Ice sculptures from the 2013 edition of Winterlude in Ottawa

© S. Garcia Cournoyer/Alam

Celebrating all things winter

The 44th edition of Winterlude festival is upon us. Held in the Ottawa-Gatineau region between February 4-21, this event traditionally features a variety of cold-weather activities. These include the Snowflake Kingdom – a gigantic snowflake playground, a snowy tug-of-war, winter sports lessons and a wide array of public art installations. However, given the on-going pandemic, many of the in-person activities will not take place. The national ice-carving contest will be held, and spectators will be able to view and vote for the sculptures online. With activities for people of all ages, Winterlude typically allows locals and tourists to indulge in Canada’s cultural and artistic diversity, while transforming the city into a giant winter wonderland.