The Flying Canoe Volant Festival in Edmonton. photo credit: explore edmonton
Just because the cold weather’s swept in doesn’t mean you have to stay shut in for the rest of the season. Aside from Christmas and New Year’s, there are still a bunch of winter activities to partake in that will have you excited for the chilly months ahead. Check out our guide on all the things that’ll have you loving winter in Edmonton below.
February 3-4, 2017
The Flying Canoe Volant Festival was inspired by the legend of la chasse-galerie, a folklore that tells the story of voyageurs who made a deal with a devil so they could fly home to their sweethearts on New Year’s Eve. The festival celebrates French-Canadian, First Nations and Métis cultures with traditional food, live music, beautiful light installations that illuminate part of the Mill Creek Ravine in the French Quarter of Edmonton and of course, a canoe race.
photo credit: explore edmonton
January 14-15, 2017
Embrace the northern cold at the Deep Freeze Byzantine Winter Festival, which brings together Ukrainian, Franco-Albertan, Franco-African, First Nations, and Acadian communities for a weekend full of winter fun. Now in its 10th year, Deep Freeze takes over the Alberta Avenue district and celebrates cultural heritage with art, performances and games. The highlight of the festival is the deep freezer race, which has teams racing down the street in actual deep freezers on skis!
photo credit: explore edmonton
December 16-23, 2016
Christmas Reflections at Fort Edmonton lets visitors experience the holiday as it was in the 1880s. Travel back in time and peruse heritage gift shops and participate in handicrafts like ornament making and candle dipping all while learning more about Edmonton’s historic past. Be sure to cap the event off with a charming horse-drawn sleigh ride!
December 15, 2016-March 31, 2017
This winter, explore the acre-sized Ice Castles, a frozen fortress made entirely from hand-crafted icicles and water. In the castle, visitors can navigate through a maze, see a waterfall and tour through the throne room. The Ice Castles are a part of the Silver Skate Festival, a 26-year-old Edmonton tradition that celebrates art, culture and sports.
A hot beverage in hand is an essential item required for embracing an Edmonton winter. For your latte and hot cocoa fix, we suggest hitting up Credo, Transcend, or Remedy Café. But if you can’t decide on what type of brew you want, head over to BRU Coffee + Beer House to find coffee and craft beers all conveniently in the same place.
photo credit: explore edmonton