Things to do in Ottawa on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

Event organizers across Ottawa are getting set to wave goodbye to 2025 and ring in 2026. CTV’s Shaun Vardon gets a look at New Year’s Eve plans in the capital.

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at things to do in Ottawa on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

• What’s open and closed in Ottawa over New Year’s

OC Transpo

OC Transpo is celebrating the new year with free transit on New Year’s Eve.

You can ride OC Transpo buses, the O-Train Lines 1, 2 and 4 and Para Transpo for free after 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

O-Train Line 1 will run until 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, while O-Train Line 2 will operate until 1 a.m.

New Year’s Eve at the Ottawa Christmas Market

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Ottawa Christmas Market.

Events include fireworks at 11:55 p.m., a New Year’s Eve DJ Skate from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., music on the Hotel Casino du Lac-Leamy Stage, shopping from local vendors and Santa’s workshop.

For more information, visit https://www.ottawachristmasmarket.com/events-and-activities.

Hogmanay Ceilidh 2025

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Hogmanay Ceilidh 2025 at Blessed Sacrament Hall on Fourth Avenue.

The Scottish Society of Ottawa’s New Year’s Eve party is its flagship event, with music from Anna Ludlow and Bang on the Ear, along with talented dancers from the Ottawa Highland Dance Association.

Tickets are $85. Children under 12 are free.

For more information and tickets, click here.

New Year’s Eve celebrations

Here is a look at events happening in Ottawa and Gatineau on New Year’s Eve

• New Year’s Eve at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa – All That Glitters
• Demin and Diamonds at the RA Centre
• Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa West is hosting a dinner and comedy show
• Absolute Comedy hosts the New Year’s Eve Spectacular
• New Year’s Eve Ottawa Ball at Preston Event Centre
• New Year’s Eve 2026 at Overflow Brewing Company
• New Year’s Eve Party at the Casino du Lac Leamy
• New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball at the Fred Barrett Arena 

Rideau Canal Skateway

The Rideau Canal Skateway will be open for New Year’s Eve.

The National Capital Commission says a 3.4-kilometre section of the skateway will open at 8 a.m. Wednesday, between Somerset Street and the Bank Street Bridge.

Ottawa Senators

Ring in the new year with the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre.

The Senators host the Washington Capitals on Thursday afternoon.

Game time is 1 p.m.

For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.ca.

Great Canadian Theatre Company

Ottawa Musicals presents Hansel and Gretel Go West at the Great Canadian Theatre Company.

There is a show on New Year’s Eve at 2 p.m.

For tickets, visit https://www.gctc.ca/events/hansel-gretel-panto.

Luminaire in the ByWard Market

Celebrate the holiday season in the ByWard Market with a flurry of light, wonder and magic.

Luminaire includes a daily light show and the Aurora Light Show on York Street.

You can also see Ottawa’s tallest Christmas tree.

For a list of events, visit https://www.byward-market.com/luminaire.

Winter Lights Across Canada

Thoughts of lights brighten the national capital region this holiday season.

See the Winter Lights Across Canada nightly until Jan. 9.

Follow the route through Ottawa and Gatineau and admire the illuminated sites, including Confederation Park, the National War Memorial, the Mackenzie Triangle, the Peacekeeping Monument and the Garden of Provinces and Territories, Jacques-Cartier Park and the Supreme Court of Canada.

For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/winter-lights.html.

Magic of Lights

Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa’s west end is illuminated for the holiday season with the Magic of Lights.

The dazzling drive-through experience features two million twinkling lights along a two-kilometre route.

The Magic of Lights runs until Jan. 3, all in support of children, youth and families at CHEO.

For tickets and information, visit https://magicoflights.com/locations/ottawa-on/.

Alight at Night Festival

Over one million lights illuminate Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg this holiday season.

Check out Alight at Night on select nights until Jan. 15.

For tickets and information, visit www.uppercanadavillage.com.

Skating/sledding

Ottawa’s four refrigerated rinks will be open, weather permitting. The four rinks are:

• Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall
• Lansdowne Park skating court
• Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink at Canterbury
• Ben Franklin Place skating rink.

The community outdoor rinks will open if the weather is favourable.

The City of Ottawa says sledding hills will be open, weather permitting. Visit www.ottawa.ca for information on sledding hills.

Museums

Click on the links for the schedule at museums in Ottawa and eastern Ontario:

• Canadian Museum of Nature will be open New Year’s Eve and Jan. 2-4.
• Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
• Canada Science and Technology Museum
• Canada Aviation and Space Museum
• Canadian War Museum
• Canadian Museum of History
• National Gallery of Canada
• Ottawa Art Gallery will be closed Wednesday and Thursday
• The Diefenbunker will be closed on New Year’s Day.

Polar Plunge at Britannia Beach

Ottawa Cold Plunge, Cold Play Ottawa and Ritual Recovery will host a group cold plunge at Britannia Beach on New Year’s Day.

The main plunge happens at 11:30 a.m.