What to Do in Calgary Every Day This Winter

This winter, go skating on an outdoor rink, stay warm indoors at a local theatre performance or dance the night away at a music festival.

December 2018

Olympic Plaza skating rink. Photograph courtesy of Travel Alberta / Roth and Ramberg.

Friday, December 21: Grab a drink at a Christmas cocktail bar called Miracle on 1st Street (runs until December 23)

Saturday, December 22: Catch a performance of Chrismoose Carol at Loose Moose Theatre

Sunday, December 23: Grab a bite at one of Calgary’s many great Indian restaurants

Monday, December 24: Go skating outdoors at Olympic Plaza

Tuesday, December 25: Check out one of the seven things you can do on Christmas Day in Calgary

Wednesday, December 26: Ride down a snowhill at Western Canada’s largest tube park

Thursday, December 27: Take a walk to see the painted windows that are part of Buds Collective’s Northern Reflections exhibit (runs until December 31)

Friday, December 28: Try to escape from a Christmas-themed escape room at the Lougheed House (runs until December 30).

Saturday, December 29: Shop and order food from 40 vendors at the newly opened Avenida Food Hall & Fresh Market

Sunday, December 30: Grab a pint at one of the 15 new breweries that opened in Calgary this past year

Monday, December 31: Celebrate New Year’s Eve at a downtown fireworks show

 

January 2019

Inside the new Central Library. Photograph courtesy of Snøhetta; © Michael Grimm.

Tuesday, January 1: Go for a drive to check out nearly a half a million lights at the Lions Festival of Lights (runs from December 1 to January 8)

Wednesday, January 2: Look for deals at local consignment stores

Thursday, January 3: Grab some dinner at Modern Steak’s new location on Stephen Avenue

Friday, January 4: Dine out at one of the at least 70 new restaurants that opened in Calgary in 2018

Saturday, January 5: Take a glass blowing class with Bee Kingdom Glass

Sunday, January 6: Have a laugh at a comedy show

Monday, January 7: Borrow a book and explore the gorgeous new Central Library in East Village

Tuesday, January 8: Go shopping at one of the at least 25 new stores that opened in Calgary in 2018

Wednesday, January 9: Catch one of the more than two dozen shows that are part of this year’s High Performance Rodeo (runs from January 9 to 27)

Thursday, January 10: Drop-in to play some dodgeball (or sign up for the recreational league)

Friday, January 11: Sign up for one of Calgary Circus Studio’s adult aerials classes

Saturday, January 12: Cheer on the the Calgary Roughnecks at their first home game of 2019

Sunday, January 13: Learn more about Calgary’s history on a visit to Fort Calgary

Monday, January 14: Check out the new Brookfield Residential YMCA on its opening day

Tuesday, January 15: Warm up with a bow of ramen at one of these spots

Wednesday, January 16 : Attend a performance of Sansei: the Storyteller, a Lunchbox Theatre show that looks at Japanese Canadian internment during Pearl Harbour (runs from January 14 to 26)

Thursday, January 17: Buy some yarn for a winter knitting project

Friday, January 18:  Learn how to roll sushi with a group of friends at Goro + Gun

Saturday, January 19: Start planning your weding with the help of the vendors at The Bash (runs from January 19 to 20)

Sunday, January 20: Get some fresh air on a winter hike in Rocky View County, Banff National Park or Kananaskis Country

Monday, January 21: Order some “Detroit spirited pizza” from Pow Pizza in Renfrew

Tuesday, January 22: Watch a film screening during the Calgary stop of the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival world tour (runs most days from January 15 to 27)

Wednesday, January 23: Learn how make beautiful burlap flower bouquets with Amborella Floral

Thursday, January 24: Get your basketball jersey out to cheer on the Harlem Globetrotters at the Saddledome (runs from January 23 to 24)

Friday, January 25: Check out a HPR show where the cast gets drunk and performs Shakespeare’s Hamlet (runs from January 23 to 26)

Saturday, January 26: Head to the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre for two weekends of lantern displays, performances and a marketplace during its Lunar New Year Festival (runs January 26 to 27 and February 2 to 3)

Sunday, January 27: Go to one of the more than 80 concerts happening during Big Winter Classic (runs from January 24 to 27)

Monday, January 28: Stay out late to take advantage of a late-night restaurant deal

Tuesday, January 29: Jump around at a huge indoor trampoline park

Wednesday, January 30: Eat at one of the international restaurants along this 13-block stretch of 17th Avenue S.W.

Thursday, January 31: Try the gin or vodka at the newly opened Confluence Distilling

 

February 2019

Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant offers afternoon tea on weekends. Photograph courtesy of Great Events Group.

Friday, February 1: Try to navigate a giant escape room experience inside the new Central Library

Saturday, February 2: Eat fondue and watch horses and riders partake in skijoring during Skijordue

Sunday, February 3: Get a cosmic facial at Pranic Forest in Kensington

Monday, February 4: Grab a hot chocolate during the YYC Hot Chocolate Fest (runs from February 1 to 28)

Tuesday, February 5: Learn how to make cocktails at Shelter’s new cocktail class

Wednesday, February 6: Visit some photo exhibits during the 15th annual Exposure Photography Festival (runs from February 1 to 28)

Thursday, February 7: Check out the new Christian Dior fashion exhibition at the Glenbow (there’s no admission fee this night) (runs from February 3 to June 2)

Friday, February 8: Watch Calgary Opera stage an opera about conquering the biggest mountain in the world (runs on February 2, 6 and 8)

Saturday, February 9: Run a half or full winter marathon

Sunday, February 10: Attend this year’s ParkForum event (runs from February 9 to 10)

Monday, February 11: Play more than 50 arcade games at Greta, a new bar in the Beltline

Tuesday, February 12: Get tickets to a theatre production that parodies the Harry Potter books (runs from February 5 to 18)

Wednesday, February 13: Go sledding on one of these hills around the city

Thursday, February 14: Listen to romantic French music performed by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for Valentine’s Day

Friday, February 15: Take your family downtown to bask in the light displays at this year’s Glow festival (runs from February 14 to 18)

Saturday, February 16: Cheer on the curlers at this year’s Beltline Bonspiel tournament

Sunday, February 17: Shop for Japanese lifestyle products at Nanao Kimono’s new Kensington location

Monday, February 18: Try the s’more or passionfruit doughnut at Hoopla Donuts

Tuesday, February 19: Take your pooch to the new dog park in East Village

Wednesday, February 20: Take advantage of one of the city’s many wing specials any day of the week

Thursday, February 21: Watch nearly 30 bands and musical artists perform at Block Heater, a winter music festival by the Calgary Folk Music Festival (runs from February 21 to 23)

Friday, February 22: Sip on some wine at Winefest (runs from February 22 to 23)

Saturday, February 23 : Head to High River to experience dinner on a railroad dining car

Sunday, February 24: Go for an afternoon tea at the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant

Monday, February 25: Take a class to learn how to salsa or ballroom dance

Tuesday, February 26: Go see Theatre Calgary’s new production of The Scarlet Letter (runs from February 26 to March 23)

Wednesday, February 27: Try food by the best restaurants in Calgary at Avenue‘s 2019 Best Restaurants event

Thursday, February 28: Get inspired at the Calgary Home + Garden Show (runs from February 28 to March 3)

 

March 2018

The Corridor of Connection mural at the 4th Street S.E. Underpass. Photograph by Alana Willerton.

Friday, March 1: Travel back in time to the 1950s during Front Row Centre Players’ production of Grease at Plaza Theatre (runs from March 1 to 2)

Saturday, March 2: Make some maple taffy and play street hockey at the Calgary Maple Festival (runs from March 2 and 3)

Sunday, March 3: Build your own over-the-top Caesar drink at The Beltliner

Monday, March 4: Watch the Calgary Flames take on the Toronto Maple Leafs

Tuesday, March 5: Have a laugh at Alberta Theatre Project’s production of the comedy The New Canadian Curling Club (runs from March 5 to 23)

Wednesday, March 6: Learn about aquatic ecosystems, fish and more at the Bow Habitat Station

Thursday, March 7: Watch a movie at the Artifact Small Format Film Festival (runs from March 7 to 9)

Friday, March 8: Go for a walk under the 4th Street S.E. Underpass to see Michelle Hoogveld’s colourful Corridor of Connection mural

Saturday, March 9: Check out the exhibits and walk the trails at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary

Sunday, March 10: Order some poutine at one of these inner-city restaurants

Monday, March 11: Treat yourself to a manicure or skin treatment at Esmé Beauty and Floral Bar

Tuesday, March 12: Learn how to make sourdough bread with Sidewalk Citizen Bakery

Wednesday, March 13: Go to a puppet show or workshop during the Festival of Animated Objects (runs from March 13 to 17)

Thursday, March 14: Discover your inner circus performer at Telus Sparks’ March adults only night

Friday, March 15: Drive to the Banff Upper Hot Springs for a day of relaxation in the mountains

Saturday, March 16: Learn more about airplanes and helicopters up close at The Hangar Flight Museum

Sunday, March 17: Wear green to run in the 2019 St. Patrick’s Day Road Race

Monday, March 18: Take a walk through Calgary’s new Manmeet Singh Bhullar Park

Tuesday, March 19: Watch a performance of the Tony Award-winning production Come From Away (runs from March 19 to 24)

Want more suggestions for the best things to do in Calgary? Sign up for our Weekender Newsletter.

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