Yeg This Weekend: Nov 20-22, 2015
Advent doesn’t begin until next weekend but Christmas is already in the air. We have a couple winter events and several markets to prepare you for the holiday season. Here are events happening this weekend in the Edmonton area.
All Is Bright on 124 Street (Nov 21) Free
All Is Bright winter festival is among the first to kick off the long list of winter festivals in Edmonton. The festival opens up local businesses along 124 St and High Street and will have plenty of activities to do. From eateries, art, music, photo opportunities, and giveaways, there’s something for everyone. View the video of what to expect. Link to festival here.
Santa’s Parade of Lights (Nov 21) Free
The first Santa’s Parade of Lights this year returns to old roots with the original outdoor parade.
From 3:30 on, there will be food trucks, games, and activities in Churchill Square. The parade begins at 4:30 with 20 lit floats. This is followed by a Singing Christmas Tree performance at Churchill Square at 5, and closes with Santa collecting letters at 5:15. Food bank donations are encouraged.
To get to the parade, take the LRT to Churchill or Central station. Alternate stations include Bay and MacEwan station if you’d like to avoid the crowd and get a seat home.
8th Annual Festival Place Festival of Trees (Nov 21) Donation Sherwood Park
This is not related to the Leduc Festival of Trees last week, nor the University Hospital Foundation Festival of Trees beginning Thursday next week. The Sherwood Park Festival of Trees supports youth arts programming in Strathcona County and hosted by the Festival Place Cultural Arts Foundation. The event will be open to the general public to view the trees, enjoy local musical entertainment and celebrate with a children’s art and craft area.
There’s no time for the hours of operation online. Transit to Festival Place from Edmonton on a Saturday is very troublesome. Do NOT follow Google Maps transit option. Driving is recommended. More details here.
The Vixens of Vintage Holiday Market (Nov 21-22) $
All things vintage inspired, upcycled vintage, true vintage, or anything with an old school panache public market. 3 times a year in Edmonton. The Holiday Market consists of 70 vendors selling one of a kind items. This market is truly your one stop shop for your holiday shopping.
Tickets online are $11.20 and will get you into the market, an entire hour before the market is ever opened to the public. Only a limited number will be sold. At the door, entry will be $3.
To get to the Prince of Wales Armouries, take exit B2 at Kingsway / Royal Alex station and follow the trail south towards the castle-like building.
Royal Glenora Club Annual Christmas Gift Show (Nov 22) Free
More than 40 local business vendors including: Jason Blower Illustration where you can get a copy of the popular Edmonton colouring book ‘Hello Yeg Book’; Grab a bottle of non-tomato ketchup from Fruits of Sherbrooke; Acquire a bar of beer soap from Bro Brick; or find something stunning for your wall from Cory Christopher Designs. It’s not just a market; it’s some of the best of Edmonton entrepreneurs under one roof. Full list of vendors here.
Located at the Royal Glenora Club (11160 River Valley Rd). To get there by foot, take the LRT to Grandin station exit B or C and walk south and down the stairs from Ezio Faraone Park. Event is for Royal Glenora Club members from 9:30-10am, open to public from 10am onwards.
Indie Handmade (Nov 20-22) $ St Albert
With Western Canada’s largest Farmers’ Market closed for the season, this is a winter answer to supporting local small businesses. With over 100 vendors, the market will be held at the lovely Enjoy Centre. Visitors can shop for a wide assortment of local handmade goods from fashion, home décor, natural products, fine art, jewellery, food, and more.
To get there by transit, from Central LRT station exit F, take St Albert Transit route 201 to Village Transit Station, change to route A1 and alight at Sir Winston Churchill Ave. From there is a 14 minute walk west along Levasseur Rd. Using an ETS bus pass or ticket, it is an additional dollar to ride St Albert Transit.
Snow Flakes Are Falling (Begins Nov 21) $
The Muttart Conservatory’s last show of the year is always their Christmas show. The theme is ‘Snow Flakes Are Falling’. It runs from November 21 until January 3, 2016. Poinsettias are lined from wall to wall in their send off into the New Year.
From exit A2 at Central Station, walk or take the route 8 southbound, alight at Low Level Bridge, and use the trails eastbound towards the glass pyramids. Hours and prices here.
