Local Stories
Medicine Hat Summers Local Shopping
Find Medicine Hat-made, Alberta-made, and Candian-made in Medicine Hat. Locally owned, locally curated, and locally loved.
Find Medicine Hat-made, Alberta-made, and Candian-made in Medicine Hat. Locally owned, locally curated, and locally loved.
Medicine Hat, Alberta, and Canadian vendors are found in this cozy boutique, from souvenirs, to home essentials, and self-care products. For a gift idea, the owner is always ready to put together a themed basket.
An art gallery where everything is for sale, the pieces are created by Southern Alberta and Southern Saskatchewan artists, with different mediums throughout the shop: painting, pottery, sculpting, and so much more.
Find plants big and small inside this sunny boutique, with the expertise to go along. There is also an assortment of hand picked products to compliment your home, from candles, to lunchboxes, and more. Botanicals is a host to workshops throughout the summer that are floral and plant themed.
A previously-loved boutique featuring brand names and quality items that are hand picked and prepped before hitting the floor. They even offer styling appointments where Shelley will spend time getting to know your style, and then picks out pieces just for you.
Everything in this shop is under $8, and features dresses, skirts, hats, jewelry, pants, shirts — everything outfit related. Once a month, they host a “Toonie Saturday” where everything is two dollars.
Featuring over 190 Canadian vendors, Homestead Market is just off Highway 3 and features a cafe with a drive through. Find artists, selfcare creators, bakers, distilleries, and so much more inside the year-round market with a drink in hand.
Gather the girls and visit Phanilla to smell the Canadian scents they have in store, and the Phanilla collection they make in house. The duo also hosts Fragrance Making Classes, where you can make your very own custom scent for the summer.
Always bringing in new, cool, and nostalgic candy and vinyl, this funky stop in downtown Medicine Hat features drinks, treats, and music all in one space. Sift through the records one by one, and pick up some sweet candy for the summer at Poprocks Candy & Vinyl.
Everything is Canadian made in this local store, and sustainable since it’s a refillery. From sunscreen to bug spray, hygiene products, and makeup. Stay safe in the sun and free from bugs, or fill your travel size hygiene products before camping or heading out on a road trip with Roots Refillery.
Bring your old antiques to Sewline Upholstery for an updated look. Whether it’s western chic or an authentic restoration, they can bring your vision back to life. Serving Medicine Hat and area for over 36 years, they are your one stop shop for all things upholstery related. From recreation vehicles, to truck seats, RV Cushion or kitchen chairs, they’ve got you covered.
Find Medicine Hat-made and Alberta-made products inside this local store. And on top of shopping, Top Notch Custom Kreations hosts various crafting workshops throughout the month.
Browse through staple summer clothing and accessories inside this boutique, featuring Canadian-made styles. Find summer outfits for an event or festival, date night, girls night out, or a casual hangout on the patio.
Vibrant flowers line the rows from annuals to perennials, and trees and bushes are an option to. With seeds, gardening accessories, and a gift shop to decorate your outdoor space, Windmill Garden Centre is a huge space to find what you need this year. Connected to the Garden Centre is John’s Butterfly House and an extra space for the goats, Bert & Ernie.
Located in the heart of Downtown Medicine Hat, Yoke X Hem has effortless, everyday style. They carry a thoughtfully curated mix of brands and styles, from modern business wear and polished essentials, to the perfect tee and favourite pair of jeans.
Finding sugar in the sunshine, these sweet spots are a must stop on a summer day.
Homemade chocolate and gelato is inside this chocolaterie. Find truffles filled with caramel, ginger, fruit, or flavoured ganache. The gelato scoops are so refreshing on the patio at Annegret's Chocolates. *This location has dairy-free and sugar-free options.
MEDICINE HAT SUMMERS FEATURE: the housemade gelato and sorbetto
A stacked scoop on a cone or blended into a milkshake, Camp Ice Cream handcrafts every batch of ice cream. Find flavours from fruity, to chocolate, and the perfect mix of sweet and salty. *This location has dairy-free options.
MEDICINE HAT SUMMERS FEATURE: any ice scream scoop or milkshake of your choice
Order a 90s themed dirty soda at the window, made with pop, flavoured syrup, and topped with cream. With over 20 flavours to choose, all with names inspired by hip hop songs and artists, this throwback space is serving up buckets of dirty soda. *This location has dairy-free and sugar-free options.
This vibrant café roasts freshly-imported beans from all over the world to perfection. The beans can be ground and bagged to suit your home brewing machine, or sit inside and enjoy a cup. Pair the freshly roasted coffee with a delicious baked item. *This location has dairy-free and gluten-free options.
MEDICINE HAT SUMMERS FEATURE: affogato espresso freezie
A neighbourhood candy and convenience stop that's local and full of unexpected flavours, rare imports, and nostalgic classics. The ice cream machine keeps the staff creative, making different dirty soda floats and "Tornados", where soft serve ice cream is mixed with sweet treats.
MEDICINE HAT SUMMERS FEATURE: Brookie-O Tornado, soft serve ice cream blended with Oreo, brownie, and cookie dough
A gluten-free bakery serving all the classic desserts without gluten. Cupcakes, savoury rolls, cakes, cinnamon buns, and more. Some sweets are even dairy-free. *This location has dairy-free and gluten-free options.
MEDICINE HAT SUMMERS FEATURE: Cinnamon buns
A nostalgic stop for many in Medicine Hat. Since 1984, ice cream cravings make their way to the walk-up window to find over 75 flavours to choose from. *This location has dairy-free options.
MEDICINE HAT SUMMERS FEATURE: Cookie Dough Arctic Swirl
Over 400 flavours of tea line the walls, from green, black, herbal, oolong, white, and healthy herbs. Mix n match, combine two teas, and ask the owner for your favourite flavours and preferences. She’ll know which tea is just right for you.
This summer, stock up on electrolytes and BCAA’s with the TruMe Whole Health drink collection. Find powders, drops, or carbonated locally canned beverages to keep you hydrated this summer. *This product is sugar-free. To find a location that sells TruMe Whole Health type in “Medicine Hat” here.
Indigenous gatherings this summer celebrate culture, community, and coming together to enjoy Indigenous traditions under the summer sun! Here are 5 events happening from June to September!
It's signature menu items that chefs and owners have personally selected and paired together for locals and visitors to try, for the first time or maybe the twentieth.
Along with choosing menu items that pair well together, they also chose another local business that pairs well with them and their customers.
Guests can grab a meal and then head to an art studio, or dine around and be introduced to a local service-based business.
This May, local businesses are spreading local love throughout Medicine Hat Pairs Well.
Cup of Coffee or Cappuccino pairs well with Chocolate Truffles.
Annegret’s Fine European Chocolates pairs well with local business, Boylan Imaging.
It all pairs well together.
Wedge Caesar Salad pairs well with Custom Designed Pasta and d'Carlo Homemade Cheesecake with Caramel Topping and Limoncello Apperitif. Or, Italian Creme Soda Blood Orange pairs well with Pistachio Pasta.
d’Carlo Pasta House pairs well with local business, Hat News and Specialty Market.
Birria Tacos pairs well with Consommé. Or, Bistek Ranchero Platillo pairs well with Fresh Tortillas and House-Made Salsas.
El Super Taco pairs well with local business, Benchmark Geomatics.
Smoke and Silk Meatballs pairs well with the Midnight Bramble Old Fashioned.
Mike's Meats Smoked Trout pairs well with Savasana Cocktail or Mocktail.
Hometown Culinary pairs well with local business, Yoga Revolution.
Steak Sandwich pairs well with Any Wine.
LOCAL Public Eatery pairs well with local business, Labels.
Char-grilled Bulgogi Burger pairs well with the Golden Girl German Pilsner MHBC.
Medicine Hat Brewing Company pairs well with local business, Chisholm Lighting Contractors Ltd.
Iced Strawberry Matcha pairs well with the Falafel Wrap.
MT Nest Cafe & Market pairs well with local business, Botanicals.
Stop in to try what pairs well.
Deli Counter Sandwich pairs well with Medicine Hat Brewing Company Twin City Lager. Or, the “Tin Is In" pairs well with "their story: charming & white".
note: comfort food + drink pairs well with local business, Art Room on 2nd.
Dirty Sodaz pairs well with Locally-Made Cookies.
Stop in to try what pairs well.
Madri Spanish Lager pairs well with Breaded Shrimp. Or, Granville Island Brockton IPA pairs well with Bone‑In Dry Ribs.
Rossco's Wing House pairs well with local business, Dynamic Industrial Solutions.
Coconut Shrimp pairs well with the Banana Flambéed Pie
Rustic Kitchen + Bar pairs well with local business, Boylan Imaging.
Tomato Basil Bruschetta pairs well with Smoked Sausage Rigatoni Pasta.
Nitro Coffee pairs well with a Slice of Cheesecake.
Station Coffee Company pairs well with local business, DYL Thrift.
Country Crumbs Shortcake pairs well with Swirls Sundae to make the Strawberry Shortcake Sundae.
Swirls Ice Cream pairs well with local business, Country Crumbs Bakery & Cafe.
Smoked Duck Ramen pairs well with Takoyaki.
Takumi Japanese Restaurant pairs well with local business, Heights Liquor Store.
Zesty Tulfi Tea pairs well with Mullein Herb for an immune boosting blended tea.
Teas R Me pairs well with local business, Country Crumbs Bakery & Cafe.
Untidy Jose Sandwich pairs well with the Guava Lime Blonde.
Travois Ale Works pairs well with local business, Fortress of Cheese.
Doner Kebab Wrap pairs well with Medicine Hat Brewing Company Blood Orange. Or, Nicoise Salad pairs well with the Strawberry Rhubarb Ginger Brew.
Rambo Melt pairs well with the Mushroom Soup.
The Hat’s Olive Tap pairs well with local business, Country Crumbs Bakery & Cafe.
Pizza Crescent Rolls pair well with Brownies.
The She Shed Bakery pairs well with local business, Teas R Me.
Snickers Old Fashioned pairs well with Sticky Pork Belly.
BBQ Platter pairs well with the Blueberry Whisky Sour.
The Yard Patio & Eatery pairs well with local business, Gravity Sports.
The Kombucha, Pre & Probiotic Soda, Water Kefir, and Kombucha Gummies all pair well together.
Soup Du Jour pairs well with ZB’s Housemade Hummus and Grilled Bread (add veggies if you're feeling virtuous or sub veggies if you're gluten free). Or, Cafe Americano pairs well with the Outrageous Brownie (GF always).
Zucchini Blossom Market & Cafe pairs well with local business, Fortress of Cheese.
A free hot air balloon festival in Southern Alberta.
Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival is a free, family-friendly event happening in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Up to 35 balloons will float above the city from May 21-24, 2026!
Please Note: All flights are weather dependant. Follow @RiseUpYXH on Instagram and Facebook for updates and locations for each scheduled take-off, before and during the festival. Balloon rides are not available for 2026.
6am Flight: Location to be announced prior to flight on social media pages.
6pm Flight: Location to be announced prior to flight on social media pages.
6am Flight: Location to be announced prior to flight on social media pages.
6pm Fight: Launch location is Kin Coulee Park
Dusk (8:30ish) Balloon Glow Neon Theme: Located in Kin Coulee Park, sponsored by CF Industries
6am Flight: Location to be announced prior to flight on social media pages.
6pm Fight: Launch location is Kin Coulee Park
Community Day: Located at the Medicine Hat College
Dusk (8:30ish) Balloon Glow Neon Theme: Located in Kin Coulee Park
6am Flight: Location to be announced prior to flight on social media pages.
The Sunrise & Skylines VIP Experience is available on two exclusive nights; each paired with evening and morning festival transportation.
All stays include:
✔ One-night hotel accommodation (based on double occupancy)
✔ Evening & morning VIP Sunshine Trolley transportation
✔ Curated goodies onboard the Sunshine Trolley
✔ Front row access to RISE UP festival moments
From a Southern Alberta ski hill to the Olympic Winter Games.
CBC News reported on the story about how Olympic Skier Amy Fraser started her skill-building at Hidden Valley Ski Resort, with coach Peter Roberts and the local ski club.
Collin Gallant writes, " Now, flying up above the edge of a halfpipe, she credits weekends at the local hill [Hidden Valley Ski Resort] learning fundamentals — and the camaraderie of a club — for keeping her in the sport."
Peter Roberts, who founded the local ski club and coached Fraser said, “If you can ski Elkwater, you can ski anywhere in Canada. She [Fraser] had that innate talent that I knew she was going to make something of herself."
photos sourced from CBC News article
Traveling can be overstimulating, and Medicine Hat has sensory-inclusive arts & culture.
Travel Alberta recently wrote about Medicine Hat being a spot to travel for sensory-friendly experiences.
Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre is part museum, art gallery and music venue, with sensory-friendliness built in at multiple levels. The Esplanade worked with nonprofit KultureCity to train their team about diverse sensory needs, create a visual walkthrough of the space, offer sensory bags and more.
Red Rock Coulee: These gargantuan, reddish sandstone rocks were formed in prehistoric seas. You might just spot fossilized shells, plants, or bones on their surface. Plus, wildlife may make an appearance (white-tailed jack rabbits, mule deer, lizards and more).
Cypress Hills Provincial Park: Enjoy a sandy beach, paddling on Elkwater Lake, signing out a nature exploration pack at the visitor centre, or watching mountain bikers enjoy the trails.
Medalta in the Historic Clay District: This National Historic Site explores the rich history of pottery and the clay industry and its impact on Medicine Hat. Explore the museum and gift shop or even register for a 1-day immersive clay experience.
In Medicine Hat and beyond, learn more about places to visit for neurodivergent travellers here!
Local chefs have curated menus sourcing ingredients from Southern Alberta. From classic dishes, to adding a unique take on a familiar recipe, dine locally in Medicine Hat during your visit.
This Holiday season, sip your way through Medicine Hat with two festive trails happening this December!
Eggnog Bingo is a delicious and festive way to visit local eateries and try their take on Eggnog! It’s lattes, cocktails, cookies, and more. Bring your fully stamped Eggnog Bingo card to any participating location and enter for the chance to win a gift basket valued at $200.
Find stamp cards at any participating location, and drop off your stamp card once it’s completed at any participating location. Event is on until December 12, 2025.
Participating Locations:
Hometown Culinary | Casa Amigos Cantina | Grit City Distillery | note: comfort food & drink | Travois Ale Works | Station Coffee Company | Kookie Bites | MT Nest Cafe & Market
Nosh is hosting the fourth annual Hot Chocolate Fest YXH and you can try six hot chocolate creations from s’more to smoked honey, and salted caramel. The tasty trail brings you to a handful of local, independant coffee shops in the city, and each local spot is serving up a creative mug of hot cocoa.
You can vote on the best cup using the hashtag #hotchocolatefestyxh. Event is on until December 19, 2025.
Participating Locations:
Homestead Market | MT Nest Cafe & Market | Nosh. | Poolhouse Cafe & Roastery | Station Coffee Company | The Hat’s Olive Tap
Imported this summer from Arlington, Texas, the newest Sunshine Trolley has hit the street!
Tourism Medicine Hat has acquired its third Sunshine Trolley, announced on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
Mo Cranker, Manager of Transportation and Operations, says after purchasing a second Sunshine Trolley in 2022 from Newfoundland, the organization has continued to see a rise in demand for public tours and private bookings.
The organization hosted 62 Guided City Tours and saw a ridership average of 90 per cent from May to October, with visitors from Italy, Switzerland, Scotland, England, Belgium, Australia, Austria, France, Mexico, Ireland, nine Canadian provinces, and more than a dozen states.
“For locals, it allows them to view their home city through the eyes of a visitor, and for visitors it’s a unique way to experience the sights and history that Medicine Hat has to offer,” says Cranker.
The newest Sunshine Trolley was imported from Arlington, Texas, and arrived in Medicine Hat on August 12, 2025. It seats 35 people, nine more than the second trolley, sports a wheelchair lift, and has space for two wheelchair seats.
When the first Sunshine Trolley was brought to Medicine Hat from Drumheller in 2019, the tours were originally offered as a hop on, hop off ride.
The tours shifted to a 90-minute Guided City Tour in 2023, and are guided by local Hatters who have lived in Medicine Hat for many years. The Sunshine Trolley stops at important landmarks and beautiful viewpoints, with the guides sharing in-depth history and stories.
Specialty tours like Ice Cream Crawl, Blooms & Brunch, Cocktails & Constellations, Holly Jolly Twinkle Trolley, and more often sell out throughout the year.
“Everytime we launch a new tour, there’s positive reception and ticket sales reflect that. This year we launched six Blooms & Brunch tours, and they sold out with little promotion,” says Cranker.
“The Sunshine Trolleys are a great way to do a lot in a short amount of time. In some tours, we stop at three or four different places, and along the way visitors get to see some landmarks and the beauty that the city has to offer.”
Cranker says 70 per cent of riders are local and 30 per cent are visiting from another city or country.
“For locals, they have the chance to explore their own city or connect with a local business they’ve been meaning to check out or haven’t heard of before.”
Having another Trolley on the road will allow Tourism Medicine hat to run more tours and accommodate larger groups to take part in a public tour or private booking, “this will be especially helpful with school groups with larger classes and a handful of parental volunteers.”
Tourism Medicine Hat hosted 90 bookings from school classes during 2025, with an estimated 2,500 riders from those groups. Tourism Medicine Hat receives $1,500 from both Sunrise Rotary and Saamis Rotary in support of the School Ride Program.
During the Guided City Tours and the Holly Jolly Twinkle Tours, kids 12 and under ride for free thanks to the donation from the Medicine Hat Mavericks.
After thorough research, Cranker found the newest Trolley in Arlington, Texas.
A High River company towed the Trolley to Dynamic Industrial Solutions, a local heavy-duty truck repair/welding company, where the engine was hoisted up and taken out.
The engine was then rebuilt by a local diesel mechanic who specializes in rebuilds, and brought back to Dynamic Industrial Solutions to be put back in.
The new unit is a 2011 Supreme Trolley, three years newer then the Supreme Trolley purchased out of Clarke’s Beach, Newfoundland in 2022.
Community members will see the new trolley being driven empty over the next few weeks. Tourism Medicine Hat will continue breaking in the vehicle’s new engine and training drivers on the new equipment found in the bus.
Find more information about the Sunshine Trolleys here
Find Sunshine Trolley Tour tickets here
Privately book the Sunshine Trolley here
Follow the Sunshine Trolley on Facebook
Follow the Sunshine Trolley on Instagram
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