20+ FREE Christmas Light Displays Around Edmonton

Updated November 28, 2024

If you want to experience the magic of the holiday season without breaking the bank, check out some of these free Christmas light displays in Edmonton and surrounding areas.

I’m slightly obsessed with Christmas lights, but am also cheap, ahem, frugal. While taking in events like Zoominescence, GLOW, and the drive thru events are amazing, they can really add up at a time when money is already flying out the door.

Delight in the festive displays and twinkling decorations that bring joy to families and create unforgettable memories. I’ve pulled together some of the best locations to enjoy the enchanting glow of Christmas lights and add some sparkle to your seasonal celebrations without breaking the bank.

Many of these displays are put on to help fund-raise for a local charity. Be sure to bring or e-transfer a donation if you’re able to.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the disclosure for more info.

Map of Free Christmas Lights in Edmonton and Area

Need a better idea of where these free light shows are? Here’s a map to help you (and me!) out:

Plan Ahead – Christmas Lights Prep!

I know, you’re here for the list of lights, but I don’t want you to miss these tips if I buried them at the bottom of the post!

Don’t forget:

• Dress warm! Most of these events are outdoors. Make sure you dress for the weather and maybe even a little extra.
  • Bonus: pack re-usable or disposable hand warmers, just in case.
• Bring a camera! Your phone is great, but if you happen to have a camera you can operate with gloves ON, even better! You’re more likely to take photos if your fingers don’t have to freeze to get them, and I have yet to find a good pair of “smart gloves” that work well.
• Pack a Christmas treat! Silence complainers with a candy cane or gingerbread man. Treats work magic on most complaints (and if you happen to have some extra mini candy canes in your pocket you may brighten another parent’s night!).

Within Edmonton

1. Bright Nights at City Hall

Walk around! Enjoy skating at City Hall Plaza (if we ever get cold enough for ice!) and the lit trees around Sir Winston Churchill Park.

• Dates: Lighting is on all winter; Tree lighting event is December 14.
  • Bright Light Skate Night December 14, 2024
• Address: Sir Winston Churchill Square and City Hall Plaza
• Website

2. Alberta Legislature Grounds

Walk around! With noon-hour and evening musical performances inside the building and lights around the grounds the Alberta Legislature Grounds are a local favourite to visit.

• Dates: Concerts run December 6 to 21, 2024
• Address: 10800 97 Avenue NW, Edmonton
• Website

3. Glowscape 124

Walk around indoors and out! Empty commercial spaces around 124 Street & Area have been transformed into an illuminated art experience! Projections will light up from 4pm – 8pm every night.

• Dates: November 16 to December 1, 2024
• Addresses:
  • 10708 124 St (Upstairs of The Roxy Theatre)
  • 10649 124th St
  • 10524 124th St
  • 10418 124th St
  • 10350 124 St
  • 12310 102 Ave
• Website

4. Wilbert McIntyre Park, Old Strathcona

Walk around! Wilbert McIntyre Park is lit up! The gazebo, trees and even the sky are filled with lights, transforming this urban park into a bit of a wonderland.

• Dates: Light up on November 30, 2024
• Address: 8331 104 St NW, Edmonton
• Website

5. Candy Cane Lane

Walk or drive around! Operating for over 50 years, Candy Cane Lane is an Edmonton tradition. You can walk, drive, or even book a sleigh ride ($25 per person), though I recommend walking for the best experience.

There are 3 walk-only nights on December 14, 23, and 28 when you won’t be allowed to drive.

• Dates: December 13, 2024 – January 3, 2025
• Address: 148^th Street in between 99 Avenue and 92 Avenue
• Parking: is limited, many of the churches in the area offer their parking lots
• Charity: Edmonton Food Bank
• Website

6. Enchanted Illumination at Southgate Mall

Walk around indoors! Enjoy winter scenery featuring twinkling light paths, giant hand-carved snow globes, ice sculptures, holiday music and instagrammable photo opportunities.

• Dates: November 18, 2024 – January 7, 2025
• Address: Next to American Eagle, Southgate Mall
• Parking: Park on the East side of the mall
• Website

7. Summerside Grande Boulevard

Walk or drive! The residents along Summerside Grande Boulevard are giving Candy Cane Lane a run for their money when it comes to Christmas spirit! The street light-up is not organized, so some homes won’t be lit, others are filled with inflatables and so many lights the street glows!

• Dates: Whenever the residents decide to turn lights on/off
• Address: Summerside Grande Boulevard between 70th and 88th Street SW
• Parking: plenty of street parking is available

8. Currents of Windermere

Walk around! With a light tunnel and “mega” Christmas trees, and other light displays in the plaza by Canadian Brewhouse this is a nice little stop when you’re out and about.

• Dates: Light Up The Square on December 6, 2024
• Address: Town Square, Currents at Windermere
• Website

9-10+. Individual Homes

There are a lot of individual homes that get all done up for Christmas. My requirement for getting on this list is they have a special name, not just an address, and worth spending at least five minutes at!

• Lights for Larry (Veterans Association Foodbank): 4220 124 Avenue NW; November 22, 2024 – January 6, 2025
• Maisie’s Magical Christmas House (SCARS Animal Rescue): 9619-144 Avenue NW

Not confirmed for 2024 yet, but popular in the past:

• Carducci Christmas Show isn’t lighting up in 2024
• Christmas at Bob’s: 7421 108st NW

Want more homes? Check out these maps others have put together!

• Edmonton Area Christmas Lights Facebook page
  • Their map

North of Edmonton

11. Enchanted Forest – Fort Saskatchewan

Walk around INDOORS! This free festival of trees features unique, beautiful and fun Christmas trees decorated by local organizations and businesses to represent them and reflect the holiday.

• Dates: November 29 – January 7, 2025
• Address: City Hall, Fort Saskatchewan Public Library, Dow Centennial Centre, and Shell Theatre
• Website

12. Elliot Place – St Albert

Walk around! This crescent starts their Christmas lights prep before Halloween (imagine trick-or-treating under the arches!). The 17 homes in the Erin Ridge community go all out!

• Address: Elliot Place, St Albert
• Charity: Food Bank

13. Downtown St Albert & The Snowflake Festival

Walk or drive around! Take in the light-up Snowflake Festival or drive around lit-up downtown St Albert.

• Dates: light up on November 29, 2024
• Address: Perron Street, St. Thomas Street, & St. Albert Place
• Parking: Free park and ride from St. Albert Centre Exchange on November 29
• Website

East of Edmonton

14. LED Tree & Celebration of Lights

Drive by! Sherwood Park has an LED tree by Festival Place that runs from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Listen to the tree’s soundtrack at 103.3FM.

• Dates: Light Up on November 16, 2024
• Address: Festival Place, 100 Festival Way, Sherwood Park
• Charity: Strathcona Food Bank
• Website

West of Edmonton

15. Central Park in Spruce Grove

Walk around! With over 250,000 lights wrapping the trees in the park, Spruce Grove’s Central Park is an enchanting stop filled with glowing warmth.

• Dates: Light Up on November 30, 2024
• Address: 450 King Street, Spruce Grove
• Parking: Woodhaven School (475 King Street), Brookwood School (460 King Street)
• Website

16. Stony Plain Lane & the Griswold House

Walk & drive around! You’ll want to get out of your car to inspect the Griswold House, and then drive around to see more light displays in the neighbourhood.

• Dates: Opening night December 14, 2024
• Address: Griswold House: 63 Briarwood Point, Stony Plain
• Charity: Parkland Food Bank Society
• Stony Plain Lane Website & Griswold House Website

17. Stony Plain Winter Fest

The Town of Stony Plain is really getting into the Christmas spirit and has their annual light up event on December 1, 2024 for main street and a month-long advent calendar.

See the tree all month at the intersection of 50 Street & 51 Avenue.

South of Edmonton

18. Brighten Up Beaumont

Walk around! Enjoy the ice slide and sculptures in Four Seasons Park. This one is best taken in on Light Up night, but I expect the displays will still be around for some time after the crowds are gone.

• Dates: Light up celebration on December 14, 2024
• Address: Four Seasons Park
• Website

19. Light-up Leduc

Drive around! The City of Leduc has been running the “Light-Up Leduc” contest since Christmas 2020. This year, entries are accepted until November 29, 2024.

New this year – no quadrants and no VIP judges. It’s ALL up to you! The top 10 community favourites will receive a prize.

• Dates: Expect the map in early December
• Address: Around Leduc
• Website

20. CPKC Holiday Train

Walk around! The CPKC Holiday Train (formerly known as the CP Holiday Train) is an incredible sight! It will be in Edmonton on December 12 at 8:15-8:45pm.

Read more about the CPKC Holiday Train.

Bonus: Low Cost Christmas Light Displays

Bonus 1: Leduc Country Lights

Walk around! This MASSIVE outdoor display of Christmas lights is NEARLY free. At only $3 per person you’re supporting the event, and know every cent of profit is put back into the community through Leduc Kinsmen programs.

Leduc Country Lights operates Sunday to Thursday 5-9pm and 5-10pm on Friday and Saturday.

• Dates: November 30 – December 31, 2024
• Address: Leduc West Antique Society, 49541, Range Rd 260, Calmar
• Admission: $3 per person
• Charity: Leduc & District Food Bank
• Website

Bonus 2: Greenland Garden Centre Lights in the Park

Walk around! At only $10/family Greenland Garden Centre’s transformed botanical garden is a great deal! Enjoy this outdoor light show with displays reminiscent of those found at the big shows – but considerably more affordable!

• Dates: November 10 – December 30, 2024
• Address: 23108 Highway 16, Sherwood Park
• Admission: $5/couple, $10/family
• Parking: Greenland Garden Centre parking lot
• Charity: Strathcona Christmas Bureau & Salvation Army
• Website

Bonus 3: ETS Christmas Tours

Ride! The most expensive of our bonus options, and the hardest to get! For two nights only ETS runs a Christmas light tour.

Please note: These tours are not recommended for small children as they must remain seated while the bus is in motion.

• Dates: December 13 & 15, 2024
• Address: All tours depart from the west side of City Hall Bus Stop #1364.
• Admission: $5/person
• Charity: Food bank donations will be dropped off at Candy Cane Lane
• Website

Paid Light Displays

Do you want to drop some cash on seeing the Christmas lights? Here’s a list of spots to visit:

• Christmas Glow – Holiday Festival of Lights
• The Magic Of Lights (Drive Thru), RAD torque Raceway
• Borealis Lights (Drive Thru), St Albert
• Zoominescence, Edmonton Valley Zoo
• Luminaria, University of Alberta Botanic Gardens
• A Candy Cane Christmas, Muttart Conservatory

And don’t forget to share to Pinterest!