Edmonton
Photo Credit: Edmonton Tourism
A list of 18 family things to do for Christmas holidays/winter break in Edmonton & Alberta Capital Region.
December 22, 2017 – January 7, 2018
See Christmas / Holiday Lights
Go for a winter wonderland drive and enjoy great Christmas displays in Edmonton & Alberta Capital region. Hike the twinkling Candy Cane Lane, meet Santa and have hot chocolate at Leduc Country Christmas Lights or enjoy skating amongst twinkling light at Alberta Legislature grounds.
Attend a Holiday Family theatre performance
Enjoy Christmas theatre or a festive holiday live performance with the whole family.
Events include
- Fiddler On The Roof — December 15 to 30, 2017 @ Festival Place, 100 Festival Way, Sherwood Park
- Sleeping Beauty: A Christmas Pantomime on December 14 to 31, 2017 @ Fort Edmonton Park
- Clara’s Dream…Edmonton’s Ukrainian Nutcracker! – December 29 – 30, 2017 @ Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 11455 87 Ave NW, Edmonton
Play and MakeCode with Minecraft
In this free two-hour coding workshop, students ages 8–12 will play in Minecraft while they learn how to code with Microsoft’s MakeCode platform. They will program an Agent robot to complete challenges and even change the weather, or as they say in the world of Minecraft: they will make it rain Ocelots and Wolves!
January 2, 4, 5, 7 @ Microsoft Store, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton | Free
Explore Winter Landscape
Enjoy a glorious winter day with family exploring Edmonton and surrounding natural areas by snow shoeing, tobogganing the many hills, or along the many River valley trails.
Go geocaching in the River Valley and have a unique outdoor experience with this fun scavenger hunt! One can rent (free of charge) GPS units at John Janzen Nature Centre. Or ride the new Funicular at 100 Street.
See here for Fun Outdoor Winter Activities in Edmonton
Telus World of Science
There are plenty of holiday themed activity during Christmas holidays at TWOSE. Test for acids and bases using poinsettias, create perfect snowflakes and challenge your senses with holiday sounds, smells, and tastes on the ESSO Skywalk.
Hours:
Friday, December 22, 2017 – Sunday, January 7, 2018
Friday & Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve (Sunday, December 24) open 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Closed Christmas Day (Monday, December 25).
Muttart Conservatory
Explore holiday themed feature pyramid – Blue Christmas Take in the joy and wonder of this year’s unique holiday exhibit in the Feature Pyramid. You’ll be crooning all the way into the new year!.
Through January 7, 2018 | Muttart Conservatory | Regular Admission (Closed on Dec 25, other days: 10:00 am – 05:00 pm, Thursday: 10am-9pm)
Sleigh Rides amongst the Twinkling lights
Enjoy a sleigh ride amongst winter wonderland at Candy Cane Lane.
If you want to plan a holiday themed day trip, visit Heritage Ranch, Red Deer and go on a horse drawn sleigh ride that will take you through our 20000 + display of winter lights. Hot chocolate and blankets are provided. Booking link.
Also see – 50 Fun Winter Activities in Alberta
Escape the Cold
If you are not a fan of Jack Frost’s season, visit an indoor attraction like WEM‘s World Water Park, Galaxyland, Sea life Caverns, or Launchpad Trampoline Park, Laser Quest, Paintball venues, Mini Golfs or other indoor arcade game venues.
Holiday Hours at Select Edmonton ATTRACTIONS
Edmonton Valley Zoo: 10am-4pm daily, Closed on Christmas Day
John Janzen Nature Centre:
Dec 24 – Dec 31, 2017 11am – 4pm, daily.
Closed: December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018
Art Gallery of Alberta: Closed on December 25, 26 and January 1
Until 03:00 PM on December 24 and December 31
Rest of the days:
Monday: closed
Tuesday & Wednesday: 11 am-8 pm
Thursday & Friday: 11 am-5 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10 am-5 pm
Alberta Aviation Museum: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm
Closed December 25, 26 and January 1
Galaxyland Amusement Park:
Open Every Day. December 25: Noon to 05:00 PM.
December 26 to 30 & January 2 to 6: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
December 24, 31, 1, 7: Noon to 6 p.m.
World Water Park:
Open Every Day. December 25: Noon to 05:00 PM.
December 26: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
December 27 to 30 & January 2 to 6: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
December 24: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
January 1: Noon to 06:00 p.m.
January 7: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Go Skiing
Get active, and go skiing and snowboarding at Ski clubs in and around Edmonton: Snow Valley Ski Club, Sunridge Ski Area, Rabbit Hill Snow Resort. Ski Hills are closed on Dec 25.
Junior Full Day Holiday Program (ages 6 to 12 years) @ Snow Valley: Get a lesson and spend the day sliding with kids of a similar age and ability in a fun, safe and progressive environment. Included in these lessons are a supervised hot buffet lunch, breaks as needed, and lots of riding! $135 to $159 each day
Ice Castles Edmonton
Marvel at the acre-sized winter wonderland is crafted by hand, using only icicles and water, that resembles frozen waterfalls, glaciers or ice caves brought to Edmonton by Ice Castles.
Hours: from Late December/Early January Weather Dependent.
Cost: Ages (12+):$12.95 – $20 / Ages (4 – 11):$9.95 – $15
Photo Credit: Edmonton Tourism
Drop in Holiday Programs in St Albert
Visit St Albert heritage centres for learning all about Amazing Arctic, Winter Olympics, making Sock Snowman, do snowy day science experiments, make Winter Birdfeeders and more! December 27–29 classes take place at the Musée Héritage Museum (St. Albert Place, 5 St. Anne Street, St. Albert) and January 2–5 classes take place at the Little White School (2 Madonna Drive, St. Albert).
Winter Drop Off camps – St Albert
The kids will enjoy a day of gymnastics, wonderful winter activities, crafts and much more. $40 per day @ Dynamyx Gymnastics Club, Bay 104, 25 Chisholm Ave St. Albert
Cheer Oil Kings
Enjoy watching an affordable hockey game!
Recreation & Library
Your city’s/town’s recreation department (Edmonton) and local library offers plenty of low cost (free programs) during Christmas break.
Get a great book and read it with your child, OR download an audiobook from EPL (or your town’s library), gather round the fireplace and enjoy listening to the story. The library also holds plenty of holiday programs – check out the calendar and plan to attend a family program.
See a movie
Enjoy a holiday movie at Cineplex –Winter Family Movies
Family Movies at Metro Cinema: Elf on December 23, Wizard of Oz on December 30.
YouthSpark 2hr Camp – FREE
During this 2hr camp, students ages 8-12 can come and learn new ways to create video stories with Paint 3D and Photos, one of the newest Windows 10 creativity apps. Play with mixed reality by taking a picture of a 3D monster running after your friends and add it to your video. Or play with 3D effects like lightening and bubbles. January 2 to 7, 2018 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM @ Microsoft Store, West Edmonton Mall.
On New Year’s Day
- Dress warmly, bring a mug and head to the Strathcona Wilderness Centre for a day of winter fun! Enjoy a blazing campfire, hot chocolate, and tasty treats for the whole family. Monday, January 1, 2018 | 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. @ Township Road 530 and Range Road 212
- Glastonbury New Years Day Family Fun: Join for Glastonbury Community Leagues Annual New Years Day Family Fun Event. There will be sleigh rides, skating, hot chocolate and fireworks. Monday, January 01, 2018 | 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Swing and Skate
Before heading back to school, head to Winston Churchill Square to Swing and Skate with the Emeralds – January 7, 2018 1:00 – 4:00pm