CultureWorks is located right on the Carleton University campus, which means you’ll be close to Ottawa’s downtown core throughout your studies. That’s good news if you’re interested in seeing a few festivals while you study English in Canada, because Ottawa is the home of many top events. From Winterlude in February to Blues Fest in the summer, there’s no shortage of fun festivals to enjoy while you study English.

Read on to find out which festivals you can enjoy during your studies.

1. Winterlude: Experience Canadian Winter During Your English Courses for Carleton University

If you’d like to enjoy a true Canadian winter, then there’s no better place or time to do so than at Winterlude! Winterlude takes place in Ottawa every February, and is a perfect time for ESL students to enjoy the snow.

You could admire the beautiful ice sculptures on display at Confederation Park for a truly memorable winter experience, or enjoy a fun-filled time at the Winterlude Kick-Off party!

2. Visit the Ottawa International Animation Festival When You Take English Courses for Carleton University

If you like to watch movies, then you might want to check out the amination festival this September while you study English as a second language for Carleton University. Ottawa’s animation festival is the largest festival of animated movies in all of North America. It includes screenings of animated movies, as well as workshops and panels—making it the perfect festival for movie fans.

3. Learn About Indigenous Cultures at the Asinabka Film & Media Festival

If you’re interested in learning more about indigenous cultures both in Canada and around the world, then you might want to check out the Asinabka Film & Media Festival.  Every August, the Asinabka Film & Media Festival brings together top Indigenous films. It also instructs locals about issues facing First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities in Canada.

4. Celebrate With the LGBTTQ Community at the Fierté dans la Capital(e) Pride Festival

Ottawa’s pride festival, Fierté dans la Capital(e), is a time when Ottawa celebrates the diversity of its citizens and the LGBTTQ community. From the festive Pride Parade to the human rights vigil, Pride is a time for Canadians of all sexual orientations to come together and celebrate diversity.

This year, the festival will also be adding QueerCon to its event line-up. The event will enable attendees to purchase comics and graphic novels featuring diverse content, characters, and subjects. It’s a good chance for ESL students to pick up a book or two to practice their English!

5. Check Out the RBC Blues Fest While You Take English Courses for Carleton University

If you’re a music fan, then you’ll definitely want to drop by Blues Fest this summer in between your English courses for Carleton University. Blues Fest is one of the top 10 music festivals—not just in Canada, but in the world! While there will be plenty of blues music to enjoy, you don’t have to be a blues fan to attend the festival. In fact, Blues Fest often attracts top performers from many other genres of music, including country, pop, and rock.

This year, ESL students who attend Blues Fest will get to enjoy a stellar line-up that includes the following artists and bands:

• Billy Idol
• City and Colour
• Duran Duran
• The Lumineers
• Brad Paisley
• Sam Hunt
• The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Of course, the festival will also include plenty of top Canadian artists too. From Coeur de Pirate to Death from Above 1979, it’s the perfect opportunity for ESL students to soak up some Canadian culture while they study in Ottawa.

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