The most wonderful time of the year is finally here! December has landed and holiday festivities abound. From charming festivals to dazzling light displays and classic Christmas tales. Here are all the best things to do in and around Edmonton this December.
Edmonton Christmas Market
Everyone’s favourite annual market is back! Immerse yourself in a festive winter wonderland complete with seasonal eats, unique gifts, and festive entertainment. There’s no better way to round out your holiday shopping list.
When: Thursday, November 28th to Sunday, December 15th, 2024
Where: Fort Edmonton Midway, 7000 143 St NW
Cost: $23+
A Christmas Carol
It doesn’t get more Christmas-y than this classic tale. “Ebenezer Scrooge has been given just one night to redeem himself but will the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future help him overcome a lifetime of indifference before all hope is lost?”
When: Friday, November 23rd to Sunday, December 24th, 2024
Where: Citadel Theatre, 9828 101 A Ave
Cost: $40+
Sponsored pick: Luminaria 2024
Get ready to be enchanted! Luminaria is an enchanting winter experience that has been a beloved tradition at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden for nearly two decades. It 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: December 13-15, 20-22, and 27-29, 2024
Where: University of Alberta Botanic Garden, 51227 AB-60, Parkland County
Cost: Adult: $25, Senior (65+): $20, Youth/Students: $20, Children 3-12: $12, Children up to age two: free
Edmonton Oilers
Get your jersey ready and cheer on the Oilers at one of their home games throughout the month of December.
When: Games throughout December
Where: Rogers Place, 10220 104 Ave NW
Cost: $70+
Glow Christmas
The Glow Christmas Carnival is returning to Edmonton for another year, and it looks positively magical. It’s Christmas festival meets carnival fun, complete with all-ages activities, photo ops, and seasonal treats to savour all within the indoor big top tent!
When: Wednesday, December 4th to Tuesday, December 31st, 2024
Where: Edmonton Expo Centre, 7515 118 Ave NW
Cost: $22.99+
The Singing Christmas Tree
It’s a festive musical experience unlike any other! Prepare to be dazzled by millions of glittering lights and a 35-foot-tall Christmas tree, covered top to bottom with 150 of Alberta’s finest choir singers!
When: Tuesday, December 12th to Friday, December 15th, 2024
Where: Edmonton Expo Centre, 7515 118 Ave NW
Cost: $50+
Die Harsh: A Christmas Musical
The argument is finally settled – it is a Christmas movie! Or at least, this musical interpretation sure is. Enjoy a ridiculously funny Die-Hard-Christmas-Carol comedy packed with action, tap-dancing FBI agents, and hilarious musical numbers.
When: Wednesday, December 13th to Friday, December 29th, 2024
Where: The Orange Hub, 10045 156 St NW
Cost: $43+
A Drag Queen Christmas
Get tickets to the longest-running drag tour in the world! Experience live on-stage performances from famed queens including Plasma, Q, Shea Coulee’, Trinity the Tuck, Miz Cracker, Manila Luzon, Venus and Gisele Lullaby.
When: Sunday, December 17th, 2024
Where: Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 11455 87 Ave
Cost: $65+
A Very Merry Pops
This traditional musical performance will take you through the greatest Christmas carols and holiday songs. The concert is performed by a choir of some of Edmonton’s finest young singers and conducted by Bob Bernhardt.
When: Wednesday, December 20th to Saturday, December 23rd, 2024
Where: Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Cost: $36.50+
Christmas Eve Dinner at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
Skip the cooking and the dishes this year and enjoy a festive three-course meal at the stunning Fairmont Hotel Macdonald instead!
When: Sunday, December 24th, 2024
Where: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, 10065 100 St NW
Cost: Varies
Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert
Enjoy a timeless tradition that has been a local favourite in Edmonton for the last 25 years! This beloved musical celebration evokes the enchantment and grandeur of Vienna’s Golden Age with music, costumes, dances, and flowers!
When: Thursday, December 28th, 2024
Where: Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Cost: $68+
Hollywood for the Holidays
This musical adventure will take you through some of your favourite music from the big screen performed live by your Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Enjoy tunes from Barbie, Spirited Away, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, The Little Mermaid, Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, and much more.
When: Friday, December 29th to Saturday, December 30th, 2024
Where: Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Cost: $36.50+
New Year’s Eve at Métis Crossing
Celebrate the beginning of a new year at Métis Crossing! The event promises an evening filled with laughter, storytelling, feasting, and traditional dances.
When: Sunday, December 31st, 2024
Where: Métis Crossing, 17339 Victoria Trail
Cost: $15+
Canadian Tire Magic of Lights
Enjoy a dazzling drive-through light display. This 2.5 km journey will feature over two million twinkling LED lights and includes a 200-foot tunnel of lights and a new towering, animated 32-foot Barbie!
When: Tuesday, November 21st, 2024 to Sunday, January 4th, 2025
Where: RAD Torque Raceway, 50342 Range Rd 253, Leduc County
Cost: $33+
Borealis Lights
Back for its second year, this drive-thru Christmas light display takes you through an extended route of twinkling lights and captivating displays.
When: Wednesday, November 22nd, 2024 to Friday, January 5th, 2025
Where: St. Albert Kinsmen RV Park, 47 Riel Dr, St. Albert
Cost: $33+
Our Climate Quest Exhibition
This impactful exhibit offers a family-friendly adventure filled with engaging, hands-on activities. Learn about solar power, try your hand at carbon capture pinball, and delve into Indigenous Ways of Knowing. Learn how small changes can add up to create big impacts. This exhibit is included with regular admission to the TELUS World of Science.
When: Now until Friday, January 5th, 2025
Where: TELUS World of Science, 11211 142 St
Cost: $24.95+
There you have it! All the best things to do in and around Edmonton this December. We hope you have a fantastic holiday season!
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