Ottawa in December smells like cinnamon and cold air, and the whole city seems to lean into it. Skates hit the canal, lights go up along Elgin, and suddenly your calendar fills up with Christmas shows worth clearing a weekend for. Start with O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy at Algonquin Commons Theatre, a proper laugh with your holiday cheer. Add two Knox Church dates, Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and Candlelight: Christmas Classics, both wrapping the sanctuary in string instruments and warm light. That's a strong start to any holiday season in this town.
If you'd rather move than sit, Ottawa, ON has that covered too. The Holiday Scavenger Hunt in Ottawa by Holly Jolly Hunt turns downtown into a giant game board starting November 29, and a Private Christmas Walking Tour along the Rideau Canal National Historic Site puts the city's landmarks in a whole new light. Pair either with The Music of A Charlie Brown Christmas at Algonquin Commons Theatre on December 2, and you've got a proper night out sorted. These are the things to do at Christmas that actually feel like Ottawa, not just another mall Santa photo op.
Here's the honest advice: the weekends right before Christmas book up fast, especially anything mid to late December. If you've got a date circled, grab tickets now instead of waiting until the second week of the month. These holiday events don't wait around, and neither should you. Scroll down, browse the full list, and start planning your Ottawa Christmas.
Knox Church · Ottawa, ON
Christmas string-quartet concert at Knox Church on Lisgar Street in downtown Ottawa. The program features holiday favourites — Silent Night, Jingle Bells, O Holy Night, Carol of the Bells, Hallelujah — by the warm glow…
Knox Church · Ottawa, ON
Candlelight concert at Knox Church on Lisgar Street, downtown Ottawa, in the run-up to the holidays. A string quartet performs Christmas classics by candlelight: Carol of the Bells, Jingle Bells, O Holy Night, Sleigh…
Algonquin Commons Theatre · Ottawa, ON
The Music of A Charlie Brown Christmas is a holiday jazz concert at the Algonquin Commons Theatre in Ottawa. A live trio performs Vince Guaraldi's 1965 soundtrack, from Linus and Lucy to Christmas Time Is Here, with the…
Algonquin Commons Theatre · Ottawa, ON
O Christmas Tea is a British-style physical comedy from the duo James & Jamesy, on stage at the Algonquin Commons Theatre in Ottawa. When their Christmas tea party floods the world with tea, the pair invent increasingly…
100 Elgin St · Ottawa, ON
Celebrate the magic of the season this year with Holly Jolly Hunt. It is an app-based scavenger hunt that you can play anywhere of your choosing. Roam the city and look for holiday-related items, both the traditional…
Rideau Canal National Historic Site · Ottawa, ON
A private Christmas walking tour brings to light Ottawa's historic landmarks lit up by festive lights and seasonal traditions. Make your way through the city's cultural heart, where grand architectural buildings and…
