In partnership with
Monday, February 9
Family Storytime/ Contes en famille (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Toddlertime (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Les lundis des tout-petits (Series) at 10am 📍Peter A. Herrndorf Place
EarlyON Baby Playgroup (Series) at 1:30pm 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Cercle de Lecture (en français seulement) (Series) at 4pm 📍OPL Alta Vista
Chess club / Club d'échecs (Series) at 6pm 📍OPL Greenboro
Homework Help / Club de devoirs (Series) at 6:30pm 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Starry Night Storytime (Series) at 6:30pm 📍OPL Nepean Centrepointe
SoulRhythms (Series) at 7pm 📍Peter A. Herrndorf Place
DONT FORGET THE VALENTINE DAY FLOWERS
Our friends at OttawaFlowers.com have great deals this Valentine’s Day!
Tuesday, February 10
Parenting in Ottawa (Series) at 1:00pm 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Babytime at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Toddler Tuesdays (Series) at 10am 📍Peter A. Herrndorf Place
Toddlertime at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Activities for Teens at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Family Storytime at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Homeschool Hangout (Series) at 10am 📍OPL Greely
STEAM Storytime (Series) at 10:30am 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Homework Help / Aide aux devoirs (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Chess Club D'échecs (Series) at 3:30pm 📍OPL Blackburn Hamlet
STEM club (Series) at 4pm 📍OPL Nepean Centrepointe
Afternoon Storytime (Series) at 4pm 📍OPL Cumberland
Livres et Lego (Series) at 6:30pm 📍OPL Beaverbrook
Register for spring swimming activities 9pm - City of Ottawa
Wednesday, February 11
Family Storytime at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Babytime at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Toddlertime at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Parent and Tot Drop In (Series) at 9:30am 📍2 Stonehaven Drive
Stay & Play | Jouons à la biblio (Series) at 11:05am 📍Elmvale Acres
Parenting in Ottawa Drop-in (Series) at 1pm 📍OPL Beaverbrook
Centrepointe Infant In-person Playgroup (Series) at 1:30pm 📍Centrepointe Child Care Services
Homeschool Happenings (Series) at 1:30pm 📍OPL Cumberland
Chess Club (Series) at 4pm 📍OPL Main
Crafternoon / Brin d’brico (Series) at 4pm 📍OPL Sunnyside
Homework Help / Aide aux devoirs (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Thursday, February 12
Family Storytime at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Babytime at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Toddlertime at the OPL (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Centrepointe In-person Playgroup (Series) at 9:30am 📍Centrepointe Child Care Services
Homeschool Social Club (Series) at 2:15pm 📍OPL Hazeldean
Youth Chess Club (Series) at 3:30pm 📍OPL Orléans
Homework Help / Aide aux devoirs (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Register for all spring activities 9pm - City of Ottawa
Friday, February 13
Gaming Drop-in for Teens / Jeux vidéo pour ados (Series) at 3:30pm 📍OPL Cumberland
LEGO Party - Fête en blocs (Series) at 3:45pm 📍OPL Vanier
Fractured Fairytale Fridays (Series) at 4pm 📍OPL Beaverbrook
Saturday, February 14
Animal Tracking on Snowshoes (Series) at 10am and 1:30pm 📍Gatineau Park Visitor Centre
Family Storytime/ Contes en famille (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
Stay and Play/ Jouons à la biblio (Series) at 10am 📍OPL Sunnyside
Let's Play at the Library (Series) at 10am 📍OPL Rosemount
Saturday Family Storytime and Stay & Play (Series) at 10:30am 📍OPL Carp
Sensory Storytime (Series) at 2pm 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Video Gaming / Jeux vidéo (Series) at 2pm 📍OPL Greenboro
Lego Block Party (Series) at 2:30pm 📍OPL Emerald Plaza
Sunday, February 15
Animal Tracking on Snowshoes (Series) at 10am and 1:30pm 📍Gatineau Park Visitor Centre
Stay ‘n’ Play | Jouons à la biblio (Series) at 10:30am 📍OPL Main
Family Storytime/ Contes en famille (Series) Multiple Times and Locations
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❄️ Free Winterlude Fun for the Family (Feb 10-15)❄️
The Capital turns into a giant playground this week! While sculptures are available to view all week, the "interactive" programming kicks into high gear starting Friday.
📍 Snowflake Kingdom (Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau)
The ultimate destination for kids. Open daily (except Tuesdays/Wednesdays).
The Big Slides: Fly down the famous Tim Hortons Chinook super slides.
Kids' Zone: A dedicated space for the little ones (ages 2–5) with mini-structures and snow mazes.
Try a New Sport: Free introductory sessions for downhill skiing and snowboarding (ages 5–8) and even Lacrosse on snow.
Meet the Mascots: Keep an eye out for the Ice Hogs (Mama, Papa, Noumi, and Nouma) for the perfect family photo.
📍 Crystal Garden (Confederation Park, Ottawa)
Best for a scenic stroll and artistic inspiration.
Ice Sculpture Garden: Walk through the stunning professional carvings (illuminated beautifully at night).
Giant Karaoke (Feb 13): Warm up your vocal cords and sing your heart out on the main stage Friday night.
Cold Yoga (Feb 13 & 14): A quirky, family-friendly way to stretch out in the snow at 6:00 PM.
📍 Sparks Street & ByWard Market
DJs Live from the Booth (Feb 14–15): The "Winter Wander" on Sparks Street features live music and interactive light installations from 11 AM to 9 PM.
Create & Celebrate (ByWard Market): Starting Feb 13, enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, street curling, and live busking performances.
📍 National Arts Centre (Feb 14–15)
BIG BANG Festival: The NAC transforms into a "musical maze." While some shows are ticketed, there are plenty of free sound installations and micro-concerts perfect for curious kids.
📍 Bank of Canada Museum (Feb 14–15)
Puppet Making: A great indoor "warm-up" activity where kids can create paper puppets and "shop" in a play-money market.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the Sno-Bus! It’s a free shuttle service that runs between the main sites (Confederation Park and Snowflake Kingdom), saving you the headache of downtown parking.
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.
⛸️ Lace Up: Where to Skate for Free This Week
Ottawa is the skating capital of the world, and this week is the perfect time to enjoy the ice.
Location | Best For... | Public Hours | Pro-Tip |
Rideau Canal | The Full Experience | Open 24/7 (check NCC for daily status) | All 7.8km are currently open! Park at Dows Lake for easier family access. |
Rink of Dreams | Downtown Vibes | 9:00 am – 11:00 pm | Located right at City Hall. The refrigerated ice stays smooth even on "mild" days. |
Lansdowne Court | Shopping & Cocoa | 6:00 am – 11:00 pm | Great for little ones. Bring your own skates and grab a BeaverTail nearby after! |
Rideau Hall | Heritage Magic | 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm (Weekdays) 1:00 pm – 8:30 pm (Weekends) | Enter through the Princess Gate. It’s a refrigerated historic rink and feels like a movie set. |
February Coloring Pages
Free coloring pages by our local author Basilia Vasileios
Success this week isn't measured by a perfect schedule or a clean house. It’s measured by how many pairs of matching mittens you successfully found before heading out the door. You’re doing a great job, Ottawa Parents, keep leaning into the magic (and the hot chocolate).
Beyond skating, Ottawa has a wealth of free activities that are perfect for saving a bit of money while keeping the kids entertained. Here are a few more "no-cost" ideas to include in your email for January 19-25:
1. The "Play Free" City Program
The City of Ottawa has a fantastic initiative called Play Free.
What it is: Free drop-in swimming, skating, and gymnasium sports every Saturday.
Who it’s for: Children and youth (17 and under) and their accompanying adults.
How to do it: Check the City of Ottawa website for specific schedules at your local community center (like Nepean Centrepointe, Richcraft, or Minto).
2. Parliament Hill & Senate Tours
While the Centre Block is under construction, you can still take the family inside the capital's most iconic buildings for free.
The Senate of Canada Building: Located in the old train station, it’s stunning and very "Harry Potter" for kids.
House of Commons (West Block): See where the laws are made.
Note: You must reserve your free tickets online in advance at visit.parl.ca.
3. Winter Trail Treasure Hunts
Ottawa’s community-maintained winter trails are free to use for walking, snowshoeing, or "fat biking."
Kichi Sibi Winter Trail: Walk along the Ottawa River. Kids love looking for the "hidden" ice formations near the water.
Britannia Winter Trail: Very flat and stroller-friendly, perfect for a short nature walk followed by a hot chocolate at home.
Animal Track Detective: Head to Stony Swamp (Old Quarry Trail). It's a great place to feed chickadees (bring birdseed!) and look for rabbit or deer tracks in the fresh snow.
4. The Bank of Canada Museum
Location: 30 Bank Street.
Why it’s great: It is always free. It’s highly interactive—kids can design their own digital "avatar" on a wristband and play games that teach them about money in a way that feels like a video game arcade.
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