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Saturday, February 21
Metcalfe Farmers’ Market at 9am - 2pm 📍Greely Community Centre
Musical Ride Open House at 10am - 3pm 📍Musical Ride Centre
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
Farm Boy Nepean - 30 Year Anniversary at 11am - 2pm📍Farm Boy Nepean
Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade at 12pm - 2pm 📍Somerset Street West
Lego Block Party (Series) at 2:30pm 📍OPL Emerald Plaza
Winter Festival 11am to 1pm 📍Elizabeth Manley Park
Sunday, February 22
HAPPINESS SUNDAYS: Sunrise snowshoe hike in Gatineau Park to Carbide Ruins at 7am 📍P16 (Meech Creek Valley)
SUNRISE TRAILS monthly Sunday 7am snowshoe trail runs & hikes (Feb 2026) at 7am 📍P16 (Meech Creek Valley)
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
Winter Fest 2026 - check the schedule 📍Mississippi Mills
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⛸️ 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.
