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Kaleidoscope Kayaking
Kaleidoscope Kayaking
PLEASE JOIN THE WAIT LIST: The wait list form can be accessed here
Due to overwhelming demand, all tickets for this event have now been sold. However, we understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise, leading some attendees to cancel their attendance. Should any tickets become available, we will promptly contact individuals on our waitlist to offer them these spots.
Welcome to our third annual Kaleidoscope Kayaking!
This is an unforgettable, immersive night-time kayaking experience that takes you on a mesmerizing paddle down the historic Rideau Canal in Ottawa!
Hop in one of our Oru Inlet folding kayaks and enjoy the serene waterway, surrounded by the enchanting glow of LED lights adorning your boat! The lights create a spectacle of colours that dance along the canal's surface!
This two-hour guided adventure gives you a breathtaking view of the spectacular Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy fireworks show. With the shimmering skyline as your backdrop, the vibrant bursts of light and colour will captivate your senses and make this a truly unforgettable experience like no other!
There are 6 dates available for 2025:
Jul 30th
Aug 2
Aug 6th
Aug 9th
Aug 13th
Aug 16th
This guided tour takes about 30-40 minutes to paddle from the launch point to the fireworks. Please stay with the tour guide at all times.
Please arrive at 8pm sharp, as there will be a safety brief before you paddle, to ensure everyone knows what they are doing and where they are going.
The tour will start at 8:15pm, please note that if you are not at the launch point by this time, the tour will leave without you.
**The End time is approximate and depends on the timing of the fireworks show
Ottawa Valley Air Paddle stands behind all it's products and offers a an industry leading 45-day money back guarantee. We want you to love your paddling equipment and if it's not right for you, we will find a way to make it right. If you would like to return a product, please reference our refund policy here.
Guest Equipment Policy
For all Kaleidoscope Kayaking and Light at Night Kayaking experiences, we do not allow guests to bring their own boats or gear.
Over the years, we’ve tested different approaches, including allowing guests to use personal equipment. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work well for the type of guided group experiences we provide.
Here’s why:
• Our tours are structured around a specific guest-to-guide ratio. To meet minimum group sizes and ensure the tour is safe, smooth, and financially sustainable, we need all guests to use our equipment.
• When a guest uses their own gear, they often miss out on key aspects of the experience. They’re setting up while others are connecting with the group, and they often don’t get the same pre-launch support or in-tour guidance.
• Every piece of equipment we provide is inspected and tested before the tour to minimize the risk of gear failure on the water. We can't guarantee the condition or suitability of outside equipment, and on-site inspections would take valuable time away from our team’s other safety and setup procedures.
For these reasons, we are unable to offer a "bring-your-own-boat" option or discounts for guests who prefer to use their own gear. We appreciate your understanding and commitment to keeping the experience safe, smooth, and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Light at Night Kayaking is a guided evening paddle through downtown Ottawa. Guests explore the Rideau Canal in our LED-lit kayaks, taking in the city skyline, historic landmarks, and a stunning sunset-to-twilight atmosphere. It’s a mix of sightseeing, storytelling, and calm water adventure.
Kaleidoscope Kayaking is a vibrant, beginner-friendly evening paddle through Ottawa’s Rideau Canal—complete with LED-lit kayaks and a front-row view of the Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy fireworks show.
This guided 2 km adventure is all about colour, connection, and calm waters. It’s perfect for beginners, date nights, or anyone looking to experience the city in a whole new light.
Yes! Each group is led by a knowledgeable guide who ensures safety and fun along the way. Your guide will also share fun facts about the Rideau Canal’s history, unique architecture, and iconic landmarks as you paddle past them. It’s a floating mini tour of Ottawa—with a glowing kayak twist.
You don’t need kayaking experience—but we do recommend some basic familiarity for Light at Night Kayaking. It’s a longer 5.5 km route that takes about 2.5 hours on the water. If you’ve never been in a kayak before, we suggest trying our Kaleidoscope Kayaking experience first—it’s a shorter 2 km paddle and designed with beginners in mind.
Both tours include a full safety briefing, gear fitting, and support from our guides throughout the experience.
We love that you have your own gear, but for this event, all guests must use our provided equipment. Our kayaks are specifically chosen for this tour and fully outfitted with LED lighting. It ensures everyone has a consistent and safe experience.
You'll be paddling an Oru Kayak, a lightweight, foldable kayak designed for stability and ease of use. These kayaks are made from a translucent material, which allows the LED lights rigged underneath to shine through—so you’ll literally glow on the water as you paddle through the night. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that’s as magical as it is functional.
Light at Night Kayaking runs for approximately 2.5 hours. This includes check-in, a safety briefing, launching, a 5.5 km guided paddle through downtown Ottawa, and returning gear after the trip.
Kaleidoscope Kayaking is about 2 hours, but the exact duration may vary slightly depending on the timing of the fireworks show. It's a shorter paddle focused on fun, colour, and a vibrant group atmosphere.
We recommend:
• Change of clothes (just in case)
• Layers (for cooler evening air)
• Sandals or water shoes (your feet might get wet)
• Water bottle
• Bug spray
We paddle rain or shine, as long as conditions are safe. In the event of severe weather or lightning, the tour may be canceled or postponed. For full details on our weather, cancellation, and refund policies, please visit our official policy page:
👉 Kaleidoscope Kayaking Weather, Cancellation, and Refund Policies
There are several convenient parking options for both events:
Light at Night Kayaking: There’s plenty of street parking nearby, and the parking garage at Isabella and O’Connor Street is just a 7-minute walk to our launch site at Patterson Creek.
Kaleidoscope Kayaking: You’ll find street parking on Lewis Street, Waverley Street, and Frank Street. There’s also a parking garage at Cartier and Cooper Street, about a 10-minute walk to the launch site.
Participants must be 12 years or older to paddle in a single kayak.
If riding in a tandem kayak with an adult, we recommend children be 8 years or older.
All participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Yes—well-behaved, small to medium-sized dogs are welcome on our Light at Night Kayaking tour!
However, we ask that all pups sit out the Kaleidoscope Kayaking experience, as it takes place close to a fireworks display, which can be overwhelming and stressful for animals.
To bring your dog along for Light at Night, please ensure the following:
• Your dog is small - medium sized (maximum 40lbs)
• Your dog is comfortable in a kayak and okay with getting a little wet.
• A doggy life jacket is strongly recommended.
• Your dog can remain calm in a group setting and won’t disrupt the experience for others.
If your furry friend fits the bill, they’re more than welcome to join in the glowing adventure! 🐾🛶
You might get a little splashy while paddling or getting in/out of the kayak, but you won’t be submerged unless there’s a (very rare!) tip. Our kayaks are stable, and our guides are there to help with launching and landing. We've only ever had 1 accidental swimmer in our 4 years of doing these guided tours.
Customer Reviews
My partner and I live in Ottawa, so we've been on the canal before, and we've seen the fireworks before, but never like this! It was a really fun and unique experience!
