Winter festivals, fine arts, and comedy: What a weekend in Edmonton

Ice skaters form a line on the outdoor rink during the Silver Skate Festival in an undated file photo. (Courtesy: Silver Skate Festival)

Edmonton will get a small reprieve from the cold temperatures in the next few days, just in time to enjoy some weekend winter events.

Here’s what’s happening this weekend in Edmonton:

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Festivities

Silver Skate Festival 2025

Edmonton’s longest running winter festival is back to celebrate prairie life for all ages.

For its 35th year, the winter festival will offer snow sculpture artists, storytelling, roving performers, food, lantern crafting, art installations, winter cinema, building with snow blocks, a winter slide and a fire sculpture burning to cap off the evening on select nights.

Families can get active and join in on the winter sports available at the festival, including skating, ball and broom hockey, sledge hockey, riding ice bikes and plenty of races to register for.

When: Feb. 7 to 17

Where: Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park, 13221 Buena Vista Road

Admission: Free

Sweet Treats & Latte Festival

Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the offerings during the Sweet Treats & Latte Festival starting Friday.

Edmonton’s sweetest festival returns to Old Strathcona with more than 30 local businesses participating in the neighbourhood.

The dining-week style festival showcases some of Edmonton’s best coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants.

Patrons can pick up a coffee card at any participating restaurant for a chance to win prizes. When you buy a feature treat from a restaurant, you will receive a sticker for your card. The more stickers you get can net you bigger prizes.

For more information, or to view all participating eateries, visit the Old Strathcona website.

When: Feb. 7 to 17

Where: Old Strathcona

Admission: Varies by the restaurant

Late Night Experiences at Telus World of Science

Every first Friday of the month, Telus World of Science keeps their doors open late for science-savvy guests.

Hands-on exhibits including Arctic Journey, The Science Garage, CuriousCITY, S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, and the Nature Exchange will be available for attendees' enjoyment.

Science lovers can experience the Imax presentation of Butterfly Journey or watch the laser show in the Zeilder Dome for an additional cost.

Telus World of Science will stay open until 9 p.m.

When: Feb. 7

Where: 11211 142 St. NW

Admission: $27 and up

Performances

Sugar Sammy: 100% English Show

Canadian comic and actor Sugar Sammy is bringing his latest tour to Edmonton for a weekend of laughter.

He has performed more than 2,000 shows in 32 countries, with the Washington Post calling Sammy “fluent in funny.”

Guests can expect Sammy’s signature crowd work and audience interaction while he delivers his hot takes on culture and politics with hilarity and charm.

His late shows are restricted to adults, however the earlier shows starting at 7:30 p.m. are open for 16-year-old guests to enjoy.

Tickets for his shows are nearly sold out.

When: Feb. 7 to 8

Where: The Comic Strip at West Edmonton Mall, 8882 170 St.

Admission: $60 and up

[BLANK]

We’re not blanking on the name, that’s what the production is called.

[BLANK] is a play written by Alice Birch which takes the audience through a pick-and-choose collection of 100 unrelated scenes and vignettes which explore what happens when women go to prison and the aftermath of their incarceration.

The author’s note on the script states that the director may choose which of the 100 scenes to include in the performance to cater the story they’d like to tell.

Tickets are available here.

When: Feb. 7 to 15

Where: 3-98 Fine Arts Building at the University of Alberta, 87 Avenue and 112 Street

Admission: $7 to $28

Magic & Madness

Atmosphere, illusions and sleight-of-hand talents have come out to play thanks to a local magician.

Chris Gowen, the star of Alberta’s longest running magic show, will grace the secret library inside the south side Rec Room for a night of Magic & Madness.

He will perform illusions using borrowed phones and watches from members of the audience, make objects disappear then reappear, and delve further into audience participation with a magic trick that occurs right out of your hand.

Get your tickets here before they disappear.

When: Feb. 7 to 9

Where: The Rec Room, 1725 99 St. NW

Admission: $40