Celebrate the Holiday Season in Ponoka

There are many ways you and your family can celebrate the holiday season in Ponoka.

This list is just the beginning. You can also find other events and activities on our Community Calendar.





Taking a stroll through the Christmas Lights DisplayLions Centennial Park has once again been transformed into a festive winter wonderland with the Town of Ponoka's annual Christmas Light Display.

Thanks to another generous $5,000 donation from the Ponoka Lions Club, the light display has expanded once again this year and is bigger and brighter than ever. 

In fact, this year’s display features at least 200,000 more lights than last year – more than doubling the number of Christmas lights in the park this season!

"The Town of Ponoka would like to thank the Ponoka Lions Club for their continued generosity with their donation this year. The enchanting Lions Centennial Park Christmas light display has become a cherished tradition in Ponoka during the holiday season,” said Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson.

"We hope that this festive light display will not only bring joy and entertainment to our local residents and their families, but will also draw many visitors to the Town of Ponoka again this season,” he added.

Citizens and visitors are encouraged to stroll through the park and marvel at the beauty of the annual light display.

The light display will run until the end of February, giving our community and visitors several weeks to enjoy the magic and beauty of the holiday lights.



 

Citizens can once again enjoy Ponoka’s annual self-guided Christmas Light Tour. The tour showcases and celebrates festively decorated homes and yards throughout the community.

Self-guided tour maps are now available here. Paper copies are also available for pick up at the Ponoka Aquaplex, Ponoka Arena Complex and at the Town Office on the second floor of the Ponoka Civic Centre.

Check out the map below and enjoy a leisurely Christmas light tour around Ponoka this holiday season.

Please note: The Lions Centennial Park Christmas light display is one of the stops on Ponoka’s Christmas Light Tour and will continue until the end of February. Enjoy!

The Town of Ponoka invites residents and visitors to embrace the holiday spirit with Christmas Lights Bingo, a festive scavenger hunt running until Tuesday, December 31. 

While exploring Ponoka’s holiday light displays, participants can complete their bingo cards and enter to win a family recreation pass to the Ponoka Aquaplex and Ponoka Arena Complex.

How to participate:

  • Tour the lights: Use the Christmas Lights Tour map to guide your adventure through Ponoka’s festive displays.
  • Get a Bingo card: Download a card here. Paper copies are also available at the Ponoka Aquaplex, Ponoka Arena Complex, and at the Town Office on the second floor of the Ponoka Civic Centre.
  • Complete the card: Write the address of each item you find in the corresponding spaces. Items in the centre of the card are ‘wild’ or ‘free’ spaces.
  • Submit your entry: Drop your completed card in Santa’s mailbox at the Ponoka Aquaplex or email a photo of it to events@ponoka.ca.
  • Win a prize: Cards will be entered into a draw for a family pass to the Ponoka Aquaplex and the Ponoka Arena Complex.

Completed cards must be submitted to the Town of Ponoka by Tuesday, December 31.

Thank you to everyone who attended the ‘Kickoff to Christmas in Ponoka, Powered by FortisAlberta. The evening included:

  • The annual Santa Claus Parade through downtown Ponoka;
  • Tree lighting festivities and hot chocolate  at the Town Christmas tree located beside the new Ponoka Legion building at 48 Avenue and 51 Street;
  • Live music featuring members of the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra;
  • An animated, holiday-themed drone light show over the Battle River Valley; 
  • Moonlight Madness at businesses throughout Ponoka and the launch of the annual Passport to Christmas program by the Ponoka & District Chamber of Commerce;
  • And more!




Ponoka Festival of Trees took place from November 21 to 23 in support of the Ponoka & District Health Foundation.

The Town of Ponoka sponsored the Family Day Christmas Celebration on Saturday, November 23 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.

The event featured a fun-filled family day with a visit from Santa, a magic show, a petting zoo, bouncy castles and much more! 

To learn more, please click here.

The Holiday Train rolled into Ponoka on December 11. There was a live concert along the railway tracks at 50 Street and 47 Avenue in downtown Ponoka. The concert featured Magic! and Sofia Camara.

Click here for the full Holiday Train schedule.


Holly Jolly Public Skate PosterOn Sunday, December 22, the Town of Ponoka hosted a Holly Jolly Public Skate event.

This festive skate for all ages ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Ponoka Arena Complex.

Citizens were encouraged to bring the whole family, lace up their skates and embrace the holiday cheer with some hot chocolate and ice skating.

Thank you to our sponsor Wedins for donating the hot chocolate!  This was the perfect way to kick off Christmas celebrations.