The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group has made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s Ottawa Christmas Market until 2021.

The health and safety of guests, vendors and staff is the top priority and it was decided that existing restrictions, including gathering limits, would interfere with the experience for all involved.

“The Ottawa Christmas Market, at its core, brings people together to celebrate the holiday season. Unfortunately, that just isn’t possible given our current reality,” said OSEG CEO Mark Goudie. “The experience and magic of the Ottawa Christmas Market this year would simply not be up to our expectations.”

Instead, OSEG, thanks to partners Ottawa Tourism and Celebrate Ontario, will use the existing infrastructure in a shift to “Lights at Lansdowne”. This experience, including the presence of the largest Christmas tree in Ottawa, an impressive canopy of lights in and around Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza and other Instagrammable elements, opens November 27 and is free for all to enjoy.

The full Ottawa Christmas Market will return to Lansdowne in 2021.