From Holiday Magic to Year-Round Impact at Wesley Clover Parks
WESLEY CLOVER PARKS — A four-season community hub for outdoor recreation • wesleycloverparks.com
The 10th anniversary season of Magic of Lights Ottawa concluded on January, marking a major milestone for one of the region’s most beloved holiday traditions. Over the past decade, the event has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors and contributed more than $350,000 to local charities. Behind the scenes, teams have installed more than 20 million lights and over 200 kilometres of electrical cord, transforming the Wesley Clover Parks Campground into an immersive seasonal experience year after year.
Community impact remained at the heart of this milestone season, once again partnering with the CHEO Foundation. This season’s event supported CHEO’s largest redevelopment initiative in its 50-year history, Kids These Days, aimed at advancing pediatric care across the region. In addition to fundraising, the event continues to spread holiday cheer by welcoming CHEO families and staff, with more than 2,500 carloads having experienced the event to date.
Winter programming across The Parks also saw strong participation, with the Kanata Nordic Ski Club delivering another successful season of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Supported by consistent snowfall, the volunteer-lead club maintained over 18 kilometres of groomed trails and expanded its offering with new community-focused programming, including open houses, yoga and snowshoe evenings, Friday night socials, and the March Mad Dash event. The Corkstown Classic race returned as a highlight of the season, continuing to build enthusiasm within the local ski community. Trails officially closed for the season on March 28.
Equestrian programming at the Ian Millar School of Horsemanship continued to grow in both reach and accessibility. The Discover Horses program has maintained strong momentum as a bi-weekly, hands-on introduction to horsemanship, welcoming participants of all ages with no prior experience required. Building on this success, the team launched new Riding Foundations programs for youth, teens, and adults. These multi-week, age-specific sessions are designed to develop essential horsemanship skills, safety awareness, and rider confidence, providing participants with a strong base for continued progression into lessons and other equestrian opportunities. March Break camps also returned, introducing new riders to the sport in an engaging and supportive environment, with summer programming already generating strong interest.
Looking ahead to the warmer months, Wesley Clover Parks is preparing for another full season of events and community programming. The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival will return in June, continuing its celebration of Indigenous culture through arts, education, and performance. The Mud Girl Run is set to return in July, alongside an expanded offering of recreational runs, including the addition of the 5K Foam Fest in August bringing new audiences and energy to the site.
The Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments will return with a full 2026 calendar featuring 16 events catering to athletes at every stage, from grassroots competition through to international sport. This season will once again showcase all three Olympic equestrian disciplines. Highlight events include the Ottawa International CSI4* CSI2* in August and Eventing at The Parks CCI2*-S CCI1* in September, welcoming international competitors to Wesley Clover Parks. Together, these events continue to position the site as a leading venue for equestrian sport in Canada.
To learn more about our events, visit wesleycloverparks.com.
