Sherwood Park is the friendly urban heart of Strathcona County, a place of curving crescents, prairie skies and parkland that slips into aspen forest at the edge of town. When winter arrives, the community lights up around Festival Place and Broadmoor Lake, and groomed trails open just minutes from home. These Sherwood Park date ideas lean into crisp air, holiday music and a sky dark enough to show off the stars.
Holiday Music at Festival Place
A Re-Creation of the Johnny Cash Christmas Special: On Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 7:30 p.m., Festival Place steps back in time with a tribute to the classic Johnny Cash holiday television special. It is a warm, nostalgic way to start the season, and the theatre's intimate size keeps every seat close to the music.
Matt Dusk: A Very Sinatra Christmas: Backed by a big band, Matt Dusk brings holiday standards in the style of Frank Sinatra to Festival Place on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Dress up a little, and hum along to The Christmas Song on the drive home.
An LED Tree and Lakeside Lights
Celebration of Lights and the LED tree: Strathcona County switches on its LED tree in front of Festival Place at the free Celebration of Lights on Saturday, November 21, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. After that, the tree puts on its light show every day of the holiday season from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tune your car radio to 103.3 FM to hear the soundtrack, then walk over to see the holiday lights in Broadmoor Lake Park.
New Year's Festival: On Thursday, December 31, the County hosts free live performances and winter fun from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., then closes the night with its annual fireworks over Broadmoor Lake Park. Bring a blanket and a thermos for the countdown to the show.
Handmade Finds at the Red Barn
Art Society of Strathcona County Christmas Market: Local artists fill the A.J. Ottewell Centre, known as the Red Barn, at 590 Broadmoor Boulevard on November 14 and 15, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Set a small budget and look for one piece that tells a story about your year together.
Snowshoes, Skis and Skates Close to Home
Strathcona Wilderness Centre: About 12 kilometres of groomed ski trails wind through the forest here, with 2.3 kilometres lit for evening skiing. Snowshoeing needs no day pass: bring your own or rent a pair for $9.50, and follow the two trails set aside for walkers and snowshoers. The building is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and closed on statutory holidays.
Broadmoor Public Golf Course winter trails: From November to March, the golf course turns into a public winter playground from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, with trails for walking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, plus a hill for tobogganing. Go after dinner for a short, starry loop right in town.
Free Sunday skates: Every Sunday through fall and winter, the County offers free recreational skating, including 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Glen Allan Recreation Complex. Check the drop-in calendar for skipped dates, then lace up and take a few slow laps together.
Local History and a Dark Sky Preserve
Strathcona County Museum and Archives: Admission is by donation, and the museum stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, with 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. hours on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. On the last Thursday of each month it hosts an adults-only trivia night, a playful way to test what you both know.
Stargazing at Elk Island National Park: East of Sherwood Park, Elk Island is part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, and Parks Canada welcomes visitors at any hour of the night. Bring a blanket, watch for meteor showers or the northern lights, and dress warmly, because the Astotin Lake area can be breezy after dark.
Sample Date Itineraries
1. Sinatra Saturday on November 21: The free Celebration of Lights at Festival Place from 3 p.m. → dinner nearby → Matt Dusk: A Very Sinatra Christmas at 7:30 p.m.
2. Snowshoe afternoon: Rent snowshoes at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre before the building closes at 4:30 p.m. → a warm drink back in town → the LED tree show after 4 p.m. with 103.3 FM on the radio.
3. Thursday night out: The Strathcona County Museum and Archives, open until 8 p.m. → a lakeside stroll past the holiday lights in Broadmoor Lake Park → a clear-sky drive out to Elk Island to look for stars.
Pro Tips for Memorable Dates
The LED tree also runs from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., so early risers can catch it on the way to work.
The Wilderness Centre building closes on statutory holidays, so pick another day for rentals.
Snowshoeing at the Wilderness Centre needs no day pass, only the rental if you do not own a pair.
The museum is closed Sunday through Tuesday.
Check the County drop-in calendar before a Sunday skate, since some dates are skipped.
Sherwood Park keeps winter cheerful and close to home. Pick a show, a trail or a patch of dark sky, and enjoy the season side by side.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Photo credits: Sherwood Park at sunset by Super Russell 457, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Sherwood Park, Alberta by Thankyoubaby, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Bison in Elk Island National Park by Khoshhat, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.