10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues in Edson

Today is Blue Monday, aka the ‘saddest day of the year’, which is often attributed to the post-Christmas lulls, stretched finances following the holidays, broken New Year’s resolutions and yet another day of limited daylight.

But don’t fret - we have compiled a list of 10 activities happening in Edson and area this month to help you beat the winter blues!

1. Lace up your skates and hit the rink!

Now that the weather has warmed up slightly, it is the perfect time to go skating! Fortunately, there are tons of skating options in Edson and area.

If you are interested in indoor skating, visit the Edson & District Leisure Centre! The rink is open for public skating from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Monday-Friday, with additional hours on Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. It is also open on Sundays from 4:30 pm to 5:45 pm.

But if you are looking to go skating outdoors, there are some great rinks available in Edson, including the Griffiths Park rink (5412-6th Ave), the Westhaven neighbourhood rink (5901-10th Ave) and the Tiffin neighbourhood rink (1408-55th). The Town of Edson is also beginning work on the Squirrely Whirly Skating Loop at Water Tower Park, so keep your eyes open for upcoming details!

Yellowhead County also has a variety of outdoor rinks available, including the Peers rink (5114-51st St., Peers, AB), the Wildwood rink (5530-50th St., Wildwood, AB), the Niton rink (located at Niton Central School, behind the bottle depot) and the Robb rink (located on 52nd Ave, Robb, AB).

One great outdoor skating option is the Bear Lake Skating loop, which takes you on a refreshing journey through a snowy forest.

2. Join the Winter Walking Group

Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash.

A great way to beat the winter blues is to engage with others, and what a better way to do so than to join the Winter Walking Group! The group meets weekly on Tuesdays for a guided walk through Edson’s beautiful trail system, with frequent visits to Willmore Park. Locations are TBA each week, so make sure you follow the group for updates.

3. Go snowshoeing

Photo by Daniel Stuhlpfarrer on Pixabay.

It is extremely important to stay active during the winter to boost your serotonin. One way you can do so in Edson and area is by snowshoeing! There are many options for snowshoeing in the area, including Willmore Park, the McLeod River and Bear Lake Campground, to name a few.

No snowshoes? No problem! The Town of Edson and Yellowhead County offer low-cost, weekly snowshoe rentals.

4. Practice some yoga

Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels

Another great way to stay active this month is to practice yoga!

Uptown Yoga and New Elevations Yoga offer many fun and unique classes, such as yoga by candlelight, Sip & Flow yoga, aerial yoga and more.

This month, Yellowhead County is also offering a four-week mini yoga session in Peers and a six-week session in Marlboro (CANCELLED) on Tuesdays from 7-8 pm.

5. Enjoy some laughs at the Legion Comedy Night

On January 28, the Edson Legion will be hosting a dinner and Comedy Night, featuring Alberta comedians Cory Harding and Daryl Makk! Tickets are available for purchase at the Edson Legion, the Popped Cork and the Golden Gains Gym, with all proceeds benefiting the Edson Food Bank.

6. Join a pop-up dance class

Image by Freepik.

Put on your dancing shoes a join local dance instructor Amy Wesolowsky of Edson Dance Academy for some pop-up dance classes in Yellowhead County! Classes are available for toddlers, children, teens and adults in Peers (January 25), Marlboro (January 26) and Robb (January 28). Most of the classes are DANCEPL3Y based, which means participants will be playing with dance and learning a variety of styles.

7. Participate in an Anxiety to Calm workshop

Challenge your thoughts and learn tools to invite more calm into your life by participating in Anxiety to Calm, a free six-week, in-person workshop designed to help you practice proven and effective skills for managing anxiety. This workshop is available for both teens and adults through the McLeod River Primary Care Network.

8. Try Cross-Country Skiing

Edson and area is fortunate to have some great locations for cross-country skiing, including Willmore Park, the McLeod River and of course, the Hornbeck Cross-Country Ski Trails.

The Hornbeck trails are a local gem for many reasons – there are 7 trails of different lengths to choose from, a warm-up shelter, and track-set trails that are excellently maintained by a passionate group of volunteers (Muskeg Flyers).

It’s the perfect time to try this fun winter activity for yourself! Skis, boots and poles can be rented from Yellowhead County for $30 a week.

9. Go tobogganing

Spend the day tobogganing with the kids (or by yourself) at one of Edson’s many tobogganing hills! The Yellowhead Koinonia Christian School’s tobogganing hill is great for young ones, while the Kinsmen Park and Willmore Park hills are for those who are looking for more of a thrill.

10. Go curling

Curling is a popular sport in Edson and area, and although there are no rinks currently available in Edson, Yellowhead County has some great options! The Robb Multiplex has two sheets of curling ice and the Peers Multiplex has one sheet with two sides. Keep up to date with local curling events by following the Edson Curling Club.