The Largest Outdoor Winter Festival in North America

Where do you think it (the largest winter festival in North America) is taking place (February 2-18) ?

ANSWER: Ottawa, Ontario

It's Winterlude.

Winterlude is a very large festival of outdoor activities including public skating and skating displays, snow and ice sculpture competitions, musical concerts at the Winterlude Snowbowl, children's play areas, an 'ice lounge', bed and waiter races and numerous off-site events.
Winterlude is most famous for the Rideau Canal, which is cleared to become the world's largest skating rink for the time of the festival and hosts numerous events, such as skating displays and musical concerts.

Other primary sites include Jacques Cariter Park in Gatineau which is turned into a massive snow park with slides and structures, events and activities for children and the snow sculpture competition. Confederation Park is the site for the ice sculpture competition, the ice lounge and musical concerts. Dow's Lake has a large skating area and hosts the various bed and waiter races.
Related activities include special exhibits at the Ottawa museums, special events at the Byward Market and a 'loppet' type race is held in Gatineau Park.

The traditional food for Winterlude is called the "Beaver Tail", a fried dough type pastry. It is sold from several stands at Winterlude event sites and along the Canal. Other food-related activities include a Chili Cook-Off held at the Byward Market and several restaurants act as 'official restaurants,' usually serving special Winterlude foods and drinks.


Official Winterlude Web site
Rideau Canal Skateway
Rideau Canal skating conditions
Winterlude Activities
Ice Sculptures / Snow Sculptures