51 Things to do for FREE in Edmonton this Month with Kids (January)

Let’s kick off 2023 with a roster full of family-friendly activities in Edmonton. We’re sharing the best free things to do with kids in Edmonton all month long, from free playgroups and Edmonton festivals, to craft sessions and fun, Edmonton winter activities to get the whole family outside.

Here’s what to do for free this month in Edmonton with kids

Family Day Literacy Carnival
January 29, 2023
Join the Centre for Family Literacy and MacEwan Golden Key Society Student's as we celebrate Family Literacy Day 2023 by taking a Storywalk based on the book Sir Pancake and Lady French Toast by Josh Funk. This year we are exploring the theme of Sharing Your Heritage through food! At this FUN and FREE event you and your family can: play interactive games, explore fun literacy activities, try out some new yoga moves, hear stories from our guest readers
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NERF Battle After Hours in the Library
January 27, 2023
Come with your friends and dodge bookshelves in the ultimate Nerf experience! Find out what happens at the library after hours...Bring your own protective googles, Nerf blasters. We'll supply the darts
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Tape Town Jamboree at Strathcona County Library
January 27/28, 2023
Celebrate Family Literacy Day at the library! We are converting the library’s children’s area into an interactive cityscape connected by a network of twisty masking tape roads. Bring the family down, take a toy car for a drive and explore
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Free Admission at Art Gallery of Alberta
January 26, 2023
Visit the Art Gallery of Alberta on the last Thursday of the month to explore a new exhibit, check out the children’s gallery with the brand new place to explore a new local indigenous artist or discover a new artist.
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Ice on Whyte Festival
January 24, 2023
The Ice on Whyte Festival is back! At the end of this month, some amazing ice sculptors will be creating stunning pieces all along Whyte Ave. Whether you’re taking a peek during a shopping trip, checking them out before or after dinner one night, or just going see them by themselves, this is a great option in Edmonton for January.
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FREE Craft Time: Make a Burned Wooden Snowflake
January 22, 2023
Learn how to use wood burning to make a fun and free winter wall art piece. This is a free craft time where you stop by your local Michaels store and make a craft, all supplies included.
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Edmonton Byzantine Deep Freeze Festival
January 21-22, 2023
Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival celebrates all things winter and culture in our great city! Winter panache, food, art, culture, and winter fun—including races in actual deep freezers! Take an amazing walk, stroll or gallop down Alberta Avenue district and be enchanted by magnificent ice sculptures, song, dance, and tasty delights that share the stories and cultures of Canada's Ukrainian, French-Canadian and Indigenous communities.
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Free Recreational Swim with Inflatable
January 21, 2023
Pop by Emerald Hills Leisure Centre for a free recreational swim with inflatable. This inflatable is perfect for little kids in the family, and the warm pools and and toddler area are perfect for warming up from those cold winter January days.
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Lantern Making Workshop
January 15, 2023
Your lanterns will be on display in the Community Lantern Gardens on the Festival site during the festival February 1-4, 2023 and will be seen by over 45,000 visitors! Or you might choose to keep your lantern so you can carry it when you come to the festival. All materials will be provided.
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FREE Craft Time Make a Decoupage Craft Jar
January 15, 2022
Learn how to use mod podge and mason jars to make a cute vase, or fun storage jar! This is a free in-store event. Drop by your local Michaels store to make this activity.
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Lunar New Year Celebration at Londonderry
January 15, 2023
Celebrate Lunar New Year of the Rabbit at Londonderry Mall East Court. Spend the day enjoy lion Dances, Music, Arts & Crafts, Martial Arts, Games, God of Fortune, Wishing Tree, Drumming and much, much more!
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Edmonton Arts Council Skate Nights
January 15, 2023
Looking for some low-cost outdoor fun? Head to City Hall and take a twirl on the ice rink! No skates? No problem! The Edmonton Arts Council will have free skate rentals and skate aids available on the following days throughout the winter:
Visit the Website

FREE Craft Time Make a Decoupage Jar
January 15, 2023
New year? New You! Try something new and stop by your local Michaels store to take part in this fun and free event where you can learn to use modpodge, to decorate a jar, for free between 2-4pm.
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World Snow Day at Strathcona Recreation Centre
January 14/15, 2023
Strathcona Wilderness Centre for an afternoon full of snow fun to celebrate World Snow Day! Activities will include; scavenger hunt on skis, snow painting, snow angels, snow forts, color ice gems/totems, orienteering and hot chocolate.
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Edmonton Arts Council Skate Nights
January 14, 2023
Looking for some low-cost outdoor fun? Head to City Hall and take a twirl on the ice rink! No skates? No problem! The Edmonton Arts Council will have free skate rentals and skate aids available on the following days throughout the winter:
Visit the Website

Meet Lisa Dejong Para Olympic Snowboarder
January 14, 2023
Lisa DeJong is a Para snowboarder who won silver at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics. Join her for an inspiring afternoon and hear about her journey to the Paralympics. This event is free, but registration is required.
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Woodcroft Skating, Pizza and Movie Night
January 14, 2023
Join us for some skating fun followed by a pizza dinner. We’ll finish off the night with a family friendly movie! Keep an eye on our social media, in January we’ll be posting the movie. For the movie, children and youth are invited to bring their pajamas and a sleeping bag or mat (there will be some mats available at the community centre).
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Edmonton Arts Council Skate Nights
January 13, 2023
Looking for some low-cost outdoor fun? Head to City Hall and take a twirl on the ice rink! No skates? No problem! The Edmonton Arts Council will have free skate rentals and skate aids available on the following days throughout the winter:
Visit the Website

Bonnie Doon Community Movie Night: Inside Out
January 13, 2023
It’s movie night! Friday, January 13th there’s a screening of Disney/Pixar's Inside Out (2018), which follows Riley: a happy, hockey-loving 11-year-old Midwestern girl, whose life turns upside-down when she and her parents move to San Francisco.
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Pokemon Club in the Library (Monthly)
January 10, 2023
Join us once again for all things Pokémon in a supportive and inclusive space. Don’t forget to bring your Kids Pokémon Club Membership Card! When you fill up your card you win a Pokémon themed prize!
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FREE Craft Time Make a Beaded Choker Necklace
January 8, 2023
New year? New You! Come in-store and learn a new hobby for free! We will be making trendy beaded necklaces. This event is free, and you can drop into your local Michaels store to create a beaded necklace, for free between 2-4pm.
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Grand Opening Skate Party at Cromdale
January 8, 2023
Join us for our 2022/2023 Grand Opening Skating Party from 1pm to 4pm at the PCCL outdoor ice rink (11335 85 St NW). We will be serving hot chocolate, and there will be an outdoor fire pit with s’mores. Free community event open to all. We have some skates available if needed!
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Edmonton Arts Council Skate Nights
January 8, 2023
Looking for some low-cost outdoor fun? Head to City Hall and take a twirl on the ice rink! No skates? No problem! The Edmonton Arts Council will have free skate rentals and skate aids available on the following days throughout the winter:
Visit the Website

Lantern Making Workshop
January 8, 2023
Your lanterns will be on display in the Community Lantern Gardens on the Festival site during the festival February 1-4, 2023 and will be seen by over 45,000 visitors! Or you might choose to keep your lantern so you can carry it when you come to the festival. All materials will be provided.
Visit the Website

Free Crafty Playdate at Toys R Us
January 7,8, 2023
Calling all crafty kids! Join us each weekend in January to make winter wonderland-themed masterpieces, like a Paper Plate Polar Bear, Paper Plate Snowman, Handprint Penguin, and Make Your Own Mittens decorations.
Call your local store for more information.
Visit the Website

Edmonton Arts Council Skate Nights
January 7, 2023
Looking for some low-cost outdoor fun? Head to City Hall and take a twirl on the ice rink! No skates? No problem! The Edmonton Arts Council will have free skate rentals and skate aids available on the following days throughout the winter:
Visit the Website

Free Recreational Swim with Inflatable
January 7, 2023
Pop by Emerald Hills Leisure Centre for a free recreational swim with inflatable. This inflatable is perfect for little kids in the family, and the warm pools and and toddler area are perfect for warming up from those cold winter January days.
Visit the Website

City of Edmonton Play Rangers - Snowshoes and Snow Forts
January 7, 2023
City of Edmonton Play Rangers is a free weekly drop in event where kids can interact and enjoy time outdoors with certified play leaders. Every week, there’s a new location, and a new program to explore.
Visit the Website

Edmonton Arts Council Skate Nights
January 6, 2023
Looking for some low-cost outdoor fun? Head to City Hall and take a twirl on the ice rink! No skates? No problem! The Edmonton Arts Council will have free skate rentals and skate aids available on the following days throughout the winter:
Visit the Website

LEGO at the Library
January 6, 2023 (and daily on weekdays at various locations)
Head out to Edmonton Public Library for a fun LEGO session for kids. Calling all LEGO lovers! Come to the library to design and build a LEGO creation. Share your building tips and tricks with others. Check the Edmonton Public Library schedule for sessions taking place most weekdays at rotating library locations.
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Craftganza (Pre-registered)
January 4, 2023
For kindergarten to grade 6. Do you love to craft and create? Join us for a quirky, abstract crafting session to create something you never expected!
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Edmonton Arts Council Skate Nights
January 1, 2023
Looking for some low-cost outdoor fun? Head to City Hall and take a twirl on the ice rink! No skates? No problem! The Edmonton Arts Council will have free skate rentals and skate aids available on the following days throughout the winter:
January 1, 2023
Visit the Website

New Year’s Day at Strathcona Wilderness Centre
January 1, 2023
Bring a donation for the Strathcona Food Bank and dress warmly for winter fun from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Troll in the Wilderness, take part in a fun Cross-Country Ski Loppet, annual New Year's Day tradition. A classic ski event with distances from 1 km to 10 kms. There are cheap (and free) activities to take part in at the wilderness centre.
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Skate the Iceway at Victoria Trail
All month
Skate the Iceway to Victoria Trail! Bundle up, and get outside and skate with the kids. Lace up your skates, grab the kids, and head outside for a lit-up skating path that feels like it’s right out of a winter wonderland. The pavillion is open from 9am to 10pm daily.
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Skate at Ice District Plaza
All month
Grab your family and your skates and head over to your new favourite rink in ICE District Plaza! Skating rink is open every day from 10AM-10PM. It’s a fun way to get outside, and there are plenty of parking options downtown!
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Make a Snowman in the River Valley (for your chance to win!)
All month
Help create a snowman army in the heart of the river valley! Come on out, enjoy some winter fun and flex those creative muscles - partake in the great Canadian past time of building snowmen! Let's fill the field up with all shapes and sizes of snowmen. Make a snowman in the park to be entered into the contest to win one of two grande prizes! The contest runs until March 15th, 2023.
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Friday Night Fires and Hot Cocoa
All month
Spend your Friday night at a local playground or park and enjoy the local community while you spend time outdoors. You’ll find free hot chocolate & warming fires between 6 - 9 pm at Castle Downs Park, Jackie Parker Park, Rundle Park, Victoria Park, and Hawrelak Park.
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