Fun Things to Do for Families in Calgary in December
The holiday festivities are in full swing this December in Calgary! Whether you’re looking to perfect your baking skills, need to get your shopping done, looking to find some holiday magic by way of twinkling lights or Santa visits, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got a roundup of fun and exciting activities happening for families in Calgary this December – prepare to mark your calendars!
Family Fun in Calgary in December
Macaron 101 Baking Class at Ollia Macarons & Tea | byollia.com
December 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 & 12 at 810C 16th Ave SW
Are you looking to take your Christmas baking to the next level? Impress every recipient of this year’s confections with delicious homemade macarons from Ollia Macarons & Tea. Expert pastry chefs teach you the ever-elusive skill of macaron making and best of all, you get to take home your creations! I’ve had the chance to participate in this class and would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to try their hand at this tasty technique!
Films at the Fort: Holiday Favourites Series | fortcalgary.com
December 2,3, 9, 10 & 16 at Fort Calgary
Are you looking for a fun and festive venue to watch holiday favourites like Home Alone, Die Hard, and Miracle on 34th Street? Check out Films at the Fort this holiday season at Fort Calgary’s Burnswest Theatre! Tickets start at $12 and include popcorn and admission to the interpretive centre.
Once Upon a Christmas | heritagepark.ca
December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17 at Heritage Park
Bundle up and head to Heritage Park for a Christmas celebration that’ll go down in history! Kids and grownups alike have come to love this annual tradition and all of the activities, entertainment, and treats that it provides. Enjoy outdoor activities like horse-drawn carriage rides, Christmas carollers, a children’s maze, and festive photo ops. Indoors you can check out shopping, Christmas crafts, cookie decorating, Santa visits, and more. Regular priced admission is $14.95 +GST for kids 3-15 and $19.95 + GST for folks 16 years and up. Grab a holiday bundle (while supplies last) of 4 tickets for just $20!
Granary Road’s Christmas Market
December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 & 17 at 226066 112 Street West, Foothills County
Take a bit of a drive outside the city and head to Granary Road to celebrate the holidays with Christmas carols, decorated trees, lights, and festive photos with Santa and the alpacas. Don’t forget to visit Santa’s Workshop for gingerbread cookies, ornaments, hot chocolate, tractor rides, and more. Admission is free!
Glow Festival | glowyyc.ca
December 7-31 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre
Glow Festival has quickly become a holiday staple in YYC. Wander through a million twinkling lights indoors at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. This year, Santa has crashed his sleigh and needs your help to find his reindeer pals as you explore a 90,000 square foot maze of lights. Don’t forget to stop for a bite to eat, take in some live musical entertainment, and find the perfect gift at the Merry Makers Market. Kids will love the huge variety of activities just for them including princess, mermaid and Santa Claus visits, an LED dance floor, LED swings, children’s play park, and more. Kids 3 and under are free, kids 4-15 and seniors 65+ are $21.69; General Admission is $28.21.
Market Collective Holiday Market | marketcollective.ca
December 8-10 & 15-17 at the BMO Centre Hall B + C
The ever-popular Market Collective Holiday MC is back for two weekends to bring folks of every age live music, interactive workshops, galleries, drinks, food, and over 150 local vendors to shop the perfect holiday treasures. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $7 for the whole weekend. Kids 12 and under are free!
Winter Wonderfest | home.rumi.ca
December 10 at 5302 Forand Street SW
Join Rumi, ATCOenergy and Blue Flame Kitchen for a holiday celebration in support of Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta at ATCO Park! This one-day event is jam-packed with festive fun including Santa photos, Christmas crafts, stories with Mrs. Claus, a visit with Santa’s reindeer, face painting, carol singers, delicious treats and more! Toy donations to the Women in Need Society (WINS) are graciously accepted. Kids 3 and under are free. Adult admission is $10 and kids 4-18 are $5.
Winter Wonderland at the Library | calgarylibrary.ca
December 10-18 at Central and Memorial Park Libraries
Sign us up for all of the holiday celebrations – especially when they’re free! From December 10 – 18, a range of free, family-friendly programming celebrating the season will be offered at 2 library locations. Enjoy cozy treats, live music, movie screenings, and more! Special events include: the Mayor’s Holiday Storytime at Central on Dec 10, Olympian Catriona Le May Doan at Central on Dec 14 and a Harry Potter Trivia Night at Memorial Park on Dec 16.
Calgary Philharmonic Presents: Home Alone In Concert | artscommons.ca
December 9-10 at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
The only thing more magical than listening to one of John Williams’ classic scores is listening to it live while watching an 8 year old single-handedly take down a duo of crooks. Get your tickets to hear the Calgary Philharmonic perform the score along with Home Alone – a Christmas classic and enduring favourite of the holidays. To purchase tickets, visit calgaryphil.com/22-23-season/ or call the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Box Office at 403.571.0849. $24-$89. Tickets range from $24-$89.
Servus Tube Park at WinSport | winsport.ca
Opening in December – Date TBA
Are you looking for a way to get your adrenaline pumping this winter? Grab a tube and take a ride down one of the fastest tube parks in Western Canada at WinSport! Tubes come with your ticket and no special experience is required to have a blast as you slip and slide down one of the 8 lanes on the main hill. The trek to the top is almost as quick, thanks to the magic carpet! Helmets are recommended but not required. Bring your own or rent one at the park for $10. Admission for a regular ticket is $29.
Goodnight Moon | sparkscience.ca
Until December 30 at TELUS Spark
Lovers of this classic kids bedtime tale won’t want to miss TELUS Spark’s newest digital immersion gallery experience that brings Goodnight Moon to life. Back for the holiday season! Regular admission fees apply, and guests are welcome to explore the rest of the galleries at Spark! Kids 3-17 are $19, Students are $22, Seniors are $24 and Adults 18-64 are $26.
ZOOLIGHTS
Until January 7 at Calgary Zoo
I don’t know if there’s a Calgarian out there who hasn’t heard of Calgary Zoo’s iconic ZOOLIGHTS display. Get bundled up and take in the sights and sounds of over 2 million lights and 200 displays on the grounds. In addition, there are fire pits to warm up at and activity zones to explore. This year, experience the best of the Zoo with the Sunlight to ZOOLIGHTS package that gives you access to the zoo starting at 1 pm, and admission to ZOOLIGHTS in the evening!
Which holiday events are you excited to check out in Calgary in December? If we missed any great one on our list, let us know in the comments!
