‘Tis the season to experience Christmas lights! Maybe you’re a die-hard fan who needs to see them all before the 25th, or maybe you’re just looking for something to do in the awkward stretch between Christmas and New Years. Regardless of which camp you fit into, some of the best Christmas light experiences in Alberta are right here in the Leduc Region.

A dazzling drive-through light tunnel, stunning outdoor displays, and even a drivable route of the best houses to see… Keep reading for fun & safe ways to make your holiday season merry AND bright!

The Canadian Tire MAGIC of LIGHTS – Castrol Raceway, Nisku

Open from 5-10 PM every evening until January 9th, 2021
***Closed Dec 23 for a private function

The Canadian Tire Magic of Lights is a must-see experience for any Christmas light junkie. 2.5km of festive & vibrant LED-lighted displays have returned to Castrol Raceway, providing you and your household a unique & COVID-friendly way to celebrate the holiday season. The drive-through experience happens from the comfort of your own car – at every turn, and in every direction, the magical route is overflowing with spectacular light displays and animations. Over 1 million LED lights and digital animations depict holiday scenes and Christmas characters you know & love, accompanied by merry melodies from 96.3 The Breeze (tune your radio to 88.7 FM as you drive through). The true highlight may be Castrol Raceway‘s signature “light tunnel” found near the end of the route – make sure to snap a few pics or vids as you drive through it!

Insider Tips: The Magic of Lights has been exceptionally popular this year, especially on Friday & Saturday nights… wait times have been over 90min! Here’s a few different ways you can avoid long wait times:
> Plan to visit on a weeknight (Monday-Thursday evenings tend to be quieter)
> Make sure to arrive early if you have to visit on a Friday or Saturday
> Purchase a Dash Pass ($45 per car vs. the $25 per car Flex Pass) – this lets you skip the regular line and enter the special Dash Pass lane

Leduc Country Lights – Leduc West Antique Society, Leduc County

Open from 5-10 PM every evening until January 3rd, 2021
***Closes early at 8 PM on Dec 24
***CLOSED on Dec 25

15 years ago, the Ruel family started a small light display on their farm to share their love of Christmas with the community. Today, the Leduc Country Lights has grown into one of the largest winter attractions in the greater Edmonton area. When the Ruel family decided to discontinue operating the Leduc Country Lights two years ago (imagine the power bill for hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights running every night for over a month), the Leduc Kinsmen Club stepped in to ensure this beloved event continued. Now located in it’s new home at the Leduc West Antique Society, the Leduc Country Lights are bigger & brighter than ever – it took 893 volunteer hours just to set up everything this year! Make sure to bundle up, wear a face mask, and dress accordingly for the weather before visiting… this is an outdoor walk-through attraction after all. Even if the weather is on the chilly side when you swing by, experiencing the breathtaking displays of Christmas lights found here makes it well worth your time.

Insider tips: Admission is super cheap at just $2 per person (you can pay online ahead of time, or bring exact change when you come). Feel free to bring along your furry four-legged friend(s) and a sled/stroller for the kids – the paths are frequently maintained and made of packed snow. BYOHC (Bring Your Own Hot Chocolate), because complimentary hot chocolate will not be provided this year unfortunately due to COVID-19. Finally, consider coming with a donation for the Leduc & District Food Bank – it’s not required for admission, but goes a long way to ensure Christmas can be a magical time of year for all families in our community.

Light up Leduc – City of Leduc

***Evening hours until December 31st (or whenever people take their Christmas lights down)

Imagine if there was a map of where all the best local Christmas light displays in your community were located… Well, you shouldn’t have to imagine too hard, because the City of Leduc has put together exactly that for this holiday season! Residents of Leduc were invited in November to light up their homes with their most dazzling holiday décor and register as participants for the Light-Up Leduc event. 65 entries (+ hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights) later, and we now have a mapped-out drivable route that shows where all the must-see festively decorated homes are! It’s free, it’s COVID-friendly, and it’s definitely something you need to do with your household this holiday season.

Insider Tips: Participating displays were judged by a panel of community influencers (including Mayor Bob Young, Fire Chief George Clancy, 93.1 FM – The One Morning Show Hosts, and even Santa Claus himself) to determine which house claimed the title of “best dressed” this year. As such, the three houses you NEED to make sure you drive by are:
> 1st place: 1025 Aspen Drive East, Leduc, AB
> Tied for 2nd: 13 Krahn Court, Leduc AB + 25 Caledonia Drive, Leduc, AB

Christmas may look different this year, but there’s still so many ways to safely make the most of it. From the Discover Leduc Region team to your family, we wish you nothing but the best this holiday season!