Check out thousands of carved pumpkins at Pumpkins After Dark
When: September 22 to October 31
These are not your average jack-o’-lanterns. At Pumpkins After Dark, you’ll see more than 6,000 pumpkins with carvings depicting movie characters, dinosaurs, Halloween figures and more. Walk through the experience to see all the displays at WinSport, enjoy some treats and check out live pumpkins carving demonstrations.
WinSport, Canada Olympic Park, 88 Canada Olympic Rd. S.W., pumpkinsafterdark.com
Eat lots of pasta during Pasta La Feasta
When: October 1 to 31
October marks the return of Pasta La Feasta, a local pasta festival where 10 restaurants are offering special pasta creations throughout the whole month. When you order one of the featured dishes, $3 will go towards supporting The Alex Community Food Centre.
Read more: A Month-Long Pasta Festival is Happening in Calgary This October
Watch a movie at the Calgary Arab Film Nights Festival
When: October 7 to 9
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Calgary Arab Film Nights Festival. Held at Globe Cinema, the festival features a full weekend of films that include documentaries, dramas, comedies and short films. Festival passes are $50.
Globe Cinema, calgaryarabartssociety.ca
Play some basketball on a new court in Bridgeland
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There’s a new spot to shoot some hoops in Bridgeland. Head to Murdoch Park with some friends to play on the colourful new 3×3 Sport Court, which opened at the end of September.
Murdoch Park, brcacalgary.org
Experience Calgary Farmyard at night during Harvest Lights
When: Fridays and Saturdays in October
During Calgary Farmyard’s Harvest Lights, you can check out the local attraction at night on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It’s a fun way to re-experience Calgary Farmyard, which will be lit up, and its dozens of attractions ranging from mini golf to jumping pillows. The only open attraction that won’t be lit up is the corn maze, so bring a flashlight.
284022 Township Rd. 224, Rocky View County, 403-648-2719, calgaryfarmyard.com
Improve your improv chops
When: Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Local improv company The Kinkonauts offers weekly improv workshops. Running on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., each $5 class is a great opportunity to try something new (the class is beginner-friendly) or improve your improv chops if you’re a more seasoned performer.
922 9 Ave. S.E., kinkonauts.com
Cheer on the Calgary Flames
When: Season home opener on October 13
The Calgary Flames are officially back for another season of hockey. Whether you’re watching in person or on TV, don’t miss the season home opener against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, October 13 at the Saddledome. And if you’re looking for a place to eat near the game, we’ve got you covered.
Scotiabank Saddledome, nhl.com
Eat and drink at the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival
When: October 14 to 15
Don’t miss the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival as it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Full of wine, beer, spirits and a mix of sweet and savoury snacks, this event is as tasty as it is fun. Along with admission, guests will need to purchase sampling tickets at the festival.
BMO Centre, Stampede Park, rockymountainwine.com
Go see the largest mural in Alberta
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The Beltline is now home to Alberta’s largest mural, and you can check out the finished design now. Spanning 15,000 square feet, the mural is called NEOMA and was created by Toronto-based artist Jacqui Comrie.
706 7 Ave. S.W., yycbump.ca
Celebrate the library’s 110th birthday on Love Your Library Day
When: October 15
The Calgary Public Library is celebrating its 110th birthday this year, and you can celebrate this major milestone starting on October 15. For Love Your Library Day, all library locations will be offering special activities like family story time, live music, crafts, treats and more.
Multiple locations, calgarylibrary.ca
Go on a food tour down International Avenue
When: October 22
International Avenue has a rich food scene, and now, you can explore it on a food tour. Called “The Around the World in 35 Blocks Food Tour,” this four-hour tour stops at several restaurants and food stores along 17 Avenue S.E., giving you the chance to try and learn more about different cultural foods. Tickets are $30.
Meet at Pacific Hut Restaurant, 3223 17 Ave. S.E., intlave.ca
Grab a treat from The Chocolate Lab’s new downtown location
There’s a new spot to get your chocolate fix on Stephen Avenue. Local chocolate company The Chocolate Lab has opened a new location there where you can treat yourself to some colourful bonbons, buy a chocolate bar or indulge in some hot chocolate.
203 8 Ave. S.W., chocolatelab.ca
Go see some amazing carvings by an acclaimed Tahltan-Tlingit carver in a Glenbow exhibition
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When: Until November 20
Wolves: The Art of Dempsey Bob is the third exhibition featured in Glenbow at The Edison, the museum’s satellite location as it undergoes renovations. The first retrospective of Bob’s career, the exhibit features more than 65 carved masks, sculptures and pieces of regalia dating back to the 1970s.
Second floor, 150 9 Ave. S.W., glenbow.org
Spend all night watching Halloween movies at a 12-hour movie marathon
When: October 29
Love scary movies? This year, get in the Halloween spirit by watching them all night during the Calgary Underground Film Festival’s 12-hour Halloween Horror Movie Marathon. The movie night at Globe Cinema will feature seven horror films that will start playing at 7 p.m. on October 29 and run until 7 a.m. the next day. There will be a costume contest, you can buy concession food all night and there will be a free breakfast in the morning.
Globe Cinema, 617 8 Ave. S.W., calgaryundergroundfilm.org
Grab a drink at a new brewery in Sunalta
Best of Kin is the latest spot to join Calgary’s brewing scene. The brewery, which recently opened in Sunalta, has a full food menu that includes appetizers like smoked chicken wings or dumplings, sandwiches, pizza and dishes like Betty’s “Hamburger Helper” or char sui smoked capicolla pork steak. Wash it all down with beers like the Celebration Sour or the Summer Crush radler.
1059 14 St. S.W., 825-413-4233, bestofkin.ca
