What’s happening in Calgary this Easter long weekend

After enduring the chilly cold and snow-covered roads, this year’s Easter long weekend is expected to bring sunshine and warm weather to weary Calgary residents.

There is a windchill of -6 C Friday with a mix of sun and cloud in the morning. However, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says later in the day the city will hit a high of 14 C and be mostly Sunny.

The long weekend is expected to be mostly sunny, and Saturday and Sunday will see highs of 14 C and 18 C, respectively, while Monday is expected to see a high of 19 C.

Drivers are reminded to expect delays through the long weekend at 36 Street and 16 Avenue NE, with utility work going until 4 a.m. Monday.

If a road trip west is in your Easter plans, the Trans Canada Highway near Golden B.C. is open all day, each day in the Kicking Horse Canyon through the long weekend.

No construction closures will take place until 12 p.m. Tuesday, but then Highway 1 will be closed 24/7 until the morning of April 16.

Drivers will have to detour via Radium along Highways 93 and 95, which adds about an hour and a half to the trip.

If you’re staying in, it’s important to note Good Friday is a public holiday, which means many businesses will not be open.

Banks, libraries, post offices, and government services will all be closed on Friday.

However, many bars and restaurants will be open, same with movie theatres.

Here is what is happening around the city.

Church service and events

The Way of the Cross procession is being held for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world.

The walk, which starts at 9:30 a.m., will pass through 14 Stations of the Cross and begin with people walking around Our Lady of Fatima Parish and near St. Mary’s Cathedral.

It will be followed with veneration of the Holy Cross at 3 p.m. at the parish. At the same time, there will be a service at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

On Saturday, the parish will have its Easter Vigil, while on Sunday, there will be a Portuguese Mass at 9 a.m., English Mass at 10:30 a.m., and another Portuguese Mass at 12 p.m.

Attractions

A bunny. (CityNews photo)

The Easter Egg-Extravaganza is back this year and is happening at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo all weekend.

It includes family-friendly games, an easter safari, and brunch.

Tickets range between $19 and $29.

And if you head to Butterfield Acres Petting Farms this weekend, you just might see some spring chickens.

Barnyard Baby Days are back, and it’s your chance to bottle-feed a baby lamb, goat, cow, or piglet.

You can ride on a pony, and the easter bunny will be hoppin’ by.

Southcentre Mall is hosting its second annual “Psysanky for Peace” fundraiser through the weekend and until April 30.

The initiative is a tribute to a Ukrainian tradition of “writing” pysanky, which is decorated Easter eggs featuring designs in different colours and styles.

Read More: Calgary paints Pysanky Easter eggs for charity

In addition, your four-legged friends can also hunt for eggs this weekend at Calaway Park’s south field.

The 25th annual National Service Dogs’ Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs, and their families, is happening Friday.

Tickets are $30, and those funds will help children impacted by autism and individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Wild Rose Rabbit Rescue will be stopping by the Calgary Farmer’s Market south location on Saturday with some bunnies to foster or adopt.

Butterfield Acres will also be there on the south lawn, bringing their most huggable animals, including sheep and goats.

Golf on the horizon

Stock image of a golf course. (CREDIT: iStock user Willard)

Thanks to the warmer conditions, the snow is melting fast or is mostly gone on some golf courses.

Wingfield, out by the Calgary International Airport, is looking to open on temporary greens on Sunday.

But for others, it’s still a little early yet.

Even over at Fox Hollow, head golf professional, Greg Griffith says they hope to open next Thursday or Friday.

“We’re looking at this warm weather this weekend to hopefully get the frost out of the ground, and then we’re planning on trying to remove the tarps off the greens and get the golf course prepared to open for the season with weather cooperating,” Griffith told CityNews.

“We haven’t really looked too much under the tarps yet, but we’re not going to open if we’re not in good condition, but the two tarps we’ve looked under have looked okay.”

And if we were to get a dump of snow, he says that would likely only set them back a few days.

Recreation

Calgary Recreation has modified hours, which include arenas, athletic parks, and flatwater pools. The facilities will be closed on April 7 and 9 but will operate normally on April 8.

The Soccer Centre will be closed the entire long weekend, same with the Wildflower and North Mount Pleasant Arts Centres.

The Southland Leisure Centre is open and has different hours on the weekend for the pool and the building.

• April 7: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (pool and building)
• April 8: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (pool) 7 a.m.-6 p.m. (building)
• April 9: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (pool and building)
• April 10: (pool closed) 7 a.m.-9 p.m. (building)

Meanwhile. the Village Square Leisure Centre is also open and also has different hours on the weekend for the pool and the building.

• April 7: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (pool and building)
• April 8: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (pool and building)
• April 9: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (pool and building)
• April 10: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. (building)

Shopping

Most shopping malls will be open over the long weekend, though malls will operate on Sunday hours.

• The CORE opens at 12 p.m. Friday and closes at 5 p.m., but will be closed on April 9.
• Sunridge Mall will remain open through the long weekend and is operating on Sunday hours for Good Friday, which is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Chinook Mall will normally open at 10 a.m. but will close at 6 p.m. on Friday and Sunday.
• Southcentre Mall is operating during its holiday hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for Saturday and Monday.
• Dragon City Mall in Calgary’s Chinatown is expected to open at 9:30 a.m. Friday, and will operate as normal through the long weekend.
• North Hill Centre Mall has holiday hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Marlborough Mall is also open through the long weekend and will operate on holiday hours Friday and Sunday, which is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Westbrook Mall is open Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will be closed Sunday.

Transit

Calgary Transit will have adjusted service hours Friday and will operate the same as it would on Sunday.

More information can be found on the website.

Parking

The Calgary Parking Authority (CPA) says there will be no payment required for street parking on April 7, 9, and 10.

Holiday rates will apply on April 7 and 10 at CPA parkades and surface lots. However, regular rates will be in place for April 9.

In addition, regular rates will still apply at the Calgary Zoo, TELUS Spark, and Heritage Park.

Landfill

If the weekend is more of a time for spring cleaning, then the city has you covered.

Spyhill, East Calgary, and the Shepard landfills will be open on April 7, 8, and 10. However, Spyhill and Shepard will be closed on April 9.

More information can be found online.