Winterlude makes big return after pandemic hiatus one day late

Winterlude is back in action this weekend,one day after extreme cold temperatures put most of the festival's outdoor activities on ice.

Dozens of people gathered Saturday on Sparks Street,bundled in their coats, hats and gloves, to take part in the first in-person edition of the annual winter festival since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ottawa resident Brigitte Smileybraved the cold to keep up her lifelong tradition of attending the festival, andwas doing her best to stay warm with the help of hot cider and hot dogs.

"So far, so good," she said.

Winterlude'sprevious two editionsoccurredonline due to COVID-19 restrictions. Then, frigid temperatures Friday forced organizers to cancel or postpone all of the outdoor events.

• Extreme cold warnings end across region, temperatures to rise overnight

While it was still cold Saturday,the festival went ahead, albeit with some programming changes.

The Snowflake Kingdom in Gatineau's Jacques-Cartier Parkopened atnoon, whiletheNational Ice Carving Championship on Sparks Street in Ottawa began at10 a.m.

Antonio Baisas, who's been an ice sculptor for over 30 years, came all the way from Nova Scotia to represent his province in the competition.

Baisas said the weather Friday made it nearly impossible for him to work. But on Saturday, he was busy chipping away at massive blocks of ice, carving an octopus.

"I am very excited ... it's wonderful," he said."It's still cold, but it's OK. We can manage."

Ice Dragon Boat Festival cancelled

While most Winterlude activities have resumed, not all have.

According to Canadian Heritage spokesperson Melanie Brault, whose departmentorganizes Winterlude,the Ice Dragon Boat Festival has been cancelledas the Rideau Canal Skatewayhasn't been able to open.

But Brault said she's hoping it willsoon.

"We are hoping and praying that Mother Nature will pull through for us and that we'll be able to hopefully see if there's going to be an opening in the days and weeks to come," she said.

If the skateway does eventually open, it will bethelatest opening datesince the National Capital Commissionstarted clearing and managing the ice in 1971.

Despite the cold temperatures, it won't reopen this weekend, according to the NCC, because it takes10 to 14 consecutive days of temperatures between -10 C and -20 C to grow sturdy ice.

Still, Brault said she's excited for the festivities over the next few weeks as temperatures begin to rise. Sunday's daytime high is expected to be above the freezing mark at 1 C.

There will beinteractive light features in the ByWard Market, the Snowphy Trophy a snowman building contest in the Glebe, and various activities at the Canadian Museum of History and the National Arts Centre.

Brault added thata free weekend"sno-bus" service will transport people from one location to another. Shuttle services organized by OC Transpo and the Socit de transport de l'Outaouaisalso started at 12 p.m. Saturday.

Winterlude will run until Feb. 20.