The Flying Canoe Festival is a definite Yegventures pick for winter festivals to attend. It’s less than 10 years old, but it exceeded all expectations as being hands-down the most ‘Canadian’ festival in Edmonton.

The Francophone-Metis influenced festival has its setting in Mill Creek Ravine and the French Quarter. La Cite in the French Quarter is one of two sites of the festival. Sleigh rides bring visitors to the ravine site where illuminating artist installations, a Francophone tent, and a Metis village await.

The festival returns to the Mill Creek Ravine this Thursday thru Saturday (Jan 30 – Feb 1, 2020). While La Cite is handicap accessible, the ravine trails are not. More info here.

It’s also a short distance from Boardwalk Ice on Whyte, so why not see Boardwalk Ice On Whyte during the day, head to Flying Canoe, and return to see Boardwalk Ice On Whyte at night (you can get a same-day return stamp upon exit)?

Here is a video from 2015. Other than the new camera being tested too dim, this is definitely flying high as one of the great winter festivals in Edmonton. Yes, we will be updating this video!

There’s also Flying Canoe races, which in the past has taken place at the Edmonton Sky Club. Here’s a photo from the event in 2017 with sliding tracks for the canoe races.

Note: The festival is marketed as Flying Canoë Volant. Canoë Volant just means Flying Canoe in French, so calling it Flying Canoë Volant Festival is redundant.