Winterlude over the years

A day of winter celebration is organized in Ottawa. It attracts a few hundred curious people who watch a bed race and meet ByTowne Bert, a magical creature who came from... under the ice on the Rideau Canal!

The National Capital Commission (NCC) creates Winterlude, a week-long event. The mascot is back. Its name is Ice Hog, the ancestor of the Ice Hogs.

About 100,000 visitors attend Winterlude. Activities take place mostly around Dows Lake.

An attempt is made to break the Guinness World Record for the longest human chain. To achieve this, 17,000 people hold hands along the Rideau Canal Skateway but the goal is not achieved.

MPs and members of the parliamentary press gallery play hockey against each other, a popular event that is later repeated. Organizers introduce an international component with the creation of a snow sculpture presented by Italy.

Winterlude introduces its first international competition with the arrival of 400 Dutch skaters. Since then, skaters as well as ice and snow sculptors from around the world have participated in various competitions.

About 500,000 visitors attend Winterlude. Activities are held at several sites (Rideau Canal and Dows Lake, Confederation Park, Jacques-Cartier Park).

About 1.2 million visitors attend Winterlude.

Winterlude celebrates its 15th anniversary. The tallest snowman in Canada is built, measuring over 16 metres in height.

Winterlude changes from a 10-day event to 3 consecutive weekends of activities.

Winterlude celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The mild weather forces organizers to cover the ice sculptures to keep them from completely melting, which unfortunately happens on the last day of Winterlude.

About 1.6 million visitors attend Winterlude, a record!

The NCC organizes its last Winterlude. Canadian Heritage is now responsible for it.

Winterlude celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Winterlude carries through its new vision by offering more cultural programming and new destinations (ByWard Market, Sparks Street, Downtown Rideau and the Glebe). Indigenous culture is featured on the first weekend and LGBTQ2+ culture, history and pride on the second weekend.

To highlight this new vision, the slogan "THIS is Winterlude!" is adopted.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Winterlude is celebrated virtually with a national webcast and virtual activities.

For the first time, Winterlude challenges ice sculptors to compete simultaneously in 7 cities as part of the Winterlude National Ice-Carving Championship.

In the context of the COVID‑19 pandemic, ice sculptures are truly the stars of Winterlude!

Canadians from across the country can admire world‑class ice sculptures and vote for their top 3 as part of the Winterlude National Ice‑Carving Championship, which is held in all 10 Canadian provinces.

Winterlude’s National Ice-Carving Championship is held for its final edition.

In the coming years, the public will be able to watch local, national, and international ice carvers at work and enjoy meet-and-greet opportunities with the carvers.

For the first time since 2018, Crystal Garden makes a highly anticipated return to Confederation Park.

Located just steps from the Rideau Canal Skateway, this official site will host the 2026 Winterlude ice sculpture exhibition, the Ryan Hill Ice-Carving Public Challenge, entertaining shows, and much more.