Activities . Family Fun . What's Up in Calgary?

What’s Up This Week?

On December 12, 2023 by Calgary's Child

December 15 to 17

December 14 to 15; Andy Kim Christmas. This holiday benefit concert will feature a star-studded lineup at Studio Bell in Calgary, to support the National Music Centre and the transformative power of music to heal and bring people together. Learn more at studiobell.ca.

December 14 to 17; ART SPOT Under $100 Art Show. ART SPOT’s most anticipated annual event is back for the 16th year. Over 100 different artists per weekend, nearly 20,000 square feet of exhibition space and thousands of pieces of art under $100. Learn more at under100artshow.com.

December 15, 5 to 9pm; Caprices Holiday Ladies Night. Enjoy a decadent baked good with incredible gourmet coffee, while shopping from amazing local vendors bringing the finest in clothing, jewelry, homewares, beauty and art at Commons Church. Sara-Mae Dafoe, local singer/songwriter, will be performing as well as bringing her fun and cool jewelry. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.

December 15; Spark After Dark Greatest Hits (Adults Only). TELUS Spark Science Centre invites you to a collection of throwbacks from all the Spark After Dark events in 2023. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.

December 15 to 17; Nutcracker (in a nutshell). Nutcracker (in a nutshell) is engaging and fun performance for the whole family at BMO Theatre at Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge. Nutcracker in a Nutshell takes children through the classic ballet The Nutcracker in just 30 minutes. Set to Tchaikovsky’s music, The Nutcracker Prince, Rat King, Snow Queen, Sugar Plum and all her friends make an appearance. There is holiday craft-making half an hour before the show, and a ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ interactive character dance and creativity workshop with the kids after the show. Learn more at ymcacalgary.org.

December 15 to 17; Market Collective’s Holiday Series. Enjoy live music, interactive workshops, galleries, more than 150 local vendors, and special surprises at BMO Centre. Learn more at marketcollective.ca.

December 15 to 17; Christmas at the Nation. Support Indigenous and local artists and businesses at the third annual Christmas on the Nation Holiday Market. In partnership with the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex & Chief Jim Starlight Centre and Taza, this new holiday market will feature over 150 Indigenous and local artists. Learn more at christmasatthenation.ca.

December 16; Christmas in Kensington. Live music, Santa and sleigh rides for you to enjoy as you shop local this holiday season. Learn more at kensingtonyyc.com.

December 16, 10am to 2pm; YouthLink Christmas Cookies Crime Scenes. Celebrate the holidays with YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre. The Cookie Crime Scene competitions are returning to YouthLink this December, where you can create a crime scene in the most festive way possible, with gingerbread in the interactive police museum. Learn more at youthlinkcalgary.com.

December 16, 11am; Cineplex Family Favourites: Dr Seuss’ The Grinch. Visit participating Cineplex theatres near you and watch a favorite family film each week for only $2.99. Learn more at cineplex.com.

December 16, 1 to 3pm; New Horizon Mall’s Children’s Christmas Party. You’ll find special guests to help spread the Christmas cheer, like Mickey and Minnie, and there will be face painting, goodie bags and crafts. Get free pictures with Santa from 2 to 4pm. Learn more at newhorizonmall.com.

December 16, 1 to 3pm; Paint with Allan the Alpaca. Experience the wonder of cuddling with Allen the Alpaca and painting pottery. An event to delight you, your family and friends at Color Café Calgary. Learn more at allenthealpaca.com.

December 16, 2:30 to 4pm; Holiday Harmony (Hosted By Acappella Road). Enjoy the holiday season and benefit the Calgary Food Bank with choruses and quartets singing Christmas and holiday favorites a cappella at McDougall United Church. Learn more at sing4fun.ca.

December 16, 6:30 to 8:30pm; National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – Films at the Fort. Feel the magic of the holiday season with a movie at Fort Calgary’s Burnswest Theatre! National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13) As the holidays approach, the Griswold family’s plans for a perfect, big family Christmas quickly goes awry in a series of hilarious events. Every ticket includes popcorn and after-hours admission to the interpretive centre. Additional snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. This film is screening in Fort Calgary’s Burnswest Theatre as part of Films at the Fort: Holiday Favourites series. Learn more at fortcalgary.com/events/christmas-vacation.

December 16, 7pm; Fiddle Fantasia. Calgary Fiddlers and Bow Valley Fiddlers (ages seven to 17) will toe-tap their way into your hearts and leave you humming Christmas favorites for the rest of the holiday season at University Theatre. Learn more at calgaryfiddlers.com.

December 16, 7:30 to 9pm; Cantaré Children’s Choir – A Winter’s Night. Dim the lights, light the candles, and let the glow warm your heart with the angelic sound of children’s voices. Cantaré Children’s Choir presents its most cherished concert of the year, A Winter’s Night at Knox United Church. Learn more at cantarechildrenschoir.org.

December 16, 7:30 to 9:30pm; Sounds of the Season. Celebrating the festive season in song, as Mount Royal Conservatory ensembles, including the Calgary Youth Orchestra, Mount Royal Kantorei and Zhi-Yin choir, take the Bella stage at the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts. Enjoy an evening featuring Handel’s famous Hallelujah Chorus and selections from The Nutcracker, plus a few classics with a twist. Learn more at taylorcentre.ca.

December 16, 7:30 to 10pm; Christmas With New West. New West Symphony and Chorus are back for their annual Christmas concert – Christmas With New West. Whether it’s through the timeless classics or new seasonal favorites, experience the magic of Christmas through beautiful and heartwarming music while enjoying the wonderful venue of the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at newwestsociety.com.

Until December 16; Morpheus Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Based on the classic film by Frank Capra. An inspirational, heartwarming story about giving and receiving, about life and all the paths we walk, about true and lasting love and guardian angels. Morpheus Theatre very proudly welcomes you to Bedford Falls with this holiday favorite, presented from the perspective of a radio show cast with a live studio audience, and live foley sound effects. Learn more at morpheustheatre.ca.

December 16 to 17; The Pop-Up Holiday Market in Cochrane. Support local this holiday season by buying unique handmade gifts at Frank Wills Memorial Hall.

December 16 to 17; Candy Cane Kids. Cookie, Stripe, and Pep are the Quality Control Inspectors for McJingles Incorporated. Their job? To monitor, measure, and analyze the Christmas spirit worldwide. This year, however, the cheery trio discover that the Canadian spirit is dangerously low, and pull out all the stops to raise it. Using their social media platform Jinglegram, they decide to broadcast live! They sing, dance, bake, laugh, and cheer on Canada in this 75-minute extravaganza at Evan Hazell Theatre in Brookfield Residential YMCA in Seton. Learn more at occasionalnotes.net/candycanekids.

December 17, 9 am to 1:30pm; Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo – Festive Brunch. A festive brunch experience in the heart of Destination Africa before heading out to enjoy a beautiful winter stroll around the zoo. The specialty brunch menu features traditional breakfast items, cozy comfort foods and festive desserts. It’s the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit while supporting wildlife conservation. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

December 17, 10am to 2pm; Brunch with Santa. Enjoy a buffet-style brunch with Santa. Bring your camera/phone to take pictures with Jolly Saint Nick at Waterfront Park. Learn more at waterfrontparks.ca.

December 17, 11am to 4pm; Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Lougheed House. Treat yourself to a luxurious afternoon of tea, sweets, and savories in Lougheed House’s historic Victorian dining room! We are all decked out for the holidays with Christmas decor and Victorian holiday treats for the occasion – try our minced pies and Christmas pudding. Learn more at lougheedhouse.com.

December 17, 2 to 3pm; Fort Calgary Fireside Storytelling and Tour. Gather around the fire at the confluence for an afternoon of fascinating stories told by Indigenous storytellers from Treaty 7. Enjoy a cup of cider or hot chocolate and immerse yourself in Blackfoot tales expertly crafted by the speakers. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.

December 17, 2:30pm; Strike the Harp and Join the Chorus! With guest harpist, Alita Laurie and string quartet, to be announced. Come hear festive and beautiful music by Kim Andre Arneson, J.S. Bach, Edward Elgar, Ola Gjeilo, Charles Gounod, John Rutter, and more. All sung by the heavenly voices of the Calgary Women’s Chorus at Parkdale United Church. Learn more at calgarywomenschorus.ca.

December 17, 3pm; Calgary Boys’ Choir – Retro Winterfest. Help celebrate their 50th anniversary season and join for the Retro Winterfest, including festive songs from the decades of concerts past at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church. Learn more at calgaryboyschoir.com.

December 17, 3pm; Sing-Along Messiah. Join the annual Sing-Along Messiah concert at Knox United Church, with Rosa Barocca and Debut Singers. Learn more at earlymusicvoices.ca.

Until December 17; Vertigo Theatre Presents Sleuth. Famed mystery novelist Andrew Wyke lures his wife’s lover to his country home and convinces him to stage a robbery of her jewelry. As the stakes rise, it sets off a chain of events that leaves audiences trying to decipher who is truly in control. This Tony Award Winner for Best Play has been called the ultimate game of cat and mouse. Full of fun, humor and mystery, this heated classic is a must see to warm up during the holiday season! Learn more at vertigotheatre.com.

Until December 17; A Christmas to Remember at Granary Road. Granary Road’s Christmas Market is an enchanting celebration of the holidays that starts in the stunning market area with 40-foot vaulted ceilings, exposed trusses, and lighting reminiscent of days gone by. Continue from the market to the Granary Road Garden Centre where you will be sure to find that special and unique gift from the large selection of artisan collective vendors and makers. Christmas carols playing throughout the market, beautifully decorated trees, strings upon strings of Christmas lights and other festive decor make Granary Road a destination for Christmas shoppers, foodies, and families alike. Admission is free and food bank donations are welcome. Learn more at granaryroad.com.

Saturday and Sundays until December 17, 10am to 4pm; Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park. One of Calgary’s most iconic holiday events, with hands-on activities and entertainment sure to delight guests of all ages. Come get your fix of wholesome holiday cheer including a holiday market, Christmas crafts, and Santa photos. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

Ongoing

Starting December 1; Sparks’ Countdown to the Holidays! Two dozen immersive spaces just ready to be explored and Instagram ready. Guests will experience a Flint the Robo Dog room, have some fun in Cindy Loo Hoo’s lab, Baking with Science, a Teddy Bear Plunge, and more. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.

Until December 21; Festive Foothills Art Sale. The Leighton Art Centre is featuring fine crafts and artwork by local artists in the galleries of the historic Leighton home. This annual community-favorite sale comes at the perfect time for getting a head start on purchasing seasonal gifts and getting into the Christmas spirit with beautiful decorations, gorgeous art, and the home’s historic ambiance. Learn more at leightoncentre.org.

Until December 24; Alberta Ballet Presents The Nutcracker. It’s Christmas Eve and Klara has received a magical gift from her eccentric Uncle Drosselmeyer: a handsome nutcracker doll. Little does she know as she falls asleep that her new toy is about to spark her imagination and take her on a dreamy adventure to the Land of Sweets. Learn more at albertaballet.com.

Until December 24; Peace of Mind Santa Visits at Southcentre Mall. Create heartwarming moments that truly capture the spirit of the season as Southcentre provides a warm and inclusive experience for children and families with unique needs, ensuring everyone can cherish the magic of a Santa visit. Learn more at southcentremall.com.

Until December 24; Polar Express Train Rides. This Christmas take your family on a journey that they will never forget. Step into the magic of the holiday season aboard the Polar Express™. A fun filled adventure, directly inspired by the hit movie. Grab all your loved ones and your favorite pajamas and join us for a journey to the North Pole that everyone will enjoy. Learn more at aspencrossing.com.

Until December 24; Stage West for Kids Presents Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. Every Christmas, Santa’s elves hold the annual Holly Jolly Festive Holiday Christmas Spectacular – a showcase of all of their skills. But one elf, Sam, can’t figure out what his best skill is and without an amazing performance, he won’t earn his special elf name. With the help of his friends Twinkle, Cookie, and Cosmo, Sam searches for his true place at the North Pole. Learn more at stagewestcalgary.com.

Until December 29; StoryBook Theatre’s One Christmas Carol. Just one extraordinary actor telling a timeless story. Dickens’ famous tale about selfishness and selflessness is stripped down to its bare essence, forgoing the usual opulence of the holidays and focusing on what

is of utmost importance. Be dazzled as one actor portrays over 35 distinct characters in this intimate, spirited evening of theatre that everyone in the family will love! Learn more at storybooktheatre.org.

Until December 30; StoryBook Theatre Presents Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Take a fantastic musical adventure with an out-of-this-world car that flies through the air and sails the seas. Featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one family-friendly blockbuster that audiences will find “Truly Scrumptious.” Learn more at storybooktheatre.org.

Until December 31; Airdrie Festival of Lights. Located in Airdrie’s Nose Creek Park, the Airdrie Festival of Lights is a beautiful, outdoor walk-through lights experience, with about a million dollars’ worth of displays and other special features. Learn more at airdrielights.com.

Until December 31; Banff’s Hot Chocolate Trail. What could be better than a hot chocolate on a winter night? How about 20+ hot chocolates? Banff and Lake Louise’s Hot Chocolate Trail is a treasure map of restaurants each offering a limited-time, holiday-themed hot chocolate. Learn more at banfflakelouise.com.

Until December 31; Canmore Rotary Festival of Trees. The Rotary Festival of Trees is a community-based holiday celebration with decorated trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses, and special events and activities for the entire family at The Malcolm Hotel. It is free to view and walk through the forest of trees and magical Candy Cane Lane. Learn more at rotaryclubofcanmore.ca.

Until December 31; Theatre Calgary Presents A Christmas Carol. A timeless tale of redemption, told as only Theatre Calgary can tell it: full of life, spectacle, and backed by a huge cast. Come relive Calgary’s favorite holiday tradition with friends and family. Learn more at theatrecalgary.com.

Until December 31; Sparks’ Countdown to the Holidays! Two dozen immersive spaces just ready to be explored and Instagram ready. Guests will experience a Flint the Robo Dog room, have some fun in Cindy Loo Hoo’s lab, Baking with Science, a Teddy Bear Plunge, and more. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.

Until December 31; In Search of Christmas Spirit in Banff. Discover the wonder of Christmas in Banff National Park this holiday season. Bundle up for a walk through the Cascade of Time Garden, where you’ll witness a live Christmas story told by the animals of Banff National Park. Learn more at banfflakelouise.com.

Until December 31; Christmas Light Drive Through at Spruce Meadows. This display features hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights totaling over 50km in length strung up around the grounds. Learn more at sprucemeadows.com/christmaslights.

Until December 31; GLOW Calgary YYC Presents Christmas Around The World. Santa crosses the globe to bring gifts to the children of the world. Can you help him? Celebrate Christmas magic in China, India, The Netherlands, Mexico, France, and England, all in one night, and all under the glow of a million twinkling lights at Nutrien Western Events Centre in Stampede Park. This breathtaking space is over 70,000 square feet and brings a majestic winter wonderland completely indoors. Complete your travels with a visit to the North Pole and meet the man himself – Saint Nick! Learn more at glowyyc.ca.

Until December 31; Discover winter magic with Calgary Public Library! Celebrate the magic of the season with Winter Wonderland at Central Library and Memorial Park Library. With a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the month, there is something for everyone. Learn more at calgarylibrary.ca.

Until January 1; Light the Night – Discovery Wildlife Park. Over a two-km drive through of dazzling lights and displays! Stop in to do some Christmas shopping, get a souvenir, or enjoy a nice hot drink. The Grinch will also be visiting every Wednesday to Sunday. Learn more at discoverywildlifepark.com.

Until January 7; ZOOLIGHTS. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is full of twinkling lights and the classic holiday activities you’ve come to love! This year’s ZOOLIGHTS will feature activities such as Polar Nights in Prehistoric Park, Photos Amongst the Flowers, and much more. Visit the website to learn more about the Sunlight to ZOOLIGHTS Combo tickets: websales.calgaryzoo.com.

Until January 7; Silver & Bold at TELUS Spark. TELUS Spark transforms into a science-inspired winter wonderland of holiday decor, festive drinks and food, a new dome show, and, of course, guests can experience Margaret Wise Brown’s classic tale, Goodnight Moon, in the Digital Immersion Gallery. Learn more at sparkscience.ca. 

Until January 8, 5:30pm to 12am; 37th Annual Lions Festival of Lights. For many Calgary families, the visit to the Lions annual light display marks the beginning of the Christmas season. Located on the east side of the Confederation Golf Course, you’ll find thousands of glowing lights displayed in beautiful Christmas themes at Confederation Park. Learn more at lionsfestivaloflights.ca.

Until January 13; Jubilations Junior Presents Guardians of Christmas. Peter Quill and the Guardians barely made it out of their latest brush with danger in time to start their trek to Earth for Christmas. But wait… a few of them got left behind? A rescue mission sends them crash landing on a snow-laden planet ruled by an Ice Queen. Will the Ice Queen let them leave her planet? Can they get the parts they need to fix their ship and save their friends? Come see the Jubilations Junior show: The Guardians of Christmas. Learn more at jubilations.ca/calgary-junior.

Until January 14; Christmas Lights in Legacy. What was once a one-off way to dazzle local residents, has now turned into an annual family-friendly event that brings everyone from Calgary and area. Drive through the Legacy Community in the southeast of Calgary to enjoy a wondrous Christmas lights display of more than one million lights. Learn more at legacylife.ca/legacy-lights.

Until January 30; Jubilations Dinner Theatre Presents Top Gun: A Maverick Musical. Jubilations Dinner Theatre takes a ride on the Highway to the Danger Zone with their parody spin on the fighter jet franchise. Two classic movies made 30 years apart featuring a movie star that somehow looks like he hasn’t aged a single day… it’s just a musical theatre spoof waiting to happen. Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Until February 4; Stage West Presents Step By Step: Evolution of the Greatest Boy Bands. the creation of a boy band is pretty easy. You take a heartthrob, a cutie, a bad boy, and a guy that may be a little too old to be in a boy band, throw them into some matching outfits, add synchronized dance moves, and, all of a sudden, you’ll make the music world swoon. Watch as Stage West recreates music history from The Beatles, to The Bee Gees, to the New Kids on the Block, and finally on to *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. Learn more at stagewestcalgary.com.

Until March; Hygge Hut on River Walk. the East Village is bringing cozy back to East Village Hygge Hut on RiverWalk. The Hygge Hut is a big warm East Village hug in the middle of a long, cold Calgary winter. The contemporary, Scandinavian-style space is inspired by the Danish idea of Hygge, which means a special kind of well-being — it’s a cozy, easy togetherness enhanced by the glow of a firepit, soft lighting, a warm drink and good company. The snuggle vibe, in short. Learn more at evexperience.com.

Until March 31; Nightrise. At Nightrise, Sulphur Mountain’s summit is transformed after dark through four digital art installations. Vibrant lighting, multimedia effects, video projections, and music bring the mountaintop to life in a new and unexpected way. Learn more at banffjaspercollection.com.