What’s Up This Weekend?

Family Day Weekend Event Round Up

February 17 to 20; The Wildlife Festival, The Wildlife Festival is an annual interactive experience that highlights animals and their habitats at Nutrien Event’s Centre Stampede Grounds. The event’s mission is to inspire and educate people of all ages by connecting with animals. The day includes entertaining stage shows, educational displays and interactive experiences with animals that will teach, entertain and delight all who attend. Learn more at wildlifefestival.ca.

February 17 to 20; BIG JIG Ice Fishing Derby, the BIG JIG has something for the whole family to enjoy from our biggest ice slide, Pass-the-Poutine Contest, lake skating rinks, winter village, sleigh rides and more at Sylvan Lake. Learn more at visitsylvanlake.ca.

February 18, 10am to 2pm; #FuwaFuwaForever Souffle Pancake Giveaway, in celebration of National Pancake Day, Fuwa Fuwa, North America’s largest soufflé pancake and dessert café, is giving away 5,000 of their signature soufflé pancakes to customers and community organizations. The free pancakes will be available for one day only at each location for dine-in. Learn more by following @fuwafuwapancakes on Instagram.

February 18, 10am to 4pm; Fishtival at Bow Habitat Station, immerse yourself in the world of fish and discover what’s beneath the ice in Alberta’s waters this winter at the 11th annual Fishtival! Join Bow Habitat Station for interactive indoor and outdoor activities and games that explore all things fish. Meet the aquatic invasive species K-9 detection team, feed over 30,000 rainbow trout, and much more. Learn more at bowhabitat.alberta.ca.

February 18, 11am to 5pm; Beltline Bonspiel, the one-day festival brings together local Calgary teams to compete in a friendly outdoor curling tournament with the backdrop of the historic Lougheed House, live music, delicious local food and beer, and entertainment for all ages. Learn more at beltlinebonspiel.ca.

February 18, 4pm to 7pm; Central Commons Park: Winter Pop-Up, with music, entertainment, a special fire performance and hot drinks from Monogram Coffee (first 200 are complimentary), it’s the perfect way to spend some time taking in the sights, sounds, and lights of Central Commons Park. Learn more at myuniversitydistrict.ca.

February 18, 6pm to 11:30pm; Calgary Roller Skate: Pop-Up Roller Rink, roller skating is staying alive in Calgary thanks to a group aptly named Calgary Roller Skate. Calgarians can join them for a groovy time roller-skating with lights, music, and 15,000 square feet of wood floor at JVC Center. There’s lots of parking, lockers (bring your own lock), and snacks to purchase, plus, you can also rent skates, if needed. Learn more at calgaryrollerskate.com.

February 18 to 19; The ReLove Market, a premier second-hand and vintage pop up market, offering the finest in sustainable fashion and lifestyle for all. Alongside our second-hand reseller community, The ReLove Market features local artisans, makers in fashion, beauty, home and lifestyle products at Alberta Hotel Building. Learn more at relovegeneration.com.

February 18 to 20; Southcentre Mall Family Day Weekend, remember your skates and helmets and enjoy the afternoon on the Top Deck Skating Rink. With two rinks located outside on the upper deck of the Northeast Parkade (near Decathlon), families can enjoy leisure skating on one rink or play hockey on the other. Warm up with hot chocolate and finish your family’s fun day at the food court, where everyone can pick their favorite meal. Learn more at southcentremall.com.

February 18 to 20; Family Fishing Weekends in Alberta, family fishing weekends are offered twice a year in Alberta – during the Family Day weekend and during National Fishing Week in the summer. During Alberta’s twice-yearly Family Fishing Weekends, no fishing is licence required. Albertans and visitors are invited to give fishing a try on waterbodies with open fishing seasons (not in national parks). Keep in mind that fishing regulations still apply. Learn more at mywildalberta.ca.

February 18 to 22; Skate Canada 2023 Novice Canadian Championships, featuring the top up-and-coming Canadian figure skaters in the men, women, pair, ice dance, and synchronized skating disciplines and will determine the 2023 national champions in these fields. The event at WinSport Event Centre will be followed by the 2023 Skate Canada Cup, which will showcase the very best Canada has to offer in synchronized skating. Learn more at skatecanada.ca.

February 19, 11am to 4pm; Brides2B Expo, a new, fresh and affordable, boutique size and style platform, for Calgary and area’s newly engaged couples to meet, have a conversation and plan their big day with amazing local wedding industry businesses at Hotel Arts. Learn more at brides2b.ca.

February 19, 12pm to 4pm; Family Game Day at C-Square, get outside, shake off the winter blues and have a staycation with us by the fire at Celebration Square (508 7 Ave SE). In addition to firepits, giant games, and good tunes, they will have a rotating schedule of seasonally unexpected activities, community organizations and special events to put the fun in Sunday Funday.

February 19, 7:30pm; Arts Commons Presents: YAMATO, treat your family to a dose of excitement and adrenaline. Let yourself be captivated by the energy of YAMATO for a show to remember and an evening of fun for everyone at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at artscommons.ca.

February 20; Free Family Day Admission at Alberta Provincial Museums and Historic Sites, this includes the Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology, Studio Bell and The Hangar Flight Museum. Learn more about specific events at certain sights in the entries below.

February 20, 9am to 5pm; Family Day at the Military Museums, bring the family down to The Military Museums’ annual Family Day event, have a fun-filled day of activities and meet the amazing author Janet Love Morrison, who will be reading from her new book The Hawk and the Hare. Some of the activities featured include artifacts handling, weapons display, kids crafts, scavenger hunt KIM’s and more. Learn more at themilitarymuseums.ca.

February 20, 10am to 4pm; Hangar Flight Museum Family Day, on Family Day this year celebrate with the opportunity to spend the day together with free admissions at The Hangar Flight Museum. Learn more at thehangarmuseum.ca.

February 20, 10am to 5pm; Family Day with the Polyjesters, the National Music Centre (NMC) will be opening Studio Bell with free admission on February 20 for a special Family Day event with The Polyjesters. Gather your friends and family for a day of fun, musical exploration, and interactive activities! In addition to the swinging tunes, visitors can also expect in-gallery activations for all ages. Learn more at studiobell.ca.

February 20, 11am; WP Puppet Theatre Presents Bakster and Bird, WP Puppet Theatre is launching its new movie, Bakster and Bird with a premiere screening event at the Pumphouse Theatre. Bakster and Bird is a 45-minute feature film about two puppets, a mouse determined to fly and a bird who becomes his biggest supporter. The film will be followed by family fun activities and sweet treats. Learn more at eventbrite.com.

February 20, 11am to 2pm; Edgemont Frost Fest, a free family event that is the perfect reason to get outside and play in Edgemont on Family Day! There will be fun and games in the snow, including ice skating, ice bocce, and snowman building at Edgemont Rink. Plus, Frost Fest would not be complete without delicious hot cocoa and decadent goodies for the whole family. Learn more at edgemont.ab.ca.

February 20, 11am to 2pm; Tuscany Family Day Winter Party, this Family Day Winter Party will include food trucks, outdoor games, music, skating and more at the Tuscany Residents Association. Learn more at tuscany-connect.com.

February 20, 11am to 6:30pm; Airdrie Family Day Skate, it’s a funky Family Day Skate in Airdrie with retro-rink vibes, laser lights, haze and music – on ice! Book your 90-minute slot and have some fun together at Plainsmen Arena. Learn more at airdrie.ca.

February 20, 12pm to 4pm; Family Day Skate at the Olympic Oval, skate on The Fastest Ice in the World with families from across Calgary. DJ Phenom will be on site cranking out some great tunes for a spectacular afternoon of skating and music. Learn more at oval.ucalgary.ca.

February 20, 12pm to 5pm; Family Day at the Library, check out Central, Crowfoot, Saddletowne, Signal Hill, and Shawnessy libraries for a pajama party with fun family activities, including a special Storytime, performances, cartoon marathons, and refreshments. Learn more at calgarylibrary.ca.

February 20, 1pm to 2:15pm; Free Public Skate, free public skating at select City arenas from 1pm to 2:15pm. Bring your own skates and helmets to participate.

Until February 20; All Sport Once City, this event is designed to provide Calgarians with opportunities to experience a new sport or physical activity for the first time or renew interest in a sport in which they have previously participated. For the first time, this year will feature family sessions, allowing families to try a new sport together in various locations around the city. Learn more at sportcalgary.ca.

Ongoing

Until February 19; Little Red Riding Hood at Loose Moose Theatre, the classic story of a young girl who meets a clever wolf on her way to her grandparent’s house, presented in the fun and unique Loose Moose style. Learn more at loosemoose.com.

Until February 28; Exposure Photography Festival, Exposure is an annual festival that celebrates photography, hosting thoughtfully curated exhibitions that showcase internationally renowned practitioners alongside emerging and established talent from Alberta at various venues around the city. Learn more at exposurephotofestival.com.

Until February 28; YYC Hot Chocolate Fest, participating cafes, restaurants, and chocolatiers will compete to be voted YYC’s Best Hot Chocolate by Calgarians. Learn more at yychotchocolate.com.

Until February 28; Burger it Forward, help support Canadian food banks by ordering one of the featured burgers from restaurants participating in the Burger It Forward Campaign. Learn more at burgeritforward.ca.

Until February 28, Get Off The Apps and Onto The Ave, the 17th Ave Retail and Entertainment district is thrilled to bring this unique calendar of events to single Calgarians who are looking to get off those darn dating apps, ditch technology, and meet people the old-fashioned way on Calgary’s greatest Ave! Our events calendar will feature four weeks of programming at dozens of your favorite 17th Ave businesses and include tons of fun food and beverage themed events, workshops, opportunities to social mixers, and more. Learn more at 17thave.ca.

Fridays, Saturday and Sundays until March; The Hygge Hut, 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. Learn more at evexperience.com/hygge-hut.

Until March; Snowshoe Under the Stars, this November, enjoy the great outdoors and up your next date night with this one-of-a-kind experience. On this unique excursion, Calgarians will follow a skilled guide on a fresh, starlit tour through forest and snow, then can sip hot cocoa in a secluded meadow. They’ll bring the drinks, the lamps, and the telescope, and all you have to bring is yourself, and a good jacket! Learn more at kananaskisoutfitters.com.

Until March; Outdoor Skating, the city of Calgary has seven outdoor skating rink locations that are free to use on a first-come-first-served basis or skate on the ice trails at Bowness Park or North Glenmore Park. Learn more at visitcalgary.com.

Until March 11; Storybook Theatre Presents: Peter and the Starcatcher, Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). A wildly theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels, the play was conceived for the stage by directors, Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, and written by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker. From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair… and the bonds of friendship, duty and love. Learn more at storybooktheatre.org.

Until March 12; Hockey: Faster Than Ever at TELUS Spark Science Centre, it is time to lace up some skates and learn about the technology, anatomy and physics that goes into this Canadian classic. Historical artifacts, including gear used by some of the greatest players of all time, are presented in innovative displays. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.

Until March 19; Winsport Tube Park, the perfect activity for a day with family and friends. WinSport’s Tube Park is one of the fastest of its kind in Western Canada. Learn more at winsport.ca.

Until March 19; Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo – Penguin Walk, the 2023 Penguin Walk marks the 11th year of the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo’s penguin walk. During the winter months, the king penguin colony heads out on zoo grounds for a daily enrichment walk to keep their brains and bodies healthy and visitors get to experience the fun. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

Until March 25; Jubilations Theatre Presents: Mama Mio, a singing and dancing sensation with music from ABBA, the most popular band of the disco era! With so many movies and musicals celebrating ABBA’s music, Jubilations is taking all the best of the ABBA music and movies and putting them into one classic Jubilations Dinner Theatre parody romp, Mamma Mio. Learn more at calgary.jubilations.ca.

Until March 25; Jubilations Theatre Presents: Freakish Friday, some people don’t like Mondays… but for this family, Fridays are the days you really gotta be worried about. Mom and daughter just can’t seem to see eye to eye. Why can’t each of them really understand what the other is going through? Well… they may want to be careful what they wish for! Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Until April 9; Nightrise, this unique winter activity merges multimedia, storytelling and nature for a new and inspiring perspective at Banff Gondola. Learn more at banffjaspercollection.com.

Until April 16; Howie Tsui: Retainers of Anarchy at the Edison, featuring a 25-metre hand-drawn animation strip, this exciting exhibit brings together martial arts characters and techniques with the social and political realities of present-day Hong Kong. Learn more at glenbow.org.

Until April 30; We Were Here: Stories from Early Chinatown, Gasoline Alley Museum welcomes a new exhibit from January 14 to April 30; We Were Here: Stories from Early Chinatown. Bring your family and come learn about Chinese history on the prairies through art and imagination, discover fictional stories written by members of the Chinese community and explore two iterations of Chinatown in Calgary. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.