Happy holidays! We hope the week ahead in Edmonton is filled with friends, family, and plenty of festive cheer.
From Christmas Eve dinner to all kinds of festive events, we’ve rounded up a list of 15 fantastic things to do in YEG this week.
Plus, if you’re looking to get out of the house on Christmas day, we’ve got you covered with a list of places that’ll be open here.
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: 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: Evenings until January 3, 2025
Tickets: Free
What: Visit the Edmonton Valley Zoo this week 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: 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 to 15, 20 to 22, and 27 to 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 week, 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 on weekdays
Where: Telus World of Science — 11211 142nd Street NW
Cost: $25.95 regular adult admission
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: 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 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 even has 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: Whether you’re hitting the trails, stargazing, or trying to see some buffalo, this park is well worth the short drive out — no matter the season! Why not enjoy the outdoors at this prestigious national park?
When: Open year-round
Where: 54401 Range Road 203, Fort Saskatchewan
Cost: Free; a Parks Canada pass is required to enter
What: It’ll feel like a bit of a summer 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 thing to do this week.
When: Hours vary throughout the week
Where: West Edmonton Mall — 8882 170th Street
Cost: $40 to $54; tickets can be found 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 throughout December
Where: Alberta Legislature – 10800 97th Avenue NW, Edmonton
Tickets: Free
What: During the Holiday, spend the day exploring Alberta’s fascinating history! Stand beneath a mammoth, meet a tarantula, or dig into archaeological finds at RAM. Feed your curiosity with millions of years of Alberta’s remarkable stories.
Admission provides access to all galleries in the Royal Alberta Museum for the entire day.
When: Open year-round, Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm and 10 am to 8 pm on Thursdays
Where: 9810 103a Avenue NW
Cost: $10 to $21; tickets can be found here
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 to January 5, 2025
Where: St. Albert Kinsmen RV Park – 47 Riel Drive, St. Albert
Tickets: $27 for a standard vehicle ticket
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: 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