Winterlude - Friday Night

This year's Winterlude crew was our family, Matt and Gina, and Mom and Dad.  We headed up to Ottawa on Friday afternoon and didn't have any major issues checking into the hotel.  We stayed at the same hotel that we were at last year, Residence Inn.  It is a very nice hotel with big suites, free breakfast and free hot cocoa. Plus, a very convenient location near the canal and Confederation Park (where the ice sculptures are) - can't beat that!

We went to dinner at an Irish restaurant near the hotel, D'Arcy Magee's.  It was very good food and good beer (for those who could partake).  After dinner we went back to the hotel and put on lots and lots and lots of layers so that we could attend the Opening Ceremony.  According to the weather channel, it was around -15 degrees out... brrrr!!

We didn't get a good picture of Leah in her Friday evening outfit, but it was HILARIOUS.  It was this giant, puffy Winnie the Pooh full body snowsuit.  It was super warm but also made her about three times as wide as usual!

She was adorable and could hardly walk, she was such a little puffball.  She was warm though!

The opening ceremony was at the Ottawa City Hall, which was very close to our hotel.  There were lots of street performers all around the city hall before the ceremony started, including these cool jugglers.

One of them grabbed Leah and I as we walked past and said that we needed to take a picture with him.

There were also a bunch of weird art installations with colors and lights.

Uncle Matt, Mama and Leah

The venue - one very lit up city hall

There were some really cool stilt walkers all dressed up in neat winter outfits.  Both kids were transfixed with the stilt walkers.

Matt and Gina with a random Winterlude mascot

All bundled up, waiting for the show to start

This is how Cam watched a lot of the show because he got tired of standing.

Daddy takes a turn with Leah

Winterlude!

Poppa and Leah

There was music, dancing, presentations and speeches.  It was a long opening ceremony because they had to do everything in both English and French.  During one of the longer French parts, Leah said "What is this funny stuff they are saying?"

There were aerial artists that rappelled down the side of the building and did some neat stunts.

They jumped and twirled and did some cool stuff.

More tricks

After the aerial artists, there was a fireworks show

They were pretty neat fireworks

Not quite the fireworks show that they had from the Museum of Civilization last year, but still pretty cool.

One of the Winterlude mascots, the mom from the Ice Hog family

After the opening ceremony ended, we went over to the sculpture garden.  It was freezing cold by this point, so we were ready to head back to the hotel.  We grabbed some BeaverTails first though, and enjoyed them as we walked back.

Yum yum!

Poppa got a maple syrup BeaverTail and it was a MESS!  He got it all over his face, coat and mittens.  It was pretty funny.