Categories > Guides and Tips
8 Family Day Events and Activities in Ottawa You Wouldn’t Want to Miss
- Enjoy snowy activities at the Winterlude Festival
- Participate in the Open Studios at the National Gallery of Canada
- Learn how maple syrup is made during Sugar Bush at The Log Farm
- Try tobogganing at Carlington Park
- Observe majestic animals at Parc Omega
- Grab a beaver tail and explore Byward Market
- Experience fun learning at the Canada Science and Technology Museum
- Solve cryptic puzzles at Escape Manor Junior
As someone who takes family time VERY seriously, I make it a point to spend quality time with them at least once a week. Whether visiting one of Ottawa’s art museums, spending time at the park, going to the movies, etc., it’s a non-negotiable for me.
This is also one of the reasons why I love living in Ottawa. The city offers tons of attractions, some of which are free, that give us even more reasons to get together and do some fun activities!
So, if you’re looking to spend some quality time with your loved ones but are tired of going to the same mall, here are some family day events and activities you need to know:
Enjoy snowy activities at the Winterlude Festival
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Date: Late January to early February
Places to visit: Rideau Canal Skateway, Sparks Street, ByWard Market
Activities to try: Ice skating, sledding, hot cocoa tasting
The Winterlude Festival should be on your itinerary if you’ve always wanted to experience those joyful scenes in Hallmark Christmas movies. Even though it’s held around January or February, it still exudes the holiday season because of the city’s snowy weather and festive spirit.
We like tackling one destination every weekend so we’ll have ample time to enjoy each one. For instance, you can go ice skating at the Rideau Canal and head straight to Kin Park for some tobogganing action on your first day.
For the following weekend, you can take your loved ones to the Confederation Park, where you can admire beautiful ice sculptures made by talented local artists. From there, you can head to ByWard Market and get some much-needed hot cocoa to get cosy!
Pro tip:
You can also check out Snowflake Kingdom, especially if you have kids! This winter playground features slides, sledding hills and even a zipline!
Participate in the Open Studios at the National Gallery of Canada
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Address: 380 Sussex Dr
Contact details: +1 613-990-1985
Operating hours: Daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Rates:
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples: Free
- Members: Free
- Adults: CAD20
- Adults (65+): CAD18
- Aged 24 and under/students: CAD10
- Families (2 adults, three youths aged 17 and below): CAD40
- Children: Free
Date: Every weekend, public holidays
Website
The National Gallery of Canada houses some of the best paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the local art scene, but did you know you can be one of the artists here? This is through one of the museum’s open studios, where you and other visitors collaborate on a single piece.
They hold this event on weekends and public holidays, but if you have kids, the perfect time is the March Break open studio. In this activity, you’ll have the luxury of countless art materials at your disposal, and it’s up to you to turn your vision into fruition on one gigantic mural.
It’s a fun collaborative experience that will help you express yourselves in various art forms, which is so educational for everyone! After participating, you can continue to explore the museum and admire the updated exhibitions.
Pro tip:
Enrollment in this program comes with an admission ticket, so I recommend visiting on Thursdays to enjoy free entrance fees!
Learn how maple syrup is made during Sugar Bush at The Log Farm
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Address: 670 Cedarview Rd, Nepean
Contact details: +1 613-292-1219
Operating hours: Every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Rates:
- All guests aged 1+: CAD11.50
- Children 1 and under: Free
Date: March 1st to April 6th
Website
The Log Farm is great to visit all year, but as someone with a sweet tooth, my favourite time to visit is during its Sugar Bush season. Unlike other seasons, this doesn’t last too long since it falls under that small window between Winter and Spring, so reserve early!
One of the highlights of this experience is seeing how maple syrup is made right from the collection of the sap! You can even help in gathering them through traditional methods, more specifically using pails and your bare hands.
Walking through the maple trees is never boring either, as the picturesque views will keep you entertained. After collecting as much sap as possible, you can head back to the farm and interact with their cute and friendly barn animals!
Pro tip:
Before leaving, make sure to stop by the gift shop located near the entrance of the farm! It’s where you can hoard your favourite maple syrup at steal prices.
Try tobogganing at Carlington Park
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Address: 1640 Laperriere Ave.
Contact details: +1 613-580-2595
Operating hours: Daily from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Rates: Free
One thing you MUST try during winter in Ottawa is tobogganing, and one of the best places for it is Carlington Park! The most important thing to look for in a tobogganing spot is its slope, and this place just happens to have the steepest ones in the city!
Standing at the highest point of the hill will treat you to spectacular views of the city, but don’t look down! Sliding down from this point will let you enjoy crazy speeds, but if you have kids with you, you can start at the lower slopes.
It’s also one of the best-looking sledding spots in the city because, come nighttime, it will be beautifully lit!
Pro tip:
If Carlington Park is already filled with sledders, you can also bring your family to other well-known tobogganing spots in Ottawa like Ski Hill Park, Bruce Pit, and Conroy Pit!
Observe majestic animals at Parc Omega
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Address: 399 Route 323 Nord
Contact details: +1 819-423-5487
Operating hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Rates (Day Passes):
- Adults aged 16 to 64: CAD46.09
- Senior citizens: CAD40.87
- Children aged 6 to 15: CAD33.91
- Children aged 2 to 5: CAD17.39
Nothing screams family day more than a safari trip at Parc Omega. It’s one of those places where your kids will see you as the coolest parents ever when you take them there, or at least for a day or two—not bad, right?
However, don’t think that adults can’t get in on the fun as well, as this attraction is enjoyable for people of all ages! Trust me, there’s nothing cooler than being inside your car while driving around the natural environment of different animals like elks, bison, bears, wolves, etc.
You’ll see them going about their day-to-day lives, which is miles better than seeing them locked inside cages. Sometimes, deer will even approach your car, and you can roll your windows down to feed them their favourite snacks!
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting during Winter, try their dog sleighing activity. For this, you’ll be pulled by some of their strongest four-legged athletes as you navigate your way through the forest!
Grab a beaver tail and explore Byward Market
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Address: 69 George St
Contact details: +1 613-241-1230
Operating hours (BeaverTails):
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Sometimes, you don’t have to overcomplicate your family day, and spending a simple day at ByWard Market is more than enough to bond.
Once you arrive, head straight to Beavertails to get their signature pastry of the same name. They’re essentially fried dough shaped like beaver tails, but what makes them special is their assortment of toppings.
There’s no wrong order, but I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend the “Triple Trip”, which consists of Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter, and hazelnut spread.
After satisfying your sweet tooth, you can explore ByWard Market’s beautiful and iconic attractions like the National Gallery of Canada. If you’re one to marvel at impressive feats of architecture, you have to check out the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica!
Pro tip:
If you want something savoury instead, you can try Beavertail’s signature poutine! They use authentic cheese curds from Quebec, and best of all, they’re great for sharing!
Experience fun learning at the Canada Science and Technology Museum
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Address: 1867 St. Laurent Blvd
Contact details: +1 613-235-7053
Operating hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Rates:
- Adults: CAD19
- Senior: CAD14.50
- Students aged 18+ with school ID: CAD14.50
- Youth aged 3 to 17: CAD12.25
- Children aged 2 and below: Free
- Family (6 pax, max of 2 adults): CAD49
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is a great family destination because it allows kids to learn interesting things while having fun. It offers hands-on exhibitions that children can enjoy while unknowingly developing skills like creativity and problem-solving.
As a car enthusiast, one of my favourite exhibits is the automotive collection which houses over 100,000 objects. These range from old-timey charcoal-powered trains to luxurious vintage cars and everything in between!
The outer space exhibit doesn’t disappoint as well! You can find various depictions of galaxies and planets with their respective visual aids, but my favourite attraction here is the life-sized astronaut suit!
Pro tip:
Follow their official Instagram account to be updated on their current special offers! They’ll sometimes offer discounts on entrance fees as high as 50% off.
Solve cryptic puzzles at Escape Manor Junior
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Address: 900 Greenbank Rd #1008
Contact details: +1 613-695-1655 ext. 5
Operating hours:
- Thursday and Friday: 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Rates: Starts at CAD26
Website
Contrary to the horror themes found commonly in escape rooms, Escape Manor Junior offers kid-friendly rooms the entire family can enjoy. Don’t be fooled by their cute looks, as they still feature the same tricky and cryptic puzzles you need to solve together.
Escape Manor Junior features five different themes, but, for us, the best one is The Atlantis. As the name implies, it takes place in the famous lost underwater city, and the mission centres around you and your team trying to resurface it.
Meanwhile, if tactical espionage is more your speed, then the “Spy Mission” should be right up your alley! This theme features more tense puzzles because if you don’t finish them on time, the world will end as we know it!
Pro tip:
Check out their family hour rates online to enjoy a special offer where you only have to pay for three people, even if your group consists of 4 or more pax.
