Finally, we’ve reached the last weekend of January! Winterlude kicks off this weekend, and for the first time in a long time, the weather is cooperating for the winter festival, and keeping the canal open and sculptures frozen! If the outdoors aren’t your jam, there is plenty to do inside this weekend too, from live music, to craft markets and seed planting workshops.
Voting is open for the Capital Music Awards, so why not check out the nominees this weekend and cast your vote. February is next week, which also means that undercurrents festival starts next Thursday, so take some time this weekend to get your tickets and plan ahead!
All Weekend
This is the first weekend of Winterlude, and with the weather we’re having, it’s beginning to feel like a classic Winterlude kind of weekend. Break out your winter boots and mittens, and enjoy the festival on both sides of the river.
Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival is happening this weekend at Arts Court, with 15 shows over four days. There are still individual tickets available to some performances, or you can bundle together a three-show pass, or a day pass if you’d like to make the most of it!
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The Canadian Culinary Championships are kicking off on Friday at Rogers Centre downtown. After winning the Ottawa qualifier last fall, Chef Lizardo Becerra of Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine will represent Ottawa against chefs from across Canada. There are still a few tickets left, if you want to take in the action.
Awards season is in full swing, and if you’ve been trying to find Golden Globe darling The Brutalist, the ByTowne has you covered with screenings until next week. Read a full bodied review of the film by one of our resident experts here.
The Gladstone Theatre is closing their run of Misery this weekend, after glowing reviews of the thriller based on Stephen King’s novel. New theatre company TooBeats seems to have captured the thrill and intensity perfectly. Tickets start at $22 for students and unwaged.
You can catch Why It’s imPossible at the GCTC this weekend: Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm. The nuanced and heart felt one-person show about parenting in precarious times closes on Sunday afternoon. Read our preview of the show here. You can still book tickets online.
How about something totally different and out of the box? Epidermis Circus — performing at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe from Jan. 30-Feb. 1 — is a spicy puppet cabaret where the artist makes a live puppet film on stage. Read all about the wild puppet circus in our preview here.
Thursday
Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival kicks off with two shows Thursday evening at Arts Court. Catch Juno Award winning singer Caity Gyorgy at 6:30pm, and the funky quartet George at 9pm. Tickets start at $39.
Friday
To round off Dry January, Maker House and Brew Donkey are holding a tasting of Collective Arts and Bicycle Brewing non alcoholic products, and answering all your questions. Check out the January Thirsty-first event from 4-7pm.
The Ottawa Black Bears lacrosse team are taking on the Calgary Roughnecks Friday night at 7pm at the Canadian Tire Centre. The two teams are both in the middle of the current league standings, so a win for the Black Bears would give us a nice bump.
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Winterlude officially opens on Friday, and there is a party happening on Sparks street. Winterlude Opening Night starts at 7pm and there will be DJs, animation and looping presentations of LüX, the new sounds and light Winterlude experience, and vendors.
Relaxed Night Out is a new sensory friendly Winterlude event at the Horticulture building at Lansdowne. There will be a silent headphone disco, large scale games, board and tabletop games, maker/craft spaces and art studio activities for adults 18+. Register online for $35.
Art House is holding their monthly Fever Pitch Hot Jazz night on Friday. Doors open at 8pm, the music begins at 9pm, and seating is limited for the speakeasy-style wild night of ragtime, blues and crazy brass. Get your tickets online ahead of time.
Saturday
Good news for all of us, Saturday is National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day! It may be chilly, but celebrate the day with some of your local favourites like Mooshu, The Merry Dairy, Beachconers, the Carp Creamery, Lois ‘N’ Frimas, Farinella and Oat & Mill.
Get a start on the Valentine’s season at the Love is in the Air Valentines Craft Market at the Glebe Community Centre on Saturday held by Square Lemon. The market is free to attend, from 10:30am-3pm, with over 50 vendors, and a free heart keychain workshop!
At noon on Saturday, head to Sparks street to take in the ice sculptures and stop for a traditional tea and bannock sampling, courtesy of Mādahòkì Farm. They will also be sharing stories about the discovery of maple syrup.
Looking for something a bit fancy? Rideau Hall is holding celebrating their annual Winter Celebration on Saturday from 12:30-4pm. Skate on Canada’s oldest outdoor skating rink, enjoy outdoor activities and take a tour of the residence, all for free.
Check out Universal Language, Canada’s choice for Best International Film at the 97th Academy Awards, and a Q&A with director Matthew Rankin on Saturday evening at the ByTowne. The show begins at 7pm.
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The Ottawa Family Cinema on St Laurent is screening Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue for free on Saturday at 2pm. Sign up for a membership at this not-for-profit theatre to support their ongoing work too!
Oh goodness, it’s going to be spring soon! Get your garden ready for the growing season with a Seed Starting workshop at Robert Plante Greenhouses on Saturday morning. Sign up in advance for the $5 workshop that runs from 10am-12pm.
Remix Wrestling Presents…Broadhead: Ante Up on Saturday night. Doors open at 6:30pm and bell time is 7pm. Tickets to the professional wrestling night are $25 and are still available online.
Sunday
Shop from local queer and trans owned small businesses and makers at the 2SLGBTQIA+ Valentine’s Day Market hosted by Little Jo Berry’s at the Glebe Community Centre on Sunday from 12-4pm. This is a Mask Mandatory event, and there will be free masks at the entrance.
Ottawa Chinatown is hosting its grand Lunar New Year Parade from 1-3pm through Chinatown. There will be an official street closure along Somerset Street West, from Bronson Avenue to Bell Street North, for an immersive and joyous celebration for all! Celebrating the Year of the Snake in 2025, there will be a New Year blessing, dancing and a colourful parade.
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Happiness Habits 613 and the Ottawa Art Gallery are hosting another Happiness Art event at the OAG on Sunday from 3-5pm. Participants are invited to commence the creative process or bring an art project you are working on. They will guide the group in an opening, introductions, a creative warmup and then some art-making time to some flowy tunes, plus an optional artwork sharing, check-out & closing. They are also offering a free tour of the OAG from 1:30-2:30pm is that’s more your speed! Register for each event separately.
