Winter doesn’t have to mean burying yourself under 10 blankets with a cup of hot chocolate and the TV remote. Here are all kinds of winter festivals and festivals that let you get out and celebrate the frosty season—and they’re all within a five-hour drive of Ottawa. Many are much closer, and quite a few are within the city limits! Rough Google Maps driving times from downtown Ottawa are in parentheses. (Those driving times are based on good weather and light traffic, so I often find them a bit optimistic.)
Cover photo of Winterlude fun at Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau courtesy of Ottawa Tourism.
- Embrun (0:35): Embrun Carnival, January 19 to 28
- Laurentian Valley (1:40): Alice in Winterland Carnival, January 19 to 27
- Pakenham (0:40): Frost Festival, January 22 to 28
- Greely (0:30): Greely Winter Carnival, January 25 to 28
- Gatineau (0:30): Carnaval St-Jean Bosco, January 25 to February 4
- Quebec City (4:30): Carnaval de Quebec, January 25 to February 11
- Carlsbad Springs (0:22): Optimist Club Winter Carnival, January 26 to 28
- Laval (2:00): Laval en blanc, January 26 to 28
- Bracebridge (4:20): Fire and Ice Festival, January 27
- Pembroke (2:05): SnoSpree, January 31 to February 5
- Clayton, NY (1:50): Ice Bar, February 1 to 3
- Manotick (0:25): Shiverfest, February 2 and 3
- Morewood (0:50): Winter Carnival, February 2 to 4
- Marionville (0:35): Marionville Winter Carnival, February 2 to 4
- Saranac Lake (2:45): Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, February 2 to 11
- Ottawa (0:00): Winterlude, February 2 to 19 (mainly weekends)
- Ottawa (0:10): Rideau Hall Winter Celebration, February 3
- St. Bernardin (1:00): Carnaval St-Bernardin, February 3
- Sarsfield (0:35): Carnaval Sarsfield, February 4
- Braeside (0:50): Braeside Winter Carnival, February 3
- Lake George (4:15) Lake George Winter Carnival, February 4 to 25 (weekends only)
- Kemptville (0:40): Kemptville Winter Carnival, February 9 and 10
- Ottawa (0:10): Westboro Beach Winter Carnival, February 10
- Orleans (0:20): Fête Frissons, February 10
- Syracuse (3:05): Winterfest, February 15 to 25
- Algonquin Park (3:00): Winter in the Wild, February 17
- Perth (1:00): Frost and Fire, February 17
- White Lake (0:55): White Lake Winter Carnival, February 17
- Renfrew (1:00): Frewfest, February 17 to 19
- Petawawa (1:45): Cabin Fever, February 24 to March 3
- Portland (1:40): Skate the Lake Portland, date to be determined based on weather conditions
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.
14 comments
Portland, ON – Skate the Lake event happening on Jan 25th and 26th. Lots of activities. For more info visit http://www.rideaulakes.ca
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll add it.
Crysler 54th Winter Carnival : Feb 12 to the 16, 2020
Thanks so much! I’ll add it.
[…] Looking for festival ideas later in the winter? Check out my list of more than 30 winter carnivals. […]
[…] It’s another jam-packed week for winter festivals. Along with a little event you might have heard of called Winterlude (February 3 to 20), carnivals on the calendar include Feb Fest in Kingston (February 2 to 5); the Morewood Winter Carnival, southeast of Ottawa between Russell and Chesterville (February 3 to 5); the Carnaval St-Bernardin, east of Ottawa between Casselman and Vankleek Hill (February 4); Shiver Fest in Hudson, Quebec (February 3 to 11); and the Fête des neiges de Magog in Quebec’s Eastern Townships (February 4 to 12). Looking for more ideas? Check out my big winter festivals roundup. […]
[…] Looking for festival ideas later in the winter? Check out my list of more than 30 winter carnivals. […]
[…] Events this weekend include the Pakenham Frost Festival (January 18 to 27), Frewfest in Renfrew (January 19 to 21), the Alice in Winterland Carnival in Laurentian Valley, near Pembroke (January 20 to 27), Cabin Fever in Petawawa (January 20 to 28) and the Embrun Carnival (January 19 to 28). Looking for ideas later in the winter? Check out my list of more than 30 winter festivals. […]
[…] Closer to home, you can play in the snow at the Embrun Carnival (January 16 to 26), Frewfest in Renfrew (January 17 to 19), the Pakenham Frost Festival (January 17 to 25) and Cabin Fever in Petawawa (January 18 to 25; note that some events in this fest have been postponed due to weather). If you’re looking for winter carnivals later this winter, check out my recently updated list of 30+ winter festivals near Ottawa. […]
[…] There’s lots of winter festival fun in the region this week: the Alice in Winterland Carnival in Laurentian Valley (January 24 to 31); the Embrun Carnival (until January 26); Laval en blanc (January 24 to 26); Shiverfest in Manotick (January 24 and 25); the Greely Winter Carnival (January 23 to 26); Les Féeries du chevreuil in Duhamel (January 24 to 26); the Morewood Winter Carnival (January 24 to 26); Winter Fun Day in Brockville (Saturday, January 25); and the Lanark Highlands Frosty Fling (January 24 to 26). Looking for festival ideas later in the winter? Check out my list of more than 30 winter carnivals. […]
[…] It’s another busy week for winter festivals. Along with a little event you might have heard of called Winterlude (January 31 to February 17), carnivals on the calendar include Fête Frissons in Orleans (February 1); Feb Fest in Kingston (February 1 to March 8); SnoSpree in Pembroke (January 29 to February 2); the Marionville Winter Carnival (February 1); the Carnaval St-Bernardin (February 1); the Rankin Culture and Recreation Centre Winter Carnival in Pembroke (February 2, and February 5 to 8); the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival (January 31 to February 9) and the Lake George Winter Carnival (February 1 to 23, weekends only) in the Adirondacks; and the Fête des neiges de Magog in Quebec’s Eastern Townships (February 1 to 9, weekends only). Looking for more ideas? Check out my big winter festivals roundup. […]
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[…] in addition to the ideas below, don’t forget to check out my big list of winter festivals, featuring everything from small community gatherings to huge carnivals. Happy […]