As the holidays and the end of 2024 approach, we’re looking forward to filling our weekend with festive activities that bring a cozy, warm feeling.
From hockey games to Christmas markets to the return of our favourite festive concert, check out these 23 incredible things to do in YEG this weekend.
What: 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
Cost: Starts at $23.23; get tickets here
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: 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 are 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: 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: 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.
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: 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
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: Bountiful Farmers’ Market offers a wide variety of fresh goods, including local vegetables and meats, 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: Grab your jersey, head down to Rogers Place, and cheer on the Oilers this Saturday as they take on the Las Vegas Golden Knights!
When: December 14 at 2 pm
Where: Rogers Place — 10220 104th Avenue NW
Tickets: Get them 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, 2024, to January 5, 2025
Where: St. Albert Kinsmen RV Park – 47 Riel Drive, St. Albert
Tickets: $27 for a standard vehicle ticket.
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: Throughout December
Where: Alberta Legislature – 10800 97th Avenue NW, Edmonton
Tickets: Free
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 morning 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: 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: Head over to Rogers Place and cheer on the Edmonton Oil Kings weekend as they play two games at home this weekend! It’s a fun atmosphere, and the ticket prices aren’t bad either! The Oil Kings take on the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday and the Kamloops Blazers on Sunday.
When: Saturday, December 14 at 7 pm and Sunday, December 15 at 4 pm
Where: Rogers Place — 10220 104th Avenue NW
Cost: Start at $24.25; get tickets here
What: Whether you’re hitting the trails, stargazing, or trying to see some buffalo, this national park is well worth the short drive out there. Why not enjoy the outdoors at this prestigious national park?
When: Open year-round
Where: 54401 Range Road 203, Fort Saskatchewan
Cost: A Parks Canada pass is required to enter
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: 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: 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, beautiful experience and a lovely thing to do this weekend in Edmonton!
When: Open 10 am to 5 pm on weekends
Where: Muttart Conservatory — 9626 96A Street NW
Admission: $14.95 adult admission
What: It’ll feel like a bit of a 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 weekend.
When: Hours vary throughout the week
Where: West Edmonton Mall — 8882 170th Street NW
Cost: $40 to $54; tickets can be found here
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
What: Head over to the Telus World of Science this weekend, 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 weekends
Where: Telus World of Science — 11211 142nd Street NW
Cost: $25.95 regular adult admission