Kendall Collins is a Staff Writer for Daily Hive based in Calgary. She grew up in Dawson Creek, B.C. and moved to Calgary to pursue a journalism diploma at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Christmas in Alberta can be magical, and one small city is getting national recognition as one of the best places to spend Christmas in Canada.
Reader&#8217;s Digest just released a list of some of the best places to spend Christmas in Canada, and the city of Airdrie found itself in 14th place.
 The ranking highlights destinations across the country that go all out for the holidays, from dazzling light displays to fun winter traditions. 
“This city north of Calgary hosts a super-sized holiday celebration every year. In the heart of Nose Creek Park, you’ll find the Airdrie Festival of Lights—a massive outdoor display of a million dollars’ worth of twinkling lights that’s the largest of its kind in Western Canada. “
<div id="attachment_2227052" style="width: 2058px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2227052" class="wp-image-2227052 size-full" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/MixCollage-18-Dec-2025-09-40-AM-882.jpg" alt="Alberta christmas canada " width="2048" height="1365" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/MixCollage-18-Dec-2025-09-40-AM-882.jpg 2048w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/MixCollage-18-Dec-2025-09-40-AM-882-500x333.jpg 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/MixCollage-18-Dec-2025-09-40-AM-882-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/MixCollage-18-Dec-2025-09-40-AM-882-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/12/MixCollage-18-Dec-2025-09-40-AM-882-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" />airdrielights.com</div>
The Airdrie Festival of Lights runs from Dec. 1 to 31, 2025, and features fire pits, skating, toonie train rides, a market, food and beverages, and of course, tons of lights. It’s a fun event perfect for all ages, making it a popular stop for the holidays. 
The event is a local favourite, and brings travellers from surrounding areas to enjoy the Christmas Spirit right in the park. 
Two other Alberta destinations also made the list. Calgary was in spot number 10, with Zoolights highlighted as a “winter wonderland,” and Edmonton placed 12th, being noted for its <a href="https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/candy-cane-lane-edmonton-returning-soon" target="_blank">Candy Cane Lane</a>. 
Quebec City topped the list, touted for its historic architecture and the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, which turns into a magical Christmas destination where you even have a chance to meet Santa Claus.
You can view the <a href="https://www.readersdigest.ca/travel/canada/canadas-10-most-festive-christmas-cities-old/" target="_blank">full list online</a>.
<ul class="article-see-also">You might also like:<li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/calgary/calgary-rent-prices-area' target='_blank'>Only one area in Calgary is seeing rent prices drop right now</a></li><li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/calgary/alberta-lake-louise-ski-resort-new-richardsons-ridge' target='_blank'>Iconic Alberta ski resort opens new sprawling 200-acre terrain area</a></li><li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/calgary/travel-best-places-canadian-rockies' target='_blank'>Area shared by Alberta/B.C. just made the list of 2026 best places to travel</a></li></ul>

Calgary

Edmonton

Christmas in Alberta can be magical, and one small city is getting recognition as one of the best places to spend Christmas in Canada.