Flying Canoë Volant
Follow the light into the ravine. Flying Canoë Volant is Edmonton's magical nighttime winter festival, lighting up the Mill Creek Ravine, La Cité Francophone, and the French Quarter with illuminated art, live music, storytelling, and fire. Rooted in the legend of the flying canoe and in French-Canadian, First Nations, and Métis traditions, it's a bilingual celebration of the long winter night. A key search for Edmonton winter festivals, free family events, and things to do in January.
Event Details
Dates: January - 2027 dates to be announced
Location: Mill Creek Ravine, La Cité Francophone & the French Quarter
Admission: Free outdoor festival (confirm for the current year — see note)
Website: flyingcanoe.ca
About the Festival
Inspired by the legend of La Chasse-Galerie — a blend of French-Canadian and First Nations folklore about lost canoeists paddling across the winter sky — Flying Canoë Volant turns a river-valley ravine into a glowing trail of art and story. It's a community event built to celebrate winter and to give Indigenous, Métis, and Francophone communities a stage to share their cultures, past and present.
Highlights
Illuminated art installations by local artists lining the ravine trails
Live music & DJs on outdoor and indoor stages
Storytelling & cultural performances rooted in local folklore
Winter activities and the Flying Canoë Volant canoe races
The magic of a winter night in one of Edmonton's most scenic settings
Getting There & Good to Know
The festival centres on the French Quarter and Mill Creek Ravine, reachable by ETS bus and the Valley Line LRT (Bonnie Doon area). Dress for a cold night outdoors on ravine trails — warm boots with good grip, layers, and a headlamp-friendly attitude. Trails can be snowy and uneven, so plan for slower walking with kids.