Ponoka Events and Activities

The Town of Ponoka is excited to announce the return of Fall Fest in Downtown Ponoka on Friday, September 11.

The fourth annual Fall Fest will feature an evening of live music by the Bandolier Brigade and Tap9. There will also be delicious food from various local vendors.

The event will run on September 11 from 4 to 10 p.m. (weather permitting) along 51 Avenue (between 50 Street and 51 Street).

Admission to the event is free. Tasting tickets will be available for purchase on site at the festival.

Temporary Road Closure Planned on 51 Avenue on September 11 for Fall Fest

There will be a temporary road closure on 51 Avenue between 50 Street and 51 Street on Friday, September 11 starting at 1 p.m. for the Town of Ponoka’s Fall Fest celebration.

The parking lot on the south side of 51 Avenue will be closed starting at 8 a.m. on September 11 for set up and all cars should be removed by this time.

The temporary road closure will remain in place until 11 p.m.

Motorists are reminded to drive with caution in the downtown area, observe road signs, and barricades and watch for pedestrians.

Enjoy a family-friendly movie night for all ages. More details to come.

Get ready for a spooktacular evening of thrills and chills! Stay tuned for event details closer to October.

There are so many wonderful ways for you and your family to enjoy the holiday season in Ponoka.

Stay tuned for a lineup of fun and festive activities coming in 2026. You won’t want to miss the magic!

On Saturday, February 7, the Town of Ponoka hosted Winter Day in the Park from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Lions Centennial Park (on Highway 2A, north of Highway 53).

This free event included:

• Live ice-carving demonstration; 
• L’il Chippers Ice Carving Station (participants were given a piece of ice, safety glasses, a small chisel and instruction on how to create their own small ice carving);
• Bonfire;
• Tobogganing (in front of the stage area); and
• Free hot dogs and hot chocolate.

Family Day on Monday, February 16, in the Town of Ponoka was filled with many free activities for whole family, including:

Free Public Swim at the Ponoka Aquaplex

A free public swim sponsored by FortisAlberta was hosted at the Ponoka Aquaplex (5315 46 Avenue) from 1 to 5 p.m. 

Free Public Skating at the Ponoka Arena Complex

Free public skating was hosted at the Ponoka Arena Complex (4410 54 Street) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the large ice on Family Day. 

Citizens could also lace-up their skates at the Outdoor Rink (ODR) next to the Ponoka Arena Complex. The rink is available in the daytime and in the evening as the outdoor lights operate between 5 to 10 p.m.

Free Family Day Activities at the Calnash Ag Event Centre 

The Calnash Ag Event Centre also hosted free Family Day activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities included an indoor bouncy castle, an open obstacle course ride in the indoor arena (horses were not provided) and hot chocolate.

Other Family Fun Events

There were several other fun free activities for families on Family Day and throughout the winter months, including:

• Cross-country ski trails at the Ponoka Golf Club: The starting and finishing point is below the main parking lot near the member cart shed. When skiing or walking, citizens are asked to please stay on the trails at all times. For more information, please contact the Ponoka Golf Club at 403-783-4626.
• Tobogganing at the Tom Hamilton Memorial Hill: Located in the southwest corner of Froman Industrial Park on 36 Avenue.
• Explore and take a stroll along the walking trails in Ponoka’s Battle River Valley.

Paint the Ice Night took place on March 23, before the ice was removed for the season. The event ran from 5 to 7 p.m. on the large ice surface at the Ponoka Arena Complex.

This community event invited residents of all ages to unleash their creativity and step onto the rink and decorate the ice with colourful, washable markers.

All art supplies were provided, and helmets were required for everyone on the ice. 

The Town of Ponoka and R2 Fitness hosted the Battle River Run on Saturday, April 11 at 9 a.m. 

The event featured a 10 km, 5 km, and a free 1 km Kids loop in the Battle River Valley. The start and finish line was at the Baden Powell Adventure Centre/Scout Hall (3924 46A Street Close). 

The 5 km loop was run entirely on paved trails, while the 10 km loop included some sections of off-road trails.

Registration included chip-timed results, a post-race snack, and a long-sleeved shirt (for those who registered before April 3). Medals were awarded to the top three overall male and female finishers in both the 10 km and the 5 km.

All proceeds will fund graduation scholarships at the Ponoka Secondary Campus and St. Augustine Catholic School.

To learn more about the event, please click here.

Spring Festival was held on Saturday, May 30, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Lions Centennial Park (located on Highway 2A and north of Highway 53).

This free event offered fun-filled activities and entertainment for the whole family, including:

• Bouncy houses;
• Face painting;
• Balloon twisting;
• Food trucks;
• Yard games; and
• Much more!
  

Throughout June, the Town of Ponoka celebrates Recreation and Parks Month, a provincewide initiative that promotes outdoor play, local parks and community connection through recreation.

This year, the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association has launched a 75-hour Recreation and Parks Challenge to help you make the most of your community’s recreation and parks.

To learn more and sign up for the challenge, please click here. Prizes to be won!

The Town of Ponoka celebrated Seniors’ Week from June 1 to 7. Activities were open to everyone aged 55 and up.

To enlarge the image, please click on the calendar. Programs were free to attend, unless marked otherwise.

Seniors’ Week Declaration

At the April 28 Regular Council Meeting, Town Council proclaimed the week of June 1 to 7 as Seniors’ Week in the Town of Ponoka.

For more information about Seniors’ Week, please visit the Government of Alberta website at Alberta.ca/seniors-week.

As part of National Indigenous History Month and in the spirit of reconciliation, the Town of Ponoka once again helped facilitate the return of Tipi Village to Ponoka during Stampede Week on June 25 to 27.

Tipi Village ran from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and included:

• Grand entry at 3 p.m. daily with a pow wow showcase - vibrant performances celebrating Indigenous culture.
• Cultural workshops with traditional crafts, storytelling and dance.
• Tipi teachings daily and ongoing throughout the day.
• Offerings from local artisans and food creators.
• Family-friendly activities for all ages.
  
  

Tipi Village was set up in the ball diamonds area behind the Ponoka Arena Complex (4410 54 Street), directly across from the Stampede grounds, and was open to the public. The event featured participation by members of neighbouring First Nations in central Alberta.

From June 25 to July 1, the Ponoka Stampede offered jaw-dropping rodeo action, exciting chuckwagon races, and star-studded concerts.

The Ponoka Stampede Parade rolled through downtown Ponoka on June 26, featuring horse-drawn carriages, classic cars, lively marching bands, clowns, and so much more.

Learn more about the Ponoka Stampede by clicking here.

The Town of Ponoka partnered with the Ponoka Stampede and Exhibition Association once again to host a Canada Day fireworks display on Tuesday, June 30 at about 11 p.m.

The fireworks were staged at the Ponoka Stampede grounds, which offered a central location where the fireworks could be seen throughout the community. 

Citizens were also able to view the fireworks from the Ponoka Arena Complex (4410 54 Street) parking lot.

The Ponoka World Cup Soccer Community Tournament was hosted by the Town of Ponoka and Ponoka Minor Soccer Association.

The event included:

• Watch party at 11 a.m. for the Canada vs. Morocco World Cup game (please bring a lawn chair);
• Youth and adult soccer games (3 vs. 3);
• Skills challenges;
• Prizes;
• Food; and
• Activities for all ages!

The Community-Wide Garage Sale was an opportunity for residents to sell unwanted items and explore new-to-you treasures throughout the community.

To view the 2026 Printable Community-Wide Garage Sale Map, including garage sale dates and times, please click here. You can also use the interactive map below to navigate to garage sale locations.

The map was a guide for residents and visitors, making it easy to locate dozens of garage sales in Ponoka during the town-wide garage sale event.

The Ponoka Community Registration Night took place on Friday, August 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ponoka Arena Complex (4410 54 Street) in the curling rink.

• Registration for local sports, community and recreation programs and activities;
• A free Ice Disco from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; and
• Coffee with Council – where people could ask questions and offer their input and ideas on the Town of Ponoka 2027 Budget.
  

Ponoka hosted Summer Sounds concerts throughout this past summer (July 7 to September 1) at Lions Centennial Park. The events were held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and free for all attendees.

Live music featured the following musicians:

• July 7 – Steve Arsenault
• July 14 – Shalaine Stebner
• July 21 – Gerry and JoLynn Bradshaw
• July 28 – Mark Cruz
• August 4 – Justin Sutton
• August 11 – Jasmyn Wright (postponed to September 1)
• August 18 – Dueling Piano with Cam Hinton and Randi Boulton
• August 25 – the Educators
• September 1 - Jasmyn Wright