Winterlude kicks off in Ottawa and Gatineau, the Senators and Black Bears play at home and winter celebrations are held across the region. CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at things to do in Ottawa and eastern Ontario this weekend. Winterlude It’s the opening weekend of Winterlude in Ottawa and Gatineau, celebrating the best the Canadian winter has to offer. The Winterlude Opening Night on Sparks Street includes DJs, animation and looping presentations of LuX, a new sound and light Winterlude experience. Events will be held this weekend on Sparks Street, the Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, the ByWard Market, the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian Museum of History, and more. Winterlude continues until Feb. 17. For more information, click here. Rideau Canal Skateway The Rideau Canal Skateway remains open for the opening weekend of Winterlude. All 7.8 kilometres of the Rideau Canal Skateway are open for skating between Rideau Street and Dow’s Lake/Carleton University. Equipment rentals are available at Capital Skates, located at the Fifth Avenue access point. The BeaverTails huts will also be open all weekend. The Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival The Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival runs Friday and Saturday at the Ottawa Arts Court. For full details, visit https://ottawajazzfestival.com/. Rideau Hall Winter Celebration The public is invited to Rideau Hall on Saturday for the annual Winter Celebration. Activities include tours of the residence at Rideau Hall, skating on the outdoor rink and more. The Winter Celebration runs from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators host the Minnesota Wild Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre. Game time is 7 p.m. It’s Star Wars Night, with the first 10,000 fans receiving their very own Light Up Sword. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.ca. Ottawa Black Bears The Ottawa Black Bears host the Calgary Roughnecks in lacrosse action Friday night. Game time is 7 p.m. at Canadian Tire Centre. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.ca. National Arts Centre Here’s a look at what’s happening at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa this weekend: For tickets and information, visit www.nac-cna.ca. Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe Here is a look at events happening at the Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe this weekend: For more information, visit www.meridiancentrepointe.com. Lansdowne Farmers Market The Lansdowne Farmers Market is back at Lansdowne on Sunday. Connect with over 85 local vendors in the historic Aberdeen Square from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Great Canadian Theatre Company It’s the final weekend to see “Why It’s Impossible” at the Great Canadian Theatre Company. It’s a play about parenting in precarious times, co-created by Sophia Fabiili and Zoe Sweet. For more information, visit www.gctc.ca. Outdoor skating rinks You can go for a skate, weather permitting, on City of Ottawa outdoor rinks. Rideau Hall rink The public is invited to skate on the Rideau Hall skating rink. The skating rink is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The last entry at 7:45 p.m. The Winter Pavilion will be open for visitors to warm up and lace up their skates. Museums Click on the links for the schedule at museums in Ottawa and eastern Ontario: Parliament of Canada Tours Enjoy a free, guided tour of the Senate at the Senate of Canada Building, the House of Commons in the West Block and the East Block. For tickets and tour times, visit https://rts.parl.ca/. Parliament: The Immersive Experience Explore the main Parliament Building, also called Centre Block, in this new innovative experience. Parliament: The Immersive Experience at 211 Sparks Street includes an exhibition and a 360-degree multimedia show that takes you on a tour through Centre Block, which has been closed since 2019. The self-guided tour is 45 minutes. Tickets are available at no cost at visit parl.ca. Spirit of Winter A story comes to life in Kingston’s Springer Market Square this winter. The Spirit of Winter runs from Feb. 1 to Feb. 17, with the show running every 15 minutes. Enjoy outdoor skating or relax by the fire while enjoying this unique experience. Road to Mecca It’s the final weekend to see The Road to Mecca at the Domino Theatre in Kingston. “This unusual drama focuses on Miss Helen, an old Boer woman who lives alone in the South African boondocks, where she creates odd concrete sculptures, which she calls her Mecca,” says the Domino Theatre website. See the Road to Mecca Friday and Saturday. Kingston Grand Theatre Here is a look at things happening at the Kingston Grand Theatre this weekend: Challenge Cup Hockey For the first time in five years, West Point returns to Kingston to face the Royal Military College in the Challenge Cup. The RMC Paladins face off against the United States Military Academy’s Black Nights Saturday at the Slush Puppie Place in Kingston. Game time is 2 p.m. Gatineau Olympiques The Gatineau Olympiques host the Charlottetown Islanders Sunday afternoon at the Centre Slush Puppie. Game time is 3 p.m.
