Edmonton is getting a new way to spend a cold afternoon: bumper cars on ice.
Hawrelak Recreation Co., which runs the rentals at Hawrelak Park, announced the attraction on Instagram with a simple message: “ICE BUMPER CARS ARE COMING SOON TO HAWRELAK!”
People had questions right away. How much will it cost? Can little kids ride? Will it open before Christmas?
None of that has been announced yet. Here’s what we know.
What’s been announced
The operator has confirmed that ice bumper cars are coming to Hawrelak and that they’re “coming soon.” That’s it for now.
There’s no word yet on:
The opening date or hours
Ticket prices or how to book
How long a ride lasts
Minimum age or height
Helmet rules or other restrictions
So a pre-Christmas opening is possible, but not confirmed.
The image in the announcement is labelled by Instagram as AI-generated. It’s promotional artwork, not a photo of the actual cars. The real ones may look different.
How ice bumper cars work
Picture regular bumper cars, but on a skating surface instead of a track.
Riders sit in round, padded cars with a rubber bumper ring all the way around. They steer with joysticks or handles, glide across the ice, spin and bump into each other. You don’t need to know how to skate, because you’re sitting down the whole time.
The ride has become a popular winter add-on at outdoor rinks in the U.S., and people in Edmonton have noticed. Several commenters on the announcement said they’d seen ice bumper cars in other cities and wished Edmonton had them.
What it costs in other cities
Hawrelak hasn’t released prices or rules. Here’s how one well-known operation in another city runs it, as a rough guide.
At Canalside in Buffalo, N.Y.:
Price: $8 USD for an eight-minute ride
Height: Drivers must be at least 48 inches tall
Weight: Up to 300 pounds per car
Riders: One person per car
Footwear: Flat, closed-toe shoes
Waivers: Every driver signs one, and a parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18
Calgary’s closest equivalent is ice bikes at Bowness Park, which rent for $12 per half-hour.
Hawrelak’s price and rules could be quite different. A 48-inch height limit is common for bumper car rides, though, and it would rule out many children under about seven or eight. Parents with younger kids should wait for the official rules.
Skating returns to a renovated Hawrelak Park
The bumper cars are arriving as Hawrelak Park gets ready for its first winter back.
The park was closed for a major rehabilitation that replaced aging utilities, roads and buildings, some dating to its opening in 1967. Much of it reopened to visitors on March 13, 2026, with a grand reopening celebration on May 30.
Returning visitors will find:
A new playground and lakefront promenade
A modernized pavilion with updated washrooms
Paved paths, including a two-kilometre loop around the park
The City of Edmonton says the skating surface on the lake will reopen for winter 2026–27. As of Nov. 14, the city’s notice lists it as closed and doesn’t give an opening date.
The bumper cars and the skating surface are separate. An open rink doesn’t mean the bumper cars are running yet.
Other things to do at Hawrelak this winter
Skating on the lake, once the city opens the surface
Skate and cross-country ski rentals from Hawrelak Recreation Co. at the boathouse
Cross-country skiing on the park’s trails
Warming up indoors at Lift Me Up on the Lake, the Tiramisu Bistro café in the pavilion. Check its hours before you go.
Silver Skate returns Feb. 5 to 15
There’s already one big date on Hawrelak’s winter calendar.
The Silver Skate Festival is back at Hawrelak Park from Feb. 5 to 15, 2027, for its 37th year. It’s free, and it’s one of Edmonton’s longest-running winter festivals, known for skating, ice sculptures and outdoor events.
The bumper car announcement doesn’t say whether the ride will be part of Silver Skate, or whether it would be free during the festival. Expect it to be a paid ride unless the operator says otherwise.
How to find out when it opens
The attraction is planned for William Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Road NW.
For the opening date, prices and rules, follow Hawrelak Recreation Co. on Instagram or check its website. For skating, check the City of Edmonton’s Hawrelak ice notice before heading out.
We’ll update this story once prices and the opening date are announced.
Looking for more to do this winter? Browse what’s on in Edmonton and across Alberta on our events page.
Sources
Hawrelak Recreation Co.: Instagram announcement, Nov. 2026
City of Edmonton: Hawrelak Park ice surface status
City of Edmonton: Hawrelak Park rehabilitation and reopening
Silver Skate Festival: 2027 festival dates
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