Christmas Events for Kids in Medicine Hat, Alberta (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The season opens on November 20 with Midnight Madness and runs until December 23 with Holly Jolly Twinkle Trolley. One of these is free. 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 Medicine Hat: 7
  • First: Midnight Madness, Medicine Hat, November 20
  • Free events: CPKC Holiday Train in Medicine Hat

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 Medicine Hat, Alberta

Kids’ Christmas events
7 confirmed for 2026
Cities and towns
Medicine Hat
Season
November 20 to December 23
Free events
1
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Medicine Hat

Listed soonest first: 7 confirmed events in Medicine Hat.

Tree lighting

Midnight Madness

Expand to see the parent tip

Tourism Medicine Hat lists Midnight Madness from 4:30pm to midnight in the historic downtown, with the tree lighting at BATUS Park. The 2025 edition was hosted by the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce about a week before Black Friday, with live entertainment, giveaways, shop specials and food. Admission and a family schedule for 2026 were not posted on the pages I could open.

Parent tip: The evening runs late and outdoors, so bring warm layers. Check the chamber or Tourism Medicine Hat for the tree lighting time before you go.

Host
Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab)
Where
Historic Downtown Medicine Hat and BATUS Park (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 6 more Medicine Hat, Alberta events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 2 Lights
  • 2 Markets
  • 1 Santa
  • 1 Free

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Christmas market

Heritage Christmas Market at Medalta

Expand to see the parent tip

Tourism Medicine Hat lists the Heritage Christmas Market at Medalta on November 27 and 28, 2026. Last year's market ran over two days with more than 50 vendors, local food, live music, free entry and a Kids' Creation Station where children could make a craft. The 2026 hours, admission and kids' activities were not confirmed on a page I could open.

Parent tip: Hours changed between the Friday and Saturday last year, so check Medalta before heading out. Bring cash or a card for handmade gifts.

Host
Medalta (opens in a new tab)
Where
Medalta, Historic Clay District, 713 Medalta Ave SE, Medicine Hat (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Medalta (opens in a new tab)

New events in Medicine Hat, Alberta every week

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

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Christmas market

Old Tyme Christmas Fair and Market

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Tourism Medicine Hat lists the Old Tyme Christmas Fair and Market on December 3, 2026, at Co-op Pioneer Village and the Cypress Centre. At the 2025 fair, the indoor market had local food and craft vendors, and Pioneer Village offered free wagon rides, hot dogs, hot chocolate, s'mores and photos with Santa Claus. Hours for 2026 were not posted on the page I could open.

Parent tip: Last year the market ran 4 to 9pm and the fair 5 to 8pm. Dress for the outdoor wagon rides and confirm the 2026 hours first.

Host
Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede (opens in a new tab)
Where
Co-op Pioneer Village and Cypress Centre, Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede (opens in a new tab)

New events in Medicine Hat, Alberta every week

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

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Christmas lights

Holly Jolly Twinkle Trolley

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Tourism Medicine Hat lists the Holly Jolly Twinkle Trolley from December 4 to December 23, 2026, on the Sunshine Trolley, and says tickets are sold through its ticket site. Prices, departure times and which nights run were not shown on the page I opened.

Parent tip: Tickets are required, so book before you go. Ask about child pricing when you book.

Host
Tourism Medicine Hat (opens in a new tab)
Where
Sunshine Trolley, Medicine Hat (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tourism Medicine Hat (opens in a new tab)

New events in Medicine Hat, Alberta every week

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

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Family Christmas event

Medalta Christmas Clay Day

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Tourism Medicine Hat lists Medalta Christmas Clay Day on Saturday, December 5, 2026, for ages 6 to 12. The listing gives no price, start time or registration details, and I could not open a Medalta page for it. The address is from Medalta's 2025 market listing.

Parent tip: Ask Medalta whether you need to register and what it costs before the day.

Host
Medalta (opens in a new tab)
Where
Medalta, Historic Clay District, 713 Medalta Ave SE, Medicine Hat (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Medalta (opens in a new tab)

New events in Medicine Hat, Alberta every week

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

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Family Christmas eventFree

CPKC Holiday Train in Medicine Hat

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The holiday train arrives at 3:15pm on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at Queen and North Railway Street, east of the CPKC Station, according to Tourism Medicine Hat and Narcity. Admission is free and families are asked to bring a non-perishable food item. This is a stationary concert stop, not a ride.

Parent tip: The stop is short, about 30 minutes, and it is outdoors in December, so dress warm and bring your food donation.

Host
CPKC (opens in a new tab)
Where
Queen and North Railway Street, east of the CPKC Station, Medicine Hat (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with CPKC (opens in a new tab)

New events in Medicine Hat, Alberta every week

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

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Family Christmas event

DIY Christmas Ornaments

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Tourism Medicine Hat lists DIY Christmas Ornaments at the Medicine Hat Public Library on December 9, 2026, in two sessions. Session times, ages, price and any sign-up were not given on the page I opened.

Parent tip: Contact the library about session times and whether you need to register.

Host
Medicine Hat Public Library (opens in a new tab)
Where
Medicine Hat Public Library (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Medicine Hat Public Library (opens in a new tab)

New events in Medicine Hat, Alberta every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Medicine Hat, 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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Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

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Christmas events for kids in Medicine Hat, Alberta: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Medicine Hat, Alberta?

For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids in Medicine Hat, Alberta, each on its host’s own page: Midnight Madness (Medicine Hat), Old Tyme Christmas Fair and Market (Medicine Hat), Heritage Christmas Market at Medalta (Medicine Hat) and 4 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Medicine Hat, Alberta?

Yes. One of the 7 events here is free: CPKC Holiday Train in Medicine Hat (Medicine Hat). Check the listing in case you need to book or register.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Medicine Hat, Alberta?

Where to see Santa: Old Tyme Christmas Fair and Market (Medicine Hat). 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 Medicine Hat, Alberta

In 2021, Medicine Hat's Santa parade became five evenings of a pickup truck driving through neighbourhoods, because a tree auction had been cancelled. That idea grew into a Christmas tradition run for the Santa Claus Fund.

A pickup truck Santa and five zones in 2021

The Santa Claus Is Coming To Town parade is a young Medicine Hat tradition. The Medicine Hat News called the 2021 version the second annual, and it replaced a tree auction that COVID-19 had prevented. Santa rode on the back of a pickup truck.

Over five evenings, December 13 to 17, 2021, the parade visited a different zone each night, from Redcliff and Crescent Heights to Dunmore and Ross Glen. The last night ended with a grand march and a parking lot party at the Santa Claus Fund Holiday Home on Dunmore, with hot chocolate, cookies and live music.

An elf photo, a stock car and a $5 donation in 2025

The 2025 season ran on community fundraisers. Medicine Hat Speedway held Stuff The Stock Car on November 15 at Canadian Tire. The Santa Claus Is Coming To Town parade was set for November 22. A photo with Buddy the Elf asked for a $5 minimum donation.

Santa photos started December 4 at the Co-op Mall, with a pay-what-you-can option or a new unwrapped toy. Park Meadows Estates lit up its Christmas display on December 2, open Tuesday to Sunday from 5 to 9pm and free, with donations welcome. The Old Tyme Christmas Fair filled the Stampede grounds on December 4.

A blue pine at BATUS Park and a light canopy

Downtown Medicine Hat has a large pine tree in BATUS Park that glows blue in the evening, and festive lights that come on at sunset. Towne Square has a light canopy at 603 1 St. SE. The Heritage Christmas Market at Medalta is listed for November 27 and 28.

Midnight Madness is the downtown shopping night, held about a week before Black Friday, and it includes a tree lighting. The 2025 edition was on Friday, November 21, hosted by the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce. The 2026 guide lists it for November 20, and a free Holiday Train concert on December 8.

Traditions today

  • Santa Claus Is Coming To Town parade: The Santa Claus Fund parade began as a pickup truck tour in 2021, and the 2025 parade was set for November 22.
  • Midnight Madness and the BATUS Park tree: The downtown evening lists a tree lighting, and the 2026 holiday guide shows it on November 20 from 4:30pm to midnight.
  • Park Meadows Estates lights: A free neighbourhood Christmas display, open Tuesday to Sunday from 5 to 9pm in 2025, with voluntary donations.
  • Old Tyme Christmas Fair: The Stampede grounds offer free wagon rides, hot chocolate, s'mores and Santa photos, and the 2026 guide lists December 3.
  • Heritage Christmas Market at Medalta: Over 50 vendors and a Kids' Creation Station in 2025, listed again for November 27 and 28, 2026.
  • CPKC Holiday Train: A free concert stop at Queen and North Railway Street, listed for December 8, 2026, at 3:15pm.

A fact for kids

Medicine Hat's 2021 Santa parade took five evenings and a pickup truck, visiting a different part of the city each night.

Questions about Christmas in Medicine Hat, Alberta

When is Midnight Madness in Medicine Hat in 2026?

Tourism Medicine Hat lists Midnight Madness on Friday, November 20, 2026, from 4:30pm to midnight in the historic downtown, with a tree lighting at BATUS Park. The 2025 edition was on Friday, November 21, hosted by the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce about a week before Black Friday.

Where is the downtown Christmas tree in Medicine Hat?

The big pine tree in BATUS Park glows blue in the evening, according to Tourism Medicine Hat. Downtown lights also come on at sunset, and Towne Square has a light canopy at 603 1 St. SE. The Heritage Christmas Market at Medalta is listed for November 27 and 28. The Midnight Madness tree lighting is listed at BATUS Park for 2026.

When does the CPKC Holiday Train stop in Medicine Hat in 2026?

The train is listed for Tuesday, December 8, 2026, arriving at 3:15pm at Queen and North Railway Street, east of the CPKC Station. Narcity's schedule shows 3:15 to 3:45pm. It is a free concert stop, and Tourism Medicine Hat asks visitors to bring a non-perishable food item.

Do you have to pay to see the Holiday Train in Medicine Hat?

No. Tourism Medicine Hat lists the December 8, 2026 stop as free. Families are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the food drive. The stop is a stationary concert beside the tracks, so it is not a train ride, and it lasts about half an hour.

What is the Old Tyme Christmas Fair in Medicine Hat?

It is a holiday event hosted by the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede. In 2025 the market had local food and craft vendors, and Co-op Pioneer Village offered free wagon rides, hot dogs, hot chocolate, s'mores and photos with Santa. The 2026 holiday guide lists Thursday, December 3.

What hours did last year's Old Tyme Christmas Fair run?

On December 4, 2025, the Christmas Farmers' Market in the Cypress Centre ran from 4 to 9pm, and the Old Tyme Christmas Fair at Pioneer Village ran from 5 to 8pm. Hours for the December 3, 2026 fair were not posted when this was researched, so check before you go.

Where can kids see Santa in Medicine Hat?

In 2025, Santa photos started December 4 at the Co-op Mall, with a pay-what-you-can option or a new unwrapped toy, and Santa also appeared at the Old Tyme Christmas Fair. A 2026 Santa photo schedule had not been posted when this was researched. Rally Takes the Train's Medicine Hat Christmas events guide lists confirmed dates.

How did the Santa Claus Is Coming To Town parade start in Medicine Hat?

The Medicine Hat News called the December 2021 parade the second annual. It replaced a tree auction that COVID-19 had prevented, and IG Wealth Management sponsored it with the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund. Santa rode on the back of a pickup truck instead of a float.

How did the 2021 Santa parade cover Medicine Hat?

It ran five evenings from December 13 to 17, 2021, from 6 to 8pm, with a different zone each night. One night covered Redcliff and Crescent Heights, another Cottonwood and The Hill, and another Dunmore and Ross Glen. The final night ended at the Santa Claus Fund Holiday Home on Dunmore.

What is the Santa Claus Fund in Medicine Hat?

It is the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund, which collects toys and cash for local families. Its office is in the Medicine Hat Mall, between the Cineplex and the food court, with a donation tree for unwrapped toys. Its charity auction on December 11, 2025, was its biggest fundraiser.

When was Medicine Hat's Santa parade last year?

The Medicine Hat News listed the Santa Claus Is Coming To Town parade for November 22, 2025, but gave no time or route. A 2026 date had not been announced when this was researched, so watch the Santa Claus Fund and the local news for the schedule.

Where are the Park Meadows Christmas lights in Medicine Hat?

The display is at Park Meadows Estates. In 2025 it opened on Tuesday, December 2, and ran Tuesday to Sunday from 5 to 9pm. Entry was free, with voluntary donations toward upkeep. Visitors were asked to park outside, walk in and take their garbage with them. 2026 dates were not yet posted.

Is there a Christmas market in Medicine Hat in 2026?

Yes. Tourism Medicine Hat lists the Heritage Christmas Market at Medalta on November 27 and 28, 2026. In 2025 the Medalta market had over 50 vendors, local food, live music and a Kids' Creation Station, with free entry.

Are there Christmas crafts for kids in Medicine Hat?

Tourism Medicine Hat lists Medalta Christmas Clay Day on Saturday, December 5, 2026, for ages 6 to 12, and DIY Christmas Ornaments at the Medicine Hat Public Library on Wednesday, December 9, in two sessions. Prices and sign-up details were not listed, so contact each host first.

Besides Midnight Madness, what can families do at Christmas in Medicine Hat?

The 2026 holiday guide also lists the Heritage Christmas Market, the Old Tyme Christmas Fair on December 3, the Holiday Train on December 8, and the Holly Jolly Twinkle Trolley from December 4 to 23.

Is there a Christmas lights trolley in Medicine Hat?

Tourism Medicine Hat lists the Holly Jolly Twinkle Trolley from December 4 to 23, 2026, on the Sunshine Trolley, and says it is ticketed. Prices were not posted on the pages opened.

Where can we get a real Christmas tree near Medicine Hat?

Tourism Medicine Hat says you can cut your own Christmas tree at Country Mouse Farm and at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. It gives no dates or prices, so contact the farm or the park for current details before you plan a trip with children.

Are there Christmas movies in Medicine Hat?

The pages read do not name any Christmas films, so we cannot confirm Christmas movies in Medicine Hat. Check The Monarch Theatre for titles and show times.

Is the Redcliff Santa parade part of Medicine Hat's Christmas?

Redcliff is a neighbouring town with its own Santa Claus Parade and Tree Lighting. The 2026 date for it is not confirmed here, so check with Tourism Medicine Hat. Medicine Hat's own parade date for 2026 was not yet announced.

Where can we spend Christmas Day in Medicine Hat with kids?

The 2026 holiday guide lists no events on December 25 itself. Its listings run to the Holly Jolly Twinkle Trolley on December 23. Families can still see the downtown lights, which come on at sunset, and the blue pine in BATUS Park.

Sources

  1. Holidays in Medicine Hat: Winter Markets, Events, and Activities, Tourism Medicine Hat
  2. Old Tyme Christmas Fair '25, Tourism Medicine Hat
  3. Medicine Hat News, November 15, 2025, Medicine Hat News
  4. Medicine Hat News, November 28, 2025, Medicine Hat News
  5. Santa Claus ready to parade a street near you, Medicine Hat News
  6. Midnight Madness '25, Tourism Medicine Hat
  7. Heritage Christmas Market @ Medalta, Tourism Medicine Hat
  8. CPKC Holiday Train 2026 schedule and stops, Narcity
  9. Holiday Festivities in Medicine Hat, Tourism Medicine Hat
Kelsey Cecil
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