Here's what's open and closed in Ottawa on Christmas & Boxing Day 2024
Your guide to surviving Christmas chaos — including forgetting the eggnog.
A few stores ARE open on Christmas Day in Ottawa — we got the scoop on where to go if you're in a bind.
Christmas is almost here, and whether or not you celebrate, you may want to start planning ahead for how the holiday might affect your plans for the next week in Ottawa.
Whether you're squeezing in some last-minute shopping, hunting for fun things to do or just hoping to be in the know about what's open on Christmas in Ottawa, knowing the holiday hours is key.
Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year, and we've got the scoop on what's open, closed and running with modified hours on Christmas Eve (December 24), Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26).
Christmas Day is a federal and statutory holiday in Canada, so almost everything — including most stores and attractions — will be closed. But don't worry — we've tracked down a few places that will stay open if you're in a pinch!
Meanwhile, Christmas Eve isn't a holiday, but many stores are operating on reduced hours, and we've got the details on just how early spots across the city are closing their doors so you don't get caught out. Boxing Day, on the other hand, is a mix — while it's technically a federal holiday and a stat holiday in Ontario, it's also one of the busiest shopping days of the year, with many malls and attractions ready to welcome crowds.
From grocery stores and liquor to malls, government services and popular attractions, here's your ultimate guide to what's open and closed in Ottawa this holiday season — including info on Costco, Walmart, LCBO, Canada Post, OC Transpo, ServiceOntario and more.
Grocery stores
December 24 (Christmas Eve):
- Costco: All locations will be open with reduced hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Farm Boy: All locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Rideau, which will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Metro & Food Basics: All locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for Metro Rideau, which will be closed, and Metro Glebe, which will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sobeys, FreshCo & Foodland: All locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for Greely Foodland, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Whole Foods (Lansdowne): Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Walmart: All locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
December 25 (Christmas Day): All major grocery chains will be closed on Christmas Day, including ones that are typically open on holidays, like the Loblaws on Rideau Street and Whole Foods at Lansdowne. However, many Shoppers Drug Mart locations will be open with varying hours. We recommend calling your local store before heading out as the hours on the website have not been amended to holiday hours as of the time of publishing.
December 26 (Boxing Day):
- Costco: All regular warehouses will be open for their usual Thursday hours, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Gloucester Business Centre will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Farm Boy: All stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Rideau, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Metro & Food Basics: Most locations will be open with modified hours that have not been posted yet at the time of publication. You should soon be able to check the Metro and Food Basics websites for your local store's hours.
- Sobeys, FreshCo & Foodland: Most locations had not posted their Boxing Day hours yet at the time of publication — you can check the Sobeys, FreshCo and Foodland websites to find your local store's hours. However, a FreshCo spokesperson told Narcity that the locations at Bank & Findlay Creek, Merivale Road, Strandherd & Cresthaven, and Robertson & Moodie would be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Whole Foods (Lansdowne): Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Walmart: All locations are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Liquor stores
December 24 (Christmas Eve):
- LCBO: Most locations close at 6 p.m. You can visit the LCBO website for specific store hours.
- The Beer Store: All locations will close early at 5 p.m.
- Wine Rack: A spokesperson told Narcity that "most stores should be operating on regular hours" on non-stat holidays like Christmas Eve, but as the website doesn't show holiday hours as of the time of posting, you may want to call your local store to check before heading out.
December 25 (Christmas Day): All LCBO, Beer Store and Wine Rack locations in Ottawa will be closed on Christmas Day.
December 26 (Boxing Day):
- LCBO: Select stores are open. Visit the LCBO website for specific store hours.
- The Beer Store: Select locations will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- 1860 Bank St. (Bank & Walkley)
- 1984 Baseline Rd. (Baseline & Woodroffe)
- 548 Montreal Rd.
- 515 Somerset St. W.
- 2018 Ogilvie Rd., Gloucester
- 2276 Tenth Line Rd., Orleans
- 499 Terry Fox Dr., Kanata
- 75 Lombard St., Smiths Falls
- Wine Rack: Open with varying hours:
- 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Sobeys at Terry Fox & Hazeldean; Sobeys on March Road.
- 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Loblaws at Greenbank & Marketplace; Loblaws at Bank & Hunt Club; RCSS on Richmond Road; RCSS at Eagleson & Hazeldean.
- 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Place D'Orleans SC.
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Farm Boy at Greenbank & Strandherd.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Walmart on Innes Road; Loblaws at Rideau & Nelson; Bank Street YIG at Bank & Somerset.
- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Loblaws at Innes & Lanthier.
- 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Hunt Club Road.
- 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Wellington Street West.
- 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Merivale Mall.
Shopping malls
Most malls and shops in Ottawa are closed on Christmas Day and have modified hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. If you need a last-minute gift on Christmas Eve or want to shop the sales on Boxing Day, here are a few places that will be open.
December 24 (Christmas Eve):
- CF Rideau Centre: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- St. Laurent Shopping Centre: Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Bayshore Shopping Centre: Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tanger Outlets: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- CF Rideau Centre: Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- St. Laurent Shopping Centre: Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Bayshore Shopping Centre: Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Tanger Outlets: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Services
OC Transpo: Ottawa's city buses and trains will be operating on a modified schedule from December 23 to January 3. On December 25 (Christmas Day), it will be operating a Sunday schedule, and on December 26 (Boxing Day), it'll run on a Saturday schedule. You can find more information on the OC Transpo's Service Changes page.
Canada Post: Canada Post is closed on national, provincial and territorial holidays. That means there is no collection or delivery of mail happening on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. However, post offices operated by private businesses may be open if their host business is.
Banks: Banks are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Service Canada: Closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
ServiceOntario: Locations are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but some ServiceOntario services are available online, so you can still renew your driver's license, licence plate, health card and more.
Things to do
December 24 (Christmas Eve):
- National Gallery of Canada: Open 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Canada Science and Technology Museum: Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Cineplex: Theatres are open.
- Rink of Dreams: Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
December 25 (Christmas Day):
- Cineplex: Theatres are open throughout the holidays, including on Christmas Day.
- Rink of Dreams: Open 1 to 8:30 p.m.
December 26 (Boxing Day):
- National Gallery of Canada: Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Canada Science and Technology Museum: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cineplex: Theatres are open.
- Ottawa Christmas Market (Lansdowne): Open 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Rink of Dreams: Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Happy holidays, Ottawa!