New Year's Eve in Ottawa — Winter | 613today - Ottawa Events Calendar | Festivals, Concerts, Parties & Community Events

Ottawa's New Year's Eve centres on outdoor celebrations, fireworks, and the unique possibility of skating into the new year. The night is cold — often well below freezing — but the city makes it worthwhile.

Fireworks at Lansdowne

The Ottawa Christmas Market at Lansdowne Park hosts the main NYE celebration, with the market open until midnight and fireworks from 11:55 PM to 12:05 AM, launched from the North Side Stands.

Programming typically includes:

Free admission to the Christmas Market throughout the day (open from noon)
DJ Skate on the outdoor rink (from 6:00 PM)
Live music and DJ party (from 9:00 PM)
Midnight countdown and fireworks

A free shuttle runs from Carleton University's P18 lot every 15 minutes or so. Parking at Lansdowne itself fills up — plan to take transit or the shuttle.

Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill is a popular gathering spot for New Year's Eve, with views across the Ottawa River. The Winter Lights Across Canada light projection on Parliament runs Thursday through Monday evenings during the winter season. Parliament Hill also provides a vantage point for watching fireworks launched from other locations.

Note: Weather-dependent — extreme cold can affect outdoor programming. In 2017, live music performances on Parliament Hill were cancelled due to cold, though fireworks elsewhere went ahead.

Skating

Rink of Dreams at City Hall

The Rink of Dreams (110 Laurier Ave W) is a refrigerated outdoor rink at Ottawa City Hall that runs from early December through late March. Regular hours are 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Skating is free; skate rentals and sharpening are available on-site. Check with the City of Ottawa for any NYE schedule extensions.

Rideau Canal Skateway

The Rideau Canal Skateway may or may not be open on December 31 — it depends entirely on the weather. In the 2025–2026 season, a 3.4 km section opened on December 31 (the earliest opening since 2018), but this is not typical. In many years the Skateway doesn't open until mid-to-late January. Check the NCC website or call 613-239-5234 for current conditions.

Dining Out

Many Ottawa restaurants offer NYE prix fixe menus or special dinner services. ByWard Market restaurants are popular for NYE dinners. Reserve well in advance — popular restaurants fill their NYE seatings weeks ahead.

Getting Home Safely

OC Transpo is free after 6:00 PM on December 31, sponsored by Safer Roads Ottawa and MADD Ottawa. Fare gates are open at all O-Train stations — just board without tapping.

Extended hours on NYE:

O-Train Line 1: runs until 2:00 AM
O-Train Line 2: runs until 1:00 AM
O-Train Line 4: runs until midnight
Para Transpo: runs until 3:00 AM

Tips

Dress for extreme cold. Average high on December 31 is about -2°C, average low about -10°C. It can be much colder — the record low on December 31 in Ottawa is -33.9°C (1917). Layered clothing, insulated boots, warm hat, scarf, and heavy gloves are essential for any outdoor midnight celebration.

Plan your evening early. If you want to dine out, book your restaurant by early December. If you're going to Lansdowne, take the free shuttle or public transit.

Consider a quieter option. Not everyone wants to brave the cold. The Rink of Dreams offers a fun, low-key evening of skating. Many people watch the fireworks from the comfort of a nearby apartment or restaurant.