Once the snow falls and temperatures drop, many people head indoors and cities go into hibernation. But in Ottawa, the winter is when the city shines at its brightest – thanks to a popular festival known as Winterlude.

The festival, which started in 1979, is held every February and regularly draws a crowd of more than 600,000 people. Organizers estimate that around one-third of visitors are from outside the region. This year’s activities and events will run from February 1st to the 18th and will include high-flying acrobats, snowman-building competitions, an outdoor 3D digital art projection show, and a barbershop quartet. And that’s just at one of the locations.

 Natalie Huneault, spokesperson, Media Relations Services for the Department of Canadian Heritage, said the festival is a much-loved seasonal highlight in the Canadian capital. 

“Visitors can look forward to wonderful activities. We invite everyone to join in the excitement. Come out and skate, slide, and embrace the beauty of the ice and snow sculptures,” said Natalie. “It is a truly Canadian celebration with something for everyone.”

Natalie said the many activities have been designed to highlight the Canadian culture and climate. All of the traditional winter and outdoor family activities will be on the schedule this year, but even more have been added. The main locations for those events include the Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau, Confederation Park, including Marion Dewar Plaza, and Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, plus the infamous Rideau Canal Skateway, known as the world’s largest skating rink.

Measuring 7.8 kilometres, the rink runs through the heart of downtown Ottawa with vendors along the sides, where you can find skate rentals and hot chocolate. Even the world-famous BeaverTails® pastries will be sold.

While thousands of skaters will be taking to the rink during the festival,
the biggest draw of Winterlude has continued to be the ice carving competition. Talented artists from around the world turn blocks of ice into works of art right in front of your eyes. This year, 10 countries will participate, including Canada, Russia, Japan, Philippines, Mauritius, Mexico, France, and Poland.

At night, the carvings will be lit up with special lighting to make them look even more breathtaking. This will be the 32nd year for the International Ice Carving Competition, and the first year it will be presented in the popular ByWard Market.

Other events at Winterlude include:

Super slides at the Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau. These slides are especially popular with families and are built to accommodate more than 2,000 sliders per hour.

Jacques-Cartier Park North will be the location for an interactive digital art projection show where artwork by mixed media artists will be projected onto surfaces, such as buildings, to create the illusion of 3D art shows.

A group of aerial acrobats from Haut-Vol Productions will perform circus-style acts that include high-flying acrobatics and diving productions. The acts will be held on various Sundays throughout the festival. If you’ve watched a Cirque du Soleil show, you will have experienced their exceptional talents as the team creates and performs about 10 acts a year for Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize.

Lansdowne Park will be a busy spot for a snowman building competition where competitors will try and beat last year’s record of 3,000 snowmen.

The OLG Sno-Bus Shuttle Service will be in operation on Winterlude weekends and Family Day to make it easy to get from location to location

In Halton, we’re lucky to be surrounded by some spectacular scenery, with a gorgeous lake to the south and acres of parkland to the north. Never is that scenery more beautiful than in the fall when the autumn colours become an artist’s inspiration.

Conservation Halton has found a creative and fun way to help people celebrate the full beauty of autumn with a program called Fall into Nature. Throughout the entire month of October, Conservation Halton is offering passports to all seven parks where, in addition to hiking, the public can participate in an array of activities and festivities.

Admission for a one-day entry will be valid for all seven parks. Here’s what you’ll see:

Kelso

The Kelso Conservation Area is best known for its ski hills, but it turns out it’s also a great place to visit in the fall. The chairlift takes you up the hills and over farm fields and acres of trees, giving you the best seats in the house to view the autumn colours. October offers the best hiking weather, and Kelso’s many trails are excellent, whether you’re a novice or a pro.

Kelso boat rentals will still be open, including paddle boats, stand-up paddle boards, and kayaks. This will be the first year for a new event at Kelso called the Hops and Harvest Festival, which runs through October 13 and 14 and will feature breweries, food vendors and artisans.

Mountsberg

Mountsberg is probably best known for its feathered friends, like Jazz and the Barn Owl, who are on display at the Raptors Centre. It is also a great spot for autumn leaf viewing and a prime area for mountain bike novices to test their skills on the trails. You can take a walk down the Sugar Bush or along the Wildlife Walkway trail and see the wetlands or visit the Discovery Centre. The Mountsberg Reservoir also allows you to bring your non-motorized boat to enjoy a view of the park from the water.

Crawford Lake

Crawford Lake is an amazing place to explore year-round with its Iroquoian village where you can learn about local First Nations history. You can also get a great work-out on cross-country ski trails. Surrounding the meromictic lake is a wooden boardwalk where you can walk around the entire lake and learn about the history of Crawford Lake 600 years ago.

Rattlesnake Point

People come from far and wide to visit Rattlesnake Point in the fall because of the park’s great look-out points. Spots like the Buffalo Crag Lookout offer spectacular views of autumn’s blaze of colours that will take your breath away.

There are also some great trails and interesting plants to see along the trail, from the Hackberry Tree to the thousand-year-old cedars along the escarpment. Rattlesnake Point is also a good spot to try out your skills in rock climbing.

Hilton Falls

With more than 30 kilometres of trails, it’s little wonder that Hilton Falls has become a favourite place for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. It also has some wonderful water features like a 10-metre waterfall that cascades over the Niagara Escarpment and mill ruins.

Mount Nemo

Mount Nemo has fewer trails, only five kilometres, but the sites are just as spectacular, especially in the fall. Some of the trails are challenging due to the many roots and rocks, although the upside is that Mount Nemo is also a little quieter than parks like Rattlesnake. Many people who come from out of town appreciate the park for its close location to the highway.

Robert Edmondson

Robert Edmondson Park is referred to by Halton Conservation as their best kept secret. That’s because while there’s nothing fancy about it, it’s still a spectacular park where you can pack a picnic and have a quiet family day in nature. Be sure to bring your camera as you can walk around the boardwalk where the season’s fall colours will be reflected in the reservoir.

Now that’s something to celebrate.

by Denise Davy

Local Link

Conservation Halton
conservationhalton.ca/fallintonature

The ideal summer itinerary includes at least one getaway. A road trip to a lodge or resort in Ontario will give you the full experience of what the province has to offer, whether it’s a retreat with your spouse, a girls’ spa getaway or a guys’ golf weekend. The following accommodations are highly rated and some even offer all-inclusive stays. No plane ticket required.

Shamrock Lodge      

Where: Lake Rosseau, Muskoka   |   shamrocklodge.com
Affectionately referred to by regulars as “The Shammy”, it’s a quaint all-inclusive family-owned lodge where everyone seems to know one another since families return here year after year. There are 24 units, some with multiple bedrooms and most provide that stunning lake view. All day programs are offered for kids ages four and up and little kids (birth to age three) can attend morning programs. Watersports include tubing, waterskiing, boat tours, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. If you’d rather remain on land with a book or a beverage, the lake makes for a fantastic backdrop.  

Severn Lodge

Where: Port Severn   |   severnlodge.com
There’s lots of vintage vacation charm to be had here: this family-owned property has been welcoming guests since the 1800s. There are plenty of prime pine tree and lake views to enjoy as the kids swim to their heart’s content. Other watersports are available too, including canoes, kayaks and paddleboats, waterskiing, tubing and wakeboarding. Save time for some horseback riding, or enroll the kids in supervised programs available for ages two and older. Take advantage of the evening babysitting services (which cost extra) and enjoy a romantic dinner for two. The convenient all-inclusive package options can wrap up the experience nicely. For a more traditional DIY experience, cottages are also available.

JW Marriott
The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa

Where: Lake Rosseau, Muskoka   |   therosseau.com
For a more modern Muskoka experience, this towering resort overlooks Lake Rosseau and offers an impressive itinerary for any vacationer. Bike rentals, canoes, paddle boats, kayaks and scavenger hunts are included, and the kids will never say they’re bored if they’re too busy zip lining, zorbing, or building a birdhouse or a kite. There are several seasonal pools and hot tubs to enjoy, plus a small wading pool for little kids. The indoor-outdoor pool in the hotel is open year round. Burn off any extra energy on a guided Night Nature Walk or gather for the nightly family movie experience before bed. Every room has a kitchenette if you’d like to stock up on a few of your own groceries and make your own meals.

Fern Resort

Where: Lake Couchiching, Orillia   |   fernresort.com
People have been flocking to Fern Resort since the late 1800s and continue to enjoy the all-inclusive experience that’s just a short drive north. Everyone’s made to feel comfortable here whether they’re relaxing on the beach, practicing archery, swimming, waterskiing, playing tennis, golf or shuffleboard. Programs are tailored for all ages. Three meals are served daily in the Heritage Dining Room, or enjoy a barbecue lunch, lakeside afternoon cocktail or late evening snack. Bonus: the Kids Club includes dinner hour babysitting.

Harbour House Hotel

Where: Niagara-on-the-Lake   |   niagarasfinest.com/harbour
Not to be outdone by the northern locations, the Harbour House Hotel is a beautiful waterfront property in nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake that offers rest and relaxation, fantastic waterfront birdwatching, and a golf course nearby (which happens to have a 180-degree view of Lake Ontario). Other recreational opportunities include walking tours, or sailing and fishing charters. Shops and boutiques await your attention in the downtown core or take in a performance at the Shaw Festival Theatre. For a relaxing afternoon, guests are welcomed on the veranda for a cheese plate and a glass of local wine.

by Becky Dumais