This massive (and free) Ontario winter festival is a must-visit next month

While temperatures are dipping here in eastern Canada, Ottawa is about to heat up.

The nation’s capital is about to throw a massive winter festival to celebrate its enchanting snow-covered season. And it’s very much worth a little road trip.

Winterlude is an annual free festival that spans over three weekends in February, and it all begins with a kick off party. The party takes place on February 2, and will include ice sculptures, live music, and an epic outdoor dance party.

And Ottawa knows how to party in the cold. The city is home to the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink. All Winterlude festivities take place along the Skateway, with the world’s biggest snow playground, The Snowflake Kingdom, taking place at the Jacques Cartier Park in downtown Gatineau.

To add to the wintery fun, this year Winterlude is hosting an Ice Dragon Boat Festival again. For the second time in North America, dragon boats will race down the frozen Rideau Canal Skateway.

All you need now is a winter road trip partner-in-crime, preferably someone who loves beavertails too.

It’s cold, might as well embrace it and join the fun!

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Winterlude Ottawa

Where: Various locations, Ottawa
When: February 2 to 19

See also

• Reservations for Canada's national parks launch in January
• Niagara Falls' frozen transformation continues to captivate (PHOTOS)
• This town 2 hours from Toronto is throwing a massive winter carnival