Season of Lights in Edmonton

Over the past two weeks, we shared our specially curated gifting guide with places to get unique gifts, and a selection of holiday craft markets to browse and buy to your heart’s content!  Our holiday theme continues, with popular seasonal light events for you to explore once you’ve got all the presents crossed off your list.  And, hint, hint…  we just might have a special deal with FREE event tickets coming really soon!!

Luminaria

Every year during Luminaria, the University of Alberta Botanic Garden is lit up like a fairy tale winter scene.  This outdoor event has charming lighting along pathways and on trees throughout the garden, a choir singing, hot cider and fires to warm you up during your visit.  On your walk, you may also see some brightly lit snow sprites that are truly magical.  Be sure to dress warmly as there are no indoor venues for the event, and it goes on snow or shine!  

Luminaria is on from November 27th, 2021 through to January 9th, 2022 and timed-entry tickets can be purchased here.

Zoominescence

Also outdoors, is the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s Zoominescence event.  Hosted by the Valley Zoo Development Society, Zoominescence lights up the zoo every year around the holidays.  Light installations, skating, hot chocolate and, of course, animals, make this event completely unique in Edmonton.  

Perhaps one of the best parts is that Zoominescence is one of the fundraising efforts by the Valley Zoo Development Society.  Funds raised go to various zoo redevelopment projects and some are also donated to other worthy animal charities.  To learn more, visit their website.

Zoominescence is on during weekends between from December 3rd to the 12th, then moves to seven days per week on December 17th, 2021 to January 2nd, 2022 (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).  Buy your timed-entry tickets here.

Magic of Lights

From outdoors to semi-indoors, Magic of Lights is a drive-yourself-through Christmas light spectacular.  The 2.5 km light display takes place at the RAD Torque Raceway and is made up of over 1 million lights.  You’ll see lighting depicting the 12 Days of Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and lots more.  New this year is Ornament Alley, with lighting in the shapes of favourite holiday decorations and it’s sure to dazzle.

Tickets are per carload and a portion of each one is donated to CHED Santas Anonymous and Canadian Tire Jump Start.  The event runs from November 19th, 2021 to January 8th, 2022 and tickets can be purchased online or at the gate.

Glow

Glow is a fully indoor holiday light event at the Edmonton Expo Centre with entertaining shows and a market for crafts and goodies.  All the lights are located in the Light Gardens where you will find Santa’s Sleigh Adventure, the Light Tunnel, Hanging Picture Frames, Selfie Walls and Murals.  Glow is definitely crafted to bring your IG game up to 10 out of 10!  Speaking of crafted, the Merry Makers Market has 60 local artisans selling a wide range of items like beef jerky, candles, toys and wine.  You can even get art made from a photo of your iris!  If you have anyone left to get something for, you just might find it here.

Purchase your tickets online for dates from November 21st, 2021 to January 2nd, 2022.

BONUS: Candy Cane Lane

An Edmonton classic for over 50 years, Candy Cane Lane is a holiday tradition for many in the city and can become one for you, too!  In the Crestwood neighbourhood from 148 Street between 99 Avenue to 92 Avenue, you’ll find houses and front yards decorated with extensive holiday lights, displays and characters.  It’s nice for a walk or a drive and every year is a little bit different.  

The event is free, but food donations to the Edmonton Food Bank are appreciated.  Donation bins are conveniently located throughout the route.  

The Candy Cane Lane website is not yet updated for the 2021 season, so keep checking back for new information in the coming weeks.

Which holiday light spectacular is your favourite?   We know, it’s hard to pick!  We’ll have a deal coming up for Zoominescence which will include free tickets, and the best way to get first notice is by signing up for our Insider emails right here.

Rockin Thunder Festival Bucks, 2025
Terms and Conditions

The Offer

The Rockin Thunder Festival Bucks offer is valid for hotel stays from Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, July 13, 2025.  Hotel bookings must be made through Edmonton’s Best Hotels booking platform at www.edmontonsbesthotels.com

The Festival Bucks offer will close on Monday, July 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. NO ROCKIN THUNDER FESTIVAL BUCKS OFFERS WILL BE PROVIDED AFTER THE JULY 7, 2025, CLOSE DATE.

If you book a hotel stay for July 10 to the 13th, 2025, and choose a non-Festival Bucks reward, the value of the Festival Bucks is not transferable to the other rewards.

If you do not use all your Festival Bucks, no refund will be provided. In the event of a cancellation due to an act of God, no refund will be provided, and no exchange will be offered for other rewards through Edmonton’s Best Hotels program.

The Festival Bucks offer is:

Book a one-night hotel stay and receive $75 in Festival Bucks.

Book a two-night hotel stay and receive $175 in Festival Bucks.

Book a three-night hotel stay and receive $250 in Festival Bucks.

HOW DO I RECEIVE MY FESTIVAL BUCKS: PROCESS:

STEP ONE: You must check into your hotel first.

STEP TWO: You will receive your Festival Bucks Voucher at the front desk of your hotel upon check-in.

STEP THREE: Redeem your Festival Bucks voucher at Rockin Thunder’s Will Call Booth, which is located at the festival site.  You will need to provide your letter to them. They will cross-reference your letter with the registration list that we provide to them. NO FESTIVAL BUCKS WILL BE SENT ONLINE, BY POSTAL SERVICE OR BY COURIER.

Festival Bucks can be used for concessions and merchandise on-site only (no online sales) at the Rockin Thunder Festival on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12, 2025. Festival bucks are non-transferable and non-refundable.

Terms and Conditions of the Offer

Guests must be at least 18 years of age at the time of redemption.

Reservations must be made through Edmonton’s Best Hotels’ booking site (www.edmontonsbesthotels.com).  Reservations made directly with hotelsare not eligible for Rockin Thunder Festival Bucks.

Multiple reservations are not eligible for Festival Bucks.

Multiple reservations for the same person for the same night(s) from July 10-13, 2025, are considered double bookings, and only one of those bookings will be eligible for Festival Bucks. (For example, if a guest books two nights during the July 10-13, 2025, period and then makes another two-night booking during that same period at the same hotel or another hotel, EBH considers this a double booking and will honour only one of those bookings.)

Cancelling and date changes to reservations.

If a guest wants to cancel, they must contact Edmonton’s Best Hotels directly.  Do not cancel the hotel directly. To cancel, please contact info@edmh.ca.  We will cancel your booking and send you a cancellation number for your records. 

If a guest wants to change the dates of their reservation, they must cancel their reservation with Edmonton’s Best Hotels first, then re-book.  Edmonton’s Best Hotels does not make changes to reservations. 

Cancellation rules vary by each member hotel.  Consult the hotel you are interested in staying at to inquire about their cancellation policies.

Terms and Conditions

The “1,2, 3 Pick Your Rewards”, Terms and Conditions and Blackout Dates 

Rewards Program campaign dates

Reward package available to book from January 5, 2022 for stays to December 31, 2025 for rewards except for possible blackout dates. At present there are no blackout dates scheduled.

Rewards are subject to while supplies last.  Substitutions of equivalent kind, value may be made as necessary.  Rewards are non-transferable, no cash value, no cash back.

  • Rewards are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, have no cash value, no cash back.
  • Rewards cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.
  • Reward deal is net non-commissionable.

Blackout dates

At present there are no blackout dates scheduled. 

In the event blackout dates are scheduled, any guest who makes a booking for a hotel stay during the blackout period prior to the blackout period being named will receive the rewards they are booked for. 

Rewards Program offerings

Book one night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of three $50 rewards excluding blackout dates:

  • $50 Gas Card or
  • $50 Prepaid Mastercard, or
  • $50 Ultimate Dining Card

Book two night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of five reward packages excluding blackout dates:

  • $150 prepaid MasterCard, or
  • $75 Gas card and $75 MasterCard, or
  • $75 Gas card and $75 Ultimate Dining Card, or

Book three night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of four reward packages excluding blackout dates:

  • Three Night Reward 1: $225 Prepaid Mastercard
  • Three Night Reward 3: $75 Ultimate Dining Card + $75 Prepaid Mastercard + $75 Gas Card

One choice of reward per stay. 

Guest must be 18 years of age or older at time of redemption. 

Virtual Prepaid Mastercard offer three convenient ways to shop. You can use it for online purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted, add it to your mobile wallet for contactless in-store payments, or request a physical card after activation for traditional in-store purchases.

Rewards distribution

Rewards will be emailed directly to guests within 48 hours of Edmonton’s Best Hotels confirming their check-in.  Rewards are not provided by the hotel’s front desk.   All rewards are sent electronically. 

Reservations

Guest must reserve a minimum of 24 hours prior to arrival.

Rewards are NOT available for reservations made less than 24 hours in advance of arrival.

Reservations made directly with hotels and not through Edmonton’s Best Hotels are not eligible for rewards. No exceptions. Rewards are only provided to guests who book through Edmonton’s Best Hotels online booking platform.  Booking reservation confirmations will have Edmonton’s Best Hotels branding on them. Rewards not provided for hotel reservations during specified blackout dates.

Reservations cannot be extended by hotels for additional rewards.

Guests may add a night to an existing one-night deal reservation and receive additional rewards if the request is made a minimum of 24 hours in advance of arrival.

Booking terms and conditions

Rewards provided for more than one night, must be for consecutive nights under one registration under one name at one property. In addition, no more than up to three consecutive nights will be honoured. If a guest checks in for three days and then checks out and re-checks in for the next day, this is considered a consecutive night booking even if the second booking is made at different hotel.  

There must be a minimum of three days between bookings.

Multiple reservations for the same person for the same night(s) is considered a double booking and only one of those bookings will be eligible for rewards. For example, if a guest books two nights on x and y date and then makes another two-night booking for the same dates at the same hotel or another hotel, EBH considers this a double booking and will honour rewards for only one of those bookings. 

Is there a limit on the number of bookings I make on different dates?  Edmonton Best Hotels welcomes repeat business.  Some of our guests visit Edmonton every month.  Please note as stated earlier there must be a minimum of three days between bookings. Please also note stated blackout dates.

Cancelling and date changes to reservations

If a guest wants to cancel or change the dates of their booking.

What if I want to cancel my booking?  Edmonton Best Hotels must cancel your booking (not the hotel).  If you want to cancel, contact info@edmh.ca and let us know.  We will cancel your booking and send you a cancellation number for your records.  Please do not cancel directly with the hotel.

What if I want to change the dates of my booking?  You must contact Edmonton Best Hotels at info@edmh.ca and let us know you want to make a date change.  Your original booking must be cancelled first.  You will receive a cancellation number for your records.  Then, you must rebook for your new dates.  The hotel nor Edmonton’s Best Hotels cannot make date changes to the original booking.  Please note this does not guarantee you will receive the same hotel rate when you rebook for different dates.

Any questions, please contact Edmonton Best Hotels at info@edmh.ca 

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