February Nightlife Spotlight

February 4, 2026

The round, marbled fountain in the centre of Ottawa's Confederation Park is pictured at night. The base of the fountain is illuminated with purple light, casting a shadow upwards. A light installation is installed in the base of the fountain and looks almost like sprouting glowsticks; each radiating a prism of colour.

Despite the Groundhog Day predictions of early spring, winter nightlife is in full swing to make the most of Ottawa’s chilly temperatures.  

Though February is the shortest month of the year, there is no shortage of nighttime events and activations to make a calendar worth of reasons to bear the cold.  

Here are just a few frosty February nightlife highlights on our radar:  

Winterlude – Afterslide  

When: February 6-7 – 6:00pm-10:00pm 

Where: Jacques-Cartier Park (Gatineau)  

What: Two nights of free programming for teenagers and young adults featuring DJ sets, tube sliding, a Ferris wheel and more!  

Winterlude – BARBEGAZI  

When: February 6-8  

Where: York Street, ByWard Market  

What: A free, extreme sport freestyle snowmobile performance reaching up to 40 feet in the air  

Asinabka Festival – 10th Annual Snow Screen (Unikkaaqtuarniq)   

When: February 6-8, 6:00pm-9:00pm  

Where: Lansdowne Park and Beandigen Cafe  
What: Free outdoor screening of Indigenous films from the circumpolar North in a theatre made of snow!  

Igloofest 

When: February 12-14 

Where: Place des Festivals Zibi (Gatineau)  
What: The world’s coldest electronic music festival featuring Steve Aoki, DJ Mandy, Queenyy and more! 

Winterlude – The Lantern Grove  

When: Now-February 16 – 5:00pm-10:00pm  

Where: Confederation Park  

What: A free, immersive, magical soundscape and animated film