Come out for a second weekend of exciting activities: snow and ice sculptures, Canadian sports and comedy
February 4, 2015 – Ottawa – Department of Canadian Heritage
The second weekend of the 37th Winterlude promises to be an exciting one. This winter celebration continues in Canada’s Capital Region until February 16, 2015.
Crystal Garden in Confederation Park
On Friday, February 6 at 7 p.m., Cracking-up the Capital Comedy Festival presents a free improv show, hosted by Crush Improv’s Brooke Cameron, on the Crystal Garden stage in Confederation Park. Improv teams from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University will be joined by Johnny Bagpipes for this outdoor evening of live comedy.
Over the weekend, witness a fusion of art and ice in action at Crystal Garden! On Saturday, February 7, professional ice carvers face off in the Ice-Carving Championship. Members of the public will have an opportunity to create their own ice carvings with the help of professionals during the Public Ice-Carving Challenge on Sunday, February 8.
As our Canadian athletes look ahead to the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, visitors to Winterlude can catch the spirit of the games and meet PACHI the Porcupine, the official mascot of the Games. There will be photo opportunities with this colourful character on Saturday and Sunday.
What’s more, visitors to Crystal Garden will have the opportunity to:
The Winterlude fun continues across the street at Ottawa City Hall’s Marion Dewar Plaza all weekend with:
- Enbridge “Energy on Ice” skating performances on the Rink of Dreams, Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.;
- free light snacks and hot chocolate at the Enbridge Cabin (while supplies last) on Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau
Presented by Canadian Heritage and the Ville de Gatineau, Snowflake Kingdom is North America’s biggest snow playground. It is the ideal destination for the young and the young at heart. This family-friendly paradise features giant snow slides and an outdoor amphitheatre.
On Winterlude’s second weekend, visitors will have the chance to:
The Rideau Canal Skateway
The Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink, is centre stage for many activities during Winterlude’s second weekend.
On Saturday, February 7 on the Skateway at Dows Lake, it’s the 35th Annual Accora Village Bed Race. Later that evening there will be music and activities at Fifth Avenue for the Saturday Night Skate.
Visitors to the Skateway will also have the opportunity to join a learn to skate program, test their skills at the Giant Tiger Interactive Hockey Zone, or warm up with hot apple cider and winter games at the OLG Sno-Bus Station, all FREE at Fifth Avenue!
On the ice at the National Arts Centre, visitors can drop by the Nordstrom Haute Spot for a photo keepsake.
This fantastic 7.8-kilometre ice surface, which opened for its 45th season on January 10, 2015, offers families and fun-seekers a wide variety of services, including food concessions, skate and sleigh rentals, skate sharpening, rest areas and boot check services.
Programming Partners
For the 37th Winterlude, more than 70 programming partners have come together to offer a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities. Here is just a sampling of what is taking place on the second weekend of Winterlude:
An array of gastronomic experiences is also being served up during Winterlude this week:
The Department of Canadian Heritage is proud to present Winterlude with the support of the following official site sponsors and partners: Ville de Gatineau, City of Ottawa, National Capital Commission, Government of Yukon, Government of Northwest Territories, Parks Canada, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Embassy of Latvia in Canada, Canadian Museum of Nature, Historica Canada, Motivate Canada, Ringette Canada, Cracking up the Capital, Ottawa Art Gallery, TakingITGlobal, Ottawa Scottish Society, Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, Canada Games, FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, Société de transport de l’Outaouais, OC Transpo, OLG – Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, Enbridge Gas Distribution, Giant Tiger, Nordstrom, Rideau Centre, Pizza Pizza, Pepsi, GoodLife Fitness and many others, including the support of the region’s hospitality industry. Special thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who contribute their time, talent and energy during the Capital’s winter celebration.
Associated Links
For more information (media only), please contact:
Marisa Monnin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
