December has finally arrived in Edmonton, and although we’re beginning to count down the days to the end of 2024, there’s no shortage of incredible things to do this month.
From Christmas festivals to craft fairs and the return of all of our favourite winter activities, check out 26 fantastic things happening in the city this December:
Edmonton EXPO Centre/Facebook
What: Edmonton’s iconic Singing Christmas Tree is back after a five-year hiatus! Experience the wonder of being surrounded by millions of glittering lights and a 35-foot-tall Christmas tree brimming with 150 of Alberta’s finest choir singers.
Where: Edmonton Expo Centre Arena — 7515 118th Avenue NW
When: December 12 to 15
Cost: $30 to 90; get tickets here
What: Check out the St. Albert Christmas Market, where as many as 10,000 people visit on Saturdays to get in the festive spirit and pick up unique gifts!
When: December 7 and 14 from 10 am to 3 pm
Where: 101 Riel Drive, St. Albert
What: Bountiful Farmers’ Market offers a wide variety of fresh goods, including local vegetables and meat, coffee roasters, and beer and wine. It also has an ethnic food hall, a children’s play area, live entertainment, and more!
When: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday year-round
Where: 3696 97th Street NW
Admission: Free
What: Visit the Edmonton Valley Zoo this holiday season to enjoy all your favourite animals surrounded by festive light displays at the Zoominescence Festival of Light.
When: November 29, 2024 to January 1, 2025
Where: Edmonton Valley Zoo – 13315 Buena Vista Road, Edmonton
Tickets: $15.95 adult admission; get tickets here
What: Marvel at the Royal Alberta Museum’s vast collections. From its archaeology, Indigenous studies, and work-life industry sections to Earth and Life Sciences that will wow you, it’s one of the most intriguing things to do in Edmonton.
When: Open year-round, Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm
Where: 9810 103A Avenue NW
Cost: $10 to $21; tickets can be found here
What: Be amazed at the stunning Muttart Conservatory, with each glass pyramid showcasing a different environment for plants from around the globe. It’s a relaxing, insightful, and beautiful experience and a lovely thing to do in Edmonton.
When: Open 10 am to 5 pm on weekends
Where: Muttart Conservatory — 9626 96A Street NW
Admission: $14.95 adult admission
What: Are you ready to be dazzled by a million Christmas lights, including a light tunnel and a visit by Santa Claus himself? The dates for the Glow Christmas Festival at the Edmonton Expo Centre are out, and it’s shaping up to be one of the largest indoor holiday festivals of the season. Tickets sell out fast, so grab them as soon as you can!
When: December 4 to 31, 2024
Where: Edmonton Expo Centre
Tickets: Starts at $22.99; tickets can be found here.
Jon Harringa/Faceboook
What: This home in Stony Plain has been decked out for the holidays, emulating the classic home from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It’s so accurate that it’s even got an RV parked out front with a life-size statue of Cousin Eddie. Be sure to check back when it’s confirmed that you can check out this iconic local light setup – it’s one heck of a holiday display to see this winter in the Edmonton area.
Where: 64 Briarwood Point, Stony Plain
Tickets: Free
What: Candy Cane Lane is one of Edmonton’s must-see holiday events and has become a staple over its more than 50-year history. You can check it out from your vehicle or walk along the sidewalks and admire each home’s decadent displays.
Where: 148th Street from 99th to 92nd Avenue
When: December 13, 2024 to January 3, 2025
Tickets: Free
What: Luminaria is an enchanting winter experience that has been a beloved tradition at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden for nearly two decades. Luminaria celebrates candlelight, starlight and firelight during the darkest nights of the year.
Visitors can slow down and share a moment of serenity in a stroll along the candlelit pathways of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden, warm by fires and sip hot apple cider, take in the sounds of a capella singers, and light a candle in memory of a loved one.
When: Three weekends in December from 5 to 10 pm: December 13-15, 20-22, and 27-29
Where: University of Alberta Botanic Garden — 51227 AB-60, Parkland County
Tickets: $25 regular adult admission, advance tickets required; find them here
What: Head over to the Telus World of Science this December, where you can experience wicked screenings in IMAX, exercise your brain by navigating through mazes, and try your hand at some awesome games and challenges.
When: Open 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Telus World of Science — 11211 142nd Street NW
Cost: $25.95 regular adult admission
What: Grab your jersey and head down to Rogers Place this December — the Oilers face off on home ice plenty this month!
When: Various dates in December
Where: Rogers Place — 10220 104th Avenue NW
Tickets: Get them here
What: For more than 30 years, the grounds have been a festive haven for many, with a massive Christmas tree placed on the grounds and numerous surrounding trees being adorned with lights. It’s a lovely spot to go for a stroll with friends, on a date, or for the perfect holiday Instagram photo. Check it out ASAP!
When: Lights up December 3
Where: Alberta Legislature – 10800 97th Avenue NW, Edmonton
Tickets: Free
What: Returning for its fifth year, the Edmonton Christmas Market is three weeks of market venues with local Alberta vendors, light displays, culinary experiences, roving performances, live theatre, family-friendly workshops, tasty treats, horse-drawn wagon rides, and a healthy dollop of holiday cheer!
When: November 28 to December 15
Where: Fort Edmonton Park — 7000 143rd Street NW
Tickets: Get them here
What: It’ll feel like a bit of a tropical vacation when you visit the World Waterpark at West Edmonton Mall. Shoot down some massive slides or relax in the wave pool. Whatever you choose, it’s a prime way to spend the day.
You could also check out the New Year’s Eve Beach Ball taking place at the park on December 31.
When: Hours vary throughout the week
Where: West Edmonton Mall — 8882 170th Street NW
Cost: $40 to $54; tickets can be found here
What: Lace up those skates and wear your warmest winter jacket. Skating during the holidays is perfect, and there are several spots across Edmonton you can go to. It’s some of the best fun you can have for free in the city!
Where: Various locations
Tickets: Free
What: Borealis Lights in St. Albert is a Christmas drive-through light display in the Kinsmen RV Park. The display promises more than 800,000 twinkling holiday lights, with plenty of light displays and, of course, a drive-through holiday tunnel that you, your friends, and your family will marvel at.
When: November 22, 2024, to January 5, 2025
Where: St. Albert Kinsmen RV Park – 47 Riel Drive, St. Albert
Tickets: $27 for a standard vehicle ticket.
What: Wander through the thoughtful and beautiful artwork at the Art Gallery of Alberta and marvel at each exhibit. Grab a bite at a downtown Edmonton restaurant when you’re all finished!
When: Wednesdays to Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm; Thursdays, 11 am to 7 pm
Where: 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton
Cost: $14; purchase online
What: Whether you’re an adult or a child, tobogganing is one heck of a way to pass the time during the winter. Check out our roundup of some of the best tobogganing hills in Edmonton to visit for some sliding fun. Nothing beats some sledding over the holiday and winter break in Edmonton, that’s for sure!
What: Whether you’re creating new traditions or celebrating long-lasting memories, surround yourself with friends and family and have festive fun in the city’s most timeless setting. This festive dinner is served in the hotel’s iconic Harvest Room, featuring a progressive twist on an authentically local, festive, three-course menu.
When: Tuesday, December 24
Where: 10065 100th Street NW
Cost: $119 per guest
What: There’s no better way to start your Saturday morning than a trip to the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market. Grab a coffee, browse through the stalls, pick up a home-baked treat, and take a stroll down Whyte Avenue when you’re all finished.
When: Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm
Where: 10310 83rd Avenue NW
Admission: Free
What: Celebrate the season with a holiday-themed high tea! Sip on artisan loose-leaf teas and savour a delightful set menu curated in collaboration with Hirondelle Bakery.
When: December 2, 3, 16, and 17
Where: LAST Modern Event Venue – 10242 106th Street NW
Tickets: $68 per adult
What: Cheer on the Edmonton Oil Kings this month with tons of home games in December! It’s a fun atmosphere, and the ticket prices aren’t bad either!
When: Various dates in December
Where: Rogers Place — 10220 104th Avenue NW
Cost: Start at $24.25; get tickets here
IAM Collective
What: Head to the Alberta Aviation Museum this December for the 2024 edition of A Very Indigenous Holiday Market. This annual event is Alberta’s longest-running Indigenous market.
When: December 6 to 8
Where: Alberta Aviation Museum — 11410 Kingsway NW
What: OddBird Art & Craft Fair is Edmonton’s newest arts and crafts fair, with two markets taking place in December.
When: November 29 to December 1 and December 6 to 8
Where: Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre — 8426 Gateway Boulevard NW
Cost: $5 admission
What: You can never go wrong with a trip to the amusement park, and Galaxyland is North America’s largest indoor amusement park. It features 27 Hasboro-themed rides and more for all ages.
When: Hours vary throughout the week
Where: West Edmonton Mall — 8882 170th Street NW
Cost: $64 general admission; get tickets here