Red Deer Arts Council and The City of Red Deer have partnered on a writing contest to keep our imaginations warm this winter.

Red Deer youth, teens and adults are invited to create a short poem or story (fiction or creative non-fiction) with a maximum length of 500 words about winter and/or the holiday season in Red Deer.

All submissions can be sent to the Red Deer Arts Council at submissions@reddeerartscouncil.ca for a chance to win exciting prizes. Works will be published for folks to read on We Are Red Deer and the Red Deer Arts Council's social media pages.

Deadlines:

Holiday Season story deadline: December 10, 2023
Winter Blues story deadline: January 15, 2024

For more information, visit the Red Deer Arts Council website.

December 8: 4 - 7 p.m.
Ross Street Patio

Join the DBA and Spandy Andy on the Ross Street Patio for some frosty fun! Check out the children’s entertainers, activity booths and sip hot chocolate under the festive downtown lights. Bring the whole family together for an unforgettable outdoor celebration. Whether you're grooving to the DJ or simply basking in the warm glow of the fire tables, the Ross Street Patio is the place to be for an evening of free family fun. Visit the DBA's Frost Street Patio Party web page for more information.

December 8, 9, 15 & 16
5:30 – 8 p.m.
Red Deer neighbourhoods

Santa is back on the bus, merrily cruising down the streets of Red Deer! Check out the route maps below and give Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the dancing elves a wave - they light up this bus just for you!

We’ve done our best to help Santa visit each neighbourhood in the city, but due to his busy schedule he cannot visit every street. Please choose the route closest to your home to catch a glimpse of the jolly man and his crew. For safety reasons, please remain on the sidewalk or in your yard and stay off the street during the bus tours.

Tours operate from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m. on the following evenings. Follow along on the MyBus website or app to see when Santa will arrive in your neighbourhood.

• Friday, December 8 – Route 1 (Red Line): North Red Deer (Pines, 67 Street, Johnstone Park, Kentwood, Glendale, Normandeau, Oriole Park, Riverside Meadows, Highland Green)
  Santa's Bus Tour Map - Route 1 (pdf)
• Saturday, December 9 – Route 2 (Green Line): South Red Deer, Downtown (Bower, West Park, Downtown, Normandeau)
  Santa's Bus Tour Map - Route 2 (pdf)
• Friday, December 15 – Route 3 (Blue Line): South Red Deer (Sunnybrook, Inglewood, Anders, Morrisroe, Eastview, Clearview Meadows, 55 Street, Downtown, Gaetz Avenue North)
  Santa's Bus Tour Map - Route 3 (pdf)
• Saturday, December 16 – Route 4 (Yellow Line): East Red Deer (Vanier, Lancaster, Deer Park, Rosedale, Timberlands, Clearview Ridge)
  Santa's Bus Tour Map - Route 4 (pdf)

Friday, December 15
4 – 7 p.m.

For one night, many Downtown businesses remain open late to help Red Deerians with their holiday shopping and to encourage the support of local businesses. Downtown visitors are invited to pick up a free hot chocolate and a copy of the holiday scavenger hunt on the Patio. Enjoy beautiful window and light displays throughout downtown as you make your way to your favourite shops. Be sure to snag some Reindeer Food and Snowman Soup and watch for Santa's Bus Tour to drive by!

For more information, visit the Downtown Business Association website.