Crystal Garden
Confederation Park
Discover the return of an iconic Winterlude site!
Located in Confederation Park, in the heart of downtown Ottawa, Crystal Garden is one of the Winterlude’s official sites. It features a free outdoor ice sculpture exhibition, animation and many seasonal events in an enchanting winter setting. Located near Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal Skateway, it offers a walkable winter festival experience for visitors of all ages.
This page provides practical information, including hours, accessibility, services, and details to help you plan your visit.
Getting here
Explore the site
Enjoy art, sports, activities, food and beverages at Crystal Garden. Hours vary by day.
Special events
2026 Winterlude Ice-Carving Exhibition, presented by Tim Hortons
- Date
- Friday, January 30, 2026
- Time
- 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Spin and Win with the Museum
- Date
- Friday, January 30, 2026
- Time
- 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Cold Yoga
- Date
- Friday, January 30, 2026
- Time
- 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Snow Fitness
- Date
- Friday, January 30, 2026
- Time
- 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Giant Karaoke in Confederation Park
- Date
- Friday, January 30, 2026
- Time
- 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Short Films
- Date
- Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Time
- 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
DJ on screen
- Date
- Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Time
- 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Winter in Dance Mode
- Date
- Friday, February 6, 2026
- Time
- 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
The Ryan Hill Ice-Carving Public Challenge
- Date
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Time
- 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Watch Milano-Cortina on the big screen
- Date
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Time
- 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Wapikoni Short Films
- Date
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Time
- 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
National Flag of Canada Day Trivia
- Date
- Saturday, February 14, 2026
- Time
- 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Know before you go
- Admission to the sites is free. Many activities are free, while others require a fee. Paid activities are marked with a dollar sign Paid event symbol before the activity title in the activity calendar of events.
- Pets are not permitted (service dogs are welcome).
- Food and beverages concessions nearby (fees apply).
- Heated areas and washrooms are available on site (fees apply).
- Dress warmly, as most activities take place outdoors.
- Hotels and restaurants: Visit the hotels and restaurants page for nearby options.
Hours of operation
| Weekend | Date | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Monday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend 1 | January 30 to February 1 | 4 pm to 9 pm | 10 am to 9 pm | 10 am to 6 pm | - |
| Weekend 2 | February 6 to 9 | 4 pm to 10 pm | 10 am to 9 pm | 10 am to 6 pm | - |
| Weekend 3 | February 13 to 16 | 4 pm to 9 pm | 10 am to 9 pm | 10 am to 6 pm | 10 am to 6 pm |
Hours may change due to weather.
Winterlude takes place on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg.
More information
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