Spend the Holidays in Medicine Hat with these seasonal events.
Events
November & December
Inside Canada’s oldest, surviving, purpose-built cinema, you can expect seasonal movie showings on the weekends at The Monarch Theatre. Hot popcorn, classic candy, a big screen, and comfy theatre chairs, spend the evening having dinner at a local restaurant and then enjoying a classic show this holiday season. Five dollars for a movie, and five dollars for any two items at the concession, that’s $10 well spent.
November 13 & 14
The Medicine Hat Potters' Association, Medicine Hat Fibre Arts, and Hat Art Club come together to host their annual Christmas market: Cloth, Colour, and Clay. At the Cultural Centre, there is a wide range of handmade pieces for gift shopping. And a bonus, there are daily door prizes.
Saturday, November 14
Start this tour on one of Medicine Hat's most historic streets at Hometown Culinary. Indulge in decadent brunch paired with a seasonal welcome drink with a view of the historic Canadian Pacific Railway Station. Hop on the Sunshine Trolley to Homestead Market. Her Copper Kitchen will lead a Holiday Simmer Pot building workshop, then guests will have time to browse the market while sampling drinks from Homestead Market's Holiday menu. Finally, return to North Railway and head inside Botanicals for a Mini Grinch Tree workshop.
November 19
The holiday season is here, and it's time to celebrate another incredible year of Tech Nights! Join us at Medicine Hat Brew Co. for an evening of meaningful connections with innovators, tech enthusiasts, and STEM supporters from across the region, delicious seasonal treats, festive drinks, and plenty of holiday cheer.
Friday, November 20
Medicine Hat’s Historic Downtown comes alive the night of Midnight Madness from 4:30p.m. to 12a.m. From shopping local, to listening to live music, taking photos with Santa Claus, and taking part in the tree lighting in BATUS Park, the Holiday spirit is in the heart of Medicine Hat the evening of Friday, November 20.
Trolley Art Series | Holiday Edition
Saturday, November 21
Dive into Medicine Hat’s arts & culture this holiday season on the Sunshine Trolley. Join an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Medalta’s internationally renowned Artist in Residence. Get crafty with a holiday ornament making workshop with Cosmic Clay Studio, and then enjoy a delicious lunch at d’Carlo Pasta House.
Matt Dusk - A Very Sinatra Christmas
Sunday, November 22
Backed by a powerhouse big band, Dusk will transport audiences to the golden age of swing, blending timeless holiday classics with the unforgettable style of the one-and-only Frank Sinatra at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre. From “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to “The Christmas Song”, A Very Sinatra Christmas is brimming with nostalgia, glamour, and holiday spirit, perfect for fans of classic music and unforgettable live entertainment.
November 27 & 28
Shopping a Holiday market inside a century-old museum is a festive way to spend the season. Medalta in the Historic Clay District brings artists and creatives together for locals and visitors to find a personal gift for the people in their lives. The historic space is decorated, the tables are filled with authentic, handmade finds, and delicious food is prepared by a local business.
Old Tyme Christmas Fair & Market
Thursday, December 3
A well-loved tradition continues this year at the Co-op Pioneer Village at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede. The evening brings free wagon rides, hot dogs, hot chocolate, s’mores, and photos with Santa Claus. And inside the Cypress Centre, the Christmas Farmers’ Market hosts local culinary and creative makers in and around Medicine Hat. Bring the family along to celebrate the holidays.
Redcliff Santa Claus Parade & Tree Lighting
Friday, December 4
Starting at 6pm, with a tree lighting in Memorial Park at 7pm, there will be Moonlight Madness at businesses around town and a Christmas Market in the gym at Parkside School from 4-8pm. Enjoy free hot chocolate, hot dogs, hay rides with the Grinch, have your photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and decorate cookies with elves at Tim Hortons in Redcliff from 3:30-5pm.
December 4-23
Tour Medicine Hat’s brightest Christmas lights on the Sunshine Trolley this December, with time to hop off, capture photos, and take in all the beautiful bright lights.
Downtown Art Tour | Holiday Edition
Friday, December 4
Start with a Gallery Tour hosted by Art Room on 2nd, a space that features Southern Alberta and Southern Saskatchewan artists. Then, stroll to Creative Freedom Art Hub, where the group will paint their very own Holiday-inspired ceramic to take home. Downtown Medicine Hat's newest store is featured on the tour, Fortress of Cheese. Owner Amy will set everyone up with a beginner-friendly art activity so people have a memento. The final stop brings your choice of beverage and sweet treat at Station Coffee Company, where various artists of many mediums are featured in the space.
Saturday, December 5
"Christmas Clay Day' is a special one-day pottery activity just for kids ages 6–12. Kids will have the chance to shape, decorate, and paint their own clay creations, with plenty of room to add their own personality along the way. Parents and guardians are welcome to stay and join in the fun, but you don’t have to! You’re also welcome to drop your child off and enjoy a little free time while they create.
Tuesday, December 8
A Canadian gathering that the community looks forward to every year. The CPKC Holiday Train rolls through Medicine Hat on December 8, 2026 at 3:15p.m. American Authors and Tyler Shaw will be playing Christmas tunes live for Medicine Hat at Queen & North Railway Street, East of the CPKC Station. Cozy up a few days before Christmas on one of Medicine Hat’s oldest streets and take in the outdoor Holiday concert with family and friends. Be sure to bring a non-perishable food item for the local Root Cellar.
Wednesday, December 9
Join the Medicine Hat Public Library to make a few unique, hand-crafted Christmas ornaments this holiday season. Please note that this program is offered twice due to high enrolment; please register for only one session.
Festive Flavours Cafe & Market Tour
Wednesday, December 9
Sample winter-inspired beverage menus from each cafe along with sweet and savoury treats. Browse beautiful artisanal markets and galleries that make each cafe its own one-of-a-kind spot, and potentially find the perfect gifts for the people in your life.
Deck the Loaves: A Christmas Sourdough Painting Class
Sunday, December 20
Join Daisy & Rise at Top Notch Custom Kreations for a fun, festive, and beginner-friendly Christmas workshop. Included with this experience is prepared sourdough loaves, edible paints and painting supplies, stencil designs, reusable banneton, and take home instructions for handling, refrigerating, and baking your decorated loaves.
Michelle Wright Christmas is Here! Tour
Thursday, December 10
Celebrate the season with Canadian country music icon Michelle Wright as she brings her fan-favourite Christmas concert series to the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre stage. The show features holiday classics, original Christmas music, and many of the hits that made her one of Canada’s most celebrated country artists.
Winter Activities
Cross Country Ski
Police Point Park and Elkwater in the Cypress Hills are your winter cross-country ski spots. Rentals available at the Cypress Hills Visitor Centre. Cypress Nordic Ski Club offers lessons with equipment.
Snowshoe
Follow the many natural and forested trails through Elkwater in the Cypress Hills and Police Point Park for a snowshoe adventure. Rentals available at the Cypress Hills Visitor Centre.
Toboggan
Kin Coulee Park is a community favourite. The hill is lit up into the evening and is always perfect on a snow day. Elkwater in the Cypress Hills builds a snow luge each year.
Skating
Find many community rinks around Medicine Hat and check out Kiwanis Central Park for a small skating rink amongst 200 to 300-year-old Cottonwood trees. Find the full list of ice skating rinks here.
Crokicurl
All the things you need to play crokicurl are in Strathcona Island Park, so look up the rules and head out for a round or two. Winter fun, here you come.
Disc Golf
If you haven’t played disc golf in the winter, you really need to, and if you haven't played disc golf at all, then you really, really need to. Find five great courses in Medicine Hat, in Kin Coulee Park, Kiwanis Central Park, Leinweber Park, and Gilwell Park.
Ice-Fishing
Grab a group, a kit, and head to one of many locations in and around Medicine Hat to ice- fish, in Rattlesnake, Elkwater, Spruce Coulee, Reesor Lake, Michelle Lake, Cavan Lake, Newell Lake, and 40 Mile Reservoir. Please ensure the ice is thick enough to safely ice-fish.
Book a Sky-Seeing Experience
View the sky with astronomer Rod DeVries at Eagle Butte Observatory. Group booking available to find dinner with the sky events.
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