125 years of celebrating the Ottawa-Gatineau winter

Ottawa-Gatineau's Winterlude festival started in 1979.

But there have beenwinter carnivals going back to at least 1895.

These days, roughly 600,000 people check out a Winterlude event every year.

Like bed racing, for instance.

Or horse racing.

Rideau Canal Skateway Winterlude launch in 1979

10 years ago

Duration 3:08

Archive footage from the opening of Winterlude in February 1979.

A look back at harness racing on the Rideau Canal

8 years ago

Duration 1:21

During the first Winterlude horses actually raced on the Rideau Canal.

There was water-skiing in 1990, though it wasn't an official event.

Winterlude water-skiing in 1990

9 years ago

Duration 1:39

In 1990, the Rideau Canal was melting during Winterlude leading to water-skiing instead of skating.

There's also been hockey on the canal.

And giant slides.

Finally, here are a few scenes from recent years.

2019 Winterlude kicks off with powwow

6 years ago

Duration 0:45

Winterlude kicked off on the weekend of Feb. 1 with a showcase of Indigenous cultures at the Canadian Museum of History.