Day 24: The Grand Finale! 🇨🇦👶
We are ending our holiday countdown with a celebration of the True North! For our final giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Giftilia to present the adorable "Canadian Baby" Gift Basket, made exclusively for Ottawa Parents!
This patriot prize is perfect for the newest addition to your family (or a friend's!). It features cozy essentials for a little Sens fan, including:
2 Bodysuits (3-6M): "Made in Canada" & "I am Canadian Eh!"
2 Pairs of Senators Booties: Sizes 0-6M & 6-12M
1 Pair of Senators Mittens: Sizes 0-24M
As our email subscribers, you are already halfway there... click below for your final chance to win!
Wednesday, December 24
Parent and Tot Drop In at 9:30am 📍2 Stonehaven Drive
STEAM Challenge at 10am 📍OPL North Gower
Winter Storytime at 1:30pm 📍OPL Manotick
Carol and Candlelight Service for Families at 7pm 📍Grace Presbyterian Church
The Final Countdown
We made it. The lists are (mostly) checked off, the fridge is full, and the excitement is at an all-time high. Today isn't about big outings; it's about cozy moments and beating the clock before the city shuts down.
🕒 Part 1: The "Don't Get Stuck" List (Logistics) Save this schedule so you don't get caught without milk or wrapping paper!
Ottawa Public Libraries: Close early at 3:00 PM today. (Go now if you need bedtime stories!).
LCBO / Beer Store: Most close at 6:00 PM sharp.
Grocery Stores: Most major chains (Loblaws, Metro, etc.) close at 6:00 PM.
OC Transpo: Runs on a reduced schedule today (usually Saturday service levels)—check the app if you are travelling!
🎅 Part 2: Free Magic (How to kill time)
Track the Big Guy: The NORAD Santa Tracker is live all day. It’s the best free way to answer the question, "Is he here yet??"
The "Wiggles" Walk: If the energy levels are too high, take a walk to look for "Santa's Runway" (flat roofs or parks) in your neighborhood. It gets fresh air in their lungs so they might sleep better!
Bedtime Story Live: Many local librarians or authors do live readings of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas on Facebook/Instagram. Check your favorite page around 7 PM.
🎁 Part 3: A New Tradition? If the kids are too excited to settle, try the "Christmas Eve Box" (even a simplified version): New PJs (or clean old ones!), one packet of hot cocoa, and a movie. Low energy, high reward.
Join the club and get cool merch
Become a supporter and receive an exclusive Ottawa Parents T-Shirt, early access to giveaways, and special perks made just for our community.
❄️Winter Activities❄️
Winter Lights Across Canada Dec 8 - Jan 9, 2026 Pathway of lights Map
November 23, 2025 to March 29, 2026 (weather depending)
Weekdays: 5:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Weekends: 1:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Open daily, 7 am to 11 pm (weather permitting)
Rink of Dreams (opens Dec 6 at 3pm)
Open everyday from 9am to 11pm, except for Tue & Thur 7am to 11pm
4-7pm📍Sparks Street
5-10pm📍Lansdowne Park
Santa in Carlingwood! until December 24th 10:30am 📍Carlingwood Shopping Centre
Daily Light Show at 5:30pm & 7:30pm📍George Street Plaza
Christmas on Taffy Lane 📍Taffy Lane
🎉The Family Fridge
A little corner for jokes, hacks, and fun ideas to stick on your mental fridge.
📌 The Christmas Eve Fridge Note A little promise to make before the lights go out.
✨ The Christmas Eve Pact Tonight, we promise to:
Leave the worries of the year behind. Tonight is just for magic.
Take one last look at the tree. Turn off the main lights and watch the twinkle for 60 seconds of silence.
Listen for bells. But only for a minute, because...
Go to sleep fast. Because the magic can't start until the house is quiet.
Current Sleep-o-Meter: 😴 __________ / 10
🎁 Reminder: Snap, Tag, and Win! - LAST DAY to ENTER!
Even if your Elf leaves early, you can still enter our giveaway! Snap a photo of their final setup, tag @OttawaParents, and you’re entered to win the Marsjoy Musical Plush Pony!
✨ Exclusive Subscriber Perk: Free Coloring Pages!
As a special thank you for being an Ottawa Parents subscriber, we've included a festive Christmas Coloring Page PDF just for you.
Print it out and enjoy some quiet, creative time this holiday season!
"The gifts are wrapped, the lists are long, But your love is what makes the season strong. Forget the stress and the perfect plan, You’re making magic the best you can!"
