Free weekend activities in Ottawa

Looking for free activities this weekend? The City of Ottawa reminds residents of some activities offered by the City that you might want to enjoy while the weather cooperates.

Skating on the Canal is over for this year, but the SENS Rink of Dreams at City Hall (110 Laurier Avenue West) is still open. Come enjoy the brisk outdoor air as you skate with friends and family. While at City Hall, be sure to take in the Karsh-Masson Gallery, the Barbara Ann Scott Gallery and the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, all free of charge.

If you’re looking for a new place to skate, you can check out the Lansdowne Park Skating Court. Weather permitting, it will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Follow the City on Twitter @ottawacity for last-minute changes to the status of both rinks or visit ottawa.ca for updates and news on when the rinks will close for the season.

If you can’t make it to Lansdowne or to the SENS Rink of Dreams, there are other facilities that offer public skating, and RBC is making sure that public skating sessions held on Saturdays and Sundays are free until Sunday, March 29. Check out ottawa.ca to find an arena that suits your schedule.

At Lansdowne Park, you can get an up-close look at the future of Ottawa transit aboard the full-sized mock-up of the trains that will serve as the backbone of Ottawa’s new light rail transit system. Until the end of March, the Alstom Citadis Spirit light rail vehicle is on display seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Aberdeen Pavilion. Visitors can explore this fast, safe, reliable vehicle and learn more about the O-Train Confederation Line .