What winter activities are organized in Calgary?

Calgary turns into a true winter wonderland from December to March, when the city comes alive with hundreds of different events, festivals, and entertainment. From prestigious international arts festivals to cozy family fairs, Olympic sporting events to enchanting light installations, the winter months in Calgary offer an unbeatable selection of activities for all ages and interests.

Main Winter Festival: Chinook Blast

Chinook Blast is Calgary's flagship winter festival, taking place from January 30 to February 16, 2026. The festival gets its name from the warm Chinook winds that bring a thaw in the middle of winter, symbolizing the colder months of the year.

In 2026, the festival moved to Eau Claire Plaza and Stephen Avenue due to the renovation of Olympic Plaza. The program includes over 120 events with more than 70 partners:

Location Activities Highlights
Stephen Avenue (1st SE - 3rd St SW) Light installations, street performances, art projects 8 new art installations
The Confluence Winter sports, demonstrations, free skating Covered connection through City Hall Atrium
Various theaters High Performance Rodeo, Calgary Folk Festival's Block Heater Over 20 performances

Unique events at Chinook Blast 2026:

  • Drag on Ice with DJ GAYSNAKES – drag performances on ice
  • Skijordue – ski towing competition (February 15-16)
  • Winter Sport Hub with free demo lessons

Arts and cultural festivals

High Performance Rodeo (January 14–February 2, 2025)

High Performance Rodeo is one of Canada's most prestigious international live arts festivals. The 39th festival in 2025 presented over 20 performances at various locations in downtown Calgary.

Top performances at the festival included:

  • Ronnie Burkett in Wonderful Joe (January 21-26) – an emotional puppet show

  • Mump & Smoot in Exit (January 29-February 1) – comedic “horror clowns”

  • Lucy Darling in Indulgence (January 28-30) – vintage Hollywood glamour and magic

  • Ten Minute Play Festival (January 14) – fast-paced 10-minute plays

The festival encompasses theater, dance, music, comedy, and interdisciplinary art, supporting both local and international artists.

Calgary Folk Festival's Block Heater

Block Heater is the winter version of the popular Calgary Folk Music Festival, held in cozy indoor venues throughout the city in February. The festival creates an intimate atmosphere for acoustic music and experimental performances.

Holiday Fairs and Christmas Events

ZOOLIGHTS at the Calgary Zoo (November 15, 2024 - January 5, 2025)

ZOOLIGHTS is Calgary's most popular holiday tradition, celebrating its 28th anniversary. The zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland with over one million lights and approximately 250 lighted figures.

Main attractions of ZOOLIGHTS 2024-2025:

  • The Festive Forest with elves and Santa's Sleigh

  • Merry and Bright Tree Trail with a choreographed light show

  • Aurora Gardens with polar bears and aurora borealis

  • Discovery Bridge with a unique light show over the water

  • Lemur Tales - a new installation for 2024

  • Savannah Sparkle with African drums

Additional activities: ice skating, axe throwing, hot chocolate by the fire, holiday market.

Prices: Adults (16+) $21.95, children (3-15) $14.95, free for children under 3. Special Snow Globe packages start at $180 for a private oasis + $40-110/person for food.

Heritage Park “Once Upon a Christmas” (December 7-22)

“Once Upon a Christmas” is a beloved Calgary holiday tradition at Heritage Park Historical Village. The event takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Activities include:

  • Visits to Santa Claus and holiday photo opportunities

  • Sleigh rides and caroling

  • Historic homes with Christmas traditions from across Europe

  • Kids' Only Store

  • Holiday market with handmade gifts

  • Wood-fired baking demonstrations

Prices: Adults $19.95, children (3-15) $14.95, children under 3 free.

A festive breakfast buffet is available at the Wainwright Hotel or Gunn's Dairy Barn with traditional dishes and baked goods from Alberta Bakery.

Christmas markets around Calgary

Market 2024 dates Location Highlights
Saskatoon Farm Christmas Market November 29–December 1, December 6–8 The Farm, near Calgary 200+ vendors, sleigh rides, live ice carving
Grand South Christmas Market November 15, 2025 Mahogany Beach Club 75+ vendors, market passport through 5 communities
Market Collective Holiday Market December 6–8, 13–15 BMO Centre Hall D Local artists, workshops, food
Christmas at the Nation December 13–15 Seven Chiefs Sportsplex 150+ Indigenous and local artists, Tsuut'ina Nation dancing
Granary Road Christmas Market November 30–December 15 (weekends) Granary Road Free admission, sleigh rides, goat yoga

Winter sports events

Olympic Oval and speed skating

The Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary remains an active center for winter sports, despite technical challenges with the ice system. The arena offers public skating, sports camps, and international competitions.

Key events at the Olympic Oval this winter:

  • ISU World Cup #2 (November 21-23, 2025)
  • Canadian Youth Long Track Championships (February 6-8, 2026)
  • Sport Calgary Winter Festival on Family Day (February 16, 2026)
  • Skate the Halls with Santa (December 6, 2025)

Public skating prices: Adults $7.00, youth/seniors $4.75, family pass $18.50.

WinSport Canada Olympic Park

WinSport offers a full range of winter activities on the slopes of Olympic Park:

Alpine skiing and snowboarding:

  • 6 trails of varying difficulty (33% beginner, 33% intermediate, 33% advanced)
  • Longest trail 0.4 miles, 214 acres of skiable terrain
  • Terrain park with Olympic-sized halfpipe
  • Night skiing on 90 acres

Servus Tube Park:

  • 9 tube runs
  • 2-hour sessions: Friday $16, weekends $25
  • Minimum age 4 years old, minimum height 91 cm

2024-25 Season Passes:

  • Individual Standard Access
  • Individual Advanced Access (6+ years) with access to the Advanced Terrain Park
  • Family Pass for 2 adults + 3 children

Snow Rodeo FIS World Cup (February 17-22, 2025)

Snow Rodeo returns to Canada Olympic Park with the FIS Snowboard Halfpipe and Slopestyle World Cups. The event is one of the most prestigious competitions in freestyle skiing and snowboarding in the world.

Free winter skiing and activities

City outdoor skating rinks

The City of Calgary maintains over 50 free outdoor skating rinks through the Adopt-a-rink program and municipal locations.

Top municipal skating rinks:

Skating rink Address Hours Features
Olympic Plaza 228 8 Ave SE 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Only refrigerated rink, skate rental
Bowness Park Lagoon 8900 48 Ave NW 5:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. 1.6 km ice trail, ice bikes, crokicurl
North Glenmore Park 7305 Crowchild Tr SW 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. 730 m ice trail, shinny hockey
Big Marlborough Park 6033 Madigan Dr NE 5:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Large rink with fire ring, toboggan hill
Carburn Park 67 Riverview Dr SE 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Pond rink with fire pit

New locations for 2025:

  • Lot 6 Pop-Up Rink (311 8 Street SW) 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
  • Central Commons Park in the University District with underground parking

Special ice trails

Calgary has introduced two unique ice trails:

  • Bowness Park: 1.6 km trail along the Bow River with ice bike rentals
  • North Glenmore Park: 730 m connected trail with lighting

BIG Winter Classic

BIG Winter Classic is a 4-day winter festival that combines art, music, and local beer. The festival was created in response to the need to celebrate Calgary year-round, not just in the summer.

Festival concept: “Take the best and funniest people in the city and put them in one place to create, dream, drink, and play, even when it's -15°C outside.”

Winter markets and trade

Edmonton Winter Market Model

Calgary is borrowing Edmonton's experience in organizing winter markets that include local producers, artisans, and food trucks. Many neighborhood associations organize their own winter markets:

Edgemont Community Association Winter Market (November 16):

  • Admission by donation to the Christmas Hamper program
  • Vendor tables $75
  • Focus on handmade goods

Practical tips for winter events

Transportation and parking

  • C-Train serves most central locations

  • Heritage Park has a shuttle from the Heritage LRT station

  • Calgary Zoo is accessible by bus #202 C-train

  • Parking at ZOOLIGHTS is $12/day, Heritage Park is paid

Clothing and preparation

  • Temperatures can range from +5°C (chinook) to -30°C

  • Required: warm clothing in layers, waterproof boots, gloves

  • Helmets are recommended for all skating rinks

Reservations and prices

  • Popular events (ZOOLIGHTS, Heritage Park Christmas) require advance booking
  • Early bird discounts are available for WinSport season passes
  • Group rates are available for corporate events at the Olympic Oval

Conclusions

Winter events in Calgary showcase the city's unique ability to transform the harsh winter months into a period of celebration, creativity, and community. From world-class arts festivals to cozy family traditions, Olympic sports to free public activities, the city offers something special for every resident and visitor.

Calgary's strength lies in its diversity: prestigious international events coexist with local initiatives, paid premium experiences are complemented by free municipal programs, and traditional Canadian winter sports are combined with innovative arts projects.

Calgary's winter calendar doesn't just fill the cold months with activities — it creates a sense of warmth, community, and pride that makes the city a true world-class winter metropolis.