Ottawa prepares for Winterlude festival
Monday, 19 January 2009 12:00 AM
Skating on Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Canada
This winter the Canadian capital of Ottawa will be magically transformed into a winter wonderland as part of the annual Winterlude celebration, North America's largest winter festival.
Thousands of visitors will enjoy the family friendly entertainment and festivities, with a huge snow playground, ice sculptures, an all new sound and light show and the Rideau Canal Skateway - the world's largest ice rink.
When and where?
Taking place between February 6th and 22nd, Winterlude kicks off at the American Express Snowbowl, which will be the venue for entertainment throughout the celebrations, hosting performers including Canadian folk legend Murray McLauchlan.
A new show to hit the Snowbowl during this year's festival is Ukiuk (Inuktitut for 'winter'), a sound and light show with dazzling pyrotechnics, atmospheric lighting and music.
Confederation Park will also become a Crystal Garden, with ice sculptures by some of the best professional carvers in the world - watch them at the 22nd International Ice-Carving Competition. There will be other ice-carving events during the festival, including Master's Showcases and the Rogers People's Choice Competition, in which anyone can vote for their favourite ice sculpture on display by text message.
If sculpture is not your thing, the Crystal Garden has much to see and do, from DJs to theatre, a Valentine's fire-eating show to displays and demonstrations of Canadian Aboriginal culture and history.
What to eat
While in Ottawa visitors can experience some of the finest Canadian cuisine thanks to the Taste of Winterlude promotion, whereby many of the city's best restaurants have created special menus at fixed prices.
Taste of Winterlude also encompasses several food and wine themed experiences, including tastings of Ontario's famous ice wine and hosted wine maker dinners.
For the family
Children will have a great time in the Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, which becomes the biggest snow playground on the continent.
Winterlude's mascots, the Ice Hog family, will be there to entertain throughout. Also on offer is a maze made of snow, giant snow slide, small slopes with qualified instructors to introduce children to skiing and all kinds of other child-friendly activities.
World's largest ice rink
However, it is the UNESCO World Heritage listed Rideau Canal, in the heart of Ottawa, is the real highlight of Winterlude, freezing over to become the Rideau Canal Skateway.
At some 7.8 kilometres long it is the world's largest skating rink. The canal actually provides a way to get into work for many Ottawa residents while it's frozen over - imagine ice-skating the commute to work!
For visitors, ice skates are available to rent so they can skate along the canal, being sure to stop at one of the many stands for a hot chocolate and a beavertail - a uniquely Canadian special pastry that originated in Ottawa, shaped like a beaver's tail and topped with your choice of cinnamon and sugar, chocolate, maple syrup or many other tasty options.
During the festival, races and demonstrations will be taking place including the Winterlude Triathlon and the Bedzzz Race in which teams will be racing beds across the ice.
More Information
For more information on Ontario visit Ontario Travel.
Chris O'Toole
