Things To Do in December in Edmonton
In Edmonton, we send off the year in style! December is packed with winter lights, starry nights, and joyful festivals like Luminaria, the Edmonton Christmas Market, Glow, and more! Check out our event calendar for a full list of holiday happenings.
The Style Experience
The Style Experience is taking #Shredmonton by storm! The world’s best snowboarders will visit Edmonton for the largest stadium Big Air Snowboarding event Canada has ever seen! This roster is set to boast some pretty impressive talent, including renowned riders like Mark Mcmorris, the prairie powerhouse, Max Parrott fresh off his double medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and Laurie Blouin, one of the only women in the world to land the elusive triple cork 1260!
December 10
Downtown Lights Up!
The Downtown Holiday Light Up is back! This free event is open to all and is bringing the festive spirit with new art installations, great music, a Christmas market, donuts, maple taffy, and hot bevvies. Don't miss this festive display of lights, music, art, and a whole lot of holiday cheer on Rice Howard Way!
December 3
Luminaria
Escape to a quiet oasis of peace and light while you stroll through the candle-lit pathways of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden at Luminaria! Hear the seasonal sounds of a capella singers, spot magical snow sprites within glittering ice sculptures, sip hot apple cider, and feel the warmth of the glowing bonfire. Inspired by the atmosphere of alpine holiday markets, guests of all ages can explore the tastes, sights, sounds, and surprises that tell a magical winter story! You can also share this experience with a loved one by lighting a candle in their honour in Memory Lane.
November 23-December 31
Edmonton Christmas Market
The Edmonton Christmas Market is returning for its fourth year, and all 15 days will be held at the magical Fort Edmonton Park this holiday season! Experience three weeks of market venues featuring local Alberta vendors, captivating light displays, unique culinary experiences, roving performances, festive live theatre, family-friendly workshops, tasty treats, horse-drawn wagon rides, and a healthy dollop of holiday cheer!
November 30-December 18
Let it Glow!
Come experience the magic of the season at Glow at the Edmonton EXPO Centre! A canopy of holiday lights will guide you deep into an enchanted realm. Guided by fairytale favourites, you can help Santa find his lost presents while enjoying over 100,000 ft2 of family fun through millions of twinkly lights! Stroll through the market and do some holiday shopping! Find gifts made with love this holiday season by local creative artisans while supporting small businesses.
December 1-January 1
The Zoo is Lit
Zoominescence sets the stage for a spectacular exhibition of artistic light installations within the unique setting of the Edmonton Valley Zoo! The festival celebrates light, artistry, imagination, and the essential strong spirit of community in the winter! This year’s theme is "Celebrating 10 Years of Light, Love, and Animal Conservation" to focus on the beauty of light, the power of love, and the importance of animal conservation to support all life on Earth. Join us for an evening of light, love, animals, and holiday fun for the whole family!
December 2-11 (open Friday to Sunday), December 16th-January 1 (open all week except Christmas Eve & Christmas Day)
A Very Indigenous Holiday Market
I.A.M. Collective is proud to present A Very Indigenous Holiday Market at Métis Crossing! This market features free outdoor skating, tobogganing, horse drawn sleigh rides, door prizes, live entertainment, and more! Take in the beautiful landscapes along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River while enjoying the outdoor activities, then head inside for a hot beverage and something to eat! The onsite Métis Cafe offers delicious hot food, beverages and treats for you to enjoy!
December 3-4
Judo Canada Elite Nationals
Get ready for a jam-packed weekend of Judo in Edmonton, with the Judo Canada Elite National and IBSA Pan Am Judo Championships! Judo Elite Nationals see the top judokas from across the country compete for a national title in their weight classes. The IBSA Pan Ams have the top judokas from North & South America experiencing visual impairment battling to be crowned the Pan American Champion. Get your Canadian flags ready to cheer on your national athletes!
December 9-11
Winter Patios
In Edmonton, we embrace the season with year-round patios that are perfect for chillin' (literally!). But don't get cold feet, these outdoor dining options are often equipped with heaters, blankets, or even fire pits to keep you cozy. Some even have tents or fancy geodomes that provide a little extra shelter from the elements! A few of our favourites include Little Brick, Riverside Bistro, Cafe Bicyclette, Culina at the Muttart, Tiramisu Bistro, and Fu's Repair Shop.
Take a Yule Tide Segway Tour
Why explore the Alberta Legislature on foot when you can ride a Segway? Enjoy the beautiful sights of the Legislature grounds, lit up with over 100,000 Christmas lights this holiday season with River Valley Adventure Co. Learn about the rich history of Edmonton's capital while taking in the magical feeling of the holiday spirit, all onboard your very own Segway. This is the perfect adventure to get you out of the house and moving! Bundle up and enjoy all the beauty that our city has to offer.
December 5-January 31
Be Merry with Ballet Edmonton
Ballet Edmonton is thrilled to be coming to play again at the Varscona Theatre! Featuring seasonally inspired dance pieces by Ballet Edmonton company dancers set to holiday music, lords a leaping are guaranteed! To make the evening especially festive, expect some exciting musical guests, signature cocktails in the lobby, and some raffle items too! Stay after the show for Christmas cheer and tasty treats.
December 15
Edmonton Oilers
Cheer on Connor McDavid and our boys in blue and orange as they battle it out at Rogers Place in Edmonton’s ICE District! Join the crowd in orange and blue at an Oilers game, or cheer on the future stars of the NHL at an Edmonton Oil Kings game. Pre-game as close to the action as possible at the brand-new Canadian Icehouse or Banquet beforehand, with Rogers Place sitting just a few steps away!
A Drive-Thru Holiday Celebration
Two kilometres of Christmas magic await at Rad Torque Raceway's Canadian Tire Magic of Lights. Pile the family into the 'ol minivan and head out on a drive-thru experience fit for the season! This year’s light show will feature some favorite displays from previous years, including “12 Days of Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and “The Night Before Christmas,” plus the awe inspiring “Ornament Alley.” Tune into a special radio station and sing along to your favourite holiday tunes as you cruise through the festive course!
November 24-January 1
Get Together
The celebrations don't have to stop once the holiday season wraps up! The Edmonton Convention Centre plays host to Get Together, featuring two days of incredible electronic music. This year's lineup is stacked with amazing artists, including Excision, Zeds Dead, Slander, Zomboy, Acraze, Dabin, and more. This is a festival you won’t want to miss!
December 27-28
Snowshoe & Stargaze
Escape the city and gaze upon the countless stars in our galaxy from the heart of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve at Elk Island National Park. A short, guided snowshoe hike around the shore of Astotin Lake takes you atop the snow while stars twinkle overhead during the Snowshoe & Stargaze tour. With a park interpreter and Orion as your guide, gaze up at the twinkling stars and learn to navigate the night sky.
For daytime adventures, you can embark on a snowshoe tour led by Talking Rock Tours for an interactive experience that tells the story of the land with a Métis guide and geologist who combines his culture and knowledge of geology!
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