Christmas Events for Kids in Airdrie (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated 3 min read

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the Christmas events for kids in Airdrie for 2026. The Airdrie Festival of Lights glows in Nose Creek Park every night of December, and the Santa Claus Parade rolls down Main Street on Saturday, December 5, during Light Up Airdrie weekend. Both are free. For more across the country, see our Canada Christmas events for kids guide.

What Rally found in Airdrie

  • 2 free Christmas events for kids in Airdrie
  • Festival of Lights: nightly, December 1 to 31, 6 to 9 pm
  • Santa at the festival: Sunday, December 6, 7 to 8 pm
  • Santa Claus Parade: Saturday, December 5, from 5 pm
  • Where: Nose Creek Regional Park and Main Street

Free Christmas events for kids in Airdrie

Walk-through lightsFree

Airdrie Festival of Lights

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For more than three decades volunteers have turned Nose Creek Park into a walk-through display of themed light scenes, from Candy Land and Penguin Village to a Toy Train Express, plus fire pits and Santa visits in the festival tent.

It opens every night of December from 6 to 9 pm and stays free thanks to donations, and the City lists a Santa's Here night on Sunday, December 6, from 7 to 8 pm alongside an Emergency Services Night.

Parent tip: Check the festival's interactive map before you go so you know where the trains, Santa tent and fire pits sit, and dress for an Alberta evening since it is all outdoors.

Host
Airdrie Festival of Lights Society (opens in a new tab)
Address
Nose Creek Regional Park, Airdrie, AB (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Airdrie Festival of Lights Society (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

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Evening paradeFree

Airdrie Santa Claus Parade

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The Airdrie Parade Committee sends lit-up floats, holiday music and Santa down Main Street on the Saturday of Light Up Airdrie weekend.

Come early for Countdown to Santa, when downtown businesses and community partners put on festive treats, activities and photo spots before the parade starts at 5 pm.

Parent tip: The City will post road closures and Main Street detours in December, so check them before driving in, and plan to walk the last few blocks.

Host
Airdrie Parades (opens in a new tab)
Address
Main Street, Downtown Airdrie, Airdrie, AB (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Airdrie Parades (opens in a new tab)

New Airdrie events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Airdrie daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Airdrie.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Our Canada Christmas events for kids guide lists Santa trains and holiday rides across the country.

See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Airdrie Christmas event for kids happens

Make December 5 and 6 your big weekend: Countdown to Santa and the parade downtown on Saturday, then Santa in the Festival of Lights tent on Sunday evening.

Looking further afield? Our Canada Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the country, and we have city guides for Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and Medicine Hat. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.

A story for the drive home

A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The story of Christmas in Airdrie

Airdrie's Festival of Lights began in 1996, and on its very first night a foot of snow fell on the brand new displays, so visitors walked the park listening for the crunch of buried bulbs. Thirty years later, about 1,000 light displays fill Nose Creek Park every December night, all built and run by volunteers and free to walk through.

Alderman Stan Softley's 1996 light show and an 85,000 bulb headline in 1997

The Airdrie Festival of Lights was the idea of Stan Softley, an alderman who later sat on city council and wanted to put Airdrie on the map. On October 9, 1996, the local paper reported that he hoped to unveil a light festival in Nose Creek Park that December. It opened on time, and then about a foot of snow fell overnight on the new displays. Festival coordinator Michelle Pirzek later recalled visitors walking through the park to find the crunching of the bulbs.

By December 1997 the Calgary Herald was running the headline "85,000 bulb display turns spotlight on Airdrie." The festival is still free to enter today and is run by the Airdrie Festival of Lights Society, a non-profit that pays its way with cash donations, sponsors, concession sales and $2 rides on the festival train. Its own listing calls it Western Canada's largest free outdoor walk-through Christmas light display, and in 2026 the Airdrie Festival of Lights runs every night from December 1 to 31, 6 to 9 pm.

A Holiday Train with the Anyway Gang and a December 2, 2023 parade on Main Street

The most recent Airdrie Christmas season we could document in full is 2023. The Festival of Lights opened on Friday, December 1, with FortisAlberta's Light Up The Night in Nose Creek Park at 5:30 pm, free hot dogs and the Airdrie Community Choir at 7 pm. The next evening the Santa Claus Parade rolled down Main Street at 5 pm, hosted by Airdrie Parades, with roads closed from Veteran's Boulevard to Ridgegate Way.

On Sunday, December 3, firefighters played the RCMP at Ron Ebbesen Arena in the 5th annual charity hockey game for the Airdrie 1st Club Christmas Hamper program. The CPKC Holiday Train pulled into Nose Creek Park on December 8 with the band Anyway Gang, and the Nose Creek Valley Museum hosted an old-fashioned skating party on December 9 with carols from the Victorian Society of Alberta. The fire department also brought back an old custom that season, handing out candy canes at festival events.

A 25th birthday museum exhibit in 2020 with 78 hidden creatures from the Twelve Days of Christmas

For the festival's 25th season in 2020, the Nose Creek Valley Museum built a Christmas exhibit about it, with an old festival sign, miniature train ticket stubs, 1990s newspaper clippings and leaflets. Because of the pandemic nothing could be touched, so children hunted instead for 78 creatures from the Twelve Days of Christmas song hidden around the room, and the first 250 visitors got a free ticket for the festival's miniature train. That year the theme was "Celebrating 25 years of family tradition," and about 50,000 people came to a lights-only version of the show.

In a normal year the festival draws about 70,000 visitors. By 2021 the displays were valued at $1 million, setup took about 1,500 volunteer hours starting in mid-November, and the society needed close to 30 volunteers a night. Back in 2014, its 18th year, the festival had the lowest setup turnout in its history and rallied helpers with the slogan "We can't glow without you!"

Owen Riegling and Sam Roberts Band on the CPKC Holiday Train beside Nose Creek Park on December 14, 2026

Airdrie's Christmas train story happens on two tracks. Inside the Festival of Lights, children ride the festival's own miniature train for $2, past displays such as the Toy Train Express, Candy Cane Lane, Penguin Village and Santa Takes Flight. The 2020 museum exhibit even kept a box of old miniature train ticket stubs.

Out on the main line, the CPKC Holiday Train stops on the east side of the CPKC tracks in Nose Creek Park. In 2026 it arrives on Monday, December 14, with a show from 5:30 to 6 pm by country singer Owen Riegling, who taught himself guitar after getting one for Christmas, and the Sam Roberts Band. Guests are asked to bring a donation for the Airdrie Food Bank. There is no on-site parking except a few accessible stalls, so the City runs a free shuttle from 5 pm, and after the show families can walk straight into the Festival of Lights.

Traditions today

  • Festival of Lights every December night: About 1,000 volunteer-built displays in Nose Creek Regional Park, free to walk through from December 1 to 31, 6 to 9 pm, as they have been since 1996.
  • Light Up Airdrie weekend: The city's holiday kickoff. In 2026 it runs December 4 to 6 with Moonlight Madness late shopping, Mrs. Claus's Cookies and Cocoa Storytime at the library and Countdown to Santa downtown.
  • Santa Claus Parade on Main Street: Lit floats and Santa roll through Downtown Airdrie on the Saturday of Light Up Airdrie weekend. In 2026 the Airdrie Santa Claus Parade starts at 5 pm on December 5.
  • CPKC Holiday Train stop: The lit-up train stops beside Nose Creek Park for a short concert and a food bank drive. In 2026 it comes on December 14.
  • Emergency Services Night: Airdrie Fire, RCMP, EMS and Calgary Search and Rescue join festival activities for an evening. In 2026 it is Sunday, December 6, the same night Santa visits the festival tent.

A fact for kids

On the very first night of the Airdrie Festival of Lights in 1996, a foot of snow buried the lights, so people found them by listening for the crunch of bulbs under their boots.

Questions about Christmas in Airdrie

Who started the Airdrie Festival of Lights?

The festival was started in 1996 by Stan Softley, then an alderman and later a city councillor, who wanted to put Airdrie on the map. An October 9, 1996 newspaper story said he hoped to unveil the light festival in Nose Creek Park that December. Today it is run by the non-profit Airdrie Festival of Lights Society with a large team of volunteers.

What happened on the first night of the Airdrie Festival of Lights?

The first displays went up in Nose Creek Park in 1996, and about a foot of snow fell on them overnight. Festival coordinator Michelle Pirzek later said visitors went walking through the park to find the crunching of the bulbs. It became a favourite story in the festival's early history, which the Nose Creek Valley Museum featured in a 2020 exhibit.

How many lights were in the Airdrie Festival of Lights in the 1990s?

A December 1997 Calgary Herald story was headlined "85,000 bulb display turns spotlight on Airdrie," only one year after the festival began. By 2021 the show had grown to about 1,000 festive light displays in Nose Creek Regional Park, and the displays were valued at about $1 million.

How many people visit the Airdrie Festival of Lights each December?

In a normal year about 70,000 people walk through the festival, and coordinators have also given a figure of roughly 75,000. In 2020, when the festival ran in a lights-only format during the pandemic, about 50,000 people still came. Admission is free and parking is free, and cash donations help keep it that way.

Is there a train ride at the Airdrie Festival of Lights?

Yes. The festival has its own miniature train with a little station, and rides cost $2 for younger visitors. The money helps pay for the free festival, along with donations, sponsors and concession sales. Displays along the way include the Toy Train Express and Candy Cane Lane, and the festival map shows where the trains, Santa tent and fire pits are.

What displays can kids see at the Airdrie Festival of Lights?

The festival's sponsor list names displays such as Candy Land, North Pole, Skating Party, Woodland Fantasy, Penguin Village, Poinsettia Arch, Santa Takes Flight, Winter Wonderland, a Nativity, Ski Run, Townscape, Toy Train Express, Twelve Days of Christmas and Candy Cane Lane. There are also fire pits, an event stage, festive trees and Santa's Gift Shop.

Why is the Airdrie Festival of Lights free?

The Airdrie Festival of Lights Society has kept it free since 1996 by relying on cash donations, sponsorships, $2 train ride money and concession sales. Expenses hit a record in 2015, and so did donations. The society follows a 10-year strategic plan so it could keep running even in a year with no income, and donations are welcome all year.

How many volunteers does the Airdrie Festival of Lights need?

Setup starts in mid-November and takes about 1,500 volunteer hours. On festival nights the society usually needs 15 to 20 volunteers, and in 2021 it asked for nearly 30 a night, more than 900 shifts in all. Volunteers were especially needed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve, according to a 2014 appeal.

What did the Nose Creek Valley Museum show for the festival's 25th anniversary?

In 2020 the museum's annual Christmas display celebrated 25 years of the Festival of Lights with an old festival sign, miniature train ticket stubs, 1990s newspaper clippings and advertising leaflets. Because nothing could be touched that year, kids searched for 78 hidden creatures from the Twelve Days of Christmas song and matched gingerbread characters instead. The first 250 visitors got a free festival train ticket.

When is the CPKC Holiday Train in Airdrie in 2026?

The CPKC Holiday Train stops in Airdrie on Monday, December 14, 2026, with a show from 5:30 to 6 pm in Nose Creek Park on the east side of the CPKC tracks. Owen Riegling and the Sam Roberts Band are the headliners, and guests are asked to bring a donation for the Airdrie Food Bank. A free shuttle starts at 5 pm.

Where should I park for the Holiday Train in Airdrie?

The City of Airdrie says there is no on-site parking at the Holiday Train stop in Nose Creek Park, apart from a few accessible stalls that need a government-issued placard. Families are encouraged to walk or use the free event shuttle, which starts at 5 pm. Main Street gets busy, so give yourself extra time, and plan to visit the Festival of Lights after the show.

Who played the CPKC Holiday Train in Airdrie in 2023?

In 2023 the CPKC Holiday Train arrived at Nose Creek Park at 5:15 pm on December 8, and the band Anyway Gang played from 5:45 to 6 pm. At the time, the train program said it had raised $22.4 million and collected 5.15 million pounds of food since it started in 1999. The stop always collects for local food support.

What is Light Up Airdrie?

Light Up Airdrie is the city's holiday kickoff weekend. In 2026 it runs December 4 to 6, starting with Moonlight Madness late shopping on Friday. Saturday has Mrs. Claus's Cookies and Cocoa Storytime at the Airdrie Public Library from 10 am to 1 pm, an interactive It's a Wonderful Life screening, Countdown to Santa downtown from 3 pm and the parade at 5 pm.

What is Countdown to Santa in Downtown Airdrie?

Countdown to Santa fills Main Street with festive treats, activities, photo spots and holiday offers from downtown businesses and community partners before the Santa Claus Parade. In 2026 it starts at 3 pm on Saturday, December 5. The City suggests staying after the parade for dinner downtown or a walk through the Festival of Lights.

When did the Airdrie Santa Claus Parade happen in 2023?

In 2023 the Santa Claus Parade ran on Saturday, December 2, starting at 5 pm on Main Street, hosted by Airdrie Parades. Main Street was closed from Veteran's Boulevard to Ridgegate Way from 4:30 to 6 pm, while the urgent care centre at 604 Main Street SE stayed open. It came one day after the Festival of Lights opened.

Did Airdrie firefighters once hand out candy canes on Christmas Eve?

Yes. Before 2003, the Airdrie fire department visited homes on Christmas Eve to hand out candy canes. In 2023 the department brought the custom back in a new form, handing out candy canes at Festival of Lights events. Fire, RCMP and EMS crews still meet families at the festival's Emergency Services Night each December.

What is Emergency Services Night at the Airdrie Festival of Lights?

It is a festival evening honouring the people who keep Airdrie safe. Airdrie Fire, RCMP, EMS, Calgary Search and Rescue and the Airdrie Health Foundation join activities and interactive displays in Nose Creek Park. In 2026 it is Sunday, December 6, from 6 to 9 pm, the same night Santa is in the festival tent from 7 to 8 pm.

Is there a firefighters versus RCMP hockey game in Airdrie at Christmas?

In 2023 Airdrie firefighters and the RCMP played their 5th annual charity hockey game on Sunday, December 3, at Ron Ebbesen Arena from 2 to 4:15 pm. Entry was by donation to the Airdrie 1st Club Christmas Hamper program, with red donation boxes at three fire halls and a blue box at the RCMP detachment.

Does the Nose Creek Valley Museum hold a Christmas skating party?

In 2023 the Nose Creek Valley Museum hosted an old-fashioned skating party on Saturday, December 9, from 6 to 9 pm, with carols from the Victorian Society of Alberta and free skate rentals at the Skate Shack. The museum also puts up an annual Christmas display, and in 2020 it was devoted to the Festival of Lights.

What can kids do at the Airdrie library at Christmas?

On Saturday, December 5, 2026, the Airdrie Public Library hosts Mrs. Claus's Cookies and Cocoa Storytime from 10 am to 1 pm, with cookie decorating, warm cocoa and Christmas stories. That afternoon families can make a 3D pen ornament from 1 to 3:30 pm or join an interactive It's a Wonderful Life screening before heading to the parade.

How long has the Airdrie Festival of Lights been running?

The festival opened in Nose Creek Park in December 1996. It marked its 18th year in 2014, its 25th season in 2020 with the theme "Celebrating 25 years of family tradition," and its 26th in 2021. The festival's own website now calls it a holiday tradition the community has shared for more than three decades.

Sources

  1. A view to the past: Walking through 26 years of Airdrie Festival of Lights history, AirdrieToday
  2. New museum exhibit celebrates Festival of Lights, AirdrieToday
  3. Airdrie Festival of Lights to ring in 26th year of festive light displays, AirdrieToday
  4. Old and new holiday traditions coming to Airdrie in December, DiscoverAirdrie
  5. Can't Glow Without You: Airdrie Festival of Lights, Family Fun Calgary
  6. Airdrie Festival of Lights event listing, airdrielife
  7. Light Up Airdrie, City of Airdrie
  8. CPKC Holiday Train, City of Airdrie
  9. Airdrie Festival of Lights, Airdrie Festival of Lights Society

Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Canada city.

Airdrie Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Airdrie this year?

We have confirmed 2 free Christmas events for kids in Airdrie for 2026: the Airdrie Festival of Lights in Nose Creek Park, nightly December 1 to 31, and the Santa Claus Parade on Main Street on December 5.

When is the Airdrie Santa Claus Parade in 2026?

Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 5 pm on Main Street in Downtown Airdrie, hosted by Airdrie Parades.

When is the Airdrie Festival of Lights open?

Every night from December 1 to 31, 2026, 6 to 9 pm, in Nose Creek Regional Park. Admission is free and donations keep it running.

When can kids see Santa at the Festival of Lights?

The City lists Santa in the festival tent on Sunday, December 6, 2026, from 7 to 8 pm.

Who do I contact about Airdrie holiday events?

For the lights, the Airdrie Festival of Lights Society at info@airdrielights.com. For the parade, Airdrie Parades at hello@airdrieparades.com.

Are there more Christmas events near Airdrie?

Yes. Our Canada Christmas events for kids guide lists confirmed events in cities across Canada, and the national search sorts events by distance from your town.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city calendar. We last checked Airdrie on November 11, 2026. Rally is also contacting each organizer to confirm details like parking, washrooms and bad-weather plans.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Kelsey Cecil
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