7 things to do if you hate the holidays but still love winter

Written for Daily Hive by Kylee Williams

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In Calgary, or maybe more appropriately, Whoville, holiday spirit seems to be growing stronger and stronger by the minute. Not every Calgarian is Christmas- obsessed, though.

So, for anyone who is experiencing some holiday loathing out there, don’t get your stockings in a bunch. We have 7 anti-holiday activities to help you make it through the season.

Oh, and a Bah Humbug to you, too.

Hit the slopes

Just because you aren’t crazy about the holiday season, it doesn’t mean that you can’t take advantage of it. Living in Calgary, we pretty much have the pick of the litter when it comes to choosing a ski resort. Whether you head on over to Sunshine, Lake Louise, Kimberly, Kicking Horse, Fernie, Castle Mountain, Nakiska and many others, you’re guaranteed to have more fun on the slopes than you would have trying to find a parking spot at Chinook mall.

See Slipper: A Distinctly Calgarian Cinderella Story

A good idea for you, if you’re boycotting all things holiday related, might be to see a play that isn’t all about a nutcracker or something else festive. Appropriate for all ages, this fun new show is something that everyone can enjoy.

Where: Martha Cohen Theatre – 215 8th Avenue SE
When: Running until December 31

Go to a movie

Sitting in a dark, quiet theatre with no one to bother you about anything Christmas related, for at least a couple of hours, may be just what you need in order to get away for a while. Not to mention, this time of the year always seems to release some pretty great movies. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Moana, Hacksaw Ridge, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Movie, just to name a few.

See a Flames game

Going out to support and cheer on the Calgary Flames is an important thing to do all year round, but around the holidays it’s simply advantageous. It doesn’t matter whom you bring along, because Flames games are always a guaranteed blast. So, grab a pocket dawg and a dome beer then head on over to your seats and watch our team kick butt.

Donate or volunteer at one of Calgary’s charities

 

If you think the holidays just couldn’t get any worse for you, think about all of the Calgarians who have to survive the season with much less. No matter how you choose to donate your time or money, you really can’t go wrong with giving back during the holidays. Here is a list of places you can donate your time or money this winter.

Spend some time in Banff

Heading out to Banff for a day trip or a weekend getaway with some friends or family could be exactly what you’re looking for. If possible, pick a warmer day and head on out for some fun while experiencing all that Banff has to offer. After taking some photos of the beautiful scenery and eating at one of Banff’s delicious restaurants, hit up the Dancing Sasquatch so you can dance off all of the holiday spirit that’s been forced upon you.

Go tubing at Mount Norquay or here in town

 

If you aren’t exactly interested in the amount of physical activity skiing or snowboarding asks of you, go tubing down the slopes instead! This winter activity is a unique and fun way you can spend some time with friends or family outside of the city. Plus, when you’re heading down the hill at an incredible speed, you should be able to get All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey out of your head once and for all. Or, at least until you’re driving home and inevitably hear it on the radio.

If you can’t really get out of the city but still want to tube down a wicked hill you’re in luck. Head to COP and check out Western Canada’s largest tube park.

See also

• 7 places to snowshoe in and around Calgary this winter