Welcome to another winter weekend in the 613! The temperatures are finally dropping to levels that we’re used to this time of year, and hopefully, that doesn’t keep you from getting out there for some fun. Not only is this weekend the beginning of Winterlude, but it is also the first weekend of Black History month, which means there are so many creative and thought-provoking events around town to enjoy.
All Weekend
Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival is running this weekend on Friday and Saturday at venues in Arts Court. Check out renowned Canadian Bassist Fraser Hollins on Friday night or saxophone-heavy ensemble Thus Owls at Club SAW Saturday evening. Full day passes are sold out, but you can still buy tickets for individual shows for $25.73 online.
Winterlude
We know that the Rideau Canal will not be open for Winterlude this year, but that doesn’t mean that the first Winterlude of the post-COVID era won’t be full of activities. The ice carving competition will be taking place on Sparks Street, with entries from each province and territory reflecting the theme “Creatures of the Sea” beginning on Friday. You can catch live music at the Rainbow Bistro each evening, including The Commotions on Friday and Amanda Rheaume on Sunday. Snowflake Kingdom at Parc Jacques Cartier in Gatineau remains the place for family fun in the snow, including the super slides, tubing, ziplining and an obstacle course. The OLG Sno-Bus will also be in full force as a free shuttle between Winterlude venues. Fun fact: did you know the mascots for Winterlude are called Snow Hogs? Like groundhogs but… more aggressive and winter themed?
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Thursday
Kicking off Black History Month at the NAC is the opening night of Cabaret Noir. The performance is described as such: “Six performers, improbable cosmonauts in motorcycle helmets, share a stage that becomes, as scene follows scene, a circus ring, a playground, an agora. Discourse develops, then contradicts itself; bodies assess their own living weight; and meaning, like a wild and poetic salmon, remains vigorous and in motion.” So… we all have to check it out, right? Tickets are on sale on a sliding price scale beginning at $15 for attendees under 30.
Friday
Friday evenings in February, discover beautiful Pinhey’s Point Historic Site on a guided snowshoe tour under the stars from 7–9pm. Learn about the Pinhey family and how early settlers experienced winters in March Township, as well as the natural and built heritage of the 88-acre site along the banks of the Ottawa River. Pinhey’s Point is a hidden treasure of Ottawa’s built heritage. Tour the manor house after the walk and enjoy a warm beverage with friends.
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A classic Ottawa sporting event will take over the Arena at TD Place Friday night—the Capital Hoops Classic! Watch the Carleton Ravens take on the UOttawa Gee-Gees in a doubleheader event starting at 6 pm. Whether your school pride is mostly nostalgia now or you are still in the throes of red vs. burgundy, this is always a great throwdown. (Despite this writer’s obvious bias in favour of the Ravens’ historically dominant powerhouse.)
Additionally, Latin Grammy winner Alex Cuba will be taking over the Babs Asper Theatre Friday evening for a night of fresh Cuban-influenced beats. Read about Alex and his music in this interview by our very own Leah Geller here. Tickets are still available online beginning at $45.
Saturday
Every year around this time, we celebrate National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day! Since ice cream is one of the major food groups, Apt613 has naturally written long lists of articles about the best ice cream in the city, so why not check out some options here and celebrate the day properly?
Technically part of Winterlude, but honestly, its own special kind of awesome, is Unikkaatuarniq, a series of Indigenous films projected on a snow bank at Lansdowne Park. The event, part of the Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival, includes four Inuit films and one Sami production to be shown on the snow screen, with DJ and VJ performances afterwards, as well as fire pits and an ice bar. Admission is free. The snow screen is outside the Horticulture building and Aberdeen Pavilion on Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at 6pm.
Experience a mini pow-wow at the Canadian Museum of History featuring an opening ceremony and performances given by inter-tribal and guest drummers, as well as by dancers of different ages and styles coming from several Indigenous communities. Part of Winterlude programming, the pow-wow is organized and presented by Indigenous Experiences.
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If you’d like to do some Winterluding, but stay indoors, then maybe roller skating is for you? The City of Ottawa Family Roller Skating Event is taking place at Lansdowne Park this Saturday in the Aberdeen Pavillion for three separate time slots. The Ottawa Quad Rollerskating Club will be present and offering rentals of roller skates for all (inline skates are also welcome to join).
Sunday
The Black History Month creativity continues at SAW with “Crépu: Our DNA”, A Black Hair Art Show by Hors Pair Social X The Moving Art Gallery. The event takes place Sunday and Monday for evenings of art, networking and music. Created by Hors Pair Social and The Moving Art Gallery, Crépu is an art show and meditation on black hair. Tickets are available online starting at $17.
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Check out a community jam session/sing-along/hootenanny at Arlington Five coffeeshop on Sunday starting at 6pm. Led by the members of Wychwood, take the chance to meet members of your community and sing some songs.
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