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

What’s Up This Week?

On October 10, 2023 by

October 13 to 15

October 11 to 15; Imaginairium By Wordfest, Canada’s Liveliest Literary Festival is back! The world’s most arresting authors are coming to the 28th Annual Imaginairium Festival by Wordfest at various location around the city. The festival will showcase writers from every genre and bestseller list. Learn more at wordfest.com.

October 13, 11am; Cineplex Family Favourites: The Secret Life of Pets, visit participating Cineplex theatres near you and watch a favorite family film each week for only $2.99. Learn more at cineplex.com.

October 13; ZooDunnit (Adults Only). It’s Locked Zoo meets murder mystery dinner. While your team of detectives enjoys food and drinks across the zoo, you’ll have a chance to interact with a cast of shady characters to gather clues. By the end of the night, you’ll know everything you need to solve the mystery. Dinner — and justice — will be served. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

October 13; Haunted Calgary: Slasher Showdown – The Friday The 13th Massacre, a one-night-only gamified version of the haunt at New Horizon Mall. Learn more at hauntedcalgary.org.

October 13; Spark After Dark: Fear (Adults Only), what is the science behind fear? What causes humans to be scared of things like ghosts, bugs, heights, and more? Look behind the curtain of fear during this fang-tastic Spark After Dark (18+). Learn more at sparkscience.ca.

October 13, 7:30pm; The Last Night of the Proms … Ever! Comedy Meets Orchestra conductor and comedian extraordinaire Rainer Hersch is back to take over the Calgary Phil with a show to poke fun and laugh out loud at that jewel of the British concert season, the Last Night of the Proms. From Land of Hope and Glory to Andrew Lloyd Webber — it’s all here: a high-spirited, flag-waving, and downright cheeky take on everything Brit at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

October 13 and 14, 6pm to 11pm; Field of Screams. This eerie event is turning Cobb’s Adventure Park into a terrifying, thrilling and spine-tingling terror show. Brought to you by Screamworks Inc., this Halloween inspired outdoor event is sure to bring horrifying fear into the hearts of haunted house attendees. October 19 is a special adults-only night with an increased scare factor. Learn more at fieldofscreams.ca.

October 13 to 14; Prairie Harvest Market, featuring 100 market vendors including artisans, crafters, bakers, makers, growers and a fresh seafood market at Calgary Shrine Centre. There will also be entertainment and food trucks. Learn more at by following @prairieharvestmarket on Instagram.

October 13 to 15; Calgary Tattoo and Arts Festival, hundreds of artists are set to descend once again on the BMO Centre. The event will host the best in local artists for one of the biggest shows in North America. Enjoy contests, retail exhibits, and tattooing all weekend long. Learn more at albertatattooshows.com/Calgary.

October 13 to 15; Grand Opening of Calgary Township & Brentwood Village Toys R Us locations, celebrate two new locations near you. Starting Friday, the new stores will have exciting spin-to-win giveaways every day. Saturday and Sunday, join for activities like visits from kids’ favorite characters, face painting, balloon art, mini family photo shoots with local pros, amazing offers, promotions and much more. Learn more at toysrus.ca.

October 13 to 15, 6:30pm; Island Disappear, a site-specific theatrical production that explores how our community and connections affect the paths our lives take. Join three pirate friends for a night of music, sword fights, and self-discovery at Hull’s Wood in Fish Creek Park. Learn more at theatrealberta.com.

October 13 and 16, 6 to 9pm; Dinosaurs After Dark at Barney’s Adventure Park, experience Halloween in a different way, with live music and a scary, Jurassic-themed live dinosaur walk at Barney’s Adventure Park in Drumheller. Learn more at barneysdrumheller.com.

Until October 14; Art Exhibition | Anda Kubis “Languorous,” Newzones Gallery is pleased to present “Languorous;” a solo exhibition of work by Canadian contemporary painter Anda Kubis. Learn more at gallerieswest.ca.

October 14, 10am to 2pm; Home Depot Kids’ Workshop: Rescue Float Plane, on the second Saturday of every month, head to your local Home Depot for some free family fun. Kids must be between the ages of five and 12 years, and parents must participate. Each month there is a new woodworking project for the kids to create. Learn more at homedepot.ca.

October 14, 10am to 3pm; Calgary Doll Club Antique, Collectible & Toy Sale, the sale will feature antique and collectible dolls and toys, as well as modern collectibles, play dolls (including Barbie and 18-inch dolls like American Girl) and teddy bears at Acadia Recreation Complex. Learn more by following Calgary Doll Club on Facebook.

October 14, 10am to 4pm; FCA: Fall Exhibition and Sale, the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) Calgary Chapter invites the public to their “Fall Exhibition and Sale” at the Edgemont Community Centre. Learn more at artists.ca.

October 14, 11am; Build Your Own Terrarium at Blue Grass Nursery, learn to create a cute little night light that will have the kids fighting to go to bed early. This mason jar activity will cover the basics of plant care, and how to build a terrarium. Best of all, staff will help them create the perfect dinosaur habitat with lights. Learn more at bluegrassnursery.com.

October 14, 11am to 2pm; Scarboro United Church’s Fall Faire, check out the always-popular bake sale featuring famous Scarboro Oatcakes as well as a book sale, a curated selection of gently used accessories, jewelry, puzzles, and arts and crafts, including a limited run of handmade pottery. Learn more at scarborounited.org.

October 14, 11am to 4pm; Love Your Library Day, visit any of Calgary’s 21 library locations for free, family programming like family storytime and live music, plus face painting, balloon art, juggling, or magic. Learn more at calgarylibrary.ca/love-your-library.

October 14, 11am to 4pm; Taste of Cochrane, stop into the participating restaurants to sample something special from their menu. Visit all the businesses for the full Taste of Cochrane experience – you’re guaranteed to try something you’ve never experienced before. Tickets are required. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.

October 14, 6 to 9:30pm; Illuminate Your Heart Series – Tru & Friends, Tru Guy Stefan is an ambassador of the heart, a poet, author, music messenger, and a singer-songwriter with a voice that soothes the soul. Inspirational messages speak to these current times of upheaval and renewal with a vision for bringing into our personal and collective consciousness a unified and loving world. An evening of music, fun and laughter at Cardel Theatre. Learn more at illuminateyourlife.ca.

October 14; Films at the Fort: Bettlejuice, take in this Halloween classic at Fort Calgary. The spirits of a deceased couple are harassed by the family that moved into their home and hire a malicious spirit to drive them out. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.

October 14; The Vampire Circus (Ages 13+), 90 minutes of innovative and surreal performances by vampires, including acrobatic feats, comical interactions with the audience, tantalizing music and mesmerizing illusions. Gather your garlic for a wicked and witty Halloween circus experience unlike any other. Experience the chills of fear and the thrills of joy, laughter and wonder as those who like to stay in the dark take centre stage. The cirque performance takes place at the Grey Eagle Event Centre. Learn more at thevampirecircus.com.

October 14, 7:30pm; Calgary Opera: The Marriage of Figaro, an operatic whirlwind of mistaken identities, awkward situations, and comedic antics that occur on a single chaotic day – the wedding day of household servants Figaro and Susanna. Don’t miss your chance to check out this great show at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Learn more at calgaryopera.com.

October 14 to 15, 10am to 4pm; Beacon Original Art Show & Sale. Support emerging, mid-career and professional artists, a dynamic group of collaborations with various art forms. The show includes a wide selection of high-quality art and the opportunity to connect with artists who are in attendance at Bridgeland Riverside Community Association. Learn more at beaconoriginalart.com.

October 14 to 15; Granary Road’s Pumpkin Fest, bring your family to Granary Road for some good old-fashioned fall fun. This Pumpkin Harvest will be filled with pumpkin activities that will be exciting for everyone. Take a Rover Ride to a pumpkin hunt, play some Pumpkins & Putts, go up to the farm and try your hand at our Pumpkin Smash (then feed it to the animals!), shop pumpkin treats and decor, and more. Learn more at granaryroad.com.

October 14 to 15; Calgary Reptile Expo, the Calgary Reptile Expo is slithering closer. Come explore a variety of vendors and displays at The Genesis Centre, all dedicated to the love of reptiles. This is Canada’s largest not-for-profit reptile expo and you won’t want to miss it. Learn more at albertareptiles.ca.

October 14 to 15, 2pm; Most Imaginary Worlds, a play created by artists with disabilities, inspired by stories of children with disabilities and presented at BMO Theatre in Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge. Charlotte Bubbles feels like the world just doesn’t make any sense to her, “I feel like something is wrong, like the world and me just don’t fit.” Wishing she could imagine a whole new world made for her, she visits the Make Believers Maker Space where she discovers stories of hope, gems of hilarity, battles with equality, and triumphs of the human spirit. Learn more at ymcacalgary.org.

October 14 to 15; Haunted Calgary: Low Scare + Full Scare, afternoon low-scare for families or pee-your-pants full-scare at night at New Horizon Mall. Learn more at hauntedcalgary.org.

Weekends October 14 to 22; Ghost Teas and Tours at Heritage Park, this year at Heritage Park, head in for a Halloween High Tea, followed by a ghost tour of the historic buildings on the grounds. Begin by visiting the park’s most haunted locations and hear stories about ghost sightings and unexplained phenomena on a 60-minute tour. Then, enjoy a high tea, featuring a menu that includes finger sandwiches, pastries, tea and lemonade. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

Until Mid-October; The Witness Blanket at Calgary Public Library, a large-scale art installation created by master carver Carey Newman or Hayalthkin’geme (Ha-yalth-kingeme). The Witness Blanket — a symbol of resilience and Reconciliation — is inspired by the motifs in woven blankets and made up of hundreds of items reclaimed from Residential Schools, churches, government buildings, and traditional and cultural structures from across Canada. Learn more at calgarylibrary.ca.

October 15, 11am to 3pm; CrossIron Mills Toys R Us: Generation Doll Salon Event, bring your kids and their OG dolls to Toys R Us for a beauty-bar session. They’ll step into a special in-store salon for an “appointment” with a professional hair stylist who will style their hair. Plus, get an OG gift bag with doll- and kid-size slippers, a comb, pin, bookmark, tattoos and more. First come, first served. Learn more at toysrus.ca.

October 15, 12:30 to 3:30pm; Alberta Baton Twirling Workshop, do you have a child aged five to 14 years that is interested in baton twirling? Participants of a free half-day camp by Alberta Baton will receive classes in baton twirling, acrobatics and dance at The Genesis Centre. Learn more at albertabaton.com.

October 15, 7pm; Witch Perfect, an award-winning comedy parody based on the cult classic film Hocus Pocus. This New York style cabaret spectacular features Emmy award-winning stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at artscommons.ca.

Until October 15; Banff Pride Festival, the annual Banff Pride Festival program is live, serving an extraordinary lineup of performance, music, all-ages programming, and a healthy dose of outdoor adventure. Banff National Park will be home to 11 consecutive days of events and activities. Learn more at banffpride.ca.

Ongoing

Sundays from October 15 to 29, 2 to 3pm; True Crime Tour: Crimes of Morality, think you know Calgary’s most scandalous tales? Go beyond ghosts and hauntings to the “immoral” stories that shook our city at Fort Calgary. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.

Until October 18; Calgary Ghost Tours at Heritage Park, the normally alive and bustling Historical Village becomes eerily quiet and deserted after dark. Enter the gates, if you dare, for Calgary ghost tours through the Park’s darkened streets to discover the ghostly stories that lie within the rich history of its century-old buildings. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

Until October 19; Canstruction: Witches CAN Ghouls, Canstruction is coming to Eau Claire Tower this October for a Witches CAN Ghouls edition. Get ready for Halloween inspired creations in an event that brings together teams of engineers, designers, architects and builders to create extraordinary structures out of non-perishable food items. At the end of the exhibit, all food used will go to the Calgary Food Bank. Learn more at calgaryfoodbank.com.

Until October 21; Jubilations Dinner Theatre Presents Crocodile Rock: The Legend Of Elton John, he’s one of the all-time great rock legends, with hit after hit all across the world. And now the story of the Rocketman is getting the Jubilations Dinner Theatre twist. Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Until October 21; Jubilations Junior Dinner Theatre Presents The Secret Life of Trolls, Melanie’s apartment seems like a normal place to live, but when she’s gone to work, the Trolls come out to play! While the Trolls are having a fun day full of music, a mysterious package gets dropped in the living room… that’s moving on its own? What’s in the package? Will their secret life be exposed? Will Melanie’s cat threaten their very existence? Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Until October 26; Unmoored by Vivian Smith, a collection of experimental body prints that explore the themes of disconnection, uncertainty, and the ensuing growth borne out of such psychological states. Using contrasting positive and negative spaces, the artworks depict the sensation of a body in limbo, shifting between phases, always in search of stability. See it at Prospect Studio C. Learn more at studiocprospect.ca.

Until October 29; Pumpkin Palooza at Cobb’s Adventure Park, walk through the pumpkin patch, take beautiful photos and pick your favorite pumpkins to buy for Halloween carving. Learn more at cobbsadventurepark.com.

Until October 29; Vertigo Theatre Presents: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll &. Mr. Hyde. This production immerses you in a play full of chilling twists and turns in which love, betrayal and murder lurk on London’s foggy streets. Can Dr. Henry Jekyll face his demons or does the ruthless Edward Hyde take him to the dark side? A talented cast of four actors, playing multiple roles, takes you on a thrilling journey in this adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic horror. Learn more at vertigotheatre.com.

Until October 29; Fall Days at Calgary Farmyard. A fall trip to the farmyard is an annual tradition for many families and friends. In addition to enjoying hours of fun on the farm, pumpkins are on display for photos and to purchase for your Halloween carving. Learn more at calgaryfarmyard.com.

Until October 30; Dr Giggles House of Pain, Dr. Giggles House of Pain is upping the ante this year with Theatre of Pain Volume 3, the scariest haunt you will ever experience at Chestermere Rec Centre. The Theatre of Pain is a fully immersive, private haunted house experience which brings you right into your favorite horror movies. Learn more at drgiggleshouseofpain.com.

Until October 31; Pumpkins After Dark, explore the magical pathway of lit pumpkin sculptures and displays, with music, sounds and special effects. With classic Halloween characters, dinosaurs and dragons, movie and pop culture icons – this family-friendly event has something for everyone. Make Pumpkins After Dark your new annual tradition at Winsport. Learn more at calgary.pumpkinsafterdark.com.

Until October 31; Banff Ghost Walk, spend a spooktacular evening unearthing ghastly ghosts, ghouls and mysterious events lurking in the shadows of Banff’s historic streets. From haunted hotels to ghost towns, Banff is full of things that go bump in the night. Learn more at banfftours.com.

Until October 31; ICAI Exhibition ‘Natural Beauty of Alberta’, Zahra Entezari is a painter, photographer, and art instructor based in Calgary, originally from Shiraz, Iran. With a wealth of over 25 years of experience, Zahra has worked with various mediums. Come hang out, hear from the artist and network with arts lovers at Calgary Central Library. Learn more at affta.ab.ca.

Until October 31; Spooky Studio, original art installations designed and created by local artist, Patrick O’Neill at nvrlnd. arts foundation. Spooky Studio is not a typical haunted house, they believe Halloween is for everyone. There are no actors, no blood and guts, and no jump scares — just immersive spooky scenes to spark your imagination and get lost in. Learn more at nvrlnd.ca.

Until October 31; WinSport Spooktacular Mini Golf, enjoy a safe, spooktacular family-friendly round of mini golf at WinSport! The fun, intermediate 18-hole outdoor mini-golf course will transform into a Halloween extravaganza. The course will be well-lit and challenge all ages and abilities while offering a safe Halloween activity. Dress up and get into the Halloween spirit. Learn more at winsport.ca.

Until October 31; Calgary Ghost Walk, an evening of ghostly entertainment. Locals and visitors alike will be fascinated by these glimpses into the mischief, mayhem, and murders of Calgary. All of our stories are researched and will be enjoyed even by the skeptics among the group. Choose from Inglewood, downtown, Kensington or a pub walk. Learn more at calgaryghostwalks.com.

Until October 31; Magical Wishing Tree at Southcentre Mall, Halloween is known for costumes, treats, and all things enchanted and spooky. That makes it the perfect time to visit the Magical Wishing Tree at Southcentre Mall! This immersive, magic-themed installation is a wonderful addition to your fall and Halloween season, and more importantly, it also supports the work of Make-A-Wish® Canada, as they bring life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Learn more at southcentremall.com.

Select dates until October 31; ScreamFest, six outdoor haunted houses to make you scream and all new attractions to terrify you. Don’t miss Calgary’s largest Halloween event t GMC Stadium at Stampede Park. Learn more at screamfest.ca.

Until November 4; Storybook Theatre Presents Honk! A Musical Tale of the Ugly Duckling. This delightful and award-winning adaptation of one of the world’s most beloved fables is a heartwarming celebration of what makes us unique. Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, the show tells the story of an odd-looking baby bird mistaken for a duck. Feeling rather foul about himself, the little fowl finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery, all the while unknowingly outwitting a very hungry cat. Along the way, our feathered hero meets a whole flock of unique characters, and discovers that being different is extraordinary! Learn more at storybooktheatre.org.

Until November 4; Train of Terror, your evening begins when you check-in at the train station at Aspen Crossing. You and your friends will first journey through a menacing maze of horror. If you are one of the brave ones that are able to escape you are then invited onboard our moving train where you can grab your choice of liquid courage before embarking on what’s sure to be the scariest haunting you will ever come across. Learn more at trainofterror.com.

Until November 12; Frank Ferrante In An Evening With Groucho, award-winning actor and director Frank Ferrante ignites his PBS, New York and London acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in this fast paced 90 minutes of hilarity. The two-act comedy consists of the funniest Groucho one-liners, anecdotes and songs including “Hooray for Captain Spalding,” and “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady.” The audience literally becomes part of the show as Ferrante ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style at Stage West (727 42 Avenue SE). Learn more at eveningwithgroucho.com.