WINTER FESTIVALS KEEP THE CHEER GOING
Shake off the post-holiday blues with these fun-for-all-ages events
There are times when winter seems long, dark and cold and it can be tough to shake off the post-holiday blues. But in Alberta, January is the start of a remarkable winter festival season that offers fun for people of all ages. Here are a few of the best Alberta winter festivals to put on your to-do list in 2024.
JASPER IN JANUARY
Jasper in January ( jasperinjanuary.com) is a great time to experience winter in Jasper National Park at a discount. The festival will run Jan. 12-28 and feature discounted hotel rates (up to 25 per cent off at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, for example) and a variety of special events including a street party with fireworks on Jan. 27. Half-price lift tickets are available all season with the Marmot Escape Card.
BANFF AND LAKE LOUISE SNOWDAYS FESTIVAL
The annual Snowdays Festival (banfflakelouise.com/events/ snowdays) will be held from Jan. 19-Feb. 4. There will be ice sculptures in Lake Louise as part of the Ice Magic ice carving competition and giant snow sculptures decorating the streets of Banff. There will also be a Snowdays Play Zone for kids of all ages and a skijoring exhibition along Banff Avenue. Live entertainment, guided snowshoe tours and many other activities can be enjoyed during the festival.
HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO
The High Performance Rodeo (oyr.org/hprodeo) is one of the top cultural events in Calgary and it takes place from Jan. 14-Feb. 4. It is an international arts festival featuring theatre, music, dance, comedy and interdisciplinary art in venues throughout downtown Calgary. In its 38th year, the annual festival is a reason to look forward to winter.
SILVER SKATE FESTIVAL
Edmonton's longest-running winter festival, Silver Skate (silverskate.ca) will take place at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park from Feb. 9 to 19. Festivalgoers can glide on the city's largest skating pond while listening to Edmonton-based music, wander through a snow sculpture garden and sample culinary delights at Spirits on Ice. There will also be roving performers, a nightly fire sculpture burn, and other activities, including a winter triathlon.
SYLVAN LAKE WINTERFEST
Sylvan Lake Winterfest (visitsylvanlake.ca/winterfest) will be held on the Family Day weekend, Feb. 16-18. There will be outdoor skating on the lake, an ice slide, a winter lights walkway, Indigenous storytelling, free sleigh rides, a fire-on-ice show and evening fireworks. There will also be an ice fishing derby, a polar bear dip and other fun activities.
FAMILY FUN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Ice Skating: There are plenty of amazing free skating spots in Calgary and Central Commons Park in the University District is one of the newest and best. The refrigerated skating rink is surrounded by twinkling lights and fire features. In Edmonton, you can't beat skating at the Alberta Legislature grounds under the seasonal holiday lights.
Snow tubing: The Servus Tube Park at Winsport in Calgary is one of the largest tube parks in Canada and it's scheduled to open Dec. 23. There's also a snow tube park at Nakiska, three snow tube parks in Edmonton and one at Canyon Ski Resort outside Red Deer. In addition to these, there are plenty of free toboggan hills throughout the province.
Go on a winter hike: There are many winter hikes and snowshoe trails near Canmore. One of my favourites is the Grassi Lakes trail. It's best to wear ice cleats, but you can do the hike without them.
Experience a winter ice walk: If you have ice cleats, you can take your family on a do-it-yourself ice walk at Grotto Canyon near Canmore, Johnston Canyon in Banff or Maligne Canyon in Jasper. If you don't own ice cleats, you can rent them for $5 per person at the Calgary Outdoor Centre or go on a guided tour where the tour operator supplies the equipment.
New Year's Eve celebration at Telus Spark: A New Year's Eve celebration is part of the Silver and Bold holiday celebration at Telus Spark Science Centre in Calgary. There's a disco dance party and a balloon drop at noon on Dec. 31 to celebrate the new year. Holiday programming runs through Jan. 7 and includes 24 immersive holiday spaces. Good Night Moon is playing in the digital immersion gallery over the holidays.
Sunlight to ZOOLIGHTS at Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo: To celebrate the opening of Wild Canada, the Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo is offering a discounted combo ticket until Jan. 7 that allows guests to visit the zoo and see the ZOOLIGHTS displays on the same day.