Winter is in full swing in Canada. To an extent, the cold makes us not want to go outside. However just because the festive season has finished doesn’t mean we don’t want to enjoy what January activities the city has going on! Usually in January Ottawa has winter activities, as do many other places where the snow hits.
Skiing, hiking, and other winter sports make the city appealing for visitors and even residents who just enjoy the snow of it all. Despite the many things occurring in the winter, Ottawa in the other seasons is a magical place also. In the summer and springtime, the Ottawa waterside shines to visitors. The Rideau Canal is one of Ottawa’s natural attractions. At this time of year, it transforms into the world’s largest ice rink!
Naturally, as Canada’s capital city, Ottawa has nightlife appeal because of its late-night bars and nightclubs. The hotspot areas for Ottawa’s nightlife are Bank Street and Elgin Street. In terms of entertainment, Ottawa has an active live music scene with several prominent venues to explore. House of Targ, for example, houses retro games and arcades galore but also has performances from live bands.
For night owls there is also a lively casino scene in the city. There are the typical casino resort hotels for tourists to stay in and 24-hour casino venues that cater to late-nighters. Ottawa is also a hub for sporting events, particularly for hockey and football fans. The Ottawa Redbacks are the go-to football team for residents to support, and game days get packed!
Notably, sports have a huge impact on the tourism industry in Ottawa and other industries. Generally, sports are lucrative in many areas like tourism and gaming because so many people follow them. In gaming, sporting games commonly follow specific sports league games like basketball, hockey, and football. Because they have a large audience, it is easy to structure a game around a sports team or league. It is easy to add new elements to them like sports betting.
Sports betting mainly occurs in e-sports, which involves predicting elements of a sports game, such as the outcomes or decisions. Betting on sports is easy because there are only so many outcomes a game can have and people can make specific bets rather than just who will win or lose.
E-sports betting extends to video games, league teams, and tournaments where players bet on popular video games Call Of Duty and Dota 2. Betting on games like Dota 2 is easy for fans because they know the game mechanics and may follow teams in the e-sports realm, so therefore they know their tactics.
But for sports fans, you have to see it to believe it, which is why Ottawa has so many fun sports activities and things to see.
See the Sum 41 Concert
For all the emo kids out there, you might remember Sum 41. Well, the punk band is playing a concert on January 24th at the Canadian Tire Centre. They had to cancel dates in August due to lead singer Deryck Whibley recovering from a back surgery. However, five months later they’re back and coming to the city this January. If you can snag a ticket, it might be worth trying!
Enjoy the Glow Skate Night at Byward Market
This month coming to Ottawa is a series of bright fun nights for skating. Imagine the winter air while your skates glide across the ice but with neon. Every Friday in January the man-made ice rink in the area has hosted the skate night. The rink is located on William Street between York and George Street. The Glow Skate Night lasts for two hours from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, perfect for an after-work activity or a tourist activity if you’re visiting.
Catch some vibes at the Ottawa Winter Jazz Fest
There is something about jazz that is very wintery, despite what New Orleans seems to show us! The Ottawa Winter Jazz Fest is coming to the city from the 30th of January to February 1st. It is a series of concerts by jazz artists and is a staple of Ottawa’s cultural and artistic showcases in the winter season.
It’s part of Winterlude 2025 and has 15 shows across the two-day festival. The festival is for all ages as everything is live jazz, so it is ideal for music lovers. A full festival pass is $294, but it covers three days and includes VIP service, a meal, merch, and a “goodie bag”. You can also get a day pass.
Do a winter walk to Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill is one of Ottawa’s most infamous walking routes. The area is close to the Ottawa River and is historic because it is where the Parliament of Canada is. The area is free to walk around and many tours often go there, so it is easy to soak up some history while enjoying the winter surroundings.
Parliament Hill is also infamous for hosting events, and in winter there are usually many of them. For years, Parliament Hill has hosted its light show event, where lights are projected onto the government building in a light show. Although it doesn’t appear to be happening this January, the area is a great place to tour and learn about Canada’s politics. If not, you can grab food or a drink in many bars and eateries nearby.
Winterlude
If you are traveling at the end of January, Winterlude Festival will be underwayin Ottawa! From January 30 until February 17, Winterlude turns Ottawa into a winter paradise. There is skating on the Rideau Ice Rink, a snow playground (Snowflake Kingdom) for the children, and outdoor activities which Ottawa is known for. There are even arts-related events, and there is something for everyone at Winterlude.
Since it is free, Winterlude is very beneficial for budget travelers and those on a long holiday.
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