Heighten your holiday and Christmas spirit with a few…spirits! Whether you’re getting together with friends, or coworkers, or on a family night out, these Edmonton cocktail spots can help spread plenty of Christmas cheer.
This December, you can find holiday markets and bars serving up not only festive but warming and cozy winter drinks. These Christmas drinks cover all different preferences, too: choose between hot or cold drinks, sweet or bitter, and between a huge array of liquors and liqueurs.
Glow Christmas Edmonton
Glow Christmas is now an annual holiday event in Edmonton’s Northlands. The festival is prepared to get everyone in the holiday spirit with a huge indoor light display and interactive light displays. The indoor lights create numerous holiday photo opportunities, while Santa is available for more photographs. Each Glow Festival has a large concession as well, where visitors can pick up a light-up holiday cocktail. And new this year to Edmonton’s Glow Festival is an adult tasting lounge set to feature local breweries and distilleries.
When: December 1-January 1, 2024
How Much: festival admission Family pass $85.74, GA $28.21, child or senior $21.69 per person
Where: Edmonton EXPO Centre – 7515 118 Ave NW, Edmonton
Clementine
Edmonton’s Bar Clementine offers a wonderful variety of craft drinks all year, including cocktails, beer, cider, and wine as well. But before you try one of Clementine’s house cocktails, take advantage of their limited-time-only Holiday Cocktail Menu. These festive pours include eggnog mixed with bourbon, brandy, and rum; hot buttered rum; and mulled wine, also served hot! With these soothing options, Clementine is a perfect place for cocktails after some winter fun outside.
Where: 11957 Jasper Ave. NW
Xmas Market YEG at Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton’s annual massive Xmas Market is back for 2023. Get right into the festive Christmas spirit with outdoor shopping courtesy of local vendors, sleigh rides around the park, live performances, and kids’ activities. And to keep warm, sip on the park’s menu of cozy Christmas cocktails. The event’s local food vendors will have a variety of drinks for sale between them all with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
When: November 30-December 17
Where: Fort Edmonton Park – 7000 143 St NW
How much: festival admission $19.03 per adult, $13.32 per child, children 5 and under free
The Confederation Lounge at the Hotel MacDonald
Celebrate Christmas at the castle in more ways than one this holiday season! Edmonton’s iconic Hotel Mac, for Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, or ‘castle,’ offers festive meals, experiences, and a variety of fun cocktails! Find the festive food in the Harvest Room, and the Christmas cocktails at the hotel’s Confederation Lounge.
The recently unveiled menu includes delights like a Gingerbread Espresso Martini, or the Ward on the Chill (served hot with homemade buttered rum). Or try the Knitwear, made exclusively to help raise funds for youth programs in Edmonton. $1 from every Knitwear cocktail sold goes to those programs at the YMCA.
Where: Fairmont Hotel MacDonald 10065 100th St. NW
Dolly’s Cocktail Bar
One of Edmonton’s newest cocktail bars is gearing up for the season with a joyous pop up Christmas bar! Within the already existing Dolly’s will be the Holly Dolly Xmas Popup bar. The entire bar and dining room will be decked out in Christmas decorations, complete with festive drink options.
When: November 23, 2023-January 7, 2024
Where: 9902 109 St. NW
Wilfred’s – Sippin’ Santa
Sippin’ Santas are a holiday pop-up bar experience which shows up all around North America. Local bars and pubs are able to host their own pop-up experiences, with one showing up in Edmonton! Head to Wilfred’s this month for a merry menu of drinks like the Yule Tide, Sippin’ Santa, Norh Pole Bowl, the Ginger Snapper, and many more.
When: November 20th – December 31, 2023
Where: 10429 121 St. NW
Boston Pizza
The holidays are celebrated in a big way this year with Boston Pizza. For the month of December, the pizza joint offers a variety of deals, and seasonal treats. These seasonal, holiday-ready treats include both food and drink, too. Fill up and warm up with their hearty jalapeno popper dip, or the spicy buffalo chicken mac and cheese. BP’s holiday drinks include a festive Sangria, and a Very Berry Fishbowl.
Where: all Edmonton locations
LOCAL Public Eatery
Find these holiday features at all LOCAL Public Eateries across Canada. The pub will have features for drinks and food as well. Their Christmas Burger is a gourmet option piled high with delicious toppings on a crispy chicken breast and guaranteed to leave you filled. Order this festive handheld alongside LOCAL’s Grinch cocktail, the Naughty & Spiced, or a Jameson Cold Brew.
Where: 11228 Jasper Ave NW & 1820 99th St NW