It is here! The holiday season is upon us in Canada’s capital region! With the snow already falling, it already looks a lot like Christmas. Would you like for your family to get into the spirit of the festive season? Have this list of 15 Family Holiday Events and Activities in Ottawa to plan some holiday fun with your loved ones and visitors!
15 FAMILY HOLIDAY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN OTTAWA
Please take note that you will need to register and pay ahead of time to participate in many of these Christmas activities and events.
INDOORS FAMILY HOLIDAY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN OTTAWA
1. NAC Holiday Programming
The NAC is the place to be to jump into the holiday season with your family. Beautiful holiday performances from beloved holiday stories will be showing for families to enjoy together.
2. Tucker House Winter Fair
November 23rd, 2024 – 10 am to 3 pm
The annual Winter Fair at Tucker House is a highly anticipated dog friendly event, drawing crowds from across the Ottawa region to celebrate the season in style. You will discover a diverse array of vendors, each offering a unique selection of traditional handcrafted goods and holiday-themed treasures, fun activities for kids of all ages as well as delicious homemade holiday foods to bring home! Admission is free.
3. Christmas Takeaway Tea, Billings Estate
December 7, 8, 14 and 15 with seatings at 11 am and 2 pm
Treat yourself to our traditional Christmas Tea in the comfort of your home. Our popular Takeaway Tea boxes return this December with a festive twist. Each single serving box includes delicious seasonal finger sandwiches, a scone with jam and butter, mini desserts, and refreshment of choice: tea (several varieties available), coffee, or hot chocolate. All menu items are prepared or baked in-house with fresh ingredients.
4. A Very Retro Christmas, Nepean Museum
Saturday, December 7 and Saturday, December 14 from 10 am to 4 pm.
Kids and their families are invited to hop in a time machine and celebrate the holidays with retro 1970s, 80s, and 90s flair at the Nepean Museum. Share in the nostalgic fun and connect across generations with vintage toys and games, throwback-inspired crafts, a themed scavenger hunt, and more! Best suited for families with children ages 6 to 12.
4. The Local Grump – Place D’Orléans
Capture photos with the Grump on December 14th between 3 pm and 7 pm and December 15th between 11 am and 3 pm.
5. Santa Sightings
Nothing tops off the holiday season like a visit to to the big man in red. Kids big and small are able to make sure Santa has their wish list just right. Visits are usually by appointment.
- St. Laurent Shopping Centre
- Carlingwood Shopping Centre
- Hazeldean Mall
- Place D’Orléans Shopping Centre
- Bayshore Shopping Centre
OUTDOORS FAMILY HOLIDAY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN OTTAWA
6. MAGIC OF LIGHTS, WESLEY CLOVER PARK
Hop in the car and take in the wonder at Wesley Clover Park at Magic of Lights! It is a drive-through holiday light display made up of nearly one million LED lights. This display is spread out over two kilometres. Magic of Lights includes a 200-foot light tunnels and towering LED displays of beloved winter characters. Select proceeds from each carload admission benefit the Ottawa Senator’s Foundation.
7. Winter LIGHTS ACROSS CANADA, PARLIAMENT HILL
A projected winter landscapes show. Carolling and hot chocolate. Oh, and the lights! This is what visitors to Winter Lights Across Canada will experience when they take in this family favourite event on their December 8th illumination ceremony. The streets and several monuments in downtown Ottawa will be lit up with lights. All eyes will be on Centre Block as the whimsical Winter Landscapes show plays in the dark.
8. A Country Christmas Holiday Light, Saunders Farm
A Country Christmas Drive-Through experience through our beautiful 180-year-old family Farm and forest. Join Mazey, our young sapling, along the route as she explores the Farm in search of her own Christmas star.
9. Country Christmas Days, Saunders Farm
At the Country Christmas Days, there are lots of outdoor open air attractions, including pre-cut Christmas trees, hedge mazes, wagon rides, Christmas displays, our amazing Farm Shop and our new local vendor market featuring 20 incredible local vendors! They will be serving seasonal foods and lots of treats!
10. Lights At Lansdowne, TD Place
This free festive experience, including the presence of the largest Christmas tree in Ottawa at the Lights at Lansdowne. An impressive canopy of lights in and around Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza and other Instagrammable elements.
11. Vintage Village of Lights, Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
Make memories to treasure at the Vintage Village of Lights. Enjoy a postcard-perfect 1920s and 30s heritage village charmingly decorated for the holidays. Explore festive vignettes and light displays, visit with Santa, decorate gingerbread cookies, take in seasonal heritage demonstrations, and more. Fun for family and friends of all ages.
13. Sleigh Rides
Go dashing through the snow with your family by going on a sleigh ride! Find the sleigh ride location that is closer to you too get going on this fun outdoor adventure.
Family Holiday Activities And Events Outside of Ottawa (Worth the Drive)
14. Stanley’s Christmas Village, Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm
Once you arrive at the Stanley’s Christmas Village, you will be greeted by a Christmas Elf at the loading area. The tractor drawn sleigh ride will then whisk you away through the forest, to the Christmas Village. Explore the village and play games, sing songs, and warm up by the bonfire. Hop back on the sleigh for a ride through the bush passing by our rows of Christmas trees. Finish off at The Tent to meet the big man himself, Santa Claus, for a physically distanced visit.
Have your camera and smartphones ready to take your own pictures! Then grab a cup of hot chocolate, a delicious maple cookie and a special gift from your new Elf friend. This fully outdoors activity is 1 hour long.
15. Align At Night, Upper Canada Village
Bundle up for an evening stroll through this picture-perfect postcard setting! Over one million lights adorn the heritage buildings, trees, and fences of Upper Canada Village creating a one-of-a-kind magical backdrop for its annual Alight at Night Festival – a true winter wonderland!
Whether it is indoor excitement or outdoor enchantment you want to experience with your family, this list of 15 Family Holiday Fun Events and Activities around Ottawa will help to bring the holly jolly of the season to the whole family. No matter how you celebrate the holiday season, we hope you have a very merry one with your loved ones!
You can also view these 22 fall family activities in Ottawa or 23 family winter events and activities in Ottawa!
What is your family’s favourite way to bring in the holiday season? Comment below!
It’s nice to see so many activities being done, so much has been cancelled down here
I do miss Ottawa, I great they still are able to provide some family actives. I learned today that Nepean has a museum.
Comment:please i need money for holiday