Of course, the big winter carnival news in Ottawa this weekend is Winterlude, which kicked off with a frosty bang yesterday and runs until February 16. (Check out this CTV News clip for a taste of all the action.)
The canal is gorgeous right now, so put on your skates…and your woollies! Photo by Ottawa Tourism.
But Winterlude is far from the only winter festival lighting up parks, streets and frozen waterfronts over the next few weeks. Here are a few more.
The Lanark Highlands Frosty Fling (January 30 to February 1) features a skating carnival, a jazz concert, wagon rides, a pancake breakfast and lots of other activities.
If you hurry, you can catch the end of the Loyalist Township Winter Carnival, which wraps up today with guided hikes, Lego contests, a hockey game and a roast beef dinner.
One of the biggest winter festivals in the world, Le Carnaval de Québec, opened yesterday and runs until February 15. Highlights include a winter theme park on the Plains of Abraham, night parades on February 7 and February 14, snowshoe and canoe races, DJ concerts, and a huge ice palace.
Looking ahead, the Winter Carnival in Saranac Lake, New York—which dates back to 1897—runs from February 6 through February 15. Here’s a video of their big Ice Castle under construction.
Also in New York state, the Syracuse Winterfest (February 12 to 22) regularly draws 100,000 people a year for everything from tobogganing and cross-country skiing to margarita mix-offs, trivia contests and treasure hunts.
And if you prefer your frosty fun in a glass, you can catch the last night of Festibière d’Hiver, the winter beer festival at the Canadian Museum of History, tonight from 5pm until 2am.