An eye-catching new landmark is sure to star in plenty of Winterlude photos this year as Ottawa-Gatineau’s
48th annual winter celebration
makes space for its first ferris wheel.
Crews cleared the snow from a corner of Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park in preparation for the arrival of the classic fairground attraction. It’s in place to dole out free rides throughout Winterlude, which takes place weekends from Jan. 31 to Feb. 16 in various locations on both sides of the Ottawa River.
But why a ferris wheel? It’s something organizers say they had been considering for years as part of their efforts to create a sustainable event — a Winterlude less dependent on the uncertain weather conditions that often challenge the region this time of year.
“We’ve actually been super excited about bringing a ferris wheel for the last number of years,” said Melanie Brault, director of Capital Celebrations at Canadian Heritage, the federal department that organizes Winterlude and Canada Day events in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
“We’ve been trying to figure out how to make room for it in the park, and this year we finally were able to make it happen and we’re super excited.”
Naturally, few things signal fun more than the sight of a large, revolving wheel of an amusement ride. When Bluesfest had a ferris wheel on site, it served as a meeting spot, a diversion and a nice frame for some stunning photos of the sunset.
But that was the peak of summer. This is the dead of winter.
To prepare, arrive early and bundle up, Brault advises. Although the seats are not enclosed, which means little protection from the wind and cold, she predicts the 50-foot-tall wheel will be a hit.
The reward at the top of the wheel is a view that encompasses Parliament Hill, the Ottawa and Rideau rivers, and the rest of the Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, a playground of snow slides, mazes, games, kids’ activities, music-making and more.
“It’s just another fun opportunity of something to do with your family,” Brault said. “Make sure that you’re dressed appropriately, with the tuque, the scarf, the mittens. It’s another way to come out and celebrate our Canadian winter.”
WHAT ELSE IS NEW AT WINTERLUDE IN 2026?
Meanwhile, the big news on the Ottawa side of the festivities is the
new and improved location
for the ice sculptures. The Crystal Garden is now back in Confederation Park after a stint on the windy, sunless tunnel that is Sparks Street in winter.
“We’re really excited about that,” Brault said. “It feels like we’re coming home after being on Sparks Street for a while.”
An
abundance of other attractions
at Confederation Park transform the downtown park into Winterlude headquarters. Activities include ice-carving demonstrations and competitions, cold yoga, karaoke, DJs and a Lantern Grove of giant lanterns and immersive storytelling.
Also in the park are outdoor screens to show movies, live Winter Olympics events and, on Feb. 6, the scheduled launch of the Artemis II, a historic mission to fly around the moon that includes Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
It’s worth noting, too, that Confederation Park is handy to skating, both on city hall’s Rink of Dreams and the Rideau Canal Skateway, not to mention its proximity to the swath of restaurants along Elgin Street, all fully heated.
DOES WINTERLUDE INCLUDE INDOOR EVENTS?
Yes. Returning to the Winterlude lineup this year are events inside the National Arts Centre and the Canadian Museum of History, plus an ongoing winter-themed exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada.
The museum welcomes a free, mini pow-wow showcasing Indigenous culture on Feb. 1, while the NAC presents its annual Big Bang festival for children Feb. 14-15 (performances are ticketed).
As for the gallery exhibition, it’s called Winter Count: Embracing the Cold, and runs until March 22, featuring more than 150 works from the early 19th century to the present that capture the frigid beauty of the season.
Another new partnership that gets you out of the cold is designed to showcase the culinary scene. Capital City Bites is a “city-wide celebration of dining, flavours and local talent” that involves 52 restaurants, from Absinthe to Zak’s Diner.
The program features a free, downloadable pass that “unlocks” deals at participating eateries.
ARE THERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO KICK UP YOUR HEELS IN THE SNOW?
You betcha. Skating aside, a wide range of snow-frolicking activities will appeal to folks of all ages. Depending on your demographic and energy level, you may want to try out winter sports like kicksledding and lacrosse at the Snowflake Kingdom, or challenge yourself to the Big Blizzard obstacle course.
Some fairly serious athletic pursuits are also part of the action, including a Winterlude Triathlon (Feb. 1), a Nordic run (Feb. 15) and the Gatineau Loppet, Canada’s largest international cross-country skiing event (Feb. 14-15).
Not to be overlooked are the adventurous youths who are impervious to the cold if the tunes are pumped. Which will be the case at Igloofest, the annual Gatineau dance party that’s basically a wintry outdoor rave. It’s at Zibi Place Feb. 12-14 this year, and features electronic-music legends Steve Aoki, Kaskade and BUNT. Unofficial dress code calls for your most colourful retro ski wear.
HOW DOES THE WEATHER LOOK FOR WINTERLUDE 2026?
Some years are a washout of rain and too-warm temperatures. Not this year. The festival is kicking off with an ideal winter forecast, calling for crisp, sub-zero temps and a mix of sun and cloud. “It’s been amazing for ice carving and getting the sites all ready for the public,” said Canadian Heritage spokesperson Brault.
What’s more, crews were able to start building Snowflake Kingdom early. “We started getting the park ready as early as Dec. 29 this year, and we were able to make a lot of snow. There was a huge snow pile out there to build all the different hills and corridors,” Brault said.
IS THE RIDEAU CANAL SKATEWAY PART OF WINTERLUDE?
Of course. Winterlude was originally designed to showcase the unique appeal of the Rideau Canal Skateway, although the uncertain weather of recent years prompted organizers to
take the official activities off the ice
. However, there’s no reason not to skate when the ice is suitable, and another bonus of this cold winter is the fantastic ice quality. The entire 7.8-kilometre length has been open for weeks, and the recently installed lighting makes it magical after dark.
By the way, it’s not just Beavertails and hot chocolate available to skaters this year. In addition to the food offerings of Snack O’Shack, Cafe Guylaine and 3Brothers (shawarma!), those aged 19 and up can now get local spirits and beer on the canal. Dunrobin Distillery kiosks are located at the Bronson and Concorde rest areas, while beer from Ottawa’s Dominion City is available at the Fifth Avenue rest area.
WHAT ARE THE STREET CLOSURES DURING WINTERLUDE?
No Ottawa streets are closed during Winterlude. The closures affect streets around Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park, banning car traffic between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the three Saturdays and Sundays during Winterlude, as well as the holiday Monday on Feb. 16. Parts of Laurier Dussault, Notre-Dame-de-l’Île, Champlain and Marston are closed to regular traffic during this time. Exceptions are made for emergency and service vehicles, authorized event vehicles, residents, workers and buses operated by the STO and OC Transpo. (Note that street parking is also limited in this area.)
HOW CAN I RIDE THE WINTERLUDE SNO-BUS?
The free Sno-Bus shuttle follows two routes to ferry visitors between Winterlude sites. On the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River, a bus runs from the Robert-Guertin park-and-ride on St-Rédempteur Street to the main entrance at Jacques-Cartier Park, and back, starting at 9 a.m.
In Ottawa, the shuttle runs between the ByWard Market and Jacques-Cartier Park, with a stop at Sparks and Elgin streets. On Feb. 7, a separate loop runs between Sparks Street (at Metcalfe and Queen) and Rideau Hall for people to attend Gov. Gen. Mary Simon’s winter celebration at the national historic site that serves as her residence.
Lynn Saxberg is the arts reporter at the Ottawa Citizen. For years she has been covering music festivals like Bluesfest, performances at the National Arts Centre and Canadian Tire Centre, as well as art exhibitions, comedy shows, the club scene and more. Sign up to receive weekly updates from
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