40,000 Christmas lights are taking over this Alberta historic site soon

A unique Christmas experience is returning to the Alberta Badlands this December, transforming a historic site into a festive destination.

Christmas in the Coulee is returning for its eighth year at the Atlas Coal Mine in East Coulee, about 90 minutes east of Drumheller.

The event is set to run on Dec. 4, 5, 11, and 12, 2026, featuring over 40,000 Christmas lights strung across the Atlas Coal Mine’s 12-acre historic site right in the middle of the Badlands.

“The Badlands’ dark skies and brilliant stars make our light show one of the best in Alberta,” its website states.

Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site

Visitors can enjoy seasonal treats, kids’ activities, Santa Claus, train rides, and live music while exploring the illuminated grounds. The festivities also extend across the river to the East Coulee School Museum, where guests can warm up and enjoy a candlelit atmosphere, kids’ crafts, live music, and more festive treats.

Admission includes all activities, with tickets priced at $15 for adults, $12.50 for seniors aged 65 and older, $12.50 for children aged three to 17, and free entry for kids two and under. Tickets are available online or at the door.

Festive events are slowly starting to pop up across Alberta with the holidays right around the corner, including a brand new market in Calgary, as well as a huge Christmas light event, and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train has revealed where it’s stopping this December.

Christmas in the Coulee

When: Dec. 5, 4, 11, and 12, 2026
Time: 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site – 110 Century Dr. W., East Coulee
Cost: $15 for adults