Christmas Events for Kids in Fort McMurray, Alberta (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

3 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 3 Christmas events for kids in Fort McMurray, Alberta. The season opens on November 20 with A Colorful Christmas with The Color and runs until December 5 with Fort McMurray Santa Claus Parade. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Canada.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Fort McMurray: 3
  • First: A Colorful Christmas with The Color, Fort McMurray, November 20
  • Free events: None confirmed yet

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Fort McMurray, Alberta

Kids’ Christmas events
3 confirmed for 2026
Cities and towns
Fort McMurray
Season
November 20 to December 5
Free events
None confirmed yet
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Fort McMurray

Listed soonest first: 3 confirmed events in Fort McMurray.

Family Christmas event

A Colorful Christmas with The Color

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UCB Radio presents the A Colorful Christmas Tour stop in Fort McMurray on Friday, November 20, 2026, at the Family Christian Centre, 160 Dickins Drive. Doors open at 5:30pm and the show runs from 7 to 9:30pm.

The listing says the concert is open to all ages, with free parking, and that tickets are not refundable. It does not show a ticket price.

Parent tip: Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are not refundable, so check your family's plans first. The event is a Christian concert, so it suits families who want that style of Christmas music.

Host
UCB Radio (opens in a new tab)
Where
Family Christian Centre, 160 Dickins Drive, Fort McMurray (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with UCB Radio (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 2 more Fort McMurray, Alberta events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
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  • Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
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Coming up on this page

  • 2 Santa
  • 1 Lights
  • 1 Parades

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Visit with Santa

Council's Starry Night

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The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo lists Council's Starry Night for Saturday, December 5, 2026 at 5pm at kiyām Community Park, ahead of the 6pm Santa Claus Parade.

The 2025 evening included the Mayor and Councillors lighting the community tree and tipi, festive music and hot chocolate from a Salvation Army food truck. The 2026 program had not been posted when this was checked.

Parent tip: The lighting is listed for 5pm, an hour before the parade, so families who want both should plan to move to Franklin Avenue before 6pm.

Host
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (opens in a new tab)
Where
kiyām Community Park, Fort McMurray (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (opens in a new tab)

New events in Fort McMurray, Alberta every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Fort McMurray, Alberta every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Santa Claus parade

Fort McMurray Santa Claus Parade

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The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo lists the 2026 parade for Saturday, December 5 at 6pm. It starts on Main Street, heads south on Franklin Avenue and ends at Riedel Street and Clearwater Drive. Float registration runs from October 22 to November 19, 2026.

In 2025 the Main Street block was sensory-friendly, with floats and walking groups turning off music and sirens, but the 2026 page does not say whether that returns. It also does not state an admission price.

Parent tip: Dress for a long wait on the sidewalk in December. In 2025 the city asked people to stay behind the barricades and not cross closed roads, and the Main Street block was the quieter spot for kids who dislike loud noise.

Host
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (opens in a new tab)
Where
Franklin Avenue, downtown Fort McMurray, Franklin Avenue, from Main Street to Riedel Street (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (opens in a new tab)

New events in Fort McMurray, Alberta every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Fort McMurray, Alberta every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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More Christmas events for kids in Canada

A story for the trip home

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Christmas events for kids in Fort McMurray, Alberta: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Fort McMurray, Alberta?

For 2026, we confirmed 3 Christmas events for kids in Fort McMurray, Alberta, each on its host’s own page: Fort McMurray Santa Claus Parade (Fort McMurray), Council's Starry Night (Fort McMurray) and A Colorful Christmas with The Color (Fort McMurray). Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Fort McMurray, Alberta?

Where to see Santa: Fort McMurray Santa Claus Parade (Fort McMurray) and Council's Starry Night (Fort McMurray). Check the listings above for times and booking.

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, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 8, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

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.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Fort McMurray, Alberta

In 2025, Fort McMurray's Santa Claus Parade turned into a drive-thru because of extreme cold, with floats lined up on Clearwater Drive and families watching from their cars. The tradition behind it goes back at least to a Candy Cane Christmas in 2017.

A Candy Cane Christmas on Franklin Avenue in 2017

A Santa Claus Community Committee page for Saturday, December 2, 2017, shows how long the parade has been a full-day affair in Fort McMurray. The theme was a Candy Cane Christmas. The day began with the 25th annual Syncrude Food Drive at grocery stores and Walmart, then Breakfast with Santa at Peter Pond Mall from 10 to 11am and an Elf Workshop at the Wood Buffalo Regional Library from noon to 4pm.

Santa's Send Off at the mall came at 5:30pm, and the parade started at 6:30pm on Franklin Avenue. By 2023 the municipality was pairing it with Council's Starry Night, with hot chocolate and snacks, at 5pm.

A drive-thru Santa when the cold hit on December 7, 2025

The 2025 parade was planned for Saturday, December 6, at 6pm, with a Main Street block that was sensory-friendly: floats and walking groups turned off music and sirens. Kids could drop letters in Santa's Mailbox until the parade began, and the Boys and Girls Club offered face painting.

Then extreme cold changed the plan. The parade moved to a drive-thru on Sunday, December 7, from 5 to 8pm, with floats staged along Clearwater Drive and families watching from their vehicles. Free shuttles ran from Keyano. Council's Starry Night still went ahead at 5pm at kiyām Community Park, with an Elder blessing and hot chocolate from a Salvation Army food truck.

A $1,000 float prize and a tipi lit next to the tree

Parade floats are not only for show in Fort McMurray. After the parade, the public votes online, and the best-decorated float in each category earns $1,000 for the community organization or non-profit it picks. In 2025, voting ran from 6pm to 11:59pm on parade night.

The lighting at Council's Starry Night includes a tipi as well as a community tree, and in 2024 Indigenous drummers and carolers took part. Volunteers can sign up as Barricade Monitors, Sidewalk Safety Elves or members of the Toyshop Team. For 2026, float registration is open from October 22 to November 19.

Traditions today

  • Fort McMurray Santa Claus Parade: The parade is listed for Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 6pm, from Main Street south along Franklin Avenue to Riedel Street.
  • Council's Starry Night: The Mayor and Councillors light the community tree and tipi at kiyām Community Park at 5pm on December 5, 2026.
  • Sensory-friendly block: In 2025 the Main Street start was a quiet block where floats and walking groups turned off music and sirens.
  • Santa's Mailbox: In 2025 children could bring letters to Santa's Mailbox until the parade began.
  • Float voting: The public votes online after the parade, and the best float in each category earns $1,000 for a community group.
  • Santa at Peter Pond Mall: The 2025 season offered Storytime with Santa, Breakfast with Santa and a sensory-friendly Santa throughout December.

A fact for kids

Fort McMurray's best-decorated float in each category wins $1,000 for a community group, and in 2025 the parade became a drive-thru when the weather turned too cold.

Questions about Christmas in Fort McMurray, Alberta

When is the Fort McMurray Santa Claus Parade in 2026?

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo lists the Santa Claus Parade for Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 6pm. Council's Starry Night, the tree and tipi lighting, is at 5pm the same evening. Rally Takes the Train's Fort McMurray Christmas events guide has the current list of dates for the season.

Where does the Fort McMurray Santa parade start and finish?

The 2026 parade starts on Main Street, heads south on Franklin Avenue and ends at Riedel Street and Clearwater Drive, according to the municipality. The route map and safety information are on the municipality's Santa page. Float registration for local groups opened October 22 and closes November 19, 2026, at 11:59pm.

What time is Council's Starry Night in Fort McMurray in 2026?

Council's Starry Night is listed for Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5pm at kiyām Community Park, an hour before the parade. The 2026 program had not been posted when this was written, so check the municipality's Santa page before you go for any changes to the schedule.

What happens at the tree and tipi lighting at kiyām Community Park?

In 2025 the Mayor and Councillors lit the community tree and tipi, with festive music and hot chocolate from a Salvation Army food truck. An Elder blessing and holiday greetings were part of the program. In 2024 Indigenous drummers and carolers also took part before the parade.

What is the sensory-friendly block at the Fort McMurray parade?

Main Street, where the parade starts, was set aside as a sensory-friendly block in 2024 and 2025. Floats and walking groups turn off their music and sirens there, which makes it a quieter place to watch for children who find loud noise hard. Lights still shine along the block.

Why did Fort McMurray move its 2025 Santa parade?

The municipality moved the 2025 Santa Claus Parade because of extreme cold. It had been planned for Saturday, December 6, and became a drive-thru on Sunday, December 7, from 5 to 8pm. The move was made to protect volunteers, contractors, participants, spectators and staff, and Council's Starry Night still went ahead.

How did the drive-thru Santa parade work in Fort McMurray in 2025?

Floats were staged along Clearwater Drive, and residents watched from their vehicles instead of standing on the sidewalk. Spectators entered at Franklin Avenue and Clearwater Drive, near Home Hardware. Free shuttle buses ran every 10 to 15 minutes from Keyano for people without a vehicle.

How does float voting work at the Fort McMurray parade?

The public votes online after the parade. In 2025, voting ran from 6pm to 11:59pm on parade night. The best-decorated float in each category earns $1,000 for the community organization or non-profit of its choice, so a family favourite can raise money for a local group.

When can a group register a float for the 2026 Fort McMurray parade?

Float and walking group registration for 2026 opens on October 22 and closes on November 19, 2026, at 11:59pm, according to the municipality's Santa page. Local businesses, organizations, groups and teams can sign up at rmwb.ca/santa, and the site has the route and safety information.

How can volunteers help with the Fort McMurray Santa Claus Parade?

The 2025 call for volunteers listed Barricade Monitors, Sidewalk Safety Elves and the Toyshop Team. Non-profits and groups of 10 to 20 people could also fundraise through the parade. Applications were due on November 19 in 2025, and the municipality's Santa page is where 2026 details appear.

Where can kids drop off a letter to Santa during parade week?

In 2025 children could bring letters to Santa's Mailbox, which stayed open until the parade began. The municipality shared this in its parade-day release. A 2026 location had not been posted when this was written, so check the municipality's Santa page for the mailbox details this year.

Can kids visit Santa at Peter Pond Mall in Fort McMurray?

For the 2025 season the municipality listed Storytime with Santa, Breakfast with Santa and sensory-friendly Santa at Peter Pond Mall throughout December. The mall's 2026 Santa dates were not confirmed when this was written, so call the mall or check its page before planning a visit.

What did the Boys and Girls Club offer on parade night in 2025?

The Boys and Girls Club handed out warm food and drinks and offered face painting on parade night, December 6, 2025. It also listed a Christmas Jamboree for December 13. Those are 2025 details, and a 2026 plan had not been announced when this was written.

What is Christmas in the Village at Fort McMurray Heritage Village?

The municipality's page lists Santa in the barn for photos, children's holiday crafts, hot chocolate and decorated historical buildings at 1 Tolen Drive. Admission is free, but the page does not show a year, so the dates and times are not confirmed for 2026. Check with the municipality before going.

Is there a family Christmas concert in Fort McMurray on November 20, 2026?

A Colorful Christmas, a Christian Christmas concert with Jordan Janzen and his band, The Color, is listed for Friday, November 20, 2026, at the Family Christian Centre, 160 Dickins Drive. Doors open at 5:30pm and the show starts at 7pm. The event page says it is open to all ages.

Was there a family holiday concert at Keyano Theatre in 2025?

Yes. We Knead a Little Christmas, presented by St. Anne, ran on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at Keyano Theatre on Franklin Avenue, with music and storytelling by students and staff. Tickets were $10 and limited to four per show per household. Keyano's 2026 holiday shows were not confirmed.

What was the Fort McMurray parade like in 2017?

On Saturday, December 2, 2017, the Santa Claus Community Committee ran a Candy Cane Christmas, with the parade at 6:30pm on Franklin Avenue. The day also had Breakfast with Santa at Peter Pond Mall, an Elf Workshop at the Wood Buffalo Regional Library and Santa's Send Off at the mall before the parade.

What was the Syncrude Food Drive that ran with the parade?

The 2017 parade day began with the 25th annual Syncrude Food Drive, held from 9am to 9pm at grocery stores and Walmart locations. It was part of the Santa Claus Community Committee's day of events. The page does not say how the food was shared out afterward.

Besides the parade, what can kids do at Christmas in Fort McMurray?

Confirmed 2026 dates are the parade and Council's Starry Night on December 5, plus the A Colorful Christmas concert on November 20. In past seasons families also visited Santa at Peter Pond Mall, dropped letters in Santa's Mailbox and went to Christmas in the Village at the Heritage Village.

Where can we spend Christmas Day in Fort McMurray with kids?

No confirmed Christmas Day family events turned up for Fort McMurray in 2026. The dates families can plan around are in early December: the parade and Council's Starry Night on December 5. Rally Takes the Train's Fort McMurray Christmas events guide will add Christmas week listings as they are confirmed.

Sources

  1. Santa Claus Parade and Council's Starry Night 2026, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
  2. Santa Claus Parade returns to the region Dec. 6, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
  3. Santa Claus comes to town on Dec. 6, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
  4. Santa Claus Parade and Council's Starry Night rescheduled to Dec. 7, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
  5. Santa Claus Parade and Starry Night Celebration Set for Saturday, Play 103.7
  6. Jolly events around town, YMM Online
  7. Santa Claus Parade & Activities (Dec. 2, 2017), Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce
  8. The Color: A Colorful Christmas, Fort McMurray 2026, Eventbrite
  9. We Knead a Little Christmas, Showpass (Keyano Theatre)
  10. Christmas in the Village, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Kelsey Cecil
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