The kids are off school and it is time to relax and have some Christmas break fun! Since kids aren’t always the best at simply relaxing, we have come up with a list of great family activities to get out and enjoy when the kids (or you!) start to get a bit too stir-crazy over the Holiday break.
Get Outside Winter Fun Guide
Embrace winter fun in the great outdoors! Our Get Outside Winter Fun Guide is filled with safe and fun destinations to enjoy outdoor fun with the family, including:
- Skating
- Sledding & Snow Tubing
- Skiing & Snowboarding
- Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
- Parks, Pathways & Playground
- and MORE!
Winter City Weekends at City Hall
Starting December 15 | City Hall Plaza ice rink is the coolest spot to hang out this winter with the return of Winter City Weekends! The Edmonton Arts Council will have FREE skate rentals available daily beginning December 15, followed by the return of Ice Grooves, Learn to Skate, and Swing’n’Skate on January 3!
Holiday at the HUB
December 16 – January 3 | Find FREE family fun at Castle Downs Family YMCA with Holidays at the HUB! North Central Family Resource Network (HUB) invites you to enjoy a full line-up of activities from December 16 to January 3 including gingerbread house building, sledding, ornament painting, diamond art, BINGO, board games, ice skating, and more! Space is limited and registration is required through ymcanab.ca/familyworkshops.
Northern Lights Mini Golf Village at Cattail Crossing
December 20-22, 26-29 & January 2-5 | Cattail Crossing Golf & Winter Club invites you to experience the joy of winter with a wide variety of snowy activities and fun including an 18-hole glowing mini golf course built out of snow and ice! Book your tee time and bundle the family up for a round on The Northern Lights Mini Golf Village course, try snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing on the freshly groomed trails, strap on the skates for a leisurely glide or game of pond hockey, and finish it all off with some s’mores by the bonfire!
SportZone Inflatables at Millennium Place or Ardrossan Recreation Centre
December 21 to January 5 | Enjoy all the usual fun in the SportZone, with the added bonus of large scale inflatable mazes and bouncy castles to jump in! Entrance into the SportZone is included with your regular recreation centre admission. For more information, click here.
Winter Warm Up at Launchpad Trampoline Park
December 23 – January 4 | Warm up this winter break with a visit to Launchpad Trampoline Park. Enjoy indoor jumping fun including daily deals (Monday to Thursday) PLUS Neon Nights and a live DJ EVERY night from 8:00 pm to close!
OPEN PLAY & SHOP at Foam Fighters
December 27 | Enjoy a fun night of NERF battles, video games, and shopping homemade goods from local vendors during the OPEN PLAY & SHOP at Foam Fighters. Bring your new Christmas blaster and try it out! Reserve your ticket today for just $20 – space is limited!
Edmonton Oil Kings Promo Nights & Family Fun Sundays
Edmonton Oil Kings games are a fun and affordable option for live hockey action with your entire crew! For added fun, choose from several exciting themed games over the Christmas break including a fantastic New Year’s Day game complete with indoor fireworks:
- Sunday, December 29, 2024 | Dino Day vs Red Deer Rebels
- Wednesday, January 1, 2025 | New Years Day Fireworks Frenzy vs Calgary Hitmen
- Saturday, January 4, 2025 | Crocs Party vs Lethbridge Hurricanes
Hollywood for the Holidays
December 29 & 30, 2024 | The ESO has even more big screen favourites for your movie loving family to enjoy this holiday season! Hear your favourite tunes from Star Wars, Toy Story, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and more. This would make a great experience gift!
FREE In-Store Events at Indigo/Chapters
January 2 – 5 | Kick off the New Year with FREE In-store activities at Indigo/Chapters locations! Each day offers up something new and exciting including with stories, activities, playtime & giveaways.
TELUS World of Science – Edmonton
Holiday Fun at the Science Centre | Visit the Science Centre between December 21 to January 5 to enjoy various exciting winter activities included as part of your regular Science Centre admission! Design your own Winter Wonderland in the Science Garage, get some eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas, learn about winter wildlife, join in storytime, and enjoy some gingerbread flavoured liquid nitrogen ice cream!
Our Climate Quest: Small Steps to Big Change | This informative and interactive feature exhibit is filled with hands-on activities that teach about our changing planet and encourage visitors to take meaningful earth-saving action in their own lives. On until January 5, 2025 – included with admission.
IMAX Movies | There’s always something new and exciting playing on Alberta’s Largest IMAX screen. Catch The Polar Express (until December 24), learn the Secrets of the Sea, explore Cities of the Future, and more. Separate ticketed events.
Laser Shows | Come enjoy your favourite music and watch a spectacular laser lights show in the Zeidler Dome. The current schedule includes your choice of Taylor Swift, Queen, and Pink Floyd. Separate ticketed events.
Royal Alberta Museum
Winter Drop-In Activities | The Royal Alberta Museum is open year-round, making the perfect escape from our frigid winters. Come enjoy all the museum has to offer while enjoying seasonal activities like making your own Spiced Playdough or Pinecone Birdfeeder, adding your own house to the Mini Winter Village, Wintertime Tunes, Storytime, Bird BINGO, and more.
Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia | Take an architectural and cultural journey into one of history’s greatest empires through film, sculptures, maps, wall art, and 120 original artifact treasures. On until January 12, 2025 – included with admission.
Fun at West Edmonton Mall
West Edmonton Mall Attractions | When the weather turns cold, West Edmonton Mall is the perfect spot to find family fun! Treat the kids to a trip to the World Waterpark or Galaxyland, enjoy a round of minigolf or a game of bowling, or have a blast playing all the games at the Rec Room.
Kids Wonderland at Marine Life (January 2) | Book your 6-12 year old for a fun behind the scenes look at Marine Life while you enjoy time to yourself in the mall! Kids Wonderland is a unique 2 hour drop-off program with crafts, activities, games, and the chance to see some amazing animals up close!
Jubilations Dinner Theatre
Step into a world of pure imagination with the latest production from Jubilations Junior! Wally Wonka and the Candy Cane Factory is now playing with Jubilations Dinner Theatre’s winning combination of a laughter-filled show and a delicious meal.
Plan an Afternoon or Evening Out at the Movies
Reel Family Cinema at Metro Cinemas | During Reel Family Cinema events, Kids 12 and under get in FREE! You can watch Elf on December 21 or The Great Muppet Caper on December 28. Plus check the full calendar for other Christmas classics playing over the holidays including The Muppet Christmas Carol, Home Alone, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Landmark Cinemas | Our family always loves to watch a new release (or two!) together in theatre over the Christmas Break! We like to take advantage of the Morning Movies, or Kids’ Day Sunday Deals for extra savings. Here are some of our picks for family-friendly new releases:
- Wicked | November 22; PG
- Moana 2 | November 27; G
- Mufasa | December 20; PG
- Sonic The Hedgehog: 3 | December 20; PG
Fort Edmonton Park
Indigenous Peoples Experience Winter Admission | If you haven’t experienced the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park, weekends this winter are the perfect time to visit. Explore the rich diversity and cultural beauty of the First Nations and Métis in this award-winning indoor exhibit.
Winter Wagon Rides | Take a horse-drawn Winter Wagon Ride through the historic streets of Fort Edmonton Park on select dates in November, December, January and February. The provided blankets will keep you cozy as you enjoy the 30-40 minute journey through the twinkling lights, plus there will be hot chocolate and a warming bonfire to look forward to after the ride!
Arts & Heritage St. Albert
Art Gallery of St. Albert | Find FREE kid-friendly activities in the Art Nook + Discovery Rooms. Get artsy with a Zine making activity themed to the Guilded-Gobsmacked exhibition, or try your crochet skills by adding to the community crochet project inspired by the Warm N’ Wolly exhibition! Open December 31, January 2-4 & 7.
Freeze the Day at the Little White School | Visit the historic 1948 two-room school on January 2 & 3, 2025 for some holiday break fun! All ages are invited to enjoy cookie decorating, crafts, outdoor games, and complimentary hot beverages.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Zoominescence | Don’t miss your chance to see the zoo transformed into a magical and bright winter wonderland, complete with brilliant light displays, a nightly Creature Feature, roaming fairytale characters, and all your favourite zoo animals. Zoominescence Festival of Light will be on nightly until January 1, 2024 and is an awesome opportunity to see the zoo and some of its animals in a completely different light.
Go On a FREE Scavenger Hunt
IKEA Edmonton | Go on a fun in-store scavenger with a sweet prize at the end – a FREE frozen yogurt cone from the Swedish Bistro! Grab a tiny pencil and hunt sheet from the display on the wall to the left of Småland, then have fun together making your way through the IKEA maze on the hunt for clues. If you are an IKEA Family Member, Kids also eat FREE in the Swedish Restaurant on Wednesdays – one free kids meal per adult meal purchased!
Salisbury Greenhouse | Don’t miss the monthly Scavenger Hunt for the kids! Grab the hunt sheet and search for the hidden images throughout the greenhouse to earn a FREE 2.5″ herb plant to bring home. The greenhouse is currently decked out for Christmas, making it a fun stop for all.
Take a Drive to see all the Merry & Bright Christmas Light Displays
The Christmas Break is the perfect time to load the family in the car and go check out some of the amazing outdoor light displays around the city! See our list of recommendations to find some of the best and brightest in Edmonton and the surrounding communities. For more information, click here.
Family Friendly New Year’s Events in Edmonton
Use our guide to Family-Friendly New Year’s Events in Edmonton to plan your celebration and enjoy ringing in 2025 with the family! Whether you want to celebrate day or night, indoors or out, there is an event for you this December 31 or January 1. For more information, click here.
Indoor Playgrounds
There is plenty of fun to be had at these indoor playgrounds around the city! Grab a gift card and give the kids somewhere fun to go burn off the energy this winter. For more information, see here.
Indoor Fun for Tweens & Teens
From rock climbing and laser tag, to escape rooms and mini golf, there’s something for everyone on this list! For more information, click here.
