Get jump scared at a terrifying Halloween experience
When: Various dates until October 31
Once again, Screamfest is back, bringing with it seven of the scariest haunted houses to explore. The haunted houses are full of actors that will do everything in their power to scare you, and have spooky themes like dollhouse, Bates Motel, zombie outbreak and more. Along with haunted houses, there will be Halloween-themed carnival games, entertainment, horror film screenings and more throughout the experience.
GMC Stadium, 3 St. S.E., screamfest.ca
Indulge in a highly coveted Italian sandwich
Scozzafava’s Deli has been in Calgary for a while as a pop-up that has gained a cult following with every new iteration. Now, Scozzafava’s has opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant on 17th Avenue S.W., and has already made a lot of noise in the dining scene. Since opening, this restaurant has consistently had lines down the street for its Italian deli-style sandwiches, like cold sandwiches with Italian meats seasoned New York-style with oil and vinegar, as well as other favourites like meatball and chicken parm, all served on a perfectly baked sesame hoagie roll. Go early if you want a chance at these hot-ticket sandwiches, as Scozzafava’s has been selling out daily long before closing time.
1004 17 Ave. S.W., @scozzafavasdeli
Get inside a criminal mind at Telus Spark
When: October 11
Do you love true crime? As part of Telus Spark’s Spark After Dark series, Killer Psyche explores what drives a criminal mind and the science behind violent crimes, including how science is used to solve crimes and explain what happens after death. This 18+ event includes themed cocktails, a chance to dine on the last meals of famous serial killers, talks and more.
220 St. George’s Dr. N.E., 403-817-6800, sparkscience.ca
Immerse yourself in Disney Pixar’s Coco while listening to a live orchestra
When: October 11 and 12
Brought to you by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Disney Pixar’s Coco live in concert brings the film to life. This performance features a screening of Coco while the award-winning score is played live by the orchestra. There will be two screenings at Jack Singer Concert Hall — one at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 11, and the other at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 12.
225 8 Ave. S.E., 403-294-7455, calgaryphil.com
Stretch your legs and your imagination on a haunted walking tour
When: Various times until October 31
Calgary Ghost Walks offers some excellent walking tours taking you through the most ghostly buildings in historic parts of Calgary, like Inglewood and Kensington. Calgary Ghost Walks holds a number of tours, scheduled throughout October.
Shop from and support Indigenous makers at CF Chinook Centre
Manitobah is a retail store rooted in Indigenous traditions, and sells a variety of Indigenous-made goods, with a strong focus on footwear. Manitobah has opened a pop-up store in CF Chinook Centre, where you can shop for mukluks and moccasins from Indigenous designers as well as a variety of other Indigenous-made goods like mitts, toques, blankets, beadwork and more.
6445 Macleod Tr., 403-452-0099, manitobah.ca
Give thanks and fill your belly celebrating Thanksgiving at Heritage Park
When: October 12 to 14
Don’t feel like cooking for Thanksgiving? Let Heritage Park handle it for you, and head to the park for a Thanksgiving lunch. At the Wainwright Hotel, you can choose between an oven roasted turkey dinner or an open-faced turkey sandwich, along with a butternut squash soup to start and pumpkin pie from Alberta Bakery for dessert. Makes you thankful for delicious eats!
Wainwright Hotel, 1900 Heritage Dr. S.W., 403-268-8500, heritagepark.ca
Chow down at a new katsu restaurant
Katsuya is a popular chain restaurant for Japanese katsu (which includes a variety of breaded and fried dishes), and the restaurant recently opened its first Alberta location in Calgary. Located inside Pizza Maru, Katsuya is the place to try katsu dishes featuring cheese, pork and chicken, as well as styles with fish or sweet potato. You can order from both the pizza and katsu menus, so don’t miss out on a Korean-style pizza while you’re there, too.
4 Royal Vista Way N.W., 403-969-8008, katsuya.ca