Red Deer Lights the Nights

Red Deer Lights the Nights is festive fun for everyone to enjoy, all season long!

Red Deer Lights the Nights means not just lighting up one night, but many. Throughout the season, family-friendly events and activities are taking place across downtown and beyond. Visit City Hall Park, Ross Street Patio and Capstone to find festive fun waiting for all to enjoy!

Red Deer Lights the Nights leaflet (pdf)

See the schedule below for more details about this year’s Red Deer Lights the Nights festivities and visit the Red Deer Community Events Calendar to learn about other activities happening in our city.

Festive light display in City Hall Park
Visit City Hall Park to enjoy a beautiful display of lights and decorations along with lights and decorations throughout downtown.

Lights are turned on from sunset to sunrise and remain in place through mid-January. Please note that dogs are not permitted in City Hall Park.

Other highlights include:

Writes of Winter contest
Through January 15

Red Deer Arts Council and The City of Red Deer have partnered on a writing contest to keep our imaginations warm this winter.

Red Deer youth, teens and adults are invited to create a short poem or story (fiction or creative non-fiction) with a maximum length of 500 words about winter and/or the holiday season in Red Deer.

All submissions can be sent to the Red Deer Arts Council at submissions@reddeerartscouncil.ca for a chance to win exciting prizes. Works will be published for folks to read on We Are Red Deer and the Red Deer Arts Council's social media pages.

Deadlines:

Holiday Season story deadline: December 10, 2023
Winter Blues story deadline: January 15, 2024

For more information, visit the Red Deer Arts Council website.

Frost Street Patio Party
Friday, December 8

Frost Street PatioDecember 8: 4 - 7 p.m.
Ross Street Patio

Join the DBA and Spandy Andy on the Ross Street Patio for some frosty fun! Check out the children’s entertainers, activity booths and sip hot chocolate under the festive downtown lights. Bring the whole family together for an unforgettable outdoor celebration. Whether you're grooving to the DJ or simply basking in the warm glow of the fire tables, the Ross Street Patio is the place to be for an evening of free family fun. Visit the DBA's Frost Street Patio Party web page for more information.

Santa’s Bus Tour
December 8, 9, 15 & 16 starting at 5:30 p.m.

December 8, 9, 15 & 16
5:30 – 8 p.m.
Red Deer neighbourhoods

Santa is back on the bus, merrily cruising down the streets of Red Deer! Check out the route maps below and give Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the dancing elves a wave - they light up this bus just for you!

We’ve done our best to help Santa visit each neighbourhood in the city, but due to his busy schedule he cannot visit every street. Please choose the route closest to your home to catch a glimpse of the jolly man and his crew. For safety reasons, please remain on the sidewalk or in your yard and stay off the street during the bus tours.

Tours operate from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m. on the following evenings. Follow along on the MyBus website or app to see when Santa will arrive in your neighbourhood.

  • Friday, December 8 – Route 1 (Red Line): North Red Deer (Pines, 67 Street, Johnstone Park, Kentwood, Glendale, Normandeau, Oriole Park, Riverside Meadows, Highland Green)
    Santa's Bus Tour Map - Route 1 (pdf)
  • Saturday, December 9 – Route 2 (Green Line): South Red Deer, Downtown (Bower, West Park, Downtown, Normandeau)
    Santa's Bus Tour Map - Route 2 (pdf)
  • Friday, December 15 – Route 3 (Blue Line): South Red Deer (Sunnybrook, Inglewood, Anders, Morrisroe, Eastview, Clearview Meadows, 55 Street, Downtown, Gaetz Avenue North)
    Santa's Bus Tour Map - Route 3 (pdf)
  • Saturday, December 16 – Route 4 (Yellow Line): East Red Deer (Vanier, Lancaster, Deer Park, Rosedale, Timberlands, Clearview Ridge)
    Santa's Bus Tour Map - Route 4 (pdf)
Downtown Twinkle Tour
Friday, December 15

Friday, December 15
4 – 7 p.m.

For one night, many Downtown businesses remain open late to help Red Deerians with their holiday shopping and to encourage the support of local businesses. Downtown visitors are invited to pick up a free hot chocolate and a copy of the holiday scavenger hunt on the Patio. Enjoy beautiful window and light displays throughout downtown as you make your way to your favourite shops. Be sure to snag some Reindeer Food and Snowman Soup and watch for Santa's Bus Tour to drive by!

For more information, visit the Downtown Business Association website.

For more information:

If you have questions about Red Deer Lights the Nights, please contact our Community Development team at 403-406-8820 or culturemailbox@reddeer.ca.