Public Service Announcement
Edmonton’s holiday season full of winter fun
Edmontonians love to celebrate all year round, in every season and winter is no exception. Outdoor holiday activities and events are popular and this year’s event roster is packed with fun for everyone!
Shop Local
Edmonton is home to more than 38,000 businesses, with 95 per cent being small businesses. Supporting local entrepreneurs is a key part of community building. Our city thrives on the foundation of shopping locally, as for every $100 spent at a small business, $66 stays in the local economy. Visit the Shop Local page for events, promotions and more ways to support our local businesses this holiday season!
Visit the City’s Instagram page to participate in the#ShopLocalYEG contest for a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards to a local business! Contest ends November 30.
Winter patios
Celebrate the winter patio season and embrace Edmonton as a Winter City. Visit WinterCityEdmonton.ca/patios for participating patios at local restaurants, cafes and bars all winter long, including those where you can take your four-legged friends.
Downtown fun
Downtown Edmonton is the go-to destination for a number of winter-themed events, providing multiple opportunities for Edmontonians to enjoy all that downtown has to offer.
The City of Edmonton offers family-friendly events and activities through its WinterCity Strategy and Downtown Vibrancy Strategy. It’s a great opportunity to get outside, have fun, connect with one another and support local businesses. Here are some of the exciting events and activities in Edmonton:
Holiday Magic performances at City Hall
Holiday Magic: from December 2 to 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. come to City Hall to enjoy delightful choral and handbell performances by Edmonton elementary and junior high school students. Admission is free.
Bright Light Skate Night
Bright Light Skate Night: on December 14 from 4 to 8 p.m., kick off the winter season in Churchill Square, City Hall and the City Hall Plaza with skating, cultural performances, a holiday craft and more. Enjoy the magical glow of canopy lights and bask in the ambiance of new art installations. At 5 p.m., join the countdown as the lights on the Christmas tree are switched on! Admission is free.
New Year’s Eve Downtown Festival and Fireworks
New Year’s Eve Downtown Festival and Fireworks: on December 31, from 6 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., head to Sir Winston Churchill Square and the Arts District to usher in 2025 with two fireworks shows – an earlier show at 8 p.m. and a traditional fireworks show at midnight. Free family-friendly programming includes music, performers, holiday activities and free skate rentals. Admission is free.
Rice Howard Way Entertainment District
Swing by Rice Howard Way Entertainment District on New Year’s Eve starting at 6 p.m. Take food and beverages from nearby businesses onto the street to enjoy DJs, family-friendly activities and other streetside entertainment.
City attractions
Muttart Conservatory
A Candy Cane Christmas in the Feature Pyramid, from November 23 to January 5.
Candlelight Christmas includes two 45-minute musical performances from the McDades, December 7 to 10.
Dome dinners in the outdoor courtyard with food provided by Café Bloom until March.
After Hours at Muttart: celebrate the season by taking in the holiday classics with Christine Hanson and Jamie Philip’s cello and guitar performance, including food and drink and a take-home plant. December 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Countdown to 2025: the Muttart Conservatory is celebrating 2024 and counting down to 2025 with face painting, airbrush tattoos, a hula hoop circus workshop and more! December 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
John Janzen Nature Centre
This month’s drop-in program theme is Hide ‘n’ Seek!, featuring migration and hibernation-themed nature activities.
John Walter Museum
Candlelight Christmas Celtic concert series: limited tickets are available for December 23.
Zoominescence Festival of Light at Edmonton Valley Zoo
Zoominescence will feature artistic light installations, performers, animal talks and more from November 29 to January 1.
River Valley fun
Enjoy free outdoor winter activities in Edmonton’s River Valley!
Skating: Victoria Oval and IceWay, Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park skating surface and Rundle Park IceWay are opening, weather-dependent. For more information about the City’s outdoor skating surfaces, pavilion hours and ice conditions, visit edmonton.ca/skating.
Cross-country skiing: trails are set and regularly groomed as snow conditions allow. The trails are varied to accommodate different levels of skiers. Check trail options and conditions at edmonton.ca/skitrails.
Tobogganing: there are a number of City-managed toboggan hills in the River Valley. For current hill conditions and safety tips, visit edmonton.ca/tobogganing.
Outdoor recreation programs: Play Rangers and Family Adventure Club North are free weekly outdoor recreational activities. Play Rangers focuses on children and family participation. Family Adventure Club North provides outdoor programs to families visiting the Northeast River Valley Park.
Walking and cycling: trails are available for use year-round.
Brunch at Victoria Golf Course: visit the river valley on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting December 1 for a cozy winter brunch by Greenhouse YEG.
More winter festivals and events
Edmonton’s winter festivals and events season is gearing up to offer a wide range of outdoor activities, programming and performances. Here are some winter festivals and events occurring between now and the end of the year:
Glowscape: walk around 124 Street to experience an illuminated art experience! This event will transform eight empty commercial spaces around 124 Street into beautiful pieces of moving art until December 1 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Winter Whyte Light Up: enjoy the beauty of winter at the Winter Whyte Light Up celebration at Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park and Strathcona Backstreet Plaza. Hosted by the Old Strathcona Business Association, this free family-friendly event will feature hot chocolate, carolers and plenty of winter giveaways on November 30 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Luminaria: slow down and share a moment of serenity with the people you love at Luminaria. Stroll along the candlelit pathways of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden, take in the sounds of a capella singers, enjoy a warm apple cider and mark the essence of the season in a ritual of peace and beauty. Open on the weekends of December 13, 20 and 27 from 5 to 10 p.m.
Candy Cane Lane: experience a much-loved Edmonton holiday tradition from December 13, 2024, to January 3, 2025, from dusk to 11 p.m.Remember to bring a non-perishable food donation for Edmonton’s Food Bank.
Fireworks safety
Fireworks can be extremely dangerous and disruptive to individuals, property and the environment if not used or handled correctly.
Be safe and remember to have a permit issued by the City of Edmonton to use fireworks within city limits. Always check to see if there is a fire ban in effect before use and make sure wind conditions are safe, as per permit conditions.
Under the City of Edmonton’s Public Places Bylaw 14614 and Community Standards Bylaw 14600, any use of fireworks without proper permits is illegal and subject to enforcement, which can include fines of up to $10,000. Learn more at edmonton.ca/fireworks. For more information contact the Fire Prevention Office at FirePrevention@edmonton.ca.
For more information:
Edmonton.ca/skating
EdmontonDowntown.com
Event Calendar | Explore Edmonton
Edmonton Convention Centre Upcoming Events
Edmonton Arts Council Events
WinterCityEdmonton.ca
Pinoy Edmonton News 