No need to blow your budget this holiday season! Get festive with our list of 19 FREE things to in and around Edmonton this December, including Art-O-Rama, YEG Candy Cane Lane, and more!
For more things happening around town, check out our events section.
Explore the city
Art-O-Rama 2019 Christmas Art Sale Fundraiser + Bohemian Extravaganza
What: Harcourt House Artist Run Centre presents their 2019 Christmas Art Sale Fundraiser and Bohemian Extravaganza from December 6 to December 14. Artworks from Canadian artists from Edmonton, Calgary, Mississauga, and Ottawa will be showcased, including paintings, ceramics, photography, sculptures, and more. All original small-format creations will be available for $500 or less. The official opening on December 6 from 7 to 10 pm features a martini, wine, and cheese reception with live jazz. There is also a Art-O-Rama Brunch on December 7 from 12 to 6 pm with treats, live music, and more.
When: December 6 until December 14, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Harcourt House Artist Run Centre — 3rd Floor, 10215 – 112 Street, Edmonton
Admission: 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
CP Holiday Train
What: The 21st edition of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will travel across Canada this holiday season and will be making its annual stops in Alberta this December. Bring non-perishable donations to support your local food bank, and enjoy live performances by Scott Helman and Madeline Merlo.
When: December 6, 2019
Time: Camrose between 1:05 to 1:45 pm, Wetaskawin between 3:25 to 4 pm, Ponoka between 5 to 5:45 pm, Lacombe between 6:50 to 7:30 pm, and BlackFalds between 8:05 to 8:45 pm
Where: Camrose – 52 Avenue and 50 Street, next to Moose Family Centre; Wetaskawin – CP ES Building, 4009 50 Street; Ponoka – 50th Street and 47 Avenue; Lacombe – Len Thompson Fish Pond; BlackFalds – CP tracks at Greg Street between Broadway Avenue and East Avenue
Admission: Free
YEG Candy Cane Lane
What: YEG Candy Cane Lane is a holiday tradition where the neighbourhood 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: December 7, 2019 until January 1, 2020
Time: Sunset to midnight
Where: 148 Street between 100 Avenue to 92 Avenue, Edmonton
Admission: Free
Cineplex Community Day
Cineplex Odeon/Shutterstock
What: Cineplex wants you to treat yourself to a free movie day on December 7. For the ninth consecutive year, Cineplex Community Day will treat guests to a selection of popular movies. All proceeds from donations and select concession sales will go toward supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Canada. Popcorn, drinks, and select candy will be available to purchase at $2.50, a reduced price. Film this year include A Christmas Story, Elf, Gremlins, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and The Polar Express.
When: December 7, 2019
Time: Doors open at 9 am
Where: Participating theatres across Canada
Price: Movies are free, concession snacks at $2.50
Yule – The Original Edmonton Witches Market
What: Yule by The Original Witches Market features over 35 vendors for your holiday shopping, including handmade soaps, handmade jewelry, and more.
When: December 14, 2019
Time: 10 am to 10 pm
Where: King Edward Park Community League – 7708 85 Street NW, Edmonton
Admission: Free
Westland Market Mall Holiday Craft Sale
Yulia Grigoryeva/ Shutterstock
What: Shop for your Christmas list at Westland Market Mall Holiday Craft Sale, featuring a variety of vendors and goods.
When: December 14 and December 15, 2019
Time: 9 am to 5 pm (Saturday), 12 to 4 pm (Sunday)
Where: Westland Market Mall — 70 Mcleod Avenue, Spruce Grove
Admission: Free
Westview Village Night Market
What: An evening market with over 20 vendors, including knitting, soaps, jewelry, and more.
When: December 16, 2019
Time: 5 to 8 pm
Where: Westview Village Community Hall — 10770 Winterburn Rd NW, Edmonton
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: December 18, 2019; 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
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
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
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 Avenue NW, Edmonton
Admission: 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 Street 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
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 Road 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 Street, Edmonton
Admission: Free