This December, the University of Alberta Botanic Garden will once again host Luminaria, a serene winter event that invites visitors to experience the beauty of candlelight and starlit paths.
After a year’s break, Luminaria returns with fewer electric lights and a focus on the natural ambiance, with limited ticket availability to ensure a peaceful experience. The garden will host only 8,100 guests over nine evenings, a decrease from 30,000 tickets of prior years, to maintain an intimate setting.
What to See and Do:
Visitors to Luminaria can anticipate a tranquil evening filled with simple yet profound experiences that celebrate the essence of the season.
- Candlelit Pathways in the Kurimoto Japanese Garden: Take a leisurely walk along paths illuminated by thousands of candles, creating a mesmerizing display that highlights the garden’s natural beauty in a unique light.
- A Capella Performances and Candle-Lighting: You can enjoy soulful sounds of a capella performances that echo through the quiet, candlelit paths, adding a layer of warmth and reverence to the evening. You can also part in a touching candle-lighting ceremony, honouring the memory of loved ones and celebrating the season with deeply personal rituals.
- Warm Apple Cider and Fireside Gatherings: To keep warm, complimentary hot apple cider will be available, and fireside spots around the garden provide a cozy place to pause and enjoy the surroundings.
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What to Know:
With limited tickets and specific guidelines, attendees should be aware of essential information to make the most of their visit to Luminaria.
- Advance Ticket Purchase Required: Tickets must be booked in advance. Sales start on November 5 exclusively for Garden Year-Round Members, who receive free admission and the option to purchase up to four additional tickets at a reduced price. If any tickets remain, they will be available to the general public starting November 25.
- Limited Capacity for an Intimate Experience: To maintain a peaceful atmosphere and ensure adequate free parking, the event’s capacity is limited to 8,100 guests over nine evenings—a significant reduction from previous years’ 30,000 tickets.
- Supporting Local Charity: Contribute to the Spruce Grove Kinettes’ Christmas Hamper Program by bringing monetary donations, grocery store gift cards, or new, unwrapped gifts for children under 17, directly supporting families in need.
- Weather Preparedness: Luminaria is an outdoor event held in winter conditions. Attendees are advised to dress warmly in winter coats, mittens, hats, and boots. The event will proceed in cold weather, but severe weather warnings or extremely low temperatures may result in cancellation, with notifications and refunds provided to ticket holders.
- Pet Policy: Pets are not permitted at Luminaria, except for certified service dogs, to ensure safety around ground-level candles and to preserve the pristine condition of the snow—a change from the summer policy that allowed dogs.
Trip Planning – Luminaria 2024
This popular event ignites the festive season with thousands of candles along the paths of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden in a breathtaking display – a quiet oasis of peace and light. You can slow down and share a moment of serenity with the people you love in a stroll along the candlelit pathways of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden during Luminaria. Warmed by fires and hot apple cider, take in the sounds of a capella singers, light a candle in memory of a loved one and mark the essence of the season in a ritual of peace and beauty.
When: December 13–15, December 20–22, and December 27–29, 2024. The event runs from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with the last entry permitted at 9:30 p.m.
Where: The Garden is located at 51227 Alberta 60, Parkland County approximately 15 minutes southwest of Edmonton. It is situated five kilometres north of Devon on Highway 60.
- Attendees must arrive by personal vehicle, as there is no public transportation to the Garden. Free on-site parking is available, and guests should plan to arrive within their reserved entry time.
How Much:
Ticket sales start Nov. 5 for Garden Year-Round Members only (new and existing).
If any tickets remain after the Members-only Pre-sale, they will go on sale to the general public as early as Nov. 25.
(after Nov. 24, 2024)
Adult: $25
Senior (65+): $20
Youth/Students: $20
Children 3-12: $12
Children up to age two: free