AIRDRIE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Your donations do so much more than keep the lights on! 💚

As a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization, the Airdrie Festival of Lights relies on the generosity of our visitors, sponsors, and community partners to bring the Festival to life each year.

Donations help us maintain and repair our displays, purchase new equipment, cover operating expenses, and continue improving the Festival experience for future generations.

But the GLOW doesn't stop there!

Through our community fundraising program, we've also returned more than $500,000 to local nonprofit organizations and youth groups, helping support the incredible work they do throughout our community.

When you give to the Festival, you're helping our whole community shine! ✨

Santa's making a few special stops at the Airdrie Festival of Lights this December!

He's making time for wishes, smiles, and a little North Pole magic! 🎅

Catch Santa at the Festival:

December 1, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 19 and 22.

7:00–8:00 PM

All aboard! 🚂

We have three miniature trains travelling along two different routes through the Festival, offering a whole new way to enjoy the lights!

Tickets are $3 per person. Children under two and leashed dogs ride free with a paid adult ticket. Even your four-legged family members are welcome aboard! 🐾

Tickets must be purchased at the Servus Credit Union Train Station before boarding. Cash, debit, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

Please keep in mind that train operations may be suspended during extreme cold weather.

Most of Nose Creek Regional Park features paved pathways, and our volunteers work hard to keep them clear of snow and ice throughout the Festival. Mother Nature occasionally has other plans, so please be mindful that slippery conditions can still occur.

For guests who need a little help getting closer to the lights, a convenient drop-off and pick-up area is available near the Festival entrance. Vehicles must then be parked in the upper parking lot.

When conditions and volunteers permit, golf cart assistance may also be available for guests with mobility challenges. Please speak with one of our friendly Donation Booth volunteers for details.

Accessible washroom facilities are also available in the permanent park washroom building, so you can plan your visit with a little more peace of mind.

Parking is FREE at the Airdrie Festival of Lights!

Parking is available for passenger vehicles, buses, and guests requiring accessible parking. Simply follow the signs as you enter Nose Creek Regional Park to find the appropriate parking area.

For guests who need to get a little closer to the lights, a convenient drop-off and pick-up area is available near the Festival entrance. Vehicles must then be moved to the upper parking lot.

Accessible parking spaces are limited, so we encourage visitors to plan accordingly.

For more information about pathways, mobility assistance, and accessible washrooms, please see our “Is The Park Accessible?” FAQ.

Admission to the Airdrie Festival of Lights is free, with donations gratefully accepted!

As a volunteer-run nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of our visitors to help keep this community tradition shining. For those who are able, we suggest a donation of $10–$20 per family, or $1–$5 per person for bus groups. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference!

Everyone is welcome to enjoy the magic, regardless of their ability to donate.

You'll find our friendly Festival Ambassadors at the brightly coloured Guard Houses, along with our mascots and their Jingle Jugs, ready to accept your donations.

Prefer to tap? We've partnered with TipTapPay to offer convenient, contactless donations. Just one tap is all it takes!

Please note that we are unable to accept food donations in place of monetary contributions.

YES! 🎁 Santa's Gift Shop is open nightly from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (excluding Christmas Day), with a wonderful selection of holiday gifts and treasures.

And there's something special just for the kids!

Our Kids Only Gift Shop has one very important rule: NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED! 🎄

Little shoppers can choose their own special gifts from a selection of locally sourced treasures, all priced at $10 or less.

Our friendly elves help package their purchases, keeping those carefully chosen presents a surprise until Christmas morning!

We've got you covered! 🔥

We have two fire pits located near our concession, perfect for warming up on a chilly winter evening. Bring your own roasting sticks and marshmallows for a little fireside fun!

Planning a group get-together?

We also offer private bookings at our larger fire pit, perfect for family gatherings, staff outings, or a festive evening with friends.

Bring your favourite fireside treats and enjoy everything the Festival has to offer, from strolling through the lights to riding the train.

Private bookings are $15 per person, with a minimum of 15 guests. Each booking includes one train ticket and one beverage per person, with payment required in advance.

Email info@airdrielights.com for booking details.

Absolutely! Nothing pairs quite like a chilly winter evening and a warm drink! ☕

Stop by our Festival Concession for hot chocolate, hot apple cider or coffee, available for just $3 per cup.

Looking for a little something extra? We also offer bottled water, canned pop, cotton candy and a selection of chips.

Cash, debit, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

Every purchase helps keep the holiday magic glowing! 💚

Not at the Festival, but we absolutely encourage you to support the Airdrie Food Bank!

In our early years, we welcomed food donations at the park. As Airdrie grew, so did the number of places where donations could be safely collected. With food exposed to unpredictable winter temperatures, the Airdrie Food Bank has asked that donations be delivered directly to their facility or to other indoor collection locations, including participating grocery stores.

As an independent, volunteer-run nonprofit, the Airdrie Festival of Lights relies on financial donations to keep the lights shining, maintain our displays, and welcome families regardless of their ability to contribute.

After all, we can't turn on lights with food! But together, we can help brighten our community in more ways than one.

Thank you for supporting both the Festival and the Airdrie Food Bank.

Each December, the Airdrie Festival of Lights uses this area for visitor parking. We understand that temporarily losing a favourite off-leash space can be frustrating for local dog owners, but there's a little history behind this arrangement that you might find interesting!

Back in 1997, the land was being considered for residential development. Rather than lose this green space, AFOLS and the City of Airdrie worked together on an arrangement to preserve it. The Society contributed more than $291,000 toward the land purchase and associated improvements, fulfilling its financial commitment in 2015.

Recognizing the value of this space to the wider community, AFOLS later agreed to make a portion available for off-leash use during the other 11 months of the year. During December, the area returns to its original Festival parking purpose, helping us welcome thousands of visitors while keeping admission and parking free.

And here's something we hope makes up for the temporary inconvenience: your four-legged family members are welcome to join you at the Festival! They can even come along for a train ride. 🚂🐾

Thank you for letting us share this space with you, and for helping keep a much loved Airdrie tradition glowing!

Absolutely! Your four-legged family members are welcome, too! 🐾

Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the Festival grounds, and they're even invited to ride our miniature trains free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult!

We simply ask that pets remain on leash, that their humans clean up after them, and that they be mindful of other visitors.

A little note about the Festival Tent: Pets are not permitted inside the tent, with the exception of certified service animals.

Bring the whole family, paws and all!

The Airdrie Festival of Lights shines every evening from December 1 to 31, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Eve!

A little note about winter weather:

When temperatures reach -25°C or colder, including wind chill, the Festival operates as Lights Only. Our beautiful displays remain illuminated, but additional activities and services are unavailable.

We appreciate your understanding as we put the safety of our volunteers and visitors first.

We'd love to have you join our Festival family! 💚

The Airdrie Festival of Lights is powered by volunteers, and there's a place for everyone to help make the magic happen!

From welcoming visitors and serving hot chocolate to helping with train rides, special events, and behind-the-scenes activities, our volunteers are the heart of the Festival.

We rely on approximately 15–18 volunteers each evening throughout December, along with many helping hands during setup and takedown.

Ready to join the team? Visit our Volunteer page to explore opportunities and complete an application. Our Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch!

That's a very good question! And believe it or not, we've tried to answer it. 😂

With more than 800 illuminated displays throughout Nose Creek Regional Park, counting every individual light is no small task.

Back in 2016, while our volunteers were busy restringing the displays, someone had the brilliant idea to count all the bulbs. They made it through approximately 100 displays before deciding that some mysteries are better left unsolved!

So, how many lights are there?

We honestly don't know. But we can promise there are a whole lot of them!

Think you can count them all? We'll cheer you on from the train. It's much more comfortable than counting bulbs in the cold!

And every single light is part of a holiday tradition that's been bringing generations together since 1996.