Winter Celebration

February 01, 2020

Rideau Hall’s annual Winter Celebration was a chance to discover winter traditions from around the world, with over 25 free activities, performances, pop-up museums and food samples.

  • Thousands of people gathered at Rideau Hall for Winter Celebration on February 1, 2020.
  • Winter Celebration is an event where visitors can discovering over 25 activities and winter traditions.
  • Volunteers demonstrated the ins and outs of curling.
  • For the second year in a row, Winter Celebration was presented in partnership with Winterlude.
  • The Governor General of Canada had the opportunity to meet with participants and partners of the event.
  • Visitors walked around the grounds and discovered how different countries embrace the coldest months of the year by enjoying traditional foods and activities.
  • Nunavut students shared their Inuit culture and language through drumming, dancing, throat singing and winter activities.
  • During Winter Celebration, visitors had fun outside while taking part in a variety of winter sports.
  • A team from the Embassy of Finland helped participants to experiment kicksledding, a chair-mounted sled.
  • This activity, organized by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, encouraged visitors to try giant skis that hold eight adults at one time and to ski in unison, without stopping or falling over.
  • This activity, organized by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, encouraged visitors to try giant skis that hold eight adults at one time and to ski in unison, without stopping or falling over.
  • Many embassies offered delicious snacks and warm drinks to help keep visitors warm. The Embassy of Switzerland served raclette.
  • Visitors enjoyed warming up near the fire and eating S'mores. The activity was offered by the YMCA/YWCA.
  • Members of the Governor General’s Foot Guards introduced visitors to some of their training exercises with a fun obstacle course.
  • Members of the Governor General’s Foot Guards introduced visitors to some of their training exercises with a fun obstacle course.
  • Some visitors took a break and climbed aboard a horse-drawn wagon.
  • Visitors enjoyed Rideau Hall's historic rink, first established by Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third governor general, in 1872.
  • During Winter Celebration, visitors had fun outside while taking part in a variety of winter sports.
  • Visitors enjoyed Rideau Hall's historic rink, first established by Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third governor general, in 1872.

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