Edmonton 
Things are starting to feel a bit more like spring in Edmonton. And with the new season starting to show, there are new ways to spend our time, including our date nights.
Whether you’re heading out for the day or evening, there are several fun, exciting, or relaxing things to do with someone special this month. Find dining opportunities and experiences, sports and recreation (for watching or participating in!), and unique things around Edmonton to explore together.
Spirited Date Ideas for March in Edmonton
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- The official Edmonton Cocktail Week is March 4-10, 2024, with several participating bars and restaurants. Each will have their own cocktail on feature for $12. Smaller events will take place over the week like tasting events or bingo games.
- During the same week as the Cocktail Week is the Edmonton Craft Beer Festival at the EXPO Centre (March 8-9).
- If you can’t make the above events, there is still the International Beer Fest in Edmonton on March 21-23.
Birding and Hiking outside of the City
The spring bird migration will begin across Alberta sometime in March. The migration times of different bird species vary, and vary depending on where you go; but there are many places for a romantic walk around Edmonton. In these spots, you could spot swans, great blue herons, ducks, geese, owls, and many others.
- The Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park on Edmonton’s northwest side has roughly 5km or more of trails to explore, including a long boardwalk trail over the John E. Poole wetlands.
- East of Edmonton, near Devon, is the Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary with about 4-5km worth of trails to explore. The trails bend around and over wetlands, and through the wooded areas.
- Elk Island National Park offers a great place to catch birds on their spring migration paths. Plus, the park east of Edmonton has a whole host of other March activities. If there is snow, bring a pair of snowshoes. Otherwise, enjoy hiking, watching larger wildlife like bison, picnics, or stargazing around a fire.
Dine somewhere New
Edmonton is great for restaurants and dining: so much so that there are usually new places to eat and drink opening around the city on a monthly basis. There is almost never a need to go somewhere that you’ve both been to before for your next date; try somewhere all new in Edmonton! Check out Edmonton’s newest restaurants for March 2024 here.
- For a casual place to eat, try the new Space Tea in south Edmonton; the main menu items include bubble tea and smash burgers!
- Tatsu Sushi have barely been open a month and have garnered a great deal of glowing reviews. The restaurant offers all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue cuisine.
- Meet your date for coffee at the new Scratch Baking & Café in downtown Edmonton.
Catch a Live Show this March in Edmonton
- Get tickets to a SkirtsAFire show for February 29-March 10. SkirtsAFire is a female-driven arts festival centred on performances for poetry, spoken word, comedy, theatre, music, dance, and more.
- The Citadel will be alive with the Sound of Music for the entire month of March! Enjoy this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic from a local cast of performers.
- Broadway Across Canada will be at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium with Hairspray and Alberta Ballet with the show Hansel & Gretel.
Immerse Yourselves in Disney Animation
Immersive Disney Animation will be at Edmonton’s EXPO Centre until April 28. This media arts exhibit puts visitors right into Disney cartoon scenes and music with larger-than-life video displays and other visual or media effects. This might sound, at first, like a child-focused or family-focused activity rather than a date-night idea. But always remember the love many grown adults retain for their favourite Disney classics! Rediscover your favourite movies together.
When: February 15-April 28, 2024
Where: Hall A Edmonton EXPO Centre 7515 118 Ave.
How much: $43.33 per person
Spring at Fort Edmonton Park
Visit Fort Edmonton Park on your next date for two separate experiences available this March. On weekends this March, Fort Edmonton’s Indigenous People’s Experience will play host to the Indigenous Storytelling Series. Get comfortable in one of the display’s tipis as you learn about Indigenous storytelling, history, culture, and art. During the week, Fort Edmonton offer Paranormal Tours. These run weekly throughout March and include a look into the Fort’s darker history.
When: Saturdays and Sundays for Indigenous Storytelling Series
Wednesdays for Paranormal Tours
Where: 7000 143 St.
How much: $67 per person
Celebrate the Edmonton Oilers Together
Both a night out at a sports bar for the game, and the live game experience at Rogers, make for exciting date night ideas for hockey fans. This is especially true for a team approaching the playoffs in a decent spot! This month, Oiler home games will include face-offs against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabers, LA Kings, and Anaheim Ducks.
- Get remaining tickets to this season’s games here.
- All of Edmonton’s Canadian Brewhouse locations, including the Icehouse downtown, celebrate Oilers game nights with specials and jersey contests.
- For each Oilers game, 1st RND offer drink specials, and chances to win game tickets.
- Join Kindred Food & Drink for deals on pizzas and beers for both Oilers and Oil Kings game nights.
March in the River Valley
- Take this as an opportunity to explore Edmonton’s newest city park in the northeast corner of the city. The area is quiet, scenic, and has several trails with amenities for picnics, and washrooms.
- A bit further west on the river is Rundle Park– the area has trails leading in either direction along the river, access to a pedestrian bridge, picnic amenities, washrooms, and disc golf.
- On the opposite side of the city and river valley are parks like Terwillegar or Whitemud, each with extensive trails for hiking or biking, and spaces for picnics. Terwillegar Park also has a massive riverside off-leash dog park.
Bowling Dates in Edmonton
Edmonton is home to several classic bowling alleys in all corners of the city. Plus, there are a handful of bars in the city which offer duckpin bowling with shorter lanes and lighter balls. These bowling alleys and pubs offer other date activities like pool, arcade games, or even axe-throwing.
The Rec Room and The Banquet are two local bars with duckpin bowling and arcade games. The Rec Room also offers axe-throwing!
- Ed’s Bowling in West Edmonton Mall brings your date to Edmonton’s biggest indoor attraction.
- Gateway Entertainment Centre in south Edmonton is close to several restaurants as well and offers pool, laser tag, and darts, on top of bowling.
- The Plaza Bowling Company, on Edmonton’s northside, is a historic bowling alley and location now on its third generation of local family ownership!
Visit a Downtown Dining Week Restaurant
Edmonton’s Downtown Dining Week runs March 20-31, with a huge assortment of participating restaurants. Each of the restaurants will offer multi-course menus at varying price points throughout the event. You’ll find meals for $15, $25, $35, $50 and $65, giving you and your budget some options. You can treat a date to gourmet pub food, Italian or Mediterranean, wine or craft cocktails, coffee and sweets, and almost any type of cuisine you can think of.
When: March 20 to 31, 2024
How much: Varies
Science, History, & Art Attractions in Edmonton
Build attraction at one of Edmonton’s indoor attractions! These educational locations in the city provide a full afternoon or evening of fun for any date plans.
- The TELUS Spark Science Centre (northwest Edmonton) will host one of their Dark Matters events on March 7th with a perfect theme for date night: the Science of Sex! For something a little less risqué, visit the Science Centre for their Media Arts Festival from March 8-10.
- Explore the province and the country’s natural history together through the Royal Alberta Museum (downtown Edmonton). The RAM recently launched a new feature exhibit, Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia.
- The Art Gallery of Alberta (downtown Edmonton) has a variety of exhibitions on, with a few ending in early or mid-March. Visit on March 28 from 4pm-7pm for the monthly free admission day. Or, you and your date can enjoy an evening at their Refinery Late Night Art Party, themed, Palm Room – A 1920s Speakeasy, channelling the spirit of those roarin’ 20s.
