Experience Winter in Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta and is one of Canada's fastest growing cities - for good reason! Also known as Canada's 'festival city', Edmonton hosts over 50 unique festivals annually and boasts of world-famous attractions like West Edmonton Mall and the Royal Alberta Museum. We are located in a temperate climate which gets the best of every season: magical, blue-skied winters, blossom-filled springs, 18-hour long summer days, and stunningly colorful autumns. Edmonton is also the gateway to Canada's North and a 4-hour scenic drive away from Jasper National Park, and the Canadian Rockies.

Every season is festival season! Experience the best of Canadian winters as you attend one of our spectacular winter festivals. Celebrate Ukrainian, Indigenous, and French-Canadian cultures at Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival, channel your inner voyageur with light, music, legends and dance at Flying Canoë Volant, get inspired by a magical exhibition of artistic light installations, skating, hot chocolate and fun at Zoominescence, and so much more!

Thirty-five minutes east of Edmonton lies a wild oasis at Elk Island National Park. With hundreds of free-roaming bison, you just might catch a glimpse of a herd grazing in an open meadow or stopped in the middle of the highway with steam rising from their woolly coats on a frosty morning. The park is also part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, meaning it’s a stellar location for stargazing. Gaze up at the starry sky where you’ll see star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Winter is also the perfect time to spot the pulsating chorus of lights known as Aurora Borealis.

Edmonton is lucky to boast the second largest Indigenous population in Canada, full of talented performers, artisans, musicians, and entrepreneurs. Join Sissy from Wase Saba (Black Bear) Experiences for an immersive Indigenous powwow dance experience, visit Bernadette's to experience exceptional Indigenous cuisine, see the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park, or take part in an interactive tour with Talking Rock Tours to discover the story of the land with a Métis guide and geologist. Visit Indigenous Tourism Alberta to learn about more incredible Indigenous tourism experiences!

Live performances that showcase our vibrant arts scene can be found in stages all across Edmonton. Looking for some belly laughs? Watch the award-winning improv team at Rapid Fire Theatre or see a show by the trendy Grindstone Theatre (we recommend the hilarious annual show, Die Harsh). For outstanding theatrical performances, head over to the Citadel Theatre and Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium to see what plays and musicals are on. For live orchestral music, visit downtown's Winspear Centre for all sorts of classical and pop music presentations by the talented Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Want to see something new? Visit the Varscona Theatre to see our local artists bring unique and beautiful stories to life or check out some of our small venues to see more musical talent.

Discover the journey less travelled and embark on an adventure in Canada’s North. It all begins in Edmonton – the capital of Alberta and the gateway to the Rockies. Head west after your time in Edmonton to visit Jasper National Park, where you'll be awed by towering mountains, abundant wildlife, and otherworldly canyons. The perfect spot to decompress after a tough game.