One Sunday in early December, a shopping plaza in west Edmonton turns into a mini North Pole — and it costs nothing to get in. Christmas at Callingwood takes over The Marketplace at Callingwood (6655 178th St. NW) on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with admission by donation in aid of Santa's Anonymous. Organizers ask attendees to bring a toy or a cash contribution instead of a ticket.
The headline draw is the free Santa photos: each family gets one or two shots, plus a printed 5x7 photo card to take home, with extra prints available to buy on the day. New this year is Elf Academy, where kids pick up an official elf name, make their own ornament, and earn a North Pole Approved sticker and elf certificate before meeting Santa — with a dedicated photo-op area thrown in.
Outside, Lone Star Ranch runs horse-drawn hayrides roughly every 10 minutes, carrying up to 25 riders at a time on a first-come, first-served basis. Weather can shift the schedule, so check the event website by 9 a.m. on the Sunday if snow or freezing rain is in the forecast. Roaming characters — a Grinch-style Holiday Grouch and Cindy Lou — will work the crowds, and vocal group The Sugarplums performs four sets of carols through the afternoon.
Food is covered too, mostly at no cost: The Canadian Maple Shack is pouring maple taffy on snow, a warming station serves hot chocolate and coffee, and everyone leaves with a candy cane. Like the rest of the event, treats are free while supplies last — so arriving earlier rather than later is a sensible strategy if taffy is a priority.
Why bother? If you're visiting Edmonton in December or live nearby, this is a low-cost, community-run alternative to big-ticket Christmas attractions, and it packs a full holiday checklist — Santa, sled rides, carols, hot chocolate — into a four-hour window. It's best suited to families with young kids; arrive near the 11 a.m. opening for shorter lines on hayrides and Santa. And for the price of a toy donation, it's hard to beat on value. The Marketplace's indoor shops make a decent fallback if the Alberta cold gets the better of you.
