Your Guide to Fun and Family Time in November

November in Calgary brings a unique mix of crisp air, warm lights, and meaningful moments. It’s the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and make new memories with your family before the rush of the holiday season.

From honouring our heroes at the Field of Crosses to catching a live show or cozying up on a sleigh ride, there’s something for every age and interest this month. Explore local Christmas markets, visit Santa, or plan a winter picnic — it’s all about celebrating connection, community, and the beauty of the season.

Pay your respects

At the Field of Crosses, you can honour those who have fallen for our country. Each of the 3,500 crosses erected on the north side of the Bow River – along Memorial Drive – is inscribed with the name, rank, regiment, and date of death of a Southern Alberta soldier killed in action. Bundle up the kids, pin on your poppy and teach them about these soldiers’ ultimate sacrifice.

Go to the theatre

There is nothing like “taking in a show,” and Calgary is home to a wide variety of professional and amateaur theatre companies! Alberta Theatre Projects, Vertigo, Morpheus, Theatre Calgary, StoryBook Theatre, Loose Moose, Stage West, Jubilations, Front Row Centre, Imagine Performing Arts, Workshop Theatre, Lunchbox Theatre and many, many more put on dozens of productions for all ages and interests at this time every year. 

Shop at a Christmas market

Calgary is home to many pop-up artist and craft markets around the holidays, as well as the two indoor year-round locations of the Calgary Farmers’ Market. Supporting these markets not only helps small businesses, but you can get unique groceries and gifts, drinks, treats and more. From fresh flowers to decadent donuts, these indoor markets have it all and you can spend a good chunk of a day taking them in. 

Visit Santa

Whether you stop in at a local mall, farm, market, or special event, there are plenty of places to see the Big Man in Red this year. Many locations require pre-registration so make sure you check the website of the venue you plan to visit before you leave and don’t forget your letter!

Get inspired in Airdrie

Check out the new Airdrie Public Library. The building, called Inspire, opened at the end of September and features a community living room, gender-inclusive and accessible bathrooms, large and small meeting facilities and art spaces, a playground, reading room and client study spaces. It is also home to several speaking series, children’s events, performances and more. Learn more at airdrie.ca.

Take a sleigh ride

Sleigh rides are a magical experience for the whole family and a memory you’ll cherish for years. Horsin Around in southwest Calgary is a great option in the city. Boundary Ranch in Kananaskis and Moose Mountain Horseback Adventures near Bragg Creek also offer sleigh rides.

See Beauvais Lake Provincial Park

This park makes a fabulous destination on a weekend! It is located 20 minutes southwest of Pincher Creek in Southern Alberta and can be reached in two-and-a-half hours from Calgary. Winter activities in the park include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on over 25 kilometres of trails. Ice fishing is also popular on the lake and for the hardy, there are 15 sites open for winter camping.

Try ice fishing 

If ice fishing piqued your interest but you have never gone before, you can hire an ice fishing guide for a few hours who can provide all the tackle and equipment you’ll need to get started. Other popular places to ice fish near Calgary include Ghost Reservoir and Eagle Lake.

Have a winter picnic

While many people think of a picnic as a summer adventure, there is no reason you can’t pack your basket and venture out on a nice winter day. Many local parks have picnic tables all year round and fire pits to warm your hands, so wipe the snow off and enjoy a portable feast! 

Suit up for the snow

Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snow blading, cross-country, ski biking and more – we’re in the heartland of snow sports and there are tons to try! Take a class for beginners at Winsport or make an expedition out to one of the many ski resorts in the mountains nearby.