“We had a wonderful evening, the fondue was great, service impeccable, and we had an overall spectacular experience. We would recommend this to anyone. Thanks for making our Saturday night a lasting memory.”
The Northern Light Dining Experience
Notice — Due to the extreme cold weather conditions, Luminaria: A Winter Garden Story and the Northern Light Dining Experience are cancelled this evening.
Do you want to celebrate winter with a one-of-a-kind evening out? Get cozy in one of our private heated dining domes and savour a three-course fondue dinner - a quintessential winter delight.
In 2022, we ran service until -30°C, and guests were still warm and comfy inside the domes.
Your special evening will begin with a stroll under the stars. When you arrive at the glowing village of domes nestled in the snow, you’ll be escorted to your personal dome, where you can settle in to enjoy a leisurely dinner. Your dining dome is yours for the evening and you set the pace.
Before or after dinner, or between courses, step outside to explore the sights, sounds and surprises of Luminaria, an evening festival inspired by the atmosphere of alpine holiday markets. Your admission to Luminaria is included with your dinner! Don’t miss the serene candle-lined pathways of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden, live music in the Leaf Plaza or a ride through the forest on the Woodland Express.
Your fondue dinner will be served in three generous sweet and savoury courses (cheese, broth and chocolate with an array of fun and tasty dippers sourced from the finest local and Canadian food artisans.
This winter, share this unique experience with your favorite people and make the season special.
“It was wonderful!! Right from the beginning it was truly amazing. From the delicious food to the amazing waiter and all the friendly staff to the total atmosphere of the evening - we absolutely loved it all! So looking forward to next year!”
Do you have a larger group?
We have limited spaces available for Northern Light Dining in our Ozawa Pavilion Teahouse and Ikoi no ba, two charming structures overlooking the Kurimoto Japanese Garden.
Reserve Your Northern Light Dining Experience
The Northern Light Dining Experience includes a delicious three-course fondue meal in a private heated dining dome, exclusive access to your dome for the entire evening, gratuity, non-alcoholic beverages and admission to the Luminaria event.
Menu items subject to change. We are committed to sourcing the best ingredients available, with an emphasis on local and Canadian.
“It was a fun and magical experience. I would highly recommend it!”
FAQs – good to read before you order
What about allergies and special diets?
Our facilities contain wheat and dairy products. While there are no nuts on the menu, some products may be prepared in a facility with nuts on the premises. We can make substitutions to accommodate gluten-free, vegetarian, halal, shellfish-free, or pork-free diets.
Is there a different price for children?
The price for children age 3-12 is $57.50 plus tax. Children age two and under are free. Children need to be kept close to their parents/caregivers at all times.
How many people can be in a group for the Northern Light Dining Experience?
The maximum number of guests in each dining dome is six. If you have a group larger than six, we will divide you among several domes and will make every effort to place you close to each other, OR, we may be able to place your group in our teahouses overlooking the Kuirmoto Japanese Garden (limited availability). Please contact us for assistance.
Is there a waitlist?
Due to the popularity of the Northern Light Dining Experience, we are not able to maintain a waitlist. However, same-day spots may open up after the daily cancellation deadline of 12 p.m. Please check the website between 12-3:30 p.m. for same-day availability.
When should we arrive? How long can we stay?
When you make your online reservation, you will be asked to select an arrival time (5:30, 6 or 6:30 p.m.). Please plan to arrive on time. You will have a walk of approximately 10-15 minutes from the Garden entrance to your dining area. You will have exclusive access to your dining space until 10 p.m.
We recommend you plan to spend 2-2.5 hours for dining, plus some time to enjoy a walk through the winter Garden, or spending time around one of the fires looking at the stars.
How should I prepare? Is there anything we should bring?
Plan to dress appropriately for the weather, with warm comfortable footwear. The dining domes are heated, however, we recommend dressing in layers so you can adjust for your comfort. The domes are cooler than a typical indoor restaurant setting.
I am a Garden Experience Passholder. Is there special pricing?
Yes! Garden Experience and Annual Passholders are eligible for a discount. Please use your Promo Code when you register, or contact us for assistance.
Can I bring my own drinks or food?
Outside alcohol and food is not permitted. Wine, beer, cider and non alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at your dome. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water are included with your ticket.
It’s cold outside. How warm are the domes?
The domes are equipped with overhead and floor heaters. We have tested the domes when the outside temperatures felt like -30C with windchill, and interior temperatures were between 5C and 12C. The warmer the outside temperature, the warmer the domes. We recommend dressing appropriately for the weather, and wearing layers so you can adjust for your comfort. Blankets and hand and toe warmers are available in the domes for your use.
What is the cancellation policy?
You may cancel or reschedule up to 12 p.m. on the day of your dining reservation by sending an email to uabg.dining@ualberta.ca. We will make every effort to reschedule; if there is no availability, you will be refunded.
If you or any member of your party has symptoms of COVID-19, please do not come to the Garden.
If there is a severe weather warning issued by Environment Canada, the Garden may cancel the experience. Similarly, if temperatures drop below a certain threshold (a combination of wind chill and temperature that “feels like” -30C or colder), the Garden may cancel, in which case we will notify you by email in advance of your booking. We will reschedule, if there is availability, or refund your booking. If the weather is cold, please check your email before starting out for the Garden.
Any rules I should know about?
You can help to keep the Garden a beautiful, special place by sticking to the pathways when you’re outside – there is fragile plant life under the snow. Important to remember: pets and smoking (of any kind) are not permitted at the Garden.
For more information, contact uabg.info@ualberta.ca or 780-492-3152