20 Ways to Make Calgary’s Winter Magical

When the temperature drops and the snowbanks rise, Calgary doesn’t hibernate — it transforms. From sparkling frozen lakes that look straight out of a fairytale, to penguin parades, mountain adventures, and hot-chocolate-fuelled festivals, winter in Calgary is packed with possibilities for every kind of family. Whether your crew craves outdoor thrills, warm-and-cozy indoor adventures, or something totally new (ice bikes, anyone?), the season is brimming with memories waiting to be made. Grab your mittens, bundle the kids, and get ready to rediscover just how magical winter can be in our city.

Ski in the mountains

This one may seem obvious but why not hit a hill you have never done or make a weekend of it at a ski-in/out hotel or hostel? If you are usually a fan of downhill skiing or snowboarding, try your hand at cross-country – it’s a whole new experience!

Go mall hopping

Whether you have something you want to buy or just want or stretch your legs indoors, Calgary’s malls are a great place to stay warm and get moving. Chinook Centre is Calgary’s largest mall with over 250 stores and CrossIron Mills Mall in Balzac offers more than 200 places to shop.

Go sledding

What’s better than an activity that is free, gets the kids outside and provides exercise? Nothing! The City of Calgary has 22 toboggan hills that are maintained. Popular ones are located at Confederation Park, Prairie Winds Park, and Stanley Park. Dress appropriately for the weather and don’t forget your helmets.

Ice racing on Ghost Lake

Locals build a racetrack on the famous lake as soon as the ice is thick enough to hold vehicles. Photos of the 2.4-kilometre track went viral on Instagram last year and it’s easy to see why. This is a great way to quench your need for speed!

Check out winter festivals

Calgary has no shortage of festivals during the cold months. Holiday Wonder takes place in the holiday season, as does the infamous ZOOLIGHTS. Other holiday events include Once Upon A Christmas at Heritage Park and Lions Festival of Lights. YYC Hot Chocolate Fest and Chinook Blast are up and running in February to break up the seasonal blues. A quick Google search will help you find even more festival fun throughout the winter.

Visit the library

Whether you choose to explore the Calgary Central Library or your local bibliotheca, libraries can offer hours of free fun. From classes and programs, crafts and courses to computer and video game access to browsing and reading, you can easily pass a day within a library’s four walls. Have you visited Airdrie’s new Inspire Mutli-Use and Library facility yet? With its a community living room, large and small meeting facilities and art spaces, playground, reading room and arts performances, you definitely should!

Snowshoe

The best part of snowshoeing? It’s a great family activity. If your kids can walk, they can snowshoe. It is a lot more affordable than some other winter sports. Once you have the equipment, it’s free! Make sure you research the trails and stay clear of avalanche areas and cross-country ski trails before heading out.

Stroll through a museum

There is no shortage of cozy museums to stay warm in this season. Fort Calgary, TELUS Spark, Studio Bell, the Military Museums… the list goes on an on. There are even some lesser-known ones like The Hangar Flight Museum and YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre. Did you know the Canada Strong Pass provides free admission to many of Alberta’s museums, including Lougheed House in Calgary and the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller from December 12 to January 15? Make sure to check out the website of your favorite museum for details on pricing, hours, parking and more.

Shop at a year-round farmers market

Calgary has several year-round farmers markets that offer not only great grocery shopping but also gifts, restaurants, beverage options and more. From fresh flowers to decadent donuts to palate pleasing pasta, they have it all and you can spend a good chunk of a day taking it in.

Visit a National Park – For free!

During the Canada Strong Pass periods (December 12 to January 15), no fees apply for admission for all visitors to all national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada. Free admission applies to places operated by and for Parks Canada, during regular operating hours. No entry pass or ticket is required. Learn more at parks.canada.ca.

Hop on a at bike or ice bike

Winter fat biking is a great way to stay active this season. The trails around Calgary are plowed after a snowfall as are the bike lanes. Or for something a little different, you can try out the ice bikes at Bowness Park. Picture a bicycle, where the front wheel has been replaced with skates and the back wheel is surrounded by skates. With a wide base, you don’t even have to balance. Just pedal and steer as if you’re riding a normal bike. Rent them at the skate shop.

Go dog sledding

This one requires a bit of a drive, but it is worth it! Imagine the cold air on your face as you dog sled through the pristine wilderness of the Canadian Rockies just outside Canmore near the Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country. This is an experience you will never forget!

Ice skate on a frozen lake/lagoon

Everyone has seen the unreal photos of people skating on the pristinely gorgeous Gap Lake. Lake Minnewanka is a close second in popularity with its infamous frozen gas bubbles in the ice. A little closer to home, there is nothing like gliding along the Bowness Park lagoon and ice trails surrounded by massive fir trees.

Discover outdoor art exhibits and murals

Calgary has dozens of interesting murals and other outdoor art pieces that you can enjoy from the comfort of your car in the winter months. Some examples include Colourful Human by Troy Lovegates at 591 17 Ave SW, Cougar by Faith 47 at 735 12 Ave SW and Bees by Natalie Nehlawi at 10 Ave & 12 St SW.

Walk Plus 15 Skywalk

Looking for something to do on a particularly cold day? The Plus 15 network in downtown Calgary has 86 bridges and over 16 kilometres of elevated, weather-protected, and climate-controlled walkways in downtown Calgary. There are even art installations, cafes and other exciting things to see within the Plus 15 system.

Take in the theatre

There is nothing like “taking in a show” and Calgary has more theatre venues than you might think. From children’s theatre, musicals, cabaret, murder mysteries, and more our city has a little bit of culture for every taste.

Climb the Calgary Tower

Although some people may consider this something that only tourists do, a trip up the Calgary Tower can make for a fun day. When was the last time you were up there to take in the views? Have your children ever gone? It might be worth it for a bird’s eye view from the observation deck with nothing but a glass floor under your feet!

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. Popular places to ice fish near Calgary include Ghost Reservoir and Eagle Lake.

Walk along the river

Speaking of downtown – why not take a stroll by the Bow River? This might be something on your spring or summer to-do list, but have you ever tried it in the winter? The snow-covered views of the frosty river are beautiful and there is still tons of wildlife to see in the colder months. Make sure to dress warmly and never walk on ice on the river.

Go tubing

Servus Tube Park at Winsport opens in December and features eight lanes of fun, a magic carpet, and more. The park offers downhill excitement and winter fun, for any skill level and ability, all without leaving the city. It is one of the largest of parks of its kind in Western Canada.