Looking for family friendly things to do with the kids over the holiday break? We’ve got you covered with a full list of fun events in & around Edmonton for December 26 to January 7!
Hollywood for the Holidays
Join the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as they play music from some of your favorite Hollywood films! Enjoy songs from Star Wars, Toy Story, Harry Potter, Beauty and the Beast and more. This event is perfect for families and movie lovers of all kinds! Check out the website for a full list of tunes!
When: December 28 and 29, 2023; 2PM and 7:30PM showtimes
Where: Winspear Center; 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square NW
Winter Break Activities – Ikea Edmonton
Getting a little bored over the break? No problem! Bring your kids on over to Ikea Edmonton to participate in daily activities from December 26 to January 7. This is FREE event and no registration is required!
When: December 26, 2023 – January 7, 2024; Various times
Where: Ikea Edmonton
Michael’s Makebreak: New Year’s Vision Board
Ring in the new year by using your hands to make a craft at participating Michael’s stores! Help your dreams for 2024 come to life on handmade vision board!
When: Sunday, January 7, 2024; 2PM – 4PM
Where: Various Michael’s stores
Family Winter Drop-In Activities – Royal Alberta Museum
Swing on by the Royal Alberta Museum and engage in a variety of family friend activities. Enjoy making a giant rag rug (one knot at at time!), make a pinecone bird feeder, learn about insects through a bug encounter and even listen to some winter stories. All of this and more at RAM!
When: January 2 – January 7, 2024; 10AM – 4PM
Where: Royal Alberta Museum; 9810 103a Ave NW
Kids Wonderland – Marine Life at WEM
West Edmonton Mall’s Marine Life welcomes your children between the ages of 6 and 12 to enjoy a jam packed 2 hour program! There will be a variety of activities such as crafts, games and meeting some of the animals up close! Drop your kids off and enjoy a stroll around the mall or a warm coffee! Click the link below for more information and registration.
When: Select days and times until December 31, 2023
Where: West Edmonton Mall
Bluey’s Big Play – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Embark on an adventure with Bluey and all of her friends at the Jubliee Auditorium for her first live theatre show! Don’t forget to grab your tickets as they’re selling out fast!
When: January 5, 6 and 7, 2024; Variety of showtimes
Where: Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium; 11455 87 Ave NW
The Secret Life of Christmas Trolls – Jubilations Junior
Jubilations Junior welcomes the entire family this holiday season! Join a group of playful Trolls as they attempt to keep their secret life hidden. Help them discover what’s in the secret package that was mysteriously dropped in Melanie’s apartment. Will their shenanigan’s be threatened by Melanie’s cat? Will their secret life be exposed? The only way to find out is the join them at the Jubilations Junior!
When: December 23, 2023 – January 13, 2024; Showtimes depends on the day
Where: Jubilations Dinner Theatre; West Edmonton Mall, Phase 2, Level 1
The Super Mario Bros. Movie – Metro Cinema
The Metro Cinema welcomes you and your family to come on down and enjoy an afternoon out watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie! Spend time together enjoying this heartwarming take on the classic 80’s video game. Admission for kids 12 and under is FREE!
When: Saturday, December 30, 2023; 1PM
Where: Metro Cinema; 8712 – 109 ST NW, Edmonton
Frozen Sing-Along – Metro Cinema
Get your singing voices ready and join Anna, Elsa and the rest of the gang for an afternoon of fun! Enjoy this Disney classic as you sing along with your favorite characters.
When: Sunday, December 31, 2023; 1PM
Where: Metro Cinema; 8712 – 109 ST NW, Edmonton
YEG Candy Cane Lane
Bundle up and bring the entire family down to Candy Cane Lane! This much-loved Edmonton holiday tradition welcomes you to take a stroll and enjoy the lights and decorations that the residents have put up. You can even take in the dazzling lights on a sleigh ride! Don’t forget to bring a donation for the Edmonton Food Bank!
When: December 8, 2023 – January 1, 2024; Dusk to 11PM | Open streets nights – December 9, 16 and 23
Where: Along 148th Street in between 99 Avenue and 92 Avenue
Magic of Lights – RAD Torque Raceway
Experience the ultimate holiday magic with the Canadian Tire Magic of Lights! This incredible event boasts a mesmerizing 2.5 kilometers of over 1.5 MILLION festive and vibrant LED-lighted displays, creating a truly enchanting drive-through experience that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own car.
When: November 23, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Where: RAD Torque Raceway, 50342 Range Rd, Edmonton International Airport
Glow Edmonton
Come experience the magic under the twinkle of more than a million lights with Glow Edmonton! This holiday spectacular offers live entertainment, the Merry Maker’s Market, food and drink, meet and greets with various special guests such as Santa and The Grinch and more! Discover something for every member of the family and get into the holiday spirit with Glow Edmonton.
When: December 1, 2023 – January 1, 2024
Where: Edmonton Expo Center
Zoominescence: Festival of Light
Wander through our spectacular exhibition of artistic light installations within the unique setting of the Edmonton Valley Zoo, sip hot chocolate, interact with performers, take in an animal talk, and enjoy winter life in the North.
When: December 1, 2023 – December 17, 2023; Friday to Sunday | December 18, 2023 – January 3, 2024; Daily with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Where: Edmonton Valley Zoo
Holiday Fun at Telus World of Science Edmonton
Enjoy a variety of different programs and activities at TWOSE this holiday season. Discover the fascinating world of snowflakes, immerse yourself in wintery sounds and scents with Jingle Smells in the Health Zone and even use liquid nitrogen to make gingerbread ice-cream! All of these activities and more await the entire family at the Telus World of Science!
When: December 1, 2023 – January 7, 2024; Most activities will occur during Winter Holidays (December 23, 2023 – January 7, 2024). See TWOSE website for details on dates and activities.
Where: Telus World of Science Edmonton; 11211 142 Street NW
Borealis Lights – St. Albert Kinsmen RV Park
Come experience the magic of the season from the warmth of your vehicle! For 2023, Borealis Lights Christmas drive-thru lighting display offers dazzling new light displays that are sure to bring smiles to family, friends and colleagues! You don’t want to miss this beautiful holiday event boasting 800,000 twinkling lights!
When: November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Where: St. Albert Kinsmen RV Park; 47 Riel Dr, St.Alert
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Muttart Conservatory
Surround yourself with beautiful Muttart-grown poinsettias and a Christmas tree so big and beautiful that you’ll have to see it to believe it! There will be many lights creating a magical holiday glow throughout the pyramid. Stop and take a photo of your loved ones in Santa’s throne chair; if you time it just right you might even get your photo with Santa himself!
When: November 25, 2023 – January 2, 2024
Where: Muttart Conservatory; 9626 – 96A Street
SportZone – Strathcona County
Are the kids a little bored during the holiday break? No problem! Head on over to Millenium Place or the Ardrosson Rec Complex for a variety of activities including using various sporting equipment, inflatables, a mini hockey stick arena and more! Designed for children who are 3 years +.
When: Saturday, December 23 – Sunday, December 31, 2023; 10AM – 4PM
Where: Ardrosson Rec Complex – 80 First Ave, Ardrossan ; Millennium Place – 2000 Premier Way, Sherwood Park
Winter Wagon Rides – Fort Edmonton Park
Can you hear those sleigh bells jingling? Discover the magic of winter in Edmonton’s scenic River Valley. Admire twinkling lights strung up around Fort Edmonton Park’s historic streets, while bundled up in a festive horse-drawn wagon ride throughout the entire park. Enjoy some hot chocolate to warm up before you continue your tour. Wrap up your tour with a bonfire!
When: Select dates and times from November 21, 2023 to February 24, 2024
Where: Fort Edmonton Park
Winter at the Garden – U of A Botanic Garden
Embrace the magic of winter at the Garden! Head on down any Saturday and Sunday from December 16 to February 11 and immerse the entire family in a variety of activities. Try kick sledding, snowshoeing and even cross country skiing. Then, enjoy a hot apple cider or hot chocolate while you warm up around the fire!
When: December 16, 2023 – February 11, 2024; Saturdays and Sundays from 10AM – 5PM
Where: University of Alberta Botanic Garden; 51227 AB-60, Parkland County
Narnia- The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at Festival Place
The entire family is sure to enjoy this season’s annual musical, Narnia- The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. “Narnia: The Musical” combines enchanting melodies, lively choreography, and breathtaking set designs to create a visually stunning and emotionally stirring theatrical experience.
When: December 15 – 29, 2023; Various showtimes depending on the day
Where: Festival Place; 23341 Twp Rd 514, Sherwood Park
Leduc Country Lights
Bundle up and head on over to Leduc Country Lights. This festive event is a 100% volunteer coordinated Christmas Light Display located within Leduc County, Alberta. Immerse yourself with the holiday spirit that will prove to become a tradition for your family, as it has with many families over the last 15 years. This event is pet friendly, so feel free to bring your furry family members! Santa makes appearances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
When: December 1 – December 31, 2023; Sunday – Thursday from 5PM-9M; Friday – Saturday from 5PM – 10PM
Where: 49541, Range Rd 260, Calmar, AB
Snowshoe and Stargaze – Elk Island National Park
Take part in two unique experiences at Elk Island National Park: snowshoeing and stargazing! A short guided snowshoe hike around the shore of Astotin Lake takes you atop the snow like a snowshoe hare while stars twinkle overhead. With a park interpreter, settle in next to a campfire and look up into a sky full of twinkling stars and learn to navigate the night sky of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve.
When: Select Saturdays in December 2023 and January and February 2024
Where: Astotin Lake Recreation Area, Elk Island National Park
Enchanted Forest in Fort Saskatchewan
The Enchanted Forest is a favorite holiday tradition in Fort Saskatchewan. Local organizations and businesses create unique, beautiful, and fun Christmas trees that represent them and reflect the holiday season.
When: Various times throughout the week from November 24, 2023 to January 7, 2024
Where: City Hall 10005 – 102 Street; Fort Saskatchewan Public Library 10011 – 102 Street; Dow Centennial Centre 8700 84 Street; Shell Theatre 8700 84 Street
Laser Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. With over 200 million records sold, a shelf full of Grammys, and an army of fans, Taylor Swift is an inspiration for generations. Laser Taylor Swift takes her biggest hits and brings them to life in dazzling laser light. If you can’t score tickets to her concert, Laser Taylor Swift is the next best thing.
When: Select evenings from November 2023 to February 2024; 7PM
Where: Telus World of Science Edmonton
Free Family Films at the Library
Enjoy a variety of different films at the library over the holiday break!
December 27 – Frozen (Whitemud Crossing); 11AM – 1PM
December 27 – Monsters vs. Aliens (Whitemud Crossing); 2PM – 4PM
December 28 – PAW Patrol: The Movie (Whitemud Crossing); 11AM – 1PM
December 28 – Avengers; The Age of Ultron (Whitemud Crossing); 2PM – 4PM
December 30 – Lady and the Tramp (Whitemud Crossing); 11AM – 1PM
December 30 – Toy Story 2 (Whitemud Crossing); 2PM – 4PM
December 31 – Ratatouille (Stanley A. Milner); 1:30PM – 3:30PM
December 31 – Zootopia (Whitemud Crossing); 2PM – 4PM
January 2 – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (Whitemud Crossing); 3:30PM – 5PM
January 3 – The Magic Flute (Whitemud Crossing); 3PM – 5PM
January 4 – The Angry Birds Movie 2 (Whitemud Crossing); 1:30PM – 3:30PM
January 5 – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Whitemud Crossing); 2PM – 4PM
January 6 – KungFu Panda 3 (Whitemud Crossing); 2PM – 3:30PM
January 7 – Frozen (Stanley A. Milner); 1:3oPM – 3:15PM
January 7 – Rio (Whitemud Crossing); 2PM – 4PM
See a Movie
Landmark Cinemas Kids’ Day Deal Sundays:
When: Any Sunday
Time: Any movie
Where: Landmark Cinemas:
- Edmonton City Centre: 10200 – 102 Avenue NW, Edmonton
- St. Albert: 800 St. Albert Trail, St. Albert
- Spruce Grove: 130 Century Crossing , Spruce Grove
- Tamarack: 955 Tamarack Way NW, Edmonton
Family Movies playing in the Cineplex Theatres this weekend:
- Wish
- Wonka
- Migration
- Trolls Band Together
Cost: General Admission prices
Looking for things to do with the family for New Years Eve? Click here to check out our full list of events!