Kick off your holiday season with these family-friendly parades and light displays. Experience all the fun and magic, including special appearances from Santa to bring extra Christmas cheer. Bundle up and get into the holiday spirit this November and December with the Family Fun Edmonton Ultimate Guide to Holiday Light-Ups and Santa Parades!
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald Tree Lighting Ceremony
The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is open to the public and will include live musical performances by a local children’s choir, plus free homemade cookies and hot chocolate.
When: Friday, November 17, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Where: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald (lobby) | 10065 100 Street NW, Edmonton
Light up the Park 2023
Join The Stony Plain Road Business Association to Light Up the Park! Be in Butler Memorial Park as the holiday lights are activated and merriment is shared through roaming entertainment, a musical performance from Gateway Chorus, and free hot chocolate for all.
When: Friday, November 17, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Butler Memorial Park | 15715 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton
Light Up The Night – The Crossroads Winter Festival in Inglewood
The community of Inglewood will be filled with Holiday Cheer during this fun evening event that includes horse-drawn carriage rides, ice carving, sparkle tattoos, live entertainment, workshops, and visits with Santa AND Elsa!
When: Friday, November 17, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm; Street Light Up at 6:00 pm
Where: Multi-site event in Inglewood | 12315 118 Avenue NW, Edmonton
Leduc Light-Up the Park
The City of Leduc is kicking off its annual Light-Up Leduc program with a Holiday Light-Up event in Alexandra Park on Friday, November 17, 2023. Be there to celebrate the festive season!
When: Friday, November 17, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Alexandra Park | Just off 50th St right, adjacent to the Civic Centre, Leduc
All is Bright on 124th Street Winter Festival
The 124 Street business community throws a party like no other with immersive light installations, live music, Santa, light-up street performers, ice carvers, maple taffy, crafts, cookie decorating, s’mores around the fire pit, food trucks, beverage gardens, and much much more! The highlight of the event is the Light Up The Night Ceremony at 5 pm!
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: 124th Street between 107th Avenue and 109th Avenue, Edmonton
Strathcona County Celebration of Lights
Be there as Festival Place in Sherwood Park gets lit up for the holiday season! This fun event includes an LED tree show, winter carnival, wagon rides with Santa, campfire cooking, cookie decorating, hot chocolate, letters to Santa, crafts, face painting, and a special appearance from the Grinch!
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: Festival Place, Sherwood Park
Lights Up! Fort Saskatchewan
Enjoy the light displays, listen to a special reading of T’was the Night Before Christmas, snack on delicious cookies and hot chocolate, meet roaming characters, and get your photo with Santa Claus!
When: Friday, November 24, 2023
Time: 5:15 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Fort Saskatchewan City Hall
A Very Vegreville Christmas
Join the Town of Vegreville for the annual Light Up at Rotary Rendezvouz Park, a Holiday Light Parade down Main Street, a FREE public swim, photos with Santa and the Coca-Cola Holiday Truck, plus the chance to cheer on the Vegreville Rangers hockey team.
When: Friday, November 24, 2023
Time: Events from 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Various locations in Vegreville
Winter Whyte Light Up in Old Strathcona
“Ooo” and “Ahh” as the gazebo is lit up and McIntyre Park is transformed into a winter wonderland. This family-friendly event promises an exciting evening of lights, music, shopping, and free entertainment including cozy winter fires, pop-up vendors from the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market, and roving entertainers.
When: Saturday, November 25, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Wilbert McIntyre Park | 8303 – 104 Street NW, Edmonton
Light Up in Central Park Spruce Grove
Enjoy free hot chocolate and hot dogs, cookie decorating, family activities, crafts, and live choirs, then join the countdown for the Light Up at 5:30 pm! Afterwards, join in the outdoor disco party in the park and free public skating in the Agrena!
When: Saturday, November 25, 2023
Time: 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Where: Central Park, Spruce Grove
Devon Christmas in the Park
Come celebrate the holiday season with twinkling lights, a kids zone with ice slide & petting zoo, vintage firetruck rides, a candlelit story walk, maple taffy, Christmas carols and visits with Santa & the Grinch.
When: Saturday, November 25, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Devon Lions Society Campground, Devon
Lighting Up Ada Boulevard
Join Concordia University of Edmonton for the Lighting Up of Ada Boulevard. Be there for the lighting ceremony at both the Main campus and Magrath Campus, and celebrate with fun seasonal activities like caroling, crafts, and photos with Santa in the Coca Cola Holiday Truck!
When: Saturday, November 25, 2023
Time: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Concordia University of Edmonton Main campus (7128 Ada Boulevard) and Magrath Campus (6240 Ada Boulevard)
Calmar Christmas in the Park
Make plans to be in the Town of Calmar on Thursday, November 30, 2023 for Christmas in the Park! This free event includes horse-drawn wagon rides, pictures with Santa, beautiful Christmas lights including an impressive light tunnel, music, hot chocolate, and treats.
When: Thursday, November 30, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Woodland Park | 50 Avenue – 51 Street, Calmar
St. Albert Snowflake Festival
Kick off the Christmas season in style with this family fun event that includes rides on the Polar Express mini train, road hockey, a petting zoo, craft stations, and the chance to meet surprise guests including Santa! Don’t forget to bring a donation for the food bank!
When: Friday, December 1, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Perron District, Downtown St. Albert
Stony Plain Winter Light Up
The switch will be flipped, and the lights will go on, including the giant tree on Mainstreet. Enjoy hot chocolate, photos with Santa, festive music from the live DJ, and a treasure hunt for free treats and goodies downtown.
When: Friday, December 1, 2023
Time: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Downtown Stony Plain
Downtown Winterval
Downtown Winterval on historic 104 Street will features a full range of deals, giveaways, FREE activities like live concerts, sleigh rides, glowing art installations, lantern & puppet making workshops, ice carving, maple taffy, roaming Santa, a Pawliday party for the dogs, and more!
When: December 1 & 2, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: 104 Street Block | 104 Street, North of Jasper Avenue, Edmonton
Light Up the Legislature Ceremony
The official Light Up The Legislature ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 7, 2023 and everyone is invited to be part of the incredible time-honoured tradition! Be there at 5:00 pm when the switch will flip on the bright and spectacular display, then have some fun together at the Visitor Centre Festive Open House with a scavenger hunt, colouring stations, Rocky the Ram, and more.
When: December 7, 2023
Time: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Violet King Henry Plaza | 99 Avenue and 108 Street, Edmonton
Brighten Up Beaumont
Head to Beaumont’s Four Seasons Park for a stroll through the Couloir des Arbres/Corridor of Trees, wagon rides, live ice sculptures, roving entertainment, hot chocolate, carolers, and special guests the Grinch and Gingerbread Man!
When: December 9, 2023
Time: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Four Seasons Park | 5417 – 43 Avenue, Beaumont
Stony Plain Lane Lights Up for the Season
Stony Plain’s best-lit street (and home of the Griswold House) will official light up for the holiday season on Saturday, December 9! Bring your donation for the Parkland Food Bank Society and join in the festivities on Stony Plain Lane, including visits with Santa and the Grinch, hot chocolate, popcorn, and treats.
When: December 9, 2023
Time: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Briarwood Point, Stony Plain
Kingsway District Holiday Parade
Brighten your holiday season with the Kingsway District Holiday Parade. The parade will make its way from the east Airport Road entrance to Kingsway Mall, where Santa will be waiting!
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Time: 5:00 pm start
Where: Kingsway Avenue Service Road, Edmonton
Santa’s Arrival at West Edmonton Mall
Santa makes his return to West Edmonton Mall on Saturday, November 18, 2023 and he’s bringing his friends for a skating party at the Ice Palace! The fun all starts at 10 am with The Grand Arrival Parade featuring the Galaxyland Hasbro characters, princess friends, Mrs. Claus, and the infamous “mean one”.
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Ice Palace, Galaxyland, and North Pole Place (Located in Phase 1 by the Bay) | 882 170 St NW, Edmonton
Town of Millet Santa Parade
Head to the Town of Millet for the Santa Parade! Watch a festive parade through the streets, then head to the Millet Lion’s Hall to get your photo with Santa and enjoy hot chocolate, hot dogs, and snacks
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm
Where: Town of Millet | 5128 50 Avenue
Parade of Lights in Gibbons
Head North of Edmonton for the Parade of Lights in Gibbons on Sunday, November 19, 2023! Plan for a full day of fun including a skate with Santa, sleigh rides, crafts, cookie decorating, stories with Mrs. Claus, and the Parade of Lights at 5:30 pm.
When: Sunday, November 19, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Where: Gibbons
Morinville Lite Up the Nite Christmas Festival & Parade
The Town of Morinville is celebrating their annual Lite Up the Nite Festival on November 24-26, 2023. The Saturday is jam packed with festive activities including a parade, tree lighting and fireworks!
When: Saturday, November 25, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Where: Morinville
Leduc Santa Claus Parade
The man in red is coming to town for the Leduc Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, November 25, 2023! The Downtown District invites you to join in the fun and festive cheer with hot chocolate and popcorn in hand.
When: Saturday, November 25, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: 50 Avenue & 50 Street, Leduc
Fort Saskatchewan Santa Claus Parade
The Fort Saskatchewan Santa Claus Parade is back with its traditional parade route and format winding through the downtown streets. Celebrate the season with exuberant marching bands, beautifully decorated floats, and Santa riding aboard his magical sleigh!
When: Saturday, December 2, 2023
Time: Parade start 11:00 am
Where: Downtown Fort Saskatchewan
Christmas Bazar, Parade & Party in Rio Terrace
Start the evening with handcrafted goodies, German food and drinks at the Weihnachtsmarkt/Christmas Market in the hall, join in the Christmas parade through the streets with Santa & Mrs. Claus, then finish the night with drinks and dancing and merriment.
When: Friday, December 8, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm
Where: Rio Terrace Community Hall | 15500 76 Avenue NW, Edmonton
Leduc Country Christmas Convoy
The young and young at heart are going to love seeing big wheelers decked out in festive Christmas lights during the annual Leduc Country Christmas Convoy! The trucks will be meeting at Blackjacks Roadhouse from 12 pm to 4 pm, and will roll out at 4:30 pm to make their way down Leduc’s Sparrow Drive, to 20 Street, and on to the Leduc Country Lights. Make sure to bring a food bank or toy donation!
When: Saturday, December 9, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm Gathering at Blackjacks Roadhouse; Convoy begins at 4:30 pm
Where: Blackjacks Roadhouse | 2110 Sparrow Drive, Nisku
