Have some winter fun at Chinook Blast
When: Various dates from January 30 to February 16
There’s no shortage of things to do during this exciting winter festival, which is spread out over three weekends. Highlights include live ice carving, a 360-degree dome with “large-scale projection mapping and spatial sound,” an Indigenous market, tons of live music and more.
Multiple locations, chinookblast.ca
Try signature dishes for a great price during Taste of Chinatown
When: January 30 to February 28
Explore Chinatown’s dining scene during Taste of Chinatown. This month-long event highlights $5 signature dishes from more than a dozen restaurants in the area, including Great Taste, Royal Tea House, Taste Alley, Tokachi Japanese Restaurant and more.
Multiple locations, calgarychinatown.com
Order a burger for a good cause during Burger It Forward
When: February 1 to 28
Burgers that give back? Count us in. This month, help support Canadian food banks by ordering one of the featured burgers from restaurants participating in the Burger It Forward campaign. Canada Beef is providing the equivalent of one meal (up to 20,000 meals) to Food Banks Canada for each featured burger that’s purchased in February. Thirty Calgary restaurants are taking part, and diners can see a full list of participating Calgary restaurants and the featured burgers online.
Read more: 30 Calgary Restaurants are Participating in Burger It Forward in February
Multiple locations, burgeritforward.ca
Explore Calgary’s sauna scene with friends
Calgary has no shortage of great sauna facilities, and more new spots are popping up all the time. Here are a few to check out with some friends.
Read more: The Rise of Calgary’s Sauna Scene
Drink tons of hot chocolate during YYC Hot Chocolate Fest
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When: February 1 to 28
Most of us don’t need an excuse to enjoy a delicious cup of hot chocolate, but February is always a particularly good month to do so in Calgary. That’s because YYC Hot Chocolate Fest, which encourages local restaurants and cafés to come up with unique hot chocolate drinks in support of Calgary Meals on Wheels, runs for the entire month. Try as many of the 2026 drinks as you can, then vote for your favourites online.
Multiple locations, yychotchocolate.com
Check out a Black History Month event in Calgary
When: Various dates in February
February is Black History Month, and several Calgary organizations are hosting events to celebrate Black culture, showcase local talent and examine both Black histories and futures. Events include the Calgary Black Chambers’ Annual Black History Month Dinner, a spoken word performance with Calgary’s former Poet Laureate Wakefield Brewster, a day of music, fashion and talks with the National Music Centre and more.
See amazing photos during a photography festival
When: Throughout February
Exposure Photography Festival is an annual celebration of great photography and the established and emerging photographers who capture these captivating images. Now in its 22nd year, the festival has an impressive line-up in store for audiences throughout the month of February. Along with a wide range of photography exhibitions, attendees can also check out events like artist talks, workshops and more.
Multiple locations, exposurephotofestival.com
Watch some concerts during Block Heater
When: February 5 to 7
Block Heater, the annual winter music festival put on by Calgary Folk Music Festival, is back with a mix of outdoor and indoor performances. This year’s festival features nearly 30 bands and singers, including Cedric Burnside, Inn Echo, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Jed and the Valentine, Lindi Ortega and more.
Multiple locations, calgaryfolkfest.com
Try your luck at darts at the newly opened PinPointe Social
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Take your next night out to the next level with a visit to PinPointe Social. The new darts lounge and bar offers a high-tech darts experience complete with a cool, colourful environment and tasty eats.
Read more: There’s a New High-Tech Darts Lounge in the Beltline
1129 Olympic Way S.E., 587-393-7779, pinpointesocial.com
Have a laugh with a new improv company
When: Fridays from February 6 to 27
BottleRocket Theatre Company is Calgary’s newest improv company, and on Fridays, you can have a laugh with the team at its Comedy Colosseum shows. Head to The Grand for a night that’s sure to be entertaining and memorable.
The Grand, 608 1 St. S.W., brtheatre.ca
Spend the day at a free Lunar New Year Celebration in the Beltline
When: February 7
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at District at Beltline, which will host a special celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on February 7. The free, fun-filled day features lion dances, market vendors, workshops, special eats you can order and more.
The District at Beltline Food Hall, 227 11 Ave. S.W., @thedistrictbeltline
See a movie at the first Indigenous film festival in Calgary
When: February 13 to 15
Calgary’s film festival circuit gets an exciting addition this month with the arrival of the city’s first Indigenous Film Festival. Oki Corral Film Festival is bringing more than 20 short and feature films showcasing Indigenous filmmakers to Globe Cinema. General admission tickets and weekend passes are available.
Globe Cinema, 617 8 Ave. S.W., okicorralfilmfestival.org
Cheer on Calgary’s professional lacrosse team
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When: February 14, 15 and 28
Calgary’s professional lacrosse team is back in action for the season and you can catch up to three home games in February. The team adds to the fun with its creative theme nights, which include “Galentine’s Day” on February 14, “PJ Party” on February 15 and “Superhero Party” on February 28.
Scotiabank Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise S.E., calgaryroughnecks.com
Order a bite from a new digital food hall in the Beltline
Based in Ontario, Kitchen Hub is a digital food hall concept where guests can experience multiple restaurants in one visit. Calgary’s first Kitchen Hub location launched in the Beltline with Nan’s Noodle House and Bro’Kin Yolk Express (more restaurants will be joining). Guests order from their preferred restaurants using on-site kiosks. Once the order is made in the back, it comes out on a conveyor belt and is placed in a cubby for pick up. Guests can place orders in-person for takeaway or online for delivery.
Read more: There’s a New Digital Food Hall in the Beltline
105, 1508 8 St. S.W., kitchenhub.com
Watch this year’s Oscar-nominated shorts
When: February 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and March 1
The 2026 Academy Awards are coming up in March, so it’s time to start catching up on this year’s nominated flicks and make your predictions. The Calgary International Film Festival is making it easy to see all of this year’s nominated short films with screenings of the animated, documentary and live-action short films. Standalone tickets are available if you just want to see the movies in one of those categories, or you can get a pass to see all three shorts packages.
Globe Cinema, 617 8 Ave. S.W., ciffcalgary.ca
Don your best western wear to cheer on the athletes at Skijordue
When: February 21 and 22
Skijor Canada is bringing a highly anticipated winter event to The Confluence this month. The self-proclaimed “greatest show on snow” promises to be an exciting day full of trick riding, stunt sliding, fashionable looks, a makers market, fondue and more.
The Confluence, 750 9 Ave. S.E., skijorcanada.com
Spend the weekend at the Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture
When: February 27 to March 1
A three-day celebration of Afro-Canadian and Caribbean cultures and traditions, this year’s Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture features a Calgary Food War competition and a new/emerging artists showcase on February 27, followed by a day of performances and talks on February 28. The event ends with the Black Gold Ball and Recognition Night on March 1.
Multiple locations, ethnikfestivals.com
Sip on a coffee amongst the fish at the new Coral Cafe
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One of Calgary’s newest coffee shops has a fun aquatic twist. Not only is Coral Cafe decked out in underwater-themed decor, but it’s also home to large aquariums filled with vibrantly coloured fish and marine life. Order a cup of Phil & Sebastian coffee and a baked good to enjoy while taking in the aquatic life.
201 16 Ave. N.E., 403-585-3208, coralcafeyyc.com
Attend a candlelit concert featuring music by Adele, Metallica and more
When: Multiple dates in February
Fever’s Candlelight concerts are an intimate and unique way to experience live music. The shows feature musicians performing live in beautiful locations filled with candles, creating a moody vibe that adds to the musical experience. Throughout February, there are concerts featuring music by a range of artists, including Adele, Metallica, The Weeknd, The Beatles, Coldplay and more.
See a colony of king penguins waddle around the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
When: On now until March 15 (weather permitting)
Arthur, Cleopatra, Napoleon, Augustus — these are just a few of the adorable king penguins you could see waddling through the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo during the annual Penguin Walk. Every winter, starting in January, the zoo’s king penguin colony goes on a daily morning walk around the grounds that the public can watch (depending on the weather and animal inclination). The walks start at the Penguin Plunge at 10:30 a.m. and follow a designated route, offering a cool opportunity to see these animals beyond their usual habitat.
Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, 210 St. Georges Dr. N.E., 403-232-9300, calgaryzoo.com
