Things to Do in January in Edmonton
Embrace the magic of a new year! Kick off 2025 like a true Edmontonian by climbing colossal walls of ice, gliding across unique outdoor rinks (ODRs), experiencing iconic winter festivals, and much more.
Winter Festivals in January
Edmonton Whisky Festival
Whisky lovers, get ready to experience whisky drinking in a whole new light! From distillers and master blenders, to a variety of other whisky experts, the Edmonton Whisky Festival is your signature event to meet and greet experts in the field. For one night only, this event features over 175 globe-trotting varieties including selections from Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the USA.
January 15, 2025
Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Bash
Forge your way to the Deep Freeze Festival to watch winter magic unfold before your eyes! Celebrate Ukrainian, Indigenous, and French-Canadian cultures with winter panache, delicious food, captivating art, culture, and fun – including races in actual deep freezers! Take a stroll through the Alberta Avenue District (90-95 Street, 118 Ave) where breathtaking ice sculptures come alive, melodies fill the air, and culinary treasures await at every turn.
January 18-19, 2025
Winterruption
Bust out your parkas and dancing shoes for Winterruption! This multi-venue music and arts festival is a celebration of inclusivity and winter wonders. The lineup is a melting pot of talent, featuring the Latin vibes of Making Movies from Kansas City, Toronto's psychedelic rockers Hot Garbage, Montreal's fluid hip hop artist Waahli, Calgary's buzz metal band Wake, R&B sensation Janette King from Toronto, and more!
January 22-26, 2025
Flying Canoë Volant
Flying Canoë Volant is a creative, interactive, and cultural event where you can celebrate local history and everything that is great about a long winter’s night. Inspired by the legend of The Flying Canoe and French Canadian, First Nations and Métis traditions, this event illuminates Edmonton's beautiful Mill Creek Ravine and the French Quarter. Channel your inner Voyageur!
January 29 - February 1, 2025
Explore the Outdoors
Discover Elk Island National Park
Just a mere 35-minute journey from downtown unveils a winter wonderland unlike any other! Elk Island National Park dazzles with a symphony of snowy adventures, whether you’re into outdoor winter sports, hiking, stargazing, or snowshoeing. Embark on a guided journey with Talking Rock Tours to discover little-known facts about the park and its wildlife, or carve your own tale on the pristine surface of Astotin Lake, as you glide and twirl on skates for hours.
Métis Crossing
There's no better way to get rejuvenated and to connect with the land than spending a few nights at Métis Crossing. Stay cozy in your Sky Watching Dome to wait for the northern lights to dance in the night sky, eat up some Indigenous-inspired cuisine in the welcoming lodge, and pull on your wool socks for an outdoor Tales from the Trapline Experience!
Indoor Activities in Winter
Muttart Conservatory
Found only steps away from the Edmonton River Valley, you'll find one of our city's key landmarks - the Muttart Conservatory. Its unique greenhouse pyramids house hundreds of plants found in biomes across the globe. This month, one of the pyramids will be hosting a larger-than-life art piece by Luke Jerram called "Mars". His very popular exhibition "Gaia" was displayed here in 2023, and this otherworldly presentation is sure to be just as popular. See this beautiful, stirring, and haunting planet float above you starting this January 11.
11 January – 27 April 2025
Skating at the Ice Palace in West Edmonton Mall
Beneath the double story ceiling, in the warmth of the massive mall, lays the unique Ice Palace that you can bring your ice skates to for an afternoon skate. This indoor ice rink has select hours for public and senior skate times -a great opportunity to slow down from the shopping hustle and freely glide along the smooth, cold ice.
Arts and Cultural Events
Celebrate Lunar New Year with a Food Tour
It's the Year of the Snake! Celebrate the transition into the new year eating delicious nibblings with Chinatown Chow Down. Whether you participate in a Chinatown Food Crawl, join a Group Lunch, or get involved in the The Chow Down Challenge, this an opportunity to support local as you taste some of the city's best goodies from restaurants and bakeries in Chinatown.
The Winspear Centre
Our talented Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is a beacon of creativity in our city. Every month, the Winspear hosts a wide range of performances featuring a variety of genres and artists - all from different eras. This month, you can listen to the ESO perform classical soaring melodies of Mozart, rhythmic tunes from the Americas for kiddos, or go on an adventure as they perform soundtracks of beloved TV and movie Westerns.
Art Gallery of Alberta
The Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) had their 100th birthday celebration this past summer, and they continue to celebrate this year with special exhibitions within their artistic building found in the Arts District. Whether it's A Look Within: The Vision of Alberta Collectors exhibition or AGA100: Act 2 Landscape to Land Use gallery, the artwork portrays the interconnectedness between artists, art, and the land Alberta resides on.
Rogers Place Arena
One of the best parts of Edmonton's ICE District is the chance to have an evening out plus catch a great show all in one place! Check out all of the upcoming performances at Rogers Place:
- Harlem Globetrotters (January 12)
- Sum 41 (January 17)
Local Music
With so many great music venues across town, there are always must-see artists performing in Edmonton every month. Here are some performances to look forward to in October:
- Cash Cash – January 11, Union Hall
- Alan Doyle - January 17, River Cree Resort and Casino
- YBN Nahmir - January 25, Union Hall
- Reignwolf - January 25, Starlite Room
- 90s Dance Mix Tour - January 26, Edmonton EXPO Centre
- Dr. Fresch - January 31, Midway Music Hall
Local Theatre
Edmonton's creative arts scene is bursting with talent providing small-scale performances across the city that are comedic, experimental, musical, all of the above, and more. Be entertained while you support local artists at one of these upcoming performances:
- Die-Nasty – every Monday at the Varscona Theatre
- Connections/Collisions Cabaret - January 4 at Mile Zero Dance Studio
- Presto, Mambo! - January 26, Platypus Theatre at the Winspear Centre
Get Moving with Sporty Activities
YEG Ice Wall
This winter adventure will take you to cool new heights! Starting January 2025, YEG Ice will be open YEAR-ROUND for outdoor ice climbing, dry-tooling, sport climbing and bouldering. Now located at Louise McKinney Park, YEG Ice has a climbing structure four times bigger and double the height, reaching a staggering 18 meters, get ready for an adrenaline-pumping, heart-racing experience like never before. Gear up on-site with rentals and lessons available. For experienced climbers, they can try honing their skills with the new drytooling walls.
The Full Moon Birkie
Experience a magical evening of cross-country skiing under the light of the full moon at the Full Moon Birkie! The trails at Cooking Lake Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area are the perfect place to enjoy a winter adventure. Whether you're a seasoned skier or new to the sport, you'll love the chance to explore Birkie-land in the heart of the beautiful outdoors.
January 11, 2025
Lace Up Your Skates
Edmonton offers an unparalleled outdoor ice skating experience amidst breathtaking landscapes! Glide through the trees of the river valley along Victoria Park or Rundle Park's ice paths (skate rentals available at Rundle Park Family Centre), or skate under the downtown lights in the Arts District at City Hall (free skate rentals available during select times). The ICE District Plaza is home to Edmonton’s newest outdoor rink, open to the public daily! Make sure to check out the City of Edmonton website for locations, hours, and conditions before you go.
Places to Stay in Edmonton
Ready to level up your next Edmonton adventure with a some extra spending cash? Edmonton’s Best Hotels offers the best accommodations at the best price!
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