Toronto 
The warmer spring weather in April can open the door to some refreshing date ideas.
If you need a date idea for April in Edmonton, there are many ways to go about your planning.
There are several ways to treat your date to a dining event, experience, or even dome dining. And if weather permits, you can save a bit on the date with an old-fashioned picnic in the park.
From the River Valley, Edmonton’s attractions, and a few upcoming events, you’ll also have many date options that don’t involve the same-old dinner.
Reserve a Romantic Easter Dinner
- Italia Restaurant at the River Cree Resort & Casino has a special Easter dinner menu available for the whole weekend.
- Royal Coach Dining Room at the Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre are hosting a Ukrainian Easter Dinner buffet on the 9th.
- Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse will host their annual three-course Easter Sunday dinner at the downtown Edmonton location.
- 8 New Restaurants in Edmonton to Check Out This April
Downtown Defrost
If you both love music and spring, then the Downtown Defrost could be the ultimate date night opportunity this April. Edmonton’s Downtown Defrost is a combination of indoor and outdoor musical performances and DJ sets. The outdoor daytime events take place at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. And the nighttime indoor shows (Afterparty) will be hosted by the Starlite Room.
When: April 8-9, 2023
Where: Louise McKinney Riverfront Park, and the Starlite Room
How much: day and weekend passes $55-$100
After party passes $24.99-$34.99
Try out a Trivia Night
Get to know one another’s brains a bit better on your next date with some good old-fashioned trivia. These local trivia nights and events also make a great group date outing. Many pubs around Edmonton will also host special themed trivia nights to go with pop culture events, holidays, or the seasons.
- Arcadia Brewing will host a Disney Trivia & Drag Show on April 8th with special guests Rexy Resurrection & Pheromone Killz.
- BLAKBAR have their general pub trivia event every Thursday night.
- The River City Revival House’s Trivia Nights are every Tuesday and will include a wide variety of different topics.
Movie Night in Edmonton
Below are a few ideas for elevating a movie night date this April in Edmonton.
- Attend the Dreamspeakers International Film Festival (April 19 – April 23) at the Whiskeyjack Art House in downtown Edmonton.
- Watch a movie with Metro Cinema in the historic Garneau Theatre. They have some retro movies playing in April, new movies, shorts, indie films, and more.
- There are an array of signature experiences offered at Landmark Cinemas, including the chance to rent Premiere Seats that can adjust, open up for cuddling as a loveseat, and which have temperature control! Edmonton has two Landmark locations: Tamarack, and City Centre, with one also in St. Albert.
Take Advantage of the Weather with a Workout
If you’re look for free date ideas in Edmonton this April, look no further than some of the outdoor recreation. An exercise-based date night may not be for every couple but could be incredibly fun for the right couple. Take the date night even further with a casual dinner after your time outside.
- Edmonton’s river valley stairs are a workout even when you’re not planning for it. You can create goals, race, and burn some serious energy while enjoying some great views of Edmonton. The Wolf Will Ravine set, or the Glenora set, are both a definite challenge.
- A quick and simple jog through the river valley can be a lot of fun together if you follow some of Edmonton’s more scenic trails. Try a run over Ada Boulevard, or around the Fort Edmonton Foot Bridge.
- We are so close to cycling season in Edmonton (for those who don’t own fat tire bikes, anyways!). You can explore downtown, which has most of Edmonton’s bike lanes, the paved river valley trails, or several Edmonton neighbourhoods.
Live Theatre & Dinner Theatre in Edmonton
These live performances in Edmonton this April can make planning your next date night a breeze. Some even include dinner with your show. These shows cover an array of genres as well.
- Fall in love all over again as Broadway Across Canada brings Pretty Woman: The Musical.
- The Citadel is presenting a fascinating comedy-drama, Trouble in Mind, that takes a look at racism in the New York theatre scene. showing until April 16th.
- Jubilations Dinner Theatre is showing Mamma Mio! from April 14, 2023 – June 18, 2023
- Edmonton’s second dinner theatre, Mayfield, is showing Rock of Ages for all of April and May.
- The Grindstone Theatre’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is on from April 19-29.
- Opera Nuova is presenting Bernstein’s New York. You can indulge in Boozy Brunch & Dinner Cabaret.
- Enjoy an experience-centric evening event enlivening the Stanley A. Milner Library’s most unique spaces while featuring stellar musical by Shannon and the Clams, and aerialist performances by Firefly Theatre.
Enjoy Edmonton’s Local Arts Together
You’ll have several options for fun date nights this April in Edmonton which centre around arts and culture. Catch these local artistic festivals, events, and opportunities for and affordable but memorable evening.
- RAW Edmonton (April 13) is hosting a showcase of local talent at Union Hall called CONCEPTS. These shows combine a wide variety of artistic media. And if you need a spot for a meal before or after the show, Union Hall is near several options on Gateway Blvd.
- Art Tour YEG have a few different self-guided art tours through different Edmonton neighbourhoods. The maps are free to download, and will guide you through areas filled with shops, dining, and places for drinks.
- The Edmonton Music & Speech Arts Festival (April 17-29) is celebrating its 115th anniversary with over 1,400 single and group performers. The festival takes place at MacEwan University which is surrounded by numerous restaurants and bars, and the ICE District.
Edmonton Oilers Hockey in April
There are only a couple of weeks left of regular season Oilers NHL Hockey. If you’re both fans, then you may want to take advantage of the time left to enjoy these games.
- Get tickets to see a live game at the Rogers Arena.
- Most Edmonton sports bars are dedicated to showing games on their TVs. Find a sports bar or restaurant close to Rogers Arena to enjoy all the lively celebrations in ICE District (if they win).
- These bars could be full for play-offs, too. The NHL playoffs are likely to be in Edmonton this year, although a spot is yet to be clinched. When the Oilers are the playoffs, it is easy to find the parties, celebrations, and extra activities around the ICE District in April.
It’s Picnic Time!
The snow is disappearing quickly these days. That makes more room in the river valley for more enjoyable picnics. Edmonton is down one major park space this year (Hawrelak), but still has picnic areas across the rest of the River Valley from which to choose. Plus, some more urban areas also have spaces for outdoor dining like around downtown, 124th Street, or Whyte Avenue.
Find an Open Patio in Edmonton
If a picnic in the park this spring is a bit too rustic, you will also have the opportunity for patio dining this spring. Edmonton restaurants are usually eager to open their patios for the spring season, meaning it is time to be on the lookout for Edmonton’s best date night patios.
- The geodomes on the Tiramisu Bistro’s patio mean you can enjoy your date rain, snow, or shine.
- The Courtyard Marriott’s Riverside Bistro also offer dome dining with a patio that overlooks the river valley.
- O’Byrne’s Irish Pub is an awesome double or group date location and have a heated patio with large and small tables available. Later in the night you may be able to catch some live music too.
