What’s Up This Week?

December 29 to January 1

December 27 to 30; Bluey’s Big Play. Join Bluey and friends in their first live theatre show at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Learn more at jubileeauditorium.com.

December 31, 9 am to 3pm; Kids’ New Year’s Eve Fun in Okotoks. The Okotoks Recreation Centre will host free family activities. From skating to swimming and gym fun, there’s something for every family. Learn more at okotoks.ca/kids-NYE.

December 31, 10 am to 12am; Skating at Olympic Plaza. What better place to spend the lead up to the new year than Olympic Plaza in the heart of Downtown Calgary? The plaza was built in 1988 for the Olympic Winter Games and has one of the few refrigerated outdoor ice surfaces in the city. Learn more at calgary.ca.

December 31, 12pm; Noon Year’s Eve at TELUS Spark. Bring your family! Bring your friends! Ring in the “Noon Year” together at the science centre, featuring a countdown and the science centre’s special twist on fireworks. Join us as we herald the New Year with a bang. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.

December 31; 12 to 4pm; Calgary Public Library New Year’s Eve Events. Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the Calgary Public Library for a free, family-friendly celebration at Central, Crowfoot, Saddletowne, Shawnessy, and Signal Hill libraries. Activities will include a special storytime, a family dance party, refreshments, a mock countdown, and more. Learn more at calgarylibrary.ca/upcoming-events.

December 31; Zoo Year’s Eve. You’ll be able to enjoy all the fun of ZOOLIGHTS with extra special entertainment. It’s a festive way to help you and your loved ones ring in the New Year in a safe (and zoonique) way while supporting the Zoo’s wildlife conservation initiatives. There is a family-friendly version that ends at 9pm and a late-night adults-only event. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

December 31, 5 to 8pm; New Year’s Eve Party in Canmore. Join the Town of Canmore for free activities at the Canmore Recreation Centre to say goodbye to 2023. You’ll find free public skating, live musical performances, a DJ dance party, crafts, and fireworks at 8pm. You can also count down the last minutes of 2023 and celebrate the arrival of 2024 with midnight fireworks at Millennium Park. Learn more at canmore.ca.

December 31, 6:30pm; City of Airdrie Fireworks. Fireworks take place at Ed Eggerer Park at 6:30 pm. Go check out the last night of Airdrie Festival of Lights at Nose Creek Park after you have taken in the show. Learn more at airdriefestivaloflights.com.

December 31, 7 to 8pm; Norquay Torchlight Parade. Add a little light show magic to your New Year’s traditions with Norquay’s Torchlight Parade. A select number of Norquay skiers will take on the North American run from the Big Chair with torches in hand for a wonderful light spectacle to say goodbye to 2023. Learn more at banffnorquay.com.

December 31; 7:30 pm; A Luminous New Year. Luminous Voices is thrilled to return to the Bella Concert Hall stage for their annual New Year’s Eve tradition. Weaving together unaccompanied choral gems spanning the centuries, you will hear the voices echo through the hall, allowing space and time for reflection, celebration and renewal. Learn more at luminousvoices.com.

December 31; Rocky Mountain New Year’s Eve. Enjoy a spectacular buffet supper, cash bar, night snow tubing followed by a dance party until midnight with a champagne toast. Bring the whole family to ring in 2024 in Lake Louise. Learn more at skilouise.com.

December 31, 11:55pm; City of Calgary New Year’s Eve Fireworks. Ring in 2024 with midnight fireworks launched from Prince’s Island Park. The spectacular display will be synchronized to music on CJSW 90.9 FM, highlighting the talents of Canadian artists. Learn more at calgary.ca.

New Year’s Day

January 1, 9:30am to 2:30pm; Heritage Park New Year’s Day Brunch. Kick off the new year surrounded by one of the world’s largest public collection of antique vehicles in Gasoline Alley Museum while dining on a delicious buffet-style brunch. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

January 1, 1 to 2:15pm; Free Skating at Select City of Calgary Rinks. Are the kids a little antsy? Need a little activity to burn off extra cookies? Skate for free at select City of Calgary ice rinks. Get your skate on at Stew Hendry/Henry Viney Arenas (NE), Murray Copot Arena (NW) and Rose Kohn/Jimmie Condon Arenas (SW). Learn more at calgary.ca.

January 1, 1 to 3pm; Brentwood Community New Year’s Skating Party. Start the new year with a free skating party in Brentwood. On January 1, head to the new Brentwood rink and kick off the year with great tunes, hot chocolate, and icy fun on skates. Learn more at brentwoodcommunity.com.

January 1, 2:30pm; Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert. Waltzing into Arts Commons, Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert is an enchanting, unforgettable celebration at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Perfect for audiences of all ages, this annual holiday tradition features European singers, a full orchestra, and dancers from Europaballett (Austria). Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

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 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; A Christmas Carol at Fairmont Banff Springs. A Christmas Carol at Fairmont Banff Springs returns for its sixth year. Do not miss this timeless, heart-warming tale of a man named Scrooge who is visited by three ghosts and learns what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. Produced and created at one of the most beautiful places on earth, this production is not to be missed. Learn more at banfflakelouise.com.

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; A Christmas Carol at Fairmont Banff Springs. A Christmas Carol at Fairmont Banff Springs returns for its sixth year. Do not miss this timeless, heart-warming tale of a man named Scrooge who is visited by three ghosts and learns what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. Produced and created at one of the most beautiful places on earth, this production is not to be missed. 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.

Until March 17; Winsport Servus 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.