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

What’s Up This Week?

On November 28, 2023 by

December 1 to 3

November 30 to December 2; Alberta Dance Theatre Presents The Secret Starling. One ballet slipper. One poisonous secret. One daring adventure to find family at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. Learn more at albertadancetheatre.com.

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.

December 1 to 2; Calgary Philharmonic Presents Handel’s Messiah. Hallelujah! A glorious Christmas tradition returns. Long hailed as “one of the finest baroque conductors of his generation,” Halle Handel Prize-winning conductor Nicholas McGegan conducts the Orchestra and Chorus in this quintessential holiday classic. George Frideric Handel’s beautiful oratorio combines music and drama in one of the greatest stories ever told. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

December 1 to 3; Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market. The market boasts an enviable line-up of exquisite gifts and treats for the whole family. With more than 200 independent local businesses, the market prides itself on a unique shopping experience. Begin the festive season by enjoying a day out with family and friends, shop exquisite gift ideas, purchase artisan food, and stroll through the winter wonderland of Spruce Meadows. Learn more at sprucemeadows.com.

December 1 to 3; Banff Christmas Market. With more than 80 artisanal vendors, live music, an outdoor fire lounge, Santa’s House and Reindeer Stables, Christmas treats and warm drinks, there is something for the whole family at Warner Stables. Learn more at banffchristmasmarket.com.

December 1 to 3; CanAm International. Ice skaters from Canada and the United States of America plus athletes from around the World compete in this event at Calgary Olympic Oval. Learn more at oval.ucalgary.ca.

December 1 to 3 and 8 to 10; Christmas Market at the Saskatoon Farm. The market grows every year and includes more than 200 local makers, bakers, growers, and small businesses. Learn more at saskatoonfarmmarkets.com.

December 1 to 3 and 8 to 10; 2023 European Christmas Village Market. Get everything you need for under the tree and enjoy Christmas carolers, blacksmith demonstrations, outdoor fireplaces, and horse-drawn wagons at Bearspaw Lifestyle Centre. Learn more at bearspawlc.org.

December 2, 9 am to 3pm; Little Modern Market. Find everything from home decor to clothing to treats at First Alliance Church Deerfoot Campus. Learn more at littlemodernmarket.com.

December 2, 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 2, 10am to 2pm; Tuscany Residents Association Holiday Extravaganza. Over 40 craft and baker vendors under one roof with free admission to the public. Come and find some unique holiday gifts and yummy baking at Tuscany Club. Learn more at tuscany-

connect.com.

December 2, 10am to 3pm; Scenic Acres Holiday Craft Market. Get handmade items that you won’t find anywhere else at Scenic Acres Community Association. Learn more at scenicacresca.ca.

December 2, 10am to 3pm; North Glenmore Park Community Association Holiday Craft Market. Check out this holiday craft market featuring 50 local vendors selling handmade items. There is free parking and complimentary coffee. Learn more at ngpca.ca.

December 2, 10am to 3pm; St. Paul’s Christmas Market. Come celebrate the spirit of the season with a varied collection of artisan and home party vendors, filling our venue with handmade crafts and product from today’s most popular independent distributors at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Learn more at stpaulscalgary.ca.

December 2, 10am to 4pm; Vend Holiday Market. This market will fill the Lake Bonavista Promenade with amazing vendors. Learn more at vendmarket.ca.

December 2, 10am to 4pm; SCA Community Association Christmas Craft Fair. There will be 50 vendors offering unique, handmade gifts and much more. Learn more at scacalgary.ca.

December 2, 10am to 4pm; 2023 “Deck the Hall” CKE Christmas Market. Get ready to “Deck the Hall” again at the second annual CKE Community Christmas Market!! Located in the CKE Community Hall. Support the Calgary Food Bank by cash donation or a non-perishable food item. Learn more at ckecommunity.com.

December 2, 11am; Cineplex Family Favourites: The Polar Express. Visit participating Cineplex theatres near you and watch a favorite family film each week for only $2.99. Learn more at cineplex.com.

December 2, 11am to 2pm; Prince of Peace Christmas Bazaar. A family-friendly event bringing together local senior artisans and vendors with the Calgary community in a celebration of the season. The Quilters have become a popular destination at the market for shoppers not only looking for a unique gift for a loved one, but for one that also gives back at Prince of Peace Manor and Community Centre.

December 2, 11am to 4pm; New Horizon’s Holly Jolly Christmas Craft Market. New Horizon Mall is excited to be hosting their annual Christmas craft fair. With over 50 vendors on site, entertainment, door prizes, and more you will want to save the date to get a head start on your holiday shopping. Learn more at newhorizonmall.com.

December 2, 11am to 11pm; Village Ice Cream Britannia Plaza Grand Reopening Party! Join as staff unveils the brand-new look of Village Ice Cream in Britannia Plaza. The team is thrilled to welcome you back to the newly renovated shop, located in the heart of Britannia Plaza at 820 49 Avenue SW for a fun-filled day of ice cream and festivities. Learn more at villageicecream.com.

December 2, 2 to 3:30pm; Concino Chorus Presents the Warm Winter Wishes Concert. Bring the family and come enjoy a Christmas choral concert with special guests Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes and The Classical Guitar Society of Calgary Orchestra for the Warm Winter Wishes Concert at Fish Creek United Church. Learn more at concinochorus.com.

December 2, 2 to 4pm; Home Alone – Films at the Fort. Start your holidays off right with a movie at Fort Calgary’s Burnswest Theatre! Home Alone (PG) An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone when his family leaves on vacation, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve. 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/home-alone.

December 2, 2 and 7:30pm; Elf in Concert. Relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Learn more at jubileeauditorium.com.

December 2, 4 to 6pm; A Charlie Brown Christmas. Enjoy the classic soundtrack of Charlie Brown’s Christmas performed live in the intimate setting of the Engineered Air Theatre. Complete with a charming children’s choir from Montessori School of Calgary, classic Christmas songs and original compositions by Vince Guaraldi will lift your spirits for the holiday season. Learn more at artscommons.ca.

December 2, 5 to 6pm; Airdrie Santa Claus Parade. Santa Claus is coming to town! Get into the festive spirit when the parade rolls down Main Street, with Santa Claus himself as the guest of honor, and enjoy the festive atmosphere and Christmas lights. Learn more at airdrieparades.com.

December 2, 5 to 6pm; Mahogany Parade of Lights. Come one, come all! Dress in your winter woolies, add a splash of holiday accents and join for the Sixth Annual Parade of Lights! Santa and Mrs. Claus are able to make the trip down to join. Local residents, groups and businesses can enter the parade for free. Learn more at mahoganyhoa.com.

December 2 to 3, 10am to 4pm; AZURIDGE Magic + Merry Christmas Market. AZURIDGE is excited to announce its annual Christmas Market. With a theme of Magic and Merry, this event will bring the joy of Christmas back to our city. There will be something for everyone at this festive market, including Santa and his reindeer, sleigh rides, and plenty of shopping opportunities. Learn more at azuridgehotel.com.

December 3, 10am to 3pm; Hidden Valley Community Association Craft Fair Bake Sale. Check out this Craft Fair and Volunteer Bake Sale Fundraiser in Hidden Valley at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Learn more at hiddenhut.org.

December 3, 10 am to 3pm; Twelve Mile Coulee School Winter Market. Join at a winter market featuring several local vendors, live music, a special story hour with Santa, giveaways, 50/50 draw, and more. Get your holiday shopping done and support a local school.

December 3, 10am to 4pm; Wildflower Art Salon & Sale. At the Wildflower Art Salon & Sale, you will be immersed with art in every direction. Experience a one- of-a-kind shopping experience. At the Salon you will find paintings, fibre art, hand-pulled prints, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, drawing, glass work, and more. Learn more at wildflowersalon.ca.

December 3, 11am to 2pm; Santa Photos at Country Hills Village Shopping Centre. Santa photos are back at Country Hills Village. The event will take place at Musicworks Canada and digital photos will be emailed. A $5 donation to AARCS is required at the time of registration. Learn more at chvshopping.com/santaphotos.

December 3, 11am to 4pm; The Barn Artisan Christmas Market. The December Market features two floors of vendors selling unique, hand-crafted items at the historic Shawnessy Barn in the community of Shawnessy in southwest Calgary. They support local artisans, crafters, makers, and creators. Learn more at thebarnartisanmarket.ca.

December 3, 2pm; It’s a Wonderful Life – Films at the Fort. Start your holidays off right with a movie at Fort Calgary’s Burnswest Theatre! It’s a Wonderful Life (PG) An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman on the brink by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. 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.

December 3, 4 to 7pm; Calgary Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss. Join for the very popular Teddy Bear Toss on Sunday at the Scotiabank Saddledome when the Calgary Hitmen host the Prince Albert Raiders. Bring your family for a fun afternoon and get ready to toss your STS bear which will be donated to children’s charities. Learn more at chl.ca/whl-hitmen/sunday-funday.

Ongoing

Until December 3; Calgary Opera – Beauty and the Beast. The story Beauty lives a simple life with her father and two sisters. When Father must leave on a business trip, the sisters demand he returns with expensive gifts for them. Beauty asks instead for a single rose. He fulfills this request and it leads to trouble for the family and the betrothal of Beauty to an unattractive and unsophisticated man. Beauty and the Beast is a timeless story about valuing kindness and character over superficial traits like physical beauty and social refinement. Vittorio Giannini composed this one-act opera in 1938, basing it on the classic fairy tale. It delighted radio audiences then and now provides a charming entry point for children into the world of opera. Sung in English with projected English titles. Learn more at calgaryopera.com/23-24/beautyandthebeast.

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.

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; 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; 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 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. Learn more at 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 8; 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 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 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.