Luminaria 2024
The Essential Luminaria Returns this December
Tickets are now on sale to the general public!
After a one-year hiatus and input from many repeat patrons, we’ve learned how much our guests care about Luminaria, and what they love the most about it. So, we’re bringing it back to the fundamentals.
In a return to Luminaria’s simple, natural roots, we’re unplugging (most) of the electric lights and celebrating the elemental – candlelight, starlight and firelight – during the darkest nights of the year.
You can slow down and share a moment of serenity with the people you love in a stroll along the candlelit pathways of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden. Warmed by fires and hot apple cider, take in the sounds of a capella singers, light a candle in memory of a loved one and mark the essence of the season in a ritual of peace and beauty.
We welcome you back to the feeling that’s inspired by nature’s embrace – at the essential Luminaria.
Three weekends only
To maintain a peaceful and unrushed atmosphere and to ensure adequate free parking at the Garden, we are offering a limited number of tickets. By comparison, in previous years we offered up to 30,000 tickets – this year we are limiting capacity to 8,100 guests over the course of nine evenings. We anticipate that Luminaria will sell out this year.
Dec. 13-15 | Dec. 20-22 | Dec. 27-29
5-10 p.m. Last entry at 9:30 p.m.
Luminaria Ticket Prices
Adult: $25
Senior (65+): $20
Youth/Students: $20
Children 3-12: $12
Children 2 and under: free
Warm Up With Delicious Bites
Warm up with a different food truck every night. Delight in comforting, flavourful dishes while experiencing the tranquil beauty and peace of Luminaria. An assortment of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and light packaged snacks will also be available at the Candlelight Cafe. Complimentary hot apple cider will also be available in the Kurimoto Japanese Garden.
Check out the schedule below to see who's cooking each night:
- Dec 13 and 14: DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen
- Dec 15: Street Side Smoke House
- Dec 20: Flipside BBQ
- Dec 21: Kin-d Thai
- Dec 22: Flipside BBQ
- Dec 27 and 28: Flipside BBQ
- Dec 29: Street Side Smoke House
The Sounds of the Season
Enhance your Luminaria experience with the sounds of the season. Each evening, enjoy enchanting performances by talented a cappella groups in the serene Kurimoto Japanese Garden, adding a festive touch to your candlelit stroll.
Performance Schedule:
- Dec 13: Thumbs Up! Quartet
- Dec 14: Intrigue Quartet
- Dec 15: Side Notes Quartet
- Dec 20: Chance Quartet
- Dec 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29: The Executives
And, on Fridays and Saturdays, the festivities continue at the Welcome Centre, where accordionist Umberto Cerminara will fill the air with live music, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere to start or end your evening.
Luminaria tickets must be booked in advance.
Psst. Before you hit that ticket button, do you want to know how to get your Luminaria ticket for free?
Along with unlimited regular* admission when the Garden is open in all four seasons, our Year-Round Members enjoy cost-saving benefits for a year from date of purchase. By becoming a Year-Round Member, you get FREE Luminaria tickets for every person on your membership PLUS the option to purchase up to four more tickets at a reduced price.
And there’s more…
With benefits like free summer guest passes, special member pricing on most events and activities, including some for FREE, first-in-line opportunities, discounts at the concession and new opportunities offered regularly, a Year-Round Membership pays for itself.
Unlock your free Member ticket(s)
Are you a Summer Member and want to upgrade to a Year-Round Membership? Give us a call at 780-492-3267 or email uabg.info@ualberta.ca and we'll help you.
*Unlimited regular admission excludes some special ticketed events, however, Year-Round Members get first-in-line opportunities, discounts or free admission to most events.
The Garden is pleased to partner once again with the Spruce Grove Kinettes, who will be on-site during Luminaria on the weekends of Dec. 13-15 and 20-22, accepting donations for their Christmas Hamper Program. They are accepting monetary donations, grocery store gift cards, and new, unwrapped gifts or gift cards for children 17 and under.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I booked my Luminaria tickets. What do I show at the gate?
Simply present the invoice attached to the confirmation email you received when you made your booking.
I ordered my Year-Round Membership and booked my Luminaria tickets. What happens now?
We will mail* your Membership Package to you, or you can choose to pick it up when you come to Luminaria - we will get in touch after you register to confirm these details. On the night you are booked for Luminaria, simply show your Membership card and Luminaria confirmation at the Gate. If you haven’t received your membership card yet, we will ask for your ID. *Mailing option is dependent on the status of the Canada Post strike.
What parts of the Garden will I be able to see?
To maintain the cozy, intimate, peaceful feeling that previous guests told us they cherish, this year’s activities will be centered in and around the Kurimoto Japanese Garden, Welcome Center and Leaf Plaza. The rest of the Garden will be closed.
Is there anything for kids to do?
Besides enjoying fresh air and nature in the company of their favorite grown-ups, kids can test their detective skills on a scavenger hunt that ends with a nature-inspired take-home prize. Check at the Welcome Centre and let the hunt begin!
Can I bring my dog?
Although we welcomed dogs this past summer, they are not permitted at the Luminaria event, in order to keep tails and paws safe from ground-level candles (and to keep the lovely white snow... not yellow). Certified service dogs are an exception.
How can I get to Luminaria? What about parking?
The only way to get to the Garden is by vehicle. Parking is free.
What is the cancellation policy?
Tickets are non-refundable. You can transfer your tickets to another date up to 24 hours in advance if there is any availability.
It's supposed to be cold on the night of my ticket. Is the event still running?
Luminaria is an outdoor winter event. If the weather is cold, we recommend you dress warmly, enjoy a hot drink and warm up by a fire – embrace the season! If the event is running, there are no refunds for tickets.
However, if there is a severe weather warning issued by Environment Canada or the temperature drops below a certain threshold, the Garden may cancel the evening's activities. If we cancel the event, we will post information on our website, notify the ticket purchaser by email and refund tickets. Please check this website for the most current updates.
How much time should I allow to enjoy Luminaria?
Please plan to arrive within the entry time you have reserved. Once you arrive, you’re welcome to stay as long as you wish. We find that most people spend between one and 1.5 hours at Luminaria.
Is there anything to eat or drink?
Bring your appetite! We’re welcoming some wonderful local food vendors this year, who will have belly-warming deliciousness at Luminaria. A complete schedule of food vendors can be found further up on this page. Beverages and light packaged snacks will also be available for purchase at the licensed “Candlelight Cafe”. Complimentary hot apple cider will also be available in the Kurimoto Japanese Garden.
Is Luminaria wheelchair accessible?
Most areas of the event are accessible by paved and cleared pathways. However, Luminaria is subject to winter weather conditions, which might include freezing rain, compacted snow etc. Guests should be aware there are some areas with grades where assistance is recommended for wheelchairs. Loaner wheelchairs are available in limited quantities.
What should I wear?
Luminaria is an outdoor experience. To maximize your enjoyment, please dress for winter conditions. You'll be glad you wore your winter coat, mittens, hat and warm boots!
Can I use coupons or passes?
Coupons and regular admission passes are not eligible for the Luminaria event.
Can I take my wedding or engagement photos during Luminaria?
We are not able to accommodate any photo bookings during this special event.
Where is the Garden located? Are you on the U of A campus?
The University of Alberta Botanic Garden is located in Parkland County, five kilometers north of Devon on Highway 60, approximately 15 minutes from SW Edmonton. We are not located on the U of A campus.
For more information, contact uabg.info@ualberta.ca or 780-492-3267.