, the local Crichton Cultural Community Centre (CCCC) will host the annual Lumiere Festival that allows everyone to use their lantern making skills to make the city glow with temporary installations. No matter what artistic skill level a participant has, they are welcome to take part in the occasion by attending workshops, creating their own pieces or simply strolling the park paths to admire the works of art.

Although the official day of the festival is the Evening of Light Celebration on August 18, activities and performances will be happening throughout the month for locals and tourists to attend. Pathways, labyrinths, theatre productions and other activities will all be decorated and presented under the radiating light of hand-crafted lanterns made of paper, candles, wood and other components. Guests can see several shows under lantern light, making for a unique theatrical experience.

For this year's festivities, the event is adding new acts and installations to its lineup to make this event more thrilling. For instance, on the Lumiere's official Facebook page, they recently announced the theatre troupe Surreal McCoy will make an appearance during the festivities. This group has a fun approach to performance, using intricate costumes to create a large four-legged creature on stage . Specialising in street-style shows, they have travelled all over the world, reaching audiences of all ages on six continents.

Children who live near or in Ottawa, or who are visiting for a longer period of time, can immerse themselves in the artistic medium of lantern making and theatre by participating in the special summer camp happening August 13-17. Expert counsellors will teach kids aged 10-13 in various aspects of art, dance and even clowning that can make for a memorable and interesting way to spend time in Canada's capital for aspiring young artists.

Individuals who love summer evenings that are taking time to travel to Ontario should not miss this great month-long event that celebrates the night and is a nod to all the fantastic artistic offerings this city has to give.