Christmas activities to do in Calgary
Posted Dec 25, 2023 10:30 am.
Last Updated Dec 25, 2023 11:37 am.
If you’re looking for some outdoor family fun throughout the holidays, there is still plenty to do.
Here is a list of some activities and fun events available to Calgarians:
Things to do at WinSport
The tube park at WinSport has opened for the season.
Adrenaline enthusiasts can try out seven groomed lanes and a magic carpet, with two-hour sessions available on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the winter, with closing day scheduled for March 31.
The Winter Hill is also open until 5 p.m. Sunday, but will be closed for Christmas Day.
Outdoor skating
If skating is more your thing, the Olympic Plaza is also open throughout the day.
It will be open at 10 a.m. for the holidays and will be extended until midnight for the New Year.
In addition, Frank McCool Arena, Optimist/Blunden arenas, and Hendry/Viney arenas will have free public skating on Boxing Day, while the Murray Copot Arena, the Rose Kohn/Jimmie Condon arenas, and the Hendry/Viney arenas will be free on New Year’s Day. The free skate will be from 1 to 2:15 p.m.
Christmas light displays around Calgary
Many Calgarians have been decorating their homes with Christmas lights and other decorations, and it’s been a tradition for some to drive around and view the wonder of those homes.
Luckily, Lighten Up Calgary has a website that lists all the homes organized by quadrant. In addition, it’s all free. The homes listed also take donations for the Foodbanks of Canada and specific ones like Food Donation Bins in the Santa House.
Many of the homes listed keep their lights on from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m., with some going until midnight.
More homes and their addresses can be found online.
Shows and entertainment
Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo Zoolights continues until the New Year.
There are close to 250 light figures and a new Arctic aurora theme, bringing colours inspired by the aurora borealis.
Read More: Annual Zoolights back at Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
There’s also an outdoor skating rink open from 5 to 9 p.m., free skate rentals, axe throwing for ages 8 and up, a visit with Santa, a garden experience illuminated by colourful lights, and flower figures and more.
The Zoolights will open nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. until Jan 7, 2024.
Holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens is at the Arts Commons until Dec. 31.
The show is two hours long, and tickets can be found online.
Glow Calgary’s theme for 2023 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre is “Santa’s Sleigh Adventure.”
There is “over 90,000 square feet of illuminated splendor,” and a maze of lights. It’s closed for Christmas Day, but open until 5 p.m Sunday. It continues until Dec. 31.
In addition, Southcentre Mall, Chinook Centre, and Market Mall still have Santa Claus available to take photos on Sunday.
Hours for city services
You may be wondering what city services are open and closed this year in Calgary.
Calgary Transit buses and CTrains will be operating on Sunday level of service for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. On Demand service will also be operating on Sunday schedule and level of service.
Parking is free in on-street ParkPlus zones on Christmas Day, with weekend rates applying at all Calgary Parking parkades and surface lots.
Meanwhile, regular rates will continue at the Calgary Zoo, TELUS Spark, and Heritage Park.
Most recreation centres will be closed Dec. 25, but many remain open Sunday. The Calgary Soccer Centre will be closed until the new year, along with the North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower Arts Centres.
The city’s contact centre and Impound Lot will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
More information on hours for recreation centres and city hours can be found online here.
