Please choose between the following three options:
Skip to main menu Skip to site search Continue to current page menu and contentMain page content begins here
Local winter festivals and events encourage Edmontonians to carry their passion for their city year round.
The WinterCity Festivals and Events Grant Program is now accepting applications for eligible winter events occurring during the following dates:
Learn How to Apply for the Grant
The deadline for submission is January 31, 2025 at 11:59pm.
WinterCity Festival and Event Organizers create experiences that share the magic of an Edmonton winter with both local community members and international visitors.
However, operating outdoor festivals and events in winter can be challenging because there are higher operational costs due to the cold season. Winter festivals and events can see it all, and for this reason, winter-specific festival and event funding is being provided.
The WinterCity Festivals and Events Grant allocations will vary based on the size, scope and scale of each event and will range from $500 for smaller community events to up to $60,000 for larger festivals and events. Grant funding may not exceed 25% of the total cost to produce the event.
The City reserves the right to audit applications and projects that receive funding. You may need to provide additional information to verify the funding was used for the intended purpose outlined in your application.
We have a limited budget and are not able to support every application. To improve your chances of success, please ensure that you complete all sections of the form and add sufficient detail about how you intend to use the funds.
Funding decisions made by the City are final and cannot be appealed.
The WinterCity Festivals and Events grant priorities in 2024 are aligned with the City Plan and will focus on:
Grant funding awards will be based on the following criteria:
The City may change or clarify the grant criteria at any time to be responsive to the needs of organizations.
Grant funds can only be used for the purpose outlined in the grant application.
Eligible events must:
Note: Events being hosted in multiple locations on multiple dates with similar program content will be counted as 1 event. Organizers wishing to host different events may apply for multiple grants for each event produced from January-March 31 and/or November 15-December 31. A separate application for each event will be required.
The program will be assessed at the end of each year to confirm or modify eligibility and criteria.
Grant funding awards will be considered for eligible events only.
Eligible events and expenses include but are not limited to:
Funding may be used towards winter operations including, but not limited to:
Winter Programming elements may be considered, however, they are not the primary intent of this grant which is intended to cover additional operational expenses due to extremes in winter weather conditions.
Ineligible festivals/events and organizations include, but are not limited to:
Before you start your application:
If you have questions or need help completing the application, please contact the Winter City Events Grant Team.
Before you submit your application:
The City is currently accepting applications for eligible winter festivals and events.
Submit WinterCity Festivals and Events Grant Application
The deadline for application submission is January 31, 2025 at 11:59pm.
Applicants should allow up to 8 weeks after the deadline to receive a decision.
Note: Funding decisions made by the City are final and cannot be appealed.
Successful applicants will provide a final report within 90 days of the completion of the festival or event, and must include a summary of the event outcomes and detail how City funds were used. Pictures of the event are strongly encouraged.
Receipt of these reports is a precondition for future eligibility in any City of Edmonton grant program. Final reports for the WinterCity Festivals and Events Grant may be considered part of the assessment of any future applications by the organization to the same grant program.
Wherever possible, recipients are requested to acknowledge funding received from the City of Edmonton WinterCity Festivals and Events Grant program in related advertising or promotional materials. The City of Edmonton will provide logos as required.
Some of the most common reasons why an application is unsuccessful are:
Unsuccessful applications can reapply the following year. If you would like feedback on your application in order to prepare for a future submission, please contact wintercityeventsgrant@edmonton.ca.
Please remember to clearly identify how the funding will be used as well as the circumstances of need.
Note: The City’s decision is final, however you can reapply if a second intake is advertised.
Yes. Please identify the expenses that you intend to use the funding towards in your application.
Yes. This funding is available to new event opportunities as well as to those event producers who have organized public events previously.
If your festival or event is located on City of Edmonton property it must be insured with a minimum of $2 million in general liability coverage with the City of Edmonton listed as an “Additional Insured”. Depending on the size and scope of your event, additional coverage may be required.
Yes. If your organization has received other City of Edmonton funding, in most cases you can still apply for this grant. Please note that grant funding awards will be considered based on established criteria including receipt of funding from other City of Edmonton sources.
