Various days all month long
Get lost in downtown Edmonton’s first snow maze in Fan Park, next to Rogers Place. Explore the giant, Oilers-themed maze — including photo opportunities, a slide, and a locker room — to see if there is Snow Way Out!
January 1
Start the year off bright at the Valley Zoo’s Zoominescence, an exhibition of artistic light installations that will keep you (or at least your spirits) warm. This year’s theme — Celebrating 10 Years of Light, Love, and Animal Conservation — focuses on the beauty of light and the importance of conserving all life on Earth.
January 1
Things are still glowing at Edmonton Expo Centre, which is filled of Glow‘s enchanted light gardens and magic castle. There are presents still hidden among the 100,000 square feet of family fun, along with fairytale classics and new friends waiting to meet you.
January 2
One of Edmonton’s classiest yearly traditions returns with the Winspear’s Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert. A recreation of Neujahrskonzert, the concert that’s started the New Year in Vienna for over 80 years, the show harkens to a golden age of Viennese music, full of energy and romance featuring a cast of European singers, ballroom and ballet dancers, all backed by the music of Johann Strauss.
January 1
Twice-Juno-nominated songwriter Maria Dunn takes the Festival Place stage to celebrate the anniversary of her album Joyful Banner Blazing, with album producer Shannon Johnson on violin, Jeremiah McDade on saxophone, bansuri, guitar, and members of Juno Award-winning band the McDades.
January 3 to 8
The longest-running Broadway musical of all time comes to Edmonton as Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher brings a fresh rendition of Fiddler On the Roof to the Jubilee Auditorium. Hear the stories and songs of family and traditions choreographed by acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter and raise your cup to joy! To love! To life!
January 5 to 8
The ladies will get you moving to the hits you love with Uptown Girls: An All-Women Tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John at The Citadel Theatre. From “Benny and the Jets” to “Candle in the Wind,” and “Piano Man” to “New York State of Mind,” you’ll hear a fresh, female take on the iconic singers’ many hits.
Every Saturday starting January 7
Strap on your snowshoes and head to Elk Island National Park (or rent them once you get there) for Snowshoe and Stargaze. Take a short, guided snowshoe hike around the shore of Astotin Lake guided by Orion (and a park interpreter) as you stare up at the stars while floating atop the snow. It’s a wonderful, (mini) winter getaway and great way to see the prairie night sky.
January 7
From Weyburn, Saskatchewan, to Nashville, Tennessee, Tenille Arts brings songs from her album Love, Heartbreak & Everything In Between to River Cree Casino. As the writer of the first song written, produced, and performed by all females to top the Country charts (“Somebody Like That”), this rising country star is one you don’t want to miss.
Every Wednesday
Are you always the heckler, never the heckled? Get a taste of what it’s like to be on stage, alone with a mic, telling the stories and shooting the one-liners you were always sure would crush a comedy crowd.
January 7 and 18
Strap cross country skis on your feet and a lamp on your head and head out to Cooking Lake Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area to ski under the light of the full (January 7) or new moon (January 18) for Full Moon and New Moon Birkie. (Or maybe wait until after you drive there to strap on the skis). It’s a magical way to get active outside, just an hour out of town.
January 9
What do you call a rock band without a drummer, or a bluegrass band without a fiddler? The members of this four-piece string band call themselves the Dead South, and their cello, mandolin, banjo and guitar skills will speed “like a train past polite definitions of acoustic music into the grittier, rowdier spaces of the bluegrass world,” all at one show at the Jubilee.
January 13 and 14
Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, writer and producer Jim Gaffigan brings his clean, observational humour to the Winspear Centre, fresh off his recent comedy specials, Comedy Monster and The Pale Tourist.
January 14
If you’re tired of men trying to explain everything to you, come to Evolution Wonderlounge to hear them explain everything to you — in drag! All the King’s Men: Mansplaining with Drag Kings! features “singing, dancing, and a drag king panel of expert…ready to answer all your burning questions about life, the universe, and everything in between.”
January 14
If you wanna be transported back to the simpler days of the ’90s and experience one of the biggest pop bands of all time, head to the River Cree Casino for Simply Spice, a Spice Girls tribute band. Spiceworld wasn’t ready for the pop supergroup to disband, and neither were these talented performers. All ages welcome.
January 18 to February 5
Joan of Arc and American writer Dorothy Parker face death — and each other — with only words to defend themselves in Fresh Hell at Varscona Theatre. Discussing their failures and despairs, and being famously selfish and self-destructive, the story gives the characters and audience reasons to hope.
January 21 and 22
Alberta Ave gets magical with Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival. Edmonton’s first festival of the year brings an enchanted forest to artistic life, full of woodland critters, stunning sculptures and a mysterious, mystical creature, all hand crafted by local artists.
Until January 22
Vegas has it all, and Vegas LIVE brings it all to the Mayfield Dinner Theatre. The brand-new production will cover country, pop and soul hits from today and years past, giving you Vegas-quality showmanship (and a nice meal) in your hometown.
January 24 to 26
The ICE District gets icier as Edmonton’s International Ice Carving competition heads downtown. Watch the world’s most elite carvers turn chunks of ice into beautiful (if temporary) works of art in 34 hours, then vote for your favourite.
January 27 to 29
Did the International Ice Carving competition get you interested in chipping a block yourself? Head to McIntyre Park for ice-sculpting demonstrations and lessons. Just make sure to not lick your creations (there’s food for that).
January 25 to 29
The city will explode with talent as Winterruption YEG brings music, comedy, drag, podcasts and even wrestling acts to venues across the city, along with free outdoor activities in the downtown core. It kicks off Jan. 25, with a show by A. Savage, frontman of critically acclaimed New York band, Parquet Courts.
January 26
After a brief hiatus following the passing of Kenny Shields, Streetheart is back on the road honouring its former leader with a show at the River Cree. Drawing on decades as one of Canada’s best rock and roll bands, the new configuration is ready to rock.
January 27 to 29
Whether you’re looking for a small winter project or looking to renovate your whole house, a home professional at one of the 200-plus booths at the the Edmonton Renovation Show in the Expo Centre will offer expert advice to ensure you do it right.
January 28
Load up your Nerf guns and bring your friends to the Sherbrooke Community League for Nerf Wars and Indoor Play Event. In addition to the ultimate battle, there will be refreshments, extra games and ammo, with plenty of room to run, hide and win!
January 29
Conductor Cosette Justo Valdés brings Mozart’s music and a bit of magic to the Winspeare Theatre in Heavenly Mozart. With family friendly activities in the lobby prior to the show, it’s a great way to introduce kids to the timeless repertoire of Mozart.
