In Calgary, it’s easy to make sure your bachelor or bachelorette party is an exciting, unforgettable experience. From paintball to archery tag to axe throwing, there are plenty of ways to get your adrenalin pumping before the big day. Here are five action-packed activities in and around the city that would be a great fit for a bachelor or bachelorette party.
Archery tag at Archery Games
Archery tag combines the best parts of dodgeball, archery and paintball, and you can play it at the newly opened Archery Games. To play, participants put on face masks and an arm guard before taking to the 3,000-square foot, forest-themed indoor arena in two teams. There, they shoot foam-tipped arrows at the opposite team and dodge incoming arrows to try and be the last team standing. It’s a fast-paced game of dodging and shooting, minus the pain that usually comes with playing a game like paintball. Up to 20 players can participate at a time, so you can bring all your friends. Players can make regular bookings for one session or private group bookings for the whole arena are also available.
22, 2015 32 Ave. N.E., 587-387-2799, archerygamescalgary.ca, @archerygamesyyc
Axe throwing at BATL Axe Throwing
For such a simple premise, axe throwing is a surprisingly fun activity. At facilities like BATL Axe Throwing, you and your friends take turns throwing axes at targets on the wall in an effort to hit the elusive bulls-eye. Walk-in sessions are available at select times on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, or you can book a private event to get a private axe throwing space for your group for a few hours. Group sizes can range from six to 150 people. When you’re done playing, the group can relax with a beer and some tasty eats at BATL Axe’s licensed kitchen and bar.
2151 32 St. N.E., 587-747-7606, batlgrounds.com, @batlgroundsaxe
Bouldering at Bolder Climbing Community
Take your bachelor or bachelorette party to new heights at Bolder Climbing Community, the first bouldering specific climbing facility in Calgary. Bouldering is similar to rock climbing, except that you don’t use ropes or a harness, the climbing walls aren’t as tall and there’s a thick mat at the base of the walls to break falls. Around half of the 10,000-square-foot facility is set up with 14.5-foot climbing walls, which have colourful holds set up in various climbing paths. Drop in day passes are only $17. When you’re done playing, grab a coffee at Bolder’s cafe or make the 15 minute walk north to visit the taproom at one of Calgary’s newest breweries, Annex Ale Project.
5508 1 St. S.E., 403-255-9565, bolderclimbing.com
Paintball, airsoft or archery tag at Capture the Flag Paintball & Airsoft
Located in nearby Cochrane, Capture the Flag Paintball & Airsoft offers three different adrenalin-pumping activities. Paintball and airsoft have been staples here for years, with 22 outdoor playing fields spread out over the facility’s 116 acres. Capture the Flag also recently began offering outdoor archery tag. While you can bring food and non-alcoholic drinks to the facility, you can also get your fill of hot dogs thanks to Capture the Flag’s complimentary, unlimited hot dog barbecue for all players.
72032 North, Range Road 40, Cochrane, 403-932-9510, capturetheflag.com, @capture_theflag
Ziplining, luge, bobsledding and more at WinSport
The WinSport organization runs Canada Olympic Park, where some of the Winter Olympics were held in 1988. While the Olympics are long over now, you and your friends can still experience some of the thrills of this site thanks to the many fast-paced activities WinSport offers here in the summer. You can ride a bobsleigh while traveling faster than 80 kilometres per hour, ride down the world’s longest luge track with Skyline Luge, zipline from the top of the Canada Olympic Park ski jump tower or go mountain biking down the ski hill. And of course, during the winter, this is one of the best spots around for snowbarding, skiing, tubing, bobsleighing and more.
88 Canada Olympic Road. S.W., 403-247-5452, winsport.ca, @winsportcanada