The kids are off school and it is time to relax and have some Christmas break fun! Since kids aren’t always the best at simply relaxing, we have come up with a list of great family activities to get out and enjoy when the kids (or you!) start to get a bit too stir-crazy over the Holiday break.

Christmas Break Fun in Edmonton:

Have a Safe and Fun Winter with our Get Outside Guide & EPCOR

Embrace winter fun in the great outdoors! EPCOR has helped us come up with a Winter Get Outside Guide, filled with safe and fun destinations to enjoy outdoor fun with the family, including:

  • Skating
  • Sledding & Snow Tubing
  • Skiing & Snowboarding
  • Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
  • Parks, Pathways & Playground
  • and MORE!

TELUS World of Science – Edmonton

Holiday Programming | Ignite curiosity and celebrate the season with science! If you are looking for fun family Christmas activities that are just a little bit educational too, check out the Holiday Fun at TELUS World of Science – Edmonton. There are craft activities, seasonal ice cream to sample, a holiday laser show, storytime, and more! PLUS you can also enjoy these other fantastic activities at the Science Centre:
Mazes & Brain Games | Your brain and body are in for a fun workout with over 60 puzzling experiences to discover in this colourful and interactive exhibit! Included with admission.
IMAX Movies | There’s always something new and exciting playing on Alberta’s Largest IMAX screen. Watch a nature show, catch The Polar Express (until December 24), or rock out to Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Dec 28-31 & January 4-7). Separate ticketed events.
Laser Shows | Find everything from Stranger Things and Queen to Taylor Swift and Michael Jackson on the upcoming schedule. Come enjoy your favourite music and watch a spectacular laser lights show in the Zeidler Dome. Separate ticketed events.

Fort Edmonton Park

Indigenous Peoples Experience Winter Admission | If you haven’t experienced the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park, weekends this winter are the perfect time to visit. Explore the rich diversity and cultural beauty of the First Nations and MĂ©tis in this award-winning indoor exhibit. BUDGET FRIENDLY BONUS: Receive one free general admission ticket of equal or lesser value for the 2024 summer season when you visit this fall or winter.
Winter Wagon Rides | Take a horse-drawn Winter Wagon Ride through the historic streets of Fort Edmonton Park on select dates in November, December, January and February. The provided blankets will keep you cozy as you enjoy the 30-40 minute journey through the twinkling lights, plus there will be hot chocolate and a warming bonfire to look forward to after the ride!

Fun at West Edmonton Mall

West Edmonton Mall Attractions | When the weather turns cold, West Edmonton Mall is the perfect spot to find family fun! Treat the kids to a trip to the World Waterpark or Galaxyland, enjoy a round of minigolf or a game of bowling, or have a blast playing all the games at the Rec Room.
Kids Wonderland at Marine Life | Book your 6-12 year old for a fun behind the scenes look at Marine Life while you enjoy time to yourself in the mall! Kids Wonderland is a unique 2 hour drop-off program with crafts, activities, games, and the chance to see some amazing animals up close!
Jubilations Dinner Theatre | Get your HAIR UP this holiday season and come sing, dance, and laugh along with a festive new production from Jubilations Junior! The Secret Life of Christmas Trolls is now playing with Jubilations Dinner Theatre’s winning combination of a laughter-filled show and a delicious meal.

Plan an afternoon or evening out at the Movies

Reel Family Cinema at Metro Cinemas | During Reel Family Cinema events, Kids 12 and under get in FREE! You can watch Elf on December 23 or The Super Mario Bro. Movie on December 30. There are also a couple other family-friendly movie events that are not part of Reel Family Cinema, including a Frozen Sing-Along on December 31, or a Star Wars prequels marathon on New Years Day.
Landmark Cinemas |  Our family always loves to watch a new release (or two!) together in theatre over the Christmas Break! We like to take advantage of the Morning Movies, or Kids’ Day Sunday Deals for extra savings. Here are some of our picks for family-friendly new releases:

  • Trolls Band Together
  • Disney Wish
  • Wonka
  • Migration
  • Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Go On a FREE Scavenger Hunt

  • On our last trip to IKEA Edmonton, I discovered they have a fun in-store scavenger with a sweet prize at the end – a FREE frozen yogurt cone from the Swedish Bistro! Grab a tiny pencil and hunt sheet from the display on the wall to the left of SmĂ„land, then have fun together making your way through the IKEA maze on the hunt for clues. If you are an IKEA Family Member, Kids also eat FREE in the Swedish Restaurant on Wednesdays – one free kids meal per adult meal purchased!
  • Salisbury Greenhouse also has a monthly Scavenger Hunt for the kids! Grab the hunt sheet and search for the hidden images throughout the greenhouse to earn a FREE 2.5″ herb plant to bring home. The greenhouse is currently decked out for Christmas, making it a fun stop for all.
  • If you are in the downtown area, visit Edmonton City Centre Mall to go on a scavenger hunt for beautiful glowing art installations by local artist Gabrielle DeGouw! Find all FOUR winter animals to enter into the Scavenger Hunt contest for a chance at a $100 mall gift card. Simply post pictures of all to your stories with the tag @eccmall by December 29, 2023. To easily find all 4, I started on the main floor near the CBC radio station, then headed west and took the first escalator up to the pedway level and headed through the mall towards Manulife place.

Check out an Indoor Playground, Trampoline Park, or Arcade

We are spoiled with so many great indoor play venues in Edmonton! We have broken things down by age categories to help point you in the right direction for fun:

Family New Years Events Edmonton

Family Friendly New Year’s Events in Edmonton

Use our guide to Family-Friendly New Year’s Events in Edmonton to plan your celebration and enjoy ringing in 2023 with the family! Whether you want to celebrate day or night, indoors or out, there is an event for you this December 31 or January 1.

Take a Drive to see all the Merry & Bright Christmas Light Displays
The Christmas Break is the perfect time to load the family in the car and go check out some of the amazing outdoor light displays around the city!  See our list of recommendations to find some of the best and brightest in Edmonton and the surrounding communities. For more information, click here.

SportZone Inflatables at Millennium Place or Ardrossan Recreation Centre
During December 23 to January 7 you can enjoy all the usual fun in the SportZone, with the added bonus of large scale inflatable mazes and bouncy castles to jump in! Entrance into the SportZone is included with your regular recreation centre admission. For more information, click here.

Zoominescence at the Edmonton Valley Zoo
The Edmonton Valley Zoo and the Valley Zoo Development Society are excited to bring you the 11th annual Zoominescence Festival of Light! Book your evening visit in December to see the zoo transformed into a magical and bright winter wonderland, complete with brilliant light displays, a nightly Creature Feature, roaming fairytale characters, and all your favourite zoo animals.

Winter Drop-In Activities  at the Royal Alberta Museum
The Royal Alberta Museum is open year-round, making the perfect escape from our frigid winters, or a fun spot to beat the summer heat. From the expansive Natural and Human history halls to the Live Bug Gallery and interactive Children’s Gallery, there is something for everyone to enjoy within this bright and modern museum. Enjoy more hands-on learning and fun this holiday season with Family Winter Drop-In Activities. For more information, click here.

Winter at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden
Rediscover the Magic of Winter at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden on weekends from December 16, 2023 to February 11, 2024! Bring the whole family, well-behaved dogs included, to embrace the cold weather and fresh air with classic activities in the snow like kick sledding and snowshoeing (gear provided), or cross-country skiing (bring your own gear). Afterwards, warm up with a hot chocolate or hot apple cider by the fire in this picturesque setting.