Edmonton hosting family skate night to ring in the winter season

Families enjoying a night of skating at City Hall in an undated photo. (Courtesy: Winter City Edmonton)

The City of Edmonton is hosting a festive night of family fun to ring in the holiday season with activities and a tree-lighting ceremony.

The Bright Light Skate Night event will take place at City Hall and Sir Winston Churchill Square this weekend.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi will lead a countdown to light up the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree in the southwest garden of Churchill Square shortly after the event begins.

City Hall's ice rink will be decorated in festive, twinkling lights for guests to enjoy the night of skating and activities including live music, cultural performances, roving entertainers, art installations, craft making and a photobooth – all at no cost.

Families can enjoy indoor and outdoor performances put on by local artists, the Edmonton Multicultural Innovative Society, the Shumka School of Dance, the Hula Hoop Circus and the Canadian Ging Wu Martial Arts Association performing a lion dance.

Those attending can warm up with an on-site fire pit or cozy up in one of the warming geodomes with some complimentary hot chocolate offered at the Hallway Café.

Additionally, the first 150 people attending the event will get their hands on free maple taffy from the Canadian Maple Shack.

Guests will also be treated to a collaborative art installation by the Winter City Festival Group, which includes Activate Arts Alberta, formerly known as Ice on Whyte, Deep Freeze, Flying Canoë Volant, and the Silver Skate Festival.

It was designed to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the city's WinterCity Strategy initiative.

The free event goes from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday with the countdown of the tree-lighting ceremony happening at 5 p.m.