Slowing down is always a good idea. Especially if it involves slowing down to take a journey into all that’s local in Red Deer. There’s a lot to see, do and eat here. Geographically, this city is particularly blessed. A river runs through it. Soft rolling hills surround it. The cool little towns of Olds and Innisfail and Lacombe and Stettler sit south and north. Sylvan Lake puts a beach within reach. Parkland forests dot the land and Prairie croplands roll flat out to the east.
Unlike their counterparts in dry eastern and southern Alberta, homesteaders here were blessed with rich, black, fertile soil. The proximity of the Rocky Mountains also meant enough moisture dropped each year to sustain crops. They had the basic elements to make a life. And, make it they did.
Red Deer has become a service center for the agriculture and energy industries. It’s one of Alberta’s prime crop growing regions with wheat, canola, barley, alfalfa and oats among other things. Crops mean farms and Red Deer is home to some of the province’s longest running family farms.
“One of the key values of this region is collaboration,” says Rene Rondeau, the Executive Director of Tourism Red Deer. “There’s a lot of entrepreneurs here who live and breathe what they do. We may have gone through a few years of fascination with big box stores and chain restaurants but now, it’s about getting back to our grassroots.”
Given that bison are Alberta’s indigenous species, nothing could be more grassroots than bison ranches like HGB Bison near Olds and YR Ranch just a few minutes east of town. And nowhere could collaboration and grassroots be clearer than the new Gasoline Alley Farmers’ Market.
WHERE TO EAT
Roxanne Martin of Red Deer Eats blog has made a career out of helping people find the best food in Red Deer and Central Alberta. It’s fun to follow her on Instagram to keep up with the emerging food scene. Whether is a new summer salad at Bo’s Bar and Stage, pizza at Anthony’s Italian Kitchen, a triple scoop at Ross Street Ice Cream, Birria Tacos at Pupuseria Cristy (yes, Red Deer has a pupuseria!) or the award-winning smoke house specialties at Mohave Smokehouse and Bar, she’s on top of it. Need a coffee fix? Dose Coffee is the local’s fave. You’ll also find her checking out hotspots on Sylvan Lake’s Lakeshore Drive like Sweet Home on the Lake, Son of a Beach and Fireside Restaurant and Lounge. And for fine dining she recommends The Westlake Grill at Heritage Ranch.
WHERE TO PLAY
In Alberta, any farm (or ranch) that’s been in the same family for over 100 years is a Century Farm. There are dozens in and around Red Deer. The Jungle Farm, Edgar Farms, and Eagle Creek are all examples of Century Farm families that have not only survived here but continue to thrive and find ways for the next generation to do so as well.
Markets
From May long weekend to Thanksgiving, the Red Deer Public Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday morning to satisfy all your local food cravings. Year-round, you can find fantastic local goods at the Gasoline Alley Farmers’ Market, or the Big Bend Market South.
Local Brews
Red Deer has a great selection of craft breweries, distilleries, wineries scattered throughout the city and surrounding area. Check out city breweries like Troubled Monk, Sawback, Red Hart, and Belly Hop in town, or take a short trip to the nearby Our Roots Delidais Estate Winery & Distillery or Red Shed Malting.
Other Places to Visit
Take a look around Red Deer, and you’ll see a vibrant arts and culture community catering to all ages. Explore the culture of the city with a stroll along the pedestrian-friendly downtown streets, browse through one of the many art galleries, view one of the largest public collections of life-sized bronze sculptures, and take in a world-class musical performance. It’s all here. Explore…
WHERE TO STAY
ABOUT THE CITY OF RED DEER
The name Red Deer was really a misunderstanding, but it kind of stuck. The city was named for the river that flows through it. Cree people called the river that passes through the present day city “Waskasoo Seepee,” which translates to “Elk River.” Unfortunately, the first Europeans in this area were traders and not naturalists. The British traders thought the local elk were European red deer and translated the Cree name as “Red Deer River” instead of “Elk River” and that is why Alberta’s third largest city is called Red Deer.
Whatever you call it, this part of Canada is special. It was here in Red Deer in 1924 that Alberta’s first federal migratory bird sanctuary was established on 118 hectares of protected land within the city limits. Today the region is still committed to preserving green spaces, nature and wildlife. Step out your door and onto a nature trail. There are more than 100 km of trails inside the city limits and almost 3,000 km in the surrounding region.
With one of the youngest populations in the nation, this region is dynamic and filled with many exciting events and attractions. You can test your mettle in Canada’s largest mud obstacle race, ski at the largest non-mountain downhill ski resort in Alberta and enjoy a romantic carriage ride on a 207-acre ranch right inside the city.
Situated in the heart of Alberta’s Parkland/Prairie region, Red Deer is surrounded with vibrant communities, flowing wheat fields, more than 9,100 area farms, pristine lakes and winding rivers.
A country drive leads to a discovery of agri-tourism attractions in the countryside and events and attractions in area communities. You can explore unique cultural sites, pick your own fruits and veggies, relax on the beach at Sylvan Lake, cowboy up at the Innisfail Pro Rodeo, wander through a corn maze or get up close to a real grizzly bear at Innisfail’s Discovery Wildlife Park.
Along the way, we hope you get to meet some of the friendly people who call this part of Canada home.
Halfway between Alberta’s two largest cities, people come to the Red Deer region for work, for recreation and for many other reasons. Whatever brings you, we want you to know we’re glad you’re here.
Region: City of Red Deer, Red Deer County as well as the greater central Alberta region along the East/West Highway 11 corridor and North/South Highway 2 corridor.
Population: 300,000+
Size: 41,000+ square kilometres
- Red Deer is home to the WHL team the Red Deer Rebels
- The Puffed Wheat Square is believed to have originated in Red Deer, by candy maker Alfred James Russell in 1913
- The official name of the Green Onion/water tower is the Horton Water Spheroid. When it was built it was the tallest water tower in North America.
- Official Flower – The Crimson Star Columbine represents the beauty, colour, environmental character and heritage of Red Deer.
- Westerner Days Fair & Exposition (July)
- CentreFest Street Performer Festival (July)
- Canadian Finals Rodeo (November)
- Agri-Trade Equipment Expo (November)