This is no April Fools’ Day joke: there are plenty of fun things to do in and around Calgary this weekend as we head into the fourth month of 2022.
The forecast is looking pretty nice for most of the weekend, with some sunshine and seasonable temperatures, so it’s the perfect time to come out of hibernation and explore everything the city has to offer right now.
Groove to incredible tunes at BIG Winter Classic, take in some live theatre, book a staycation in the Rockies, visit an immersive display of light and sound at the Banff Gondola, check out an art exhibition and more.
Here are 13 of the best things to do in and around Calgary this weekend.
Cheers at the grand opening of Tailgunner Brewing Co.’s taproom
Tailgunner Brewing Co. taproom (Elle McLean/Daily Hive)
What: Tailgunner makes quality beer for quality people. Head to their brand new taproom in Sunalta starting Friday, April 1, to enjoy delicious beer, drool-worthy eats, and a fun atmosphere.
When: Open starting Friday, April 1
Where: 1602 10th Avenue SW, Calgary
Cost: Varies by purchase
Enjoy some live theatre in Calgary at The Green Line
Courtesy of Downstage & Chromatic Theatre
What: Downstage has partnered with Chromatic Theatre for this co-production of The Green Line, a poetic, heartbreaking story of intergenerational queer history in Lebanon. Audiences can expect a journey that spans space and time, weaving together civil war Beirut with a contemporary nightclub, following one man’s journey to discovering his family’s past. Don’t miss out on this world premiere of The Green Line from March 31 to April 9 at the Big Secret Theatre in Calgary’s Arts Commons.
When: March 31 to April 9
Time: Varies by date
Where: Big Secret Theatre in Arts Commons (205 8th Avenue SE, Calgary)
Cost: $30
Visit David Wilson’s solo exhibition at Gibson Fine Art
Courtesy of Artsbiz Public Relations
What: David Wilson has established himself among the most prestigious artists in Vancouver, and, after three decades and more than 20 solo exhibitions in his adopted hometown, Wilson is thrilled to make his debut at Gibson Fine Art in Calgary this month. Wilson marks his arrival in the city with In From the Cold, a characteristically sensitive collection of new works that marry the artist’s vivid technique with an interior narrative matured over his 30 years of work.
When: April 2 to 21
Time: 11 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Saturday, and by appointment.
Where: Gibson Fine Art (523 Cleveland Crescent SE, Calgary)
Take part in a doggo birthday party at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary
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What: Join the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary on April 2 for its birthday party-themed Wild Enrichment Saturday. Many of the wolfdogs at the sanctuary have birthdays throughout April and May, and, while they all get spoiled on their birthdays, this Saturday, staff are hosting a special birthday party for the Rundle Pack, and everyone is invited! The wolfdogs will get some presents to unwrap, decorations, and lots of birthday treats.
When: April 2
Time: 1 pm
Where: Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary (263156 Range Road 53, Cochrane)
Cost: General admission starts at $25
Be awed by Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition
Elle McLean/Daily Hive
What: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition invites visitors to experience the 34 frescoes of the Vatican ceiling in life-sized, close-up detail right here in Calgary. Guests will be able to see reproductions of works such as The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment, down to each individual colour and brushstroke.
When: March 3 to April 15
Time: Time slots available between 10 am and 7 pm Thursday through Sunday, with the exhibit closing at 8 pm
Where: BMO Centre – Hall F (20 Roundup Way SE, Calgary)
Cost: Available online starting at $16.60
Walk into a parallel universe at Calgary’s science centre
Elle McLean/Daily Hive
What: Fascinated by the idea of parallel universes? If so, you can now take a deeper trip into the world of the subatomic in a new exhibit at Telus Spark Science Centre’s digital immersion gallery. The team at Calgary’s science centre has taken what many would consider to be the hardest science subject – quantum physics – and turned it into a floor-to-ceiling visual adventure that everyone can relate to.
When: Open as of March 1, 2022
Time: Science centre hours (9 am to 4 pm Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm Friday through Sunday)
Where: TELUS Spark Science Centre (220 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary)
Cost: Included with general admission ($26 for adults, $19 for children)
Groove to live music during BIG Winter Classic
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What: BIG Winter Classic is a multi-weekend music and arts festival, celebrating the vibrancy of Calgary outside of just the warm summer months. Taking place in some of the city’s coolest venues, this festival mashes up music, art, local craft beer, and the “best and funnest” Calgarians for an epic time. “Because we’re Calgarians,” reads BIG’s website, “and dancing under patio heaters … actually sounds perfect.”
When: March 31 to April 2 and April 8 to 9
Time: Varies by show
Where: Various venues within The BLOX community (spanning east to west from 2nd and 9th Streets SW and north to south between 10th and 13th Avenues SW)
Cost: $30 for day passes, $139 for multi-weekend passes, and tickets to individual shows available at the door
Watch live theatre during High Performance Rodeo
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What: The spring edition of One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts, gives local audiences the chance to watch touring performances from across Canada, acclaimed international shows, and new and experimental work from artists right here in YYC.
The festival boasts theatre, dance, music, film, free lunchtime concerts, late-night cabarets, and much more, with shows in the basement of the Calgary Tower, at the Royal Canadian Legion, in the city’s +15s, a wrestling ring, an elevator, in City Hall, at the Central Library, and other unique and iconic venues around the city.
When: March 27 to May 28
Time: Varies by performance
Where: Various venues in Calgary, ranging from the Globe Cinema to Contemporary Calgary, The GRAND to Big Secret Theatre, and more
Cost: Ticket prices vary by performance
Go on a cheap movie date at select Cineplex theatres
Cineplex/Shutterstock
What: Looking for budget-friendly entertainment options? Cineplex is featuring select movie screenings for $2.99 this month at several of its Calgary locations. The Cineplex Family Favourites series runs every Saturday at 11 am throughout March and offers the chance to enjoy a good flick at a great price. First up is Ghostbusters: Afterlife on March 12, followed by Tom & Jerry: The Movie on March 19, and Arctic Dogs on March 26. In this case, your popcorn will cost more than the movie ticket!
When: April 2, 9, and 16
Time: 11 am
Where: Varies by date; participating Calgary locations include Cineplex Cinemas Seton and VIP, Cineplex Odeon Crowfoot Crossing Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon Sunridge Spectrum Cinemas, Cineplex Cinemas East Hills, Scotiabank Theatre Chinook, and Cineplex Odeon Westhills Cinemas
Cost: $2.99; tickets available online
Have a “wild” brunch at the Calgary Zoo
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What: Enjoy weekend brunch at the Calgary Zoo. Held in the heart of Destination Africa, the zoo’s Safari Brunch features both gourmet and comfort breakfast foods, including a free-flowing chocolate fountain with fresh fruit, eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon, a Belgian waffle bar, and much, much more.
When: Every Sunday until November 13, 2022
Time: First seating 9 to 10:30 am, second seating 11 am to 12:30 pm, and third seating on select dates from 1 to 2:30 pm
Where: Calgary Zoo (210 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary)
Cost: $44.95 for adults, $27.95 for children
Visit the Otipemisiwak exhibition at Fort Calgary
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What: Fort Calgary launched Otipemisiwak, an exhibition of contemporary visual art, to celebrate Métis Week in November, and it remains on display until June 2022. The exhibit showcases recent works by Daphne Boyer, a visual artist and plant scientist, using a photo-based technique that mirrors spectacular traditional Métis beading.
When: Now until June 26, 2022
Time: Fort Calgary hours (currently 10 am to 5 pm Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays)
Where: Fort Calgary (750 9th Avenue SE, Calgary)
Cost: $10 for general admission to Fort Calgary, or free for youth age 17 and under and Indigenous peoples
Get topsy-turvy at The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience
Sofia Katherine Photography via The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience
What: If you’ve ever dreamed of drinking tea with Alice in Wonderland characters, munching on an “Eat Me” cake, and playing croquet with flamingos, here’s your chance. Create your own liquid concoctions under the watchful eye of the Mad Hatter at The Alice: Immersive Cocktail Experience. Dive through the looking glass and solve riddles and challenges just like Alice to unlock all the ingredients needed to create your enchanted teapot cocktails.
When: January 27 to April 10
Where: SunnyCider (#1 – 3300 14th Avenue NE, Calgary)
Price: $47 per person; available here
Take in the Banff Gondola’s immersive Nightrise exhibit
Elle McLean/Daily Hive
What: Pursuit’s latest experience, Nightrise, combines multimedia, storytelling, and nature at the Banff Gondola for a multi-sensory journey like no other. The event will bring light and sound together to share a new and inspiring perspective in the heart of the Rockies. At Sulphur Mountain’s peak, guests can explore the many levels of the summit building and enjoy Rockies-inspired eats and drinks. Outside on the viewing decks, discover wonders that only emerge as the night begins to rise.
When: On now until April 14
Time: Gondola upload time slots between 5:10 and 8:10 pm
Where: Banff Gondola (100 Mountain Avenue, Banff)
Cost: Starting at $56 for adults and $28 for children (age six to 15)