Two hours northeast of Edmonton, Don Mudryk has lit up the night at his home in St Paul. On his property sits several hand-crafted wonders, including a carousel, ferris wheel, and a steam train. He began only 5 years ago, making a nativity scene out of Christmas lights, then the rest, like Rudolph, is history. Here’s an interview with Don Mudryk on on-of-a-kind his Christmas house. The location of this house is embedded in the map. To…
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Leduc Country Lights is the biggest outdoor light up event in the Edmonton region outside the Alberta Legislature grounds. It’s bigger than ever this year both donations to the Leduc Food Bank and visitors are up. Truly the ultimate winter wonderland. Please obey signs and stay on designated paths to keep this tradition going! To get here, head West at Leduc Common (Exit 517) from QE2, turn left on Range Road 260. Keep driving til…
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The 20th annual Nativity Show at West End Christian Reformed Church runs from Thursday, December 14-16. Thursday and Friday hours are 6pm-9pm, Saturday hours are 3pm-9pm. The church, located on the North end of Candy Cane Lane, has stayed humble to its roots and spends next to nothing on advertising. Instead they have relied on word of mouth, a handful of posters, and repeat visitors like me to continue their unique Christmas tradition. This year, there…
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The Silver Skate Festival has been a hidden gem in the city for years, and thanks to social media, this event finally receives the attention it deserves. Even in winter city, it’s hard to have an annual winter event last 27 years. In fact, it is the oldest running winter festival in the city. No other winter festival in Edmonton brings together drama, art, sports, fire, ice, and fun like Silver Skate. The 2017 festival…
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Ice On Whyte is Edmonton’s premier winter festival and hosts the only International Ice Carving Competition in the city. This year, the competition was moved up a day so that visitors can enjoy completed sculptures both Saturday and Sunday. Instead of completing Saturday at noon, competitions on both weekends will be completed Saturday at noon. After last year’s successful change in days of operation opening Thursdays through Sundays, the Ice On Whyte Festival returns this…
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The Flying Canoe Festival is a definite Yegventures pick for winter festivals to attend. It’s only in its 5th year, but it exceeded all expectations as being hands-down the most ‘Canadian’ festival in Edmonton. The Francophone-Metis influenced festival has its setting in Mill Creek Ravine and the French Quarter. La Cite in the French Quarter is one of two sites of the festival. Sleigh rides bring visitors to the ravine site where illuminating artist installations,…
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For at least the last three years, the Muttart Conservatory has opened their Lunar New Year show with a bang – literally. A fireworks show along with a day full of performances welcomed in the New Year. The exhibit itself was grand, with countless red lanterns lighting up the dark long evenings of Edmonton winters. The 2017 celebration of Year of the Rooster at Muttart Conservatory will be on February 4, 2017 from 4-8pm. Fireworks will…
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One of Edmonton’s newer winter festivals, Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival, is certainly one which will warm you to the Byzantine quite quickly. Here’s a video recap of the earliest Edmonton winter festival on the calendar year. It returns to Alberta Avenue January 14 – 15, 2017. 118th Ave will be closed from 90st to 94st for the duration of the festival. Here’s a map and a schedule of events.
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Bob Fedina is a carpenter by trade and he hand-crafted most of the decorations at the residence, aka Christmas At Bob’s. He made mechanical waves of light, a circling cuckoo nutcracker turnstile, dancing soldier, light tunnel, and flamingos with a mechanical alligator. To top it off, he built a crane for his house in order to install a 3 storey tall snowman. His construction started after Halloween and opened on the first Saturday of December….
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Don’t miss the light up of the most extensive Christmas light display in the city. It MAY be the first time Rachel Notley will take the honour of launching this Alberta holiday tradition which began in 1985. 2016 Celebrate the Season (Dec 2-23, 2016, light up Dec 1) The December 2nd event will begin Celebrate The Season, a 3 week long festivity (Dec 2-23, 2016) at the Alberta Legislature featuring daily performances by choirs across the…
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