Join the Old Strathcona Business Association as we light up McIntyre Park to kick-off the holiday season. On Saturday, November 26, we’re turning McIntyre Park and 83 Avenue into a winter wonderland with our 5th annual Winter Whyte Light Up! Outdoor activities are family-friendly and FREE. Plus, there will be plenty of hot drinks and winter treats available for purchase and fire pits to keep you cozy. We invite you to start your holiday season in District Whyte!

Free Family Fun:

• EPL story time – 5:15pm inside the library and 6pm fireside
• EPL scavenger hunt kits available until 6pm
• Flying Canoë Volant photobooth with Voyageurs
• Ice on Whyte live ice carving demonstration
• Firepits across the entire 83 Avenue site
• Musicians, street performers and roving winter characters (full performance schedule below)
• Christmas carols with the Knox Evangelical Church choir 
• Dave Jukebox Lee at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market
• OSBA Info Tent

We are also collecting donations for the Edmonton Food Bank and Old Strathcona Youth Society (OSYS). Bring new or gently used winter coats 🧥 (all sizes and genders) and winter boots 🥾 (men’s sizes 10, 11, 12, women’s sizes 7, 8, 9) for OSYS. Drop your winter clothing donations off outside of the farmers’ market. 

Help us stuff the streetcar 🚋 which will be decorated for the holidays at the Whyte Avenue platform! Bring your food bank donations to the streetcar platform on Whyte Ave, between Gateway Boulevard and 102 Street (beside the public washrooms) and get yourself a ticket to Spin-to-Win at our info tent. Prizes include OSBA toques and tote bags (while supplies last) and gift cards to neighbourhood businesses. 

Paid activities, Food and Drink:

• • Photobooth with Mrs. Claus ($5). Limited number of photos, book yours now: tickets.fringetheatre.ca 
  • Flying Canoe tire sur la neige (maple taffy) $3
  • Mr. Capy food truck from Avila Arepa (South American street food, including churros, hot chocolate and empanadas) 
  • Pop-up vendors at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market
    • Canadian Kettle Corn (popcorn, mini-donuts, cotton candy, hot and cold drinks)
    • OSFM kitchen (hot chocolate, tea, coffee, pop, water, grilled cheese, hot dogs, chili and soup of the day)
    • The Candyman
    • The Quarter Section (cinnamon buns, pastries)
    • Theo’s Greek Kusina (baklava)
    • Fantasy Pretzels (pretzels, mini-donuts, meat pies, lemonade)
    • Ayco Bakery (meat pies, savoury pastries, cookies)
    • Canadian Kettle Corn (popcorn, mini donuts, cotton candy) 
  • Winter favourites and extended hours at Sugared & Spiced, The Woodrack Cafe, and Fringe Grounds Cafe
  • 🐶 “Dog Nog” for $2.50 and other pet snacks from Global Pet Foods-Whyte Ave ($1 from dog nog donated to Zoe’s Animal Rescue)

Old Strathcona is a pet-friendly business district! All of the outdoor events during Winter Whyte Light Up will be pet-friendly, as long as four-legged visitors are on a leash. And there are more than 40 stores and services where you and your pet can shop together. Check them our on our pet-friendly map.

And don’t forget about our Shop Hop, Thursday-Saturday.

Instagrammable:

• • • Holiday displays in McIntyre Park, including the gazebo and mega-trees
    • Ice on Whyte live carving demonstration
    • Flying Canoe voyageurs and mini-canoe
    • Mrs. Claus and a cast of winter characters
    • The High Level Bridge Streetcar decorated for the holidays (at the Whyte Avenue platform)

Musicians on the McIntyre Park stage:

• Twophonium – 4:15pm
• Jay Gilday – 4:45pm
• Knox Church caroling – 5:20pm
• Twophonium – 5:40pm
• Cynthia Hamar – 6:05pm
  Hosted by Rhea March, from CJSR’s “It Takes a Village”

Street performers and Circus Artists:

• Copper Cowboy
• Hula Hoop Circus
• The Winter Fairy
• The Royal Guards

In the Fringe Threat lobby:

• The Great Balanzo – 4:45pm
• Hula Hoop Circus – 5:30pm
• Knox Church caroling – 6:30pm

At the Whyte Avenue streetcar platform (between Gateway Blvd. and 102 Street)

• Knox Church caroling – 4:30pm
• Twophonium – 5pm

For the adults:

The Mrs. Claus Holiday Spectacular (18+) at the Edmonton Fringe Arts Barns. Two shows in one night, at 7pm and 9pm. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door (limited walk-up tickets). Tickets on sale now: tickets.fringetheatre.ca

Drag & Burlesque performers:

• Artasia
• Beau Creep
• Colin Bae
• Heinrich Hollandaise
• LaDonna Stone
• LeTabby Lexington
• Orpheus
• Pepper
• Scarlett Von Bomb
• Selena Cuchina
• and Claudia Hartout as Mrs. Claus

Thank you to our sponsors!

Winter Whyte Light Up is supported by the Edmonton Arts Council and the City of Edmonton
Winter City Edmonton
ATB Branch for Arts and Culture
Long & McQuade
Explore Edmonton

Thank you to our partners:

Goodwill Alberta, Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market, Flying Canoe Volant & La Cite Francophone, Ice on Whyte, Edmonton Public Library, Edmonton Fringe, Acme Circus, Edmonton Food Bank, Old Strathcona Youth Society, The Mustard Seed, Knox Church

Festival support:

Bird Creatives, Jin Media, CJSR, Five Star Holiday Décor