Family New Year’s Eve Fun + Things to Do Around Ottawa in January
The countdown to the New Year begins and there are many great family New Year Eve celebrations and events in Ottawa in January! From captivating fireworks, to early family friendly NYE countdowns and events which will keep your family out and about in January there is lots of fun to be had.
Family Celebrations for New Year’s Eve in Ottawa
Happy Noon Year’s Eve!
Ottawa Public Library various locations
Saturday December 30, times vary
Ring in the Noon Year with the Ottawa Public Library! Celebrate Noon Year’s Eve with the O! A New Year’s event for the whole family. Ring in 2025 early (at noon)! Wear your pajamas or your fancy finery if you would like and join us for stories, crafts, activities, and a countdown to the new year! Drop-in..
Barrhaven Family New Year’s Eve Blow Out!
Tuesday December 31st, 1 – 5pm
Walter Baker Sports Centre, 100 Malvern Dr, Nepean
The first annual Barrhaven Family New Year’s Eve Afternoon Blow Out is a free event with activities including including skating, swimming, face painting, sleigh rides, marshmallow roasting, and food from local Barrhaven businesses.
Beckwith New Years Eve Family Fireworks
Beckwith Park, Carleton Place
Tuesday December 31, 4 – 7pm (Fireworks at 6pm)
Enjoy a free family skate and horse-drawn sleigh rides, a bonfire, food trucks, cotton candy, and fireworks at 6pm.
Kids New Years Eve Countdown
Pineview Community Association, 1700 Blair Rd.
Tuesday December 31, 3 – 7pm
This free event for kids too young to stay up late celebrate New Year’s Eve features games, dancing, colouring, and crafts with a New Year’s “countdown” every hour. Snacks are available for purchase.
Family Fun Things to Do Around Ottawa in January
With the holidays behind us that doesn’t mean the fun and adventures have to stop! You may be taking this downtime to declutter from the holidays but you won’t want to miss out on some fun family time with these special activities and events in Ottawa in January. Whether you are seeking an outdoor adventure, something for the sports fans or would like to explore Ottawa like a tourist you will have plenty of options for family fun!
Slide into Fun!
There is no shortage of fun tobogganing hills in the Ottawa area. Create a family list and check them off as you travel around the City visiting each one this January! Here are some of our favourites across the City of Ottawa.
- Carlington Park
- Walter Baker Park
- Greens Creek
- Apollo Crater Park
- Craig Henry Park
- Westboro Kiwanis Park
- Loyola Park
Looking for a slightly different tubing adventure? Check out Domaine de l’Ange Garden, Les Sommets Edelweiss, and Centre de Plein Air Du Lac-Beauchamp for some faster and larger slides. Tubes are provided at these locations and the hills are groomed specifically for this type of adventure!
Family Art Adventures
National Gallery of Canada
Throughout January
Play Art Bingo and learn how to jazz up your drawings. Look, talk, and move your way through the collection. Drop by the Studio and choose which activity you want to do first. In English and French for ages 4 and up. Included with Gallery admission and free for members and children under 11
Family Paint Parties
Spend time with the family and create a masterpiece for your walls at home. Events are held throughout January at locations in Barrhaven, Nepean, Carleton Place, Kanata, as well as throughout Ottawa. Tickets start at $45 and includes all supplies.
Agventure at the Ottawa Public Library
At various locations throughout the month, welcome some poultry from the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum into your library visit! Listen to them cluck and coo, touch their soft feathers, and watch them scratch and peck. Through fun educational activities, participants explore the characteristics, needs and lifecycle of these barnyard favourites at this family program for ages 4+. See all that the Ottawa Library has to offer HERE!
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Hit the Ice!
With many skating trails in the Ottawa & Gatineau regions you can choose a new path each weekend and enjoy a new adventure! Some of our favourites are “The Little Penguin Trail” in Gatineau that allows you to explore 5km through nature on a lovely golf course icy trail, skating through the forest (Patinage en forêt) in Lac des Loups, or skating at River Oak. The City of Ottawa also offers various locations for public skating or enjoy one of the local outdoor rinks.
Winter Lights Across Canada
You have until January 7th to head downtown with the kids for the “Winter Lights Across Canada” at Parliament Hill. Enjoy this multimedia experience as Parliament Hill comes to life with an illuminating projection. There are lots of parking options in the downtown business area but we love the option of parking in the Byward Market enjoy dinner at a local restaurant (Zaks has free kids dining with the purchase of an adult meal!), walk to Parliament to enjoy the light show and back to the byward market for a Beavertail treat and hot chocolate. A fun local evening that will be magical and enjoyed by all!
Staycation and Quick Weekend Getaways
With the holidays behind us why not take this downtime to explore the Ottawa area pretending to be a tourist or book a quick weekend getaway.
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Ottawa has many great things to offer including several museums, great shopping, libraries, sledding hills, skating rinks, and movie theatres. Enjoy a night at the Andaz in the Byward Market or enjoy the views from the Quebec side at the Hilton Lac Leamy. Want to escape for the weekend? Take a quick trip to one of our favourite cities that are only a few hour drive away!
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Visit the Animals!
Head to Parc Omega this January and enjoy the day getting up close to some of Canada’s favourite animals. Bring lots of carrots as you feed the deer and make sure you dress warm so you can take the walk out to the wolves observation platform and see them in their natural habitat. You can also enjoy the Canadian Food & Agricultural Museum as a fun family activity with animals and enjoy a variety of activities in the learning centre.
Embrace the winter weather and enjoy Ottawa in January with your family with these fun events! There are many great places to explore and play in the Ottawa region that will accommodate your entire family and a variety of ages. Don’t let the snow and cold keep you at home when there are so many great activities happening in the area!
