Santa (on the House)

Is the endless loop of holiday mall tunes getting you down? Stay out of the mall and get to these 12 great activities for the family. Consider it our gift to you this year—twelve free suggestions designed to get kids up and out for a happy holiday season.

1. Skate at the Olympic Oval on December 23 from noon to 4 pm. Admission to the Oval is free with a donation to the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank. Santa will be there with a host of other characters.
2. Take in the Airdrie Festival of Lights until New Year’s Eve. Watch a live concert, sit on Santa’s knee or ride a camel (almost free).
3. Go tobogganing at one of the city’s snow covered hills. Our fave is Stanley Park. Make sure all sliders wear helmets.
4. Go to the Calgary Farmers’ Market for the ‘5 Days of Freshmus’ on December 19 to 23 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm (5:00 pm on the weekend.) Visit the big man in his sleigh while you’re there.
5. Salsa off some of that shortbread with your little one for free on Friday December 19 at 11:30 am in Studio 2 on the lower level of the Trico Center (11150 Bonaventure Dr SE.) Salsa Babies offers fun and fitness for grown-ups and little ones alike.

6. Spend a few hours volunteering with your family. The Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank is looking for additional help dealing with the extra holiday volume and families can take-on the same volunteer roles as individuals. Contact Volunteer Resources at 403-640-8811 to arrange a date.
7. Attend the 2nd Annual Bright Night New Year’s Eve party at Olympic Plaza on December 31 from 6:00 pm through midnight for big kids. Little kids will love the children’s New Year’s countdown and fireworks at 9:00 pm. 
8. Take a night time visit to the Telus World of Science on Boxing Day or Friday January 2 between 7:30 and 8:30 pm to take advantage of free Friday night Stargazing.
9. Christmas in Kensington Village only comes once a year and it wraps up Saturday December 20 with elves, carolers and candy canes.
10. Just in case you haven’t had your fill of skating, borrow skates free of charge from December 28 to January 1 at Olympic Plaza or take your own and enjoy the scenery at Bowness Park lagoon.
11. Spruce Meadows is decked out in holiday finery. The grounds are open 9:00 am to 8:00 pm daily. Most buildings are also open and decorated for the season. Horses are housed indoors but some training continues over the holidays.
12. A holiday would not be complete without a visit to the extravagant lights display at Confederation Park. Stroll through the park at 14 Street and 24 Avenue NW to view 78,000 holiday lights.

Oh, and we’re serious about the cookie decorating at the Southcenter Cookie Kitchen through Christmas Eve from 10 am to 8 pm weekdays or noon to four on Sunday.

Oops, that’s thirteen. And who says the best things in life aren’t free?

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