Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival
Edmonton's first festival of the year turns the coldest weekend into the best one. Deep Freeze takes over Alberta Avenue each January with glowing ice sculptures, bonfires, cultural performances, street hockey, and the crowd-favourite Deep Freezer Races — all free. A key search for Edmonton winter festivals, free family events, and things to do in January.
Event Details
Dates: Deep Freeze returns each January — 2027 dates to be announced
Location: Alberta Avenue District
Admission: Free — all ages
Info: deepfreezefest.ca
About Deep Freeze
Presented by Arts on the Ave, Deep Freeze celebrates the "Olde New Year" and the many cultures that make up Alberta Avenue — Ukrainian, French Canadian, Franco-African, Indigenous (Métis, Inuit, First Nations), Latin American, and Asian. Each year brings a fresh theme, but the mix stays: dazzling art, warming food, live music, and outdoor winter fun that makes the cold feel like the whole point.
Highlights
Ice sculptures & light installations lining the avenue
Deep Freezer Races are the festival's signature ice-sled dash
Pipon Village includes snowshoeing, bannock over an open fire, and cultural storytelling
Street hockey, axe-throwing & winter games
Cultural performances and kitchen dance parties
Global eats featuring traditional and fusion dishes from local communities
Getting There & Good to Know
Alberta Avenue is served by ETS bus routes along 118 Avenue, and it's an easy stretch to walk between attractions. This is an outdoor winter festival, so bundle up — warm layers, boots, and gloves make all the difference for a full afternoon out.