From 3:00-7:00PM today Holiday activities abound at City Hall (110 Laurier Ave) including hot chocolate, marshmallow roasting, wagon rides and skating. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting kids indoors where they can decorate a gingerbread cookie, get their faces painted and take in heaps of live performances.

It’s NOT FREE though – nope – instead they ask you to bring along a non-perishable food item to donate to the Ottawa Food Bank.

Such a GREAT idea! Even I who avoids overly kid-friendly packed activities (yes I was surprised kid’s can’t attend Ottawa’s Wine & Food – but then I use to take her down the pub for brunches!) feel that an opportunity to help out the disadvantaged makes this a winning day-out. So forget the one-can norm – pack up a shopping bag with yummy treats and head out to the festivities.

OC Transpo offers free bus rides today on all routes to and from City Hall from until 7:30 p.m. for kids 11 and under accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

Santa’s Theatre

3:10 – 3:20 p.m.                Storytelling by Santa’s Elves
3:30 – 4:00 p.m.                Ottawa Children’s Choir
4:15 – 4:45 p.m.                Atlantic Voices
5:00 – 5:30 p.m.                Movie- A Charlie Brown Christmas (English)
5:45 – 6:15 p.m.                Movie- Joyeux Noël Charlie Brown (French)
6:30 – 6:45 p.m.                Storytelling by Santa’s Elves