Snowy Marshmallow Roast | Gather up your friends and hit up one of the local parks to have a bit of winter fun around the fire pit. Hot dogs, popcorn, marshmallows – the winter gets a bit warmer when you spend it around a fire pit. Rundle Park is our current favourite, with the ice track and easily accessed fire pits.
Swing n Skate at City Hall | Come down to the ice rink at City Hall for a skate on Saturday afternoons. There’s entertainment, free skate rentals and plenty of fun to be had for the entire family.
Southeast Winter Fun Festival | Explore many ways to have fun during the winter with many fun indoor and outdoor activities. Come out and enjoy Kenilworth’s Family Ice Trail. Once again this year we will have curling, an indoor preschool area, along with hockey for teens, brought to us by Vimy Ridge Leadership Students. This year’s indoor events includes the Free Photo Booth, entertainment, crafts, story time and tattoos. (January 14th, 2017)
Pancake Breakfast and Skating | Register for this free event at Forest Heights community Come join the community at the hall for a pancake breakfast and skating with your neighbours. Breakfast will be served 10 a.m.-noon by donation, with proceeds going to the Fulton Ravine South Park project.
Deep Freeze Festival | Come embrace our cold northern climate by melding artistic panache with authentic cultural and heritage winter games. Snow sculptures, giant ice slide, winter mini golf, deep freezer race and street hockey.
Learn to Skate | Ladies and Littles, learn to skate program will have you on the ice, warming up with hot chocolate after and leaving with additional know-how when it comes to learning to skate. You’ve got to register for this one, but it’s free (January 29, 2017)
Book Swap | Bring your new or gently used books to exchange for new to you reads! We’ll have bins to drop your books, then a super engaging Family Storytime from our friends from Lois Hole EPL! Then the swap begins! FREE event to attend, see you at Centre Stage (in front of The Bay)
Nature Walk | Check out the free weekend programming at John Janzen nature centre, where kids and parents can learn about animals, take advantage of winter knowledge and discover something new. Programming on Saturday and Sunday is free of charge, and fun!
Butterflies in Winter | Public Art Celebration of “Limenitis Wall”! Meet the artists, skating, hay rides, crafts, hot chocolate, indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family! Formal program at 1:15 pm. (January 22, 2017)
Ski for Free | Servus Free Ski Fridays will have you on the hill, for free. At Edmonton Ski Club, families can ski for free or take part in $10 lessons and rentals, kicking off the weekend with an easy lesson and free skiing experience.
Skate for free at Kinix Arena | Celebrate the New Year with some skating fun, hot chocolate and Timbits at this FREE themed skate at Kinex Arena. This event is free thanks to the generous support from the Jenkins Family Tim Hortons, Themed skating opportunities happen once a month, but FREE public skating is available three times a week on Tuesday/ Thursday 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. and Sundays 1:45 – 3:15 p.m. at Kinex Arena.
Free Building Session | Once a month, on a Saturday, kids can visit their local Home Depot store and take part in a building session, where they will complete that month’s themed project, get a pin and pint-sized apron to bring back next time. You can sign up for the program online, or in-store.
Lunar New Year | Edmonton Chinatown Multi-Cultural Centre’s 2017 Lunar New Year Extravaganza will feature a marketplace and an exciting showcase of Chinese performers celebrating the upcoming Year of the Rooster. This two-day event is an excellent opportunity to have a unique shopping and cultural experience at the same time!
Go Tobogganning | Use this list of our favourite places to toboggan with little kids, in Edmonton and area, to find a hill close to you. Grab the sleds, bundle up and get out and enjoy those sunny winter afternoons as you make your way to the bottom of the hill.
Free Yoga | Drop off the kids and get rid of some of that winter energy, at your local Ivivva store before the store opens on Sunday mornings. It’s the perfect time for the kids to explore movement and yoga, while you can grab a cup of coffee and catch up on your reading.
Library Scavenger Hunt | Learn all about your library through an exciting scavenger hunt! Explore all the nooks and crannies you’ve never noticed before, learn about the library catalogue and find all of the items hidden around the library.
Skate the Iceway at Victoria Park | Bundle up, put on your skates, and skate the iceway at Victoria Park to discover what’s sure to be one of your new favourite places to skate in Edmonton.
Check out the Winter GreenShack Program | Our Summer Green Shack program is now running in select locations in the Winter season! Come join us for games, crafts, sports, outdoor cooking and more!
Snowshoe the Trails | Explore Edmonton’s winter wonderland on snowshoes. Snowshoeing, a traditional mode of transportation for Canadian Aboriginals, remains one of the best and most practical ways to travel on deep snow. Snowshoeing provides transportation for exploring, bird and wildlife viewing or exercise. Most City trails are packed down, so snowshoes perform best in areas that are more open, but off the beaten track, like Terwillegar Park.
Drop in Kids Craft | (Almost free). This event is $2.00, Materials Included They craft; you shop! Kids 3 and up can enjoy a winter themed project. Sign up in-store or just drop in. $2 per project, supplies included. Saturday mornings at 10 am.
Free Cirque Performance | Come get a glimpse and close up look at cirque right here in Edmonton! Enjoy an evening of performances: Fire, juggling, aerial, costumes, incredible visuals and more. There is free admission for all ages. (January 8, 2017)
Parkland Winter Warm Up | Winter Jacket? Check. Snow Pants? Check. Boots? Check. Sounds like you’re ready to join us at Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area for a family fun day filled with winter activities that you may not have had the chance to try. (January, 28, 2017)
South West Ski Fest | Try cross country skis and snow shoes for free, explore local trails and get free hot chocolate to warm up around the fire.
Visit the Art Gallery | On the last Thursday of the month, families can visit the Art Gallery of Alberta, free of charge, between 6-9 pm.