The next two weeks are quieter than usual in terms of public events, as many people are travelling, cocooning with family and friends, or simply recovering from weeks of shopping, baking, feasting and frolicking. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do! You could get up close with butterflies or horses, share your favourite LPs, take the kids to a playground festival or a family play, cheer for young hockey players, celebrate New Year’s Eve in all sorts of ways, set your intentions for 2026, get your tea leaves read, or jump into an icy river (if you’re so inclined). Read on for details on all these events and more!
P.S.: This is my last post for 2025, as I’m taking the week between Christmas and New Year’s off. All the best to you for the holidays! I’ll be back here in early January with more road tripping ideas.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- See rising hockey stars play in Ottawa
- Learn about horses in Nepean
- Celebrate Kwanzaa in Ottawa
- Bounce the day away in Gatineau
- Share your favourite vinyl in Arnprior
- See butterflies in Ottawa
- Join a free celebration in Britannia
- See a Christmas movie at the Mayfair Theatre
- Enjoy a family party in Trend-Arlington
- Stroll a holiday market at Lansdowne Park
- See a family-friendly play in Kanata
- Take a holiday tour in Brockville
- Enjoy brunch and board games in Hintonburg
- Celebrate New Year's Eve
- Commit to your resolutions in Kemptville or Brockville
- Take an icy dip in Perth
- Get psychic in Nepean
- Delve into science in Carleton Place
- Learn about rock music or life drawing
See rising hockey stars play in Ottawa
The Bell Capital Cup is one of the world’s largest hockey tournaments, drawing hundreds of youth hockey teams from around the world to Ottawa. This year, you can enjoy the action from December 28 to 31 at arenas across the city, including the Richcraft Sensplex, the Nepean Sportsplex, the Frank Robinson Arena and the Canadian Tire Centre. You might just spot a future NHL star or two.
Learn about horses in Nepean
Tickets are going quickly for Discover Horses, a 90-minute session at the Ian Millar School of Horsemanship at Wesley Clover Parks in Nepean on Tuesday, December 30. Starting at noon, participants will spend time with the school’s horses and learn the basics of equine grooming and care.
Celebrate Kwanzaa in Ottawa
Jaku Konbit, an Ottawa non-profit group, is holding a Kwanzaa celebration on Sunday, December 28, at the Preston Event Centre. Kwanzaa celebrates the history, culture and experiences of people of African descent. Participants will reflect on the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, creativity, purpose, and faith. There will also be musical and dance performances, storytelling, family activities, a marketplace spotlighting Black entrepreneurs, and a candle-lighting ceremony.
Bounce the day away in Gatineau
So the presents are unwrapped, the new toys have been played with, you’ve watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas approximately 47 times and the kids are getting restless. The Gatineau Playground Festival (December 27 to 30) at the Complexe Branchaud-Brière—with its 67,000 square feet of bouncy castles, trampolines and other active, indoor fun—might just be the answer to your family’s cabin fever.
Share your favourite vinyl in Arnprior
Every Monday night, vinyl record lovers gather at Cold Bear Brewing Company in Arnprior for Vinyl Night. Bring your favourite LPs to spin and share with other music fans while enjoying a refreshing beverage. The next gathering is on Monday, December 29.
See butterflies in Ottawa
The Butterflies in Flight exhibition continues at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Buy a timed ticket in advance, then move through a solarium filled with 20 species of beautiful butterflies. It’s a great way to ward off the winter chill!
Join a free celebration in Britannia
On Sunday, December 28, the Winter Lakeside Festival is happening at the Ron Kolbus Centre in Britannia Park. The free event features live entertainment, family activities and local food vendors.
See a Christmas movie at the Mayfair Theatre
Think you’ve already watched all the Christmas movies? The Mayfair Theatre in Old Ottawa South is hoping you’ll still have room for a special one in the week between Christmas and New Year’s. The cinema is holding an afternoon fundraising screening of a Ukrainian movie called The Train to Christmas on Saturday, December 27. The comedy (subtitled in English) tells the tale of strangers stuck together on a train on Christmas Eve. Funds raised support children who have lost their parents due to the war in Ukraine.
Enjoy a family party in Trend-Arlington
The FamilyHUB Foundation is throwing a Boxing Day Family Party at the Trend-Arlington Community Centre in Ottawa’s west end on Friday, December 26. Enjoy music, storytelling, festive food and drink from around the world, and a gift exchange. Admission is $15 per person or $20 for a family of three.
Stroll a holiday market at Lansdowne Park
Didn’t get enough of shopping before Christmas? You still have time to check out the Ottawa Christmas Market at Lansdowne Park (December 26 to 28, and December 30 and 31). Hours vary; it will be open until 1am on New Year’s Eve (well, technically, New Year’s Day).
See a family-friendly play in Kanata
In ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, a mouse, an elf and a determined little girl conspire to make sure that Santa doesn’t miss their house this year. The family-friendly show is on at the Ron Maslin Playhouse in Kanata from December 27 to 30.
Take a holiday tour in Brockville
Nightly from December 23 to December 30 (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), you can take a Cozy Yuletide Tour in Brockville. During the indoor tour, you’ll learn about lesser-known festive traditions from days gone by, including the Yule Cat, Frau Perchta, Krampus and more. Proceeds will help support local high school drama departments.
Enjoy brunch and board games in Hintonburg
Every day from December 20 until January 4 (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when the pub is closed), the Hintonburg Public House is offering board games and brunch. Bring your own board game or choose one from the pub’s collection. Reservations recommended.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve
Looking for a fun way to ring in 2026? Check out my big guide to New Year’s Eve celebrations in Ottawa, the Outaouais and Eastern Ontario.
Commit to your resolutions in Kemptville or Brockville
If—like me!—you have trouble keeping your New Year’s resolutions, you could considering signing up for one of these workshops.
Up first is Start Where You Are, a 90-minute session of yoga, breathwork, guided journalling and tarot designed to help you set your intentions for 2026. It’s happening at the new Loose Grip Loft in Kemptville on Monday, December 29.
There’s also Living Wellness in 2026, a 90-minute workshop at Saltastic Salt Rooms and Wellness Spa in Kemptville on Saturday, January 3. It aims to help you to reflect on what works for you and to set achievable goals.
And finally, Zen Acres in Brockville is offering a three-hour Full Moon Vision Board Workshop on Saturday, January 3. You’ll create a vision board illustrating your intentions for 2026, then participate in a soundbath meditation.
Take an icy dip in Perth
It’s not too late to sign up for the Perth Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day! If you are braver than I, you can take an icy dip in the Tay River to help raise money for the Perth Legion. The event starts with breakfast at 8am, and the brave plungers will start hitting the water at 10am. Brrrrr!
Get psychic in Nepean
Wondering what 2026 will bring? Then perhaps you should head to the Ottawa Psychic and Crystal Fair at the Nepean Sportsplex (January 2 to 4). The event features 27 vendors, including psychics, tea leaf readers and jewellery makers.
Delve into science in Carleton Place
How cool does this sound? MEESS Education is holding an open house in Carleton Place on Sunday, January 4, to introduce teachers, students, parents and lifelong learners to its portable, inflatable planetarium. During the open house, you can also learn about fossils, light, optics, electrical circuits and other scientific stuff. Most activities are free, but there’s a cost to see video presentations in the planetarium.
Learn about rock music or life drawing
OK, these technically start after January 4, but I’m listing them here so you don’t miss the chance to sign up.
Music professor Keith McCuaig is offering a six-week course on the history of rock and roll from 1951 to 1966, at the Red Bird music venue in Old Ottawa South. It runs on Monday afternoons, starting January 5.
Perhaps drawing is more your speed? Then you can sign up week-by-week for a life drawing class at Art House in Centretown. The next one is on Tuesday, January 6.
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km 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.