18 free things to do in Edmonton this winter

Dec 19 2019, 5:00 pm

Lots of fun and free events are happening in Edmonton this winter. From New Year’s Eve to Silver Skate Festival, here are 18 free things to do in and around the city this season.

For more things happening around town, check out our events section.

Explore the city and great outdoors

Alt After Dark: Alternative Night Market

What: Alt After Dark is a showcase of over 40 alternative vendors, including artists, makers, designers and businesses. There will also be food trucks, door prizes, and live entertainment throughout the evening.

When: December 20, 2019
Time: 7 to 11 pm
Where: Old Strathcona Arts Centre — 8426 Gateway Boulevard, Edmonton
Tickets: Online, Free

St. Albert Indoor Christmas Market

What: The 2019 St. Albert Indoor Christmas Market features over 75 vendors each Saturday from now until December 21. Shop for fresh produce, baking, Christmas gifts, home décor, and more.

When: Every Saturday until December 21, 2019
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Where: St. Albert Place — 5 St. Anne Street, St Albert
Admission: Free

The Witchery Market

What: The Witchery Market features vendors, tarot readers, crafts, presentations, and more. Plus the first five people in the door each day will receive The Witchery Swag bag filled with items from vendors.

When: December 21 and 22, 2019
Time: 10 am to 8 pm (Saturday), 10 am to 4 pm (Sunday)
Where: Acacia Hall — 10433 – 83 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton
Admission: Free

Alberta Craft Feature Gallery – Re:consider

What: Re:consider is a curated, group exhibition that ponders ways a sustainable future can be created. The artists’ works explores the theme of sustainability in thoughtful and holistic ways.

When: Mondays to Saturdays until December 24, 2019
Time: 10 am to 5 pm (until 6 pm on Thursdays)
Where: Alberta Craft Gallery Edmonton — 10186 – 106 Street Edmonton
Admission: Free

CHROMA YEG

art

emilieiggiotti/Instagram

What: CHROMA YEG is an interactive pop-up taking place this holiday season inside Kingsway Mall, featuring colourfully painted murals designed to brighten up the mall and serve as fun backgrounds for your indoor photoshoots. From now until December 31, stop by the mall to check out each of the four installations. A map of where the murals will be located in the mall can be found here. The murals were created by Hayley Wright from Edmonton, Rhys Douglas Farrell, Tyler Lemermeyer, and Michelle Hoogveld from Calgary.

When: Now until December 31, 2019
Time: Mall Hours
Where: Kingsway Mall – 109 Street and, Princess Elizabeth Ave NW, Edmonton
Admission: Free

St. Albert’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks

What: The City of St. Albert invites everyone to ring in 2020 with their New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Mission Park.

When: December 31, 2019
Time: 8:30 pm
Where: Mission Park, St. Albert
Admission: Free

Stony Plain Family Fest

What: Stony Plain’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration, Family Fest, features a variety of family-friendly events, including live DJ, outdoor skating, horse drawn carriage rides, and fireworks at 9 pm

When: December 31, 2019
Time: 6 to 9 pm
Where: Heritage Park – 5100 – 41 Avenue, Stony Plain
Admission: Free

New Year’s Eve Downtown Festival & Fireworks

fireworks

alexkoral / Shutterstock

What: Alberta Legislature Grounds hosts a family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration, with live entertainment, games, crafts and more from 7 to 9 pm. Then cap things off with a fireworks display at 9 pm.

When: December 31, 2019
Time: 7 to 9 pm (family-friendly activities) 9 pm (fireworks)
Where: Federal Building — 9820 – 107 Street, Edmonton, Visitor Centre, and Capital Plaza
Admission: Free

YEG Candy Cane Lane

What: YEG Candy Cane Lane is a holiday tradition where the neighborhood from 148 Street between 100 Avenue to 92 Avenue decorates exteriors of homes for everyone to enjoy. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to Edmonton Food Bank, with green bins for donations placed all along the lane. There will also be sleigh rides on select dates in the park on 148 street and 100 avenue.

When: Now until January 1, 2020
Time: Sunset to midnight
Where: 148 Street between 100 Avenue to 92 Avenue
Admission: Free

Edmonton Story Slam

What: Edmonton Story Slam is an uncensored competitive storytelling event. Up to 10 storytellers will take the stage to tell fiction or non-fiction tales, with five random audience members acting as judges. The winner will receive money from a hat passed around after the show.

When: January 15, 2020; February 19, 2020; March 18, 2020 (Slam Off); ​April 15, 2020
Time: Sign-up 7 pm, show 7:30 pm
Where: 9910 – 9910 109 Street, Edmonton
Admission: Free, donations collected for the winner after the show.

Silver Skate Festival

What: The 30th annual Silver Skate Festival features a variety of winter activities for the whole family. Enjoy winter sports, snow sculptures, horse-drawn sleighs, live performances, competitions, and more.

When: February 7 to 17, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Hawrelak Park, Edmonton
Price: Various, including free

Edmonton Spring Rock N’ Gem Show

What: Search for new rocks and gems for your collection at the Edmonton Spring Rock N’ Gem Show, with 41,000 kilos of hand selected pieces from around the world at the family friendly event. Amethyst, quartz, saphhires and more to be found.

When: March 12 to 15, 2020
Time: 10 am to 8 pm (Thursday to Saturday), 10 am to 5 pm (Sunday)
Where: Mayfield Toyota Ice Palace – West Edmonton Mall – 8882 170 Street Northwest Edmonton
Tickets: Online, Free

Wide Open Mic Wednesdays

What: A weekly open mic series at Grindstone Bistro, hosted by David Dempsy and showrunners Will Hannigan and Natasha Lyn Myles.

When: Every Wednesday
Times: 10 pm to midnight
Where: The Grindstone — 10019 – 81 Avenue NW, Edmonton
Admission: Free

Open Mic at Anvil

What: Anvil Coffee House hosts an Open Mic Night every Friday. Poets, musicians, comedians and more are all welcome to perform.

When: Every Friday
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Where: Anvil Coffee House — 6148 – 90 Avenue, Edmonton
Admission: Free

Eat fresh at farmers’ markets

Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market

What: The longest-running farmers market in Edmonton. Shop over 60 vendors at Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market indoor location, including fruit and vegetables, crafts and more. There will also be entertainment and live music for the whole family to enjoy.

When: Every Saturday
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Where: Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market — 10305 97 St NW, Edmonton
Admission: Free

Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market

What: Edmonton’s first indoor farmer’s market. The Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market showcases over 130 vendors every Saturday, including vendors with locally grown produce, arts and crafts, specialty foods, clothing, and more.

When: Every Saturday
Time: 8 am to 3 pm
Where: 83rd Ave and 103 St NW (just off Whyte Ave)
Admission: Free

Salisbury Farmers’ Market

farmers’ markets

Maram/Shutterstock

What: Shop for local fresh foods and arts and crafts every Thursday at Salisbury Farmers’ Market. Every week there is a new Feature Vendor. The first 20 customers to make a minimum $5 purchase at the Feature Vendor of the week will each receive $5 in Salisbury Market Bucks towards their next vendor purchase at the market that Thursday.

When: Every Thursday year-round
Time: 4 to 7:30 pm
Where: Salisbury Greenhouse — 52337 Range Rd 232, one mile South of Wye Road, Sherwood Park
Admission: Free

Bountiful Farmers’ Market

What: Bountiful Farmers’ Market offers a wide variety of fresh goods, including local vegetables and meat, coffee roasters, and beer and wine. There is also an ethnic food hall, a children’s play area, live entertainment, and more!

When: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday year-round
Time: 9 am to 5 pm
Where: 3696 97 St, Edmonton
Admission: Free

Daniel ChaiDaniel Chai

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