Winterlude is an annual festival that takes place in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, during the month of February in winter that is run by the National Capital Commission and began in 1979. The event attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
A new attendance record was set in 2007 of an estimated 1.6 million visits to one of the four Winterlude sites.
The focal point of Winterlude is the 7.8 kilometer (approximately 5 mile) Rideau Canal Skateway which is the largest skating rink in the world.
Other sites for ice sculpture exhibits are located at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau. This site was turned into a huge park with snow sculptures and ice slides that hosts numerous events and activities for children.
On the other hand, the Confederation Park, better known as Crystal Garden, is the site for the ice sculpture contest and musical concerts, while the Marion Dewar Square in the City Hall is a skating rink that hosts concerts, dance parties DJs and interactive art displays from around the Festival.
The event takes place the first three weekends in February. It should be noted that the weather in Ottawa is very unpredictable, often causing Winterlude to be hampered by mild weather as they do not have adequate freezing.