Written for Daily Hive by Dania Gravelle
Christmas truly is the best time of the year. Lights are twinkling, people are singing, and everyone has a serious case of the feel-goods.
Between hot-chocolate, gift-wrapping, and purchasing presents, things can get a little expensive. Here are some things you can do for free around Calgary during Christmastime.
Christmas Lights at Spruce Meadows
Head out to Spruce meadows to see a quarter of a million lights. Drive through the 2 km stretch and experience the magic. Pack a thermos and enjoy hot chocolate on the way- or stop for hot chocolate at Founders Plaza.
When: December 10 to January 8 (Excluding December 25)
Address: 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW
Lace up your skates
Dean Drobot/Shutterstock
Grab a pair of skates, put on your warm clothes and hit one of the many outdoor rinks in Calgary for a great afternoon (or evening) You can head to a community rink, or to the ever famous Olympic Plaza which has lights, and numerous vendors close by so you can grab something warm when you are done!
Click here for a list of city rinks that are open.
Sledding
Embrace your inner-kid again and grab a crazy carpet. There’s nothing like hurtling down a hill that’s covered in snow to get the adrenaline going. Luckily, The city has a number of City-Maintained hills to choose from. Just remember to be safe!
Volunteer at the food bank
There is nothing better than doing something that makes you feel good with someone who makes you feel good. Grab your date and suggest volunteering that Calgary Food Bank. It’s a great way to give back, while saving money- and its pretty fun too!
Build a Snowman
Nothing gets you more into the Christmas spirit like building a snowman. Dress warm, grab some supplies and see who can build the best one! Maybe it will even turn into a snowball fight (which is equally as fun!)
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
The Canadian Pacific Holiday train is rolling through cities across Canada as we speak. Bring a food donation and watch Dallas Smith perform while the train rolls through Calgary on December 10.
Where: Anderson C-Train Station – South C-train parking lot
When: Saturday, December 10, 2016, arriving at 6:45 pm
Christmas in Kensington Movie Series
Image: Elf / Facebook
What: Head down to the Christmas in Kensington Market to celebrate this magical time of year! Every Saturday is a free Christmas movie at the Plaza Theatre, and Sundays there are Santa Selfies from 1:00- 3:00 p.m. It doesn’t get more Christmassy then that!
When: Doors open at 3pm and movie starts at 3:30 pm
- Saturday, December. 3 – Miracle on 34th Street (1947) (This film is by donation to the Calgary Poppy Fund and Veterans Food Bank)
- Saturday, December 10 – Elf (Presented by our generous sponsor, Servus Credit Union)
- Saturday, December 17 – The Holiday (2006)
- Saturday, December 24 – Home Alone
Check out Lake Louise
There’s something romantic about the mountains, and going skating in the mountains is no different. Grab that special someone and head up to Lake Louise to enjoy the fresh mountain air.
Make sure you go early in order to get a parking spot, as it gets extremely busy.
Walk around Banff
Nothing says Romance and Christmas quite like Banff. Only an hour and a half from Calgary (depending on your driving habits) there is a ton to see here- for free!
Spend the day poking around town, taking in local wildlife, and just exploring. There are tons of local coffee shops to choose from as well!
Have a Christmas Movie Marathon
Get in true Christmas Spirit and cuddle up for some intense Christmas-movie-watching. Grab a big cuddly blanket, someone who you enjoy and get ready for a day of doing nothing. Netflix has their “Holiday Selection out” however there are a ton of Christmas movies on every channel right now- you can also watch the ever famous Holiday Log!
Do some Christmas Baking
Baking Christmas cookies/Shutterstock
While baking isn’t technically “Free” You would be surprised at how much you can cook with your kitchen staples!
Find someone you like, a recipe that sounds good, and get to work at the oven! Afterward you can decorate the cookies and even better- eat them together!
Follow Channels and Categories