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It’s the first weekend of February, and there are plenty of things to do in Calgary over the next few days to kick off the month of love.
You can create an “enchanted teapot cocktail” at a boozy Alice in Wonderland-themed event, check out 16 augmented reality art and music exhibits in the heart of the city, go skating on the new ice rinks at Southcentre Mall, and much more.
Here are 19 of the best things to do in and around Calgary this weekend.
Get topsy-turvy at The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience
Courtesy of 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
Check out 16 augmented reality art and music exhibits at Northern Reflections
@inglewoodyyc/Instagram
What: Northern Reflections, a mash-up of music, art, and technology, is returning to Calgary for its second year, and it’s expanding. Murals and music combine with an augmented reality app to create a one-of-a-kind art experience in Calgary, with a self-guided tour throughout businesses in Inglewood and East Village.
When: January 28 to February 27
Where: Select businesses in East Village and Inglewood, Calgary
Cost: Free
Go skating on two new ice rinks at Southcentre Mall
Top Deck (Courtesy of Southcentre Mall)
What: Now you can shop till you drop and go skating all in one visit to the mall, with the addition of new ice rinks at Southcentre in Calgary. Top Deck, a community initiative supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area, features two outdoor skating rinks located on the upper level of the parkade at the east end of Southcentre Mall.
The rinks are open for both public and private use, and Calgarians can enjoy leisure skating on one rink or play hockey on the second rink for some true Canadian fun. It’s important to note that all skaters are required to pre-book their visits online.
When: February 3 until the end of the winter season
Time: Public skating Thursdays and Fridays from 3 to 7 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 7 pm. Private bookings are available Monday through Wednesday from 8 am to 8 pm
Where: Upper level of the parkade at the east end of Southcentre Mall, next to Decathlon (100 Anderson Road SE, Calgary)
Cost: Public skate for a minimum $2 donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area, or $100 for a private group booking
Take in the University of Calgary’s virtual Black History Month events
University of Calgary (events.ucalgary.ca)
What: Celebrate and learn during Black History Month with five events through the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Arts. These free, online talks span anti-Black racism to Black excellence and offer an opportunity to hear from a number of thoughtful speakers.
When: Select dates from February 2 to March 3
Time: Varies by event
Where: Online here
Cost: Free
Celebrate Lunar New Year in Calgary Chinatown
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What: Calgary Chinatown is running two weeks of programming for the Lunar New Year, with life-sized ice sculptures inspired by tigers and other majestic creatures at five locations throughout the community, discounts at select businesses and the chance to win prizes, and a lion dance on February 6. The lion dance will run from 11:30 am to 1 pm on Sunday, starting outside the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre and finishing at Dragon City Mall.
When: January 31 to February 15
Time: Varies by programming
Where: Calgary Chinatown
Cost: Varies by programming
Warm-up your winter with Chinook Blast
Sonic Illumination (Chinook Blast)
What: Chinook Blast returns for its second year, celebrating winter in the heart of the city with the best of Calgary’s art, music, theatre, sport, and recreation scene on display. Chinook Blast 2022’s anchoring events include the Block Heater music festival, Glow Festival, an awe-inspiring winter festival with lights and more, and the Ethnik Festival of Arts & Culture, in addition to free public programming at the Chinook Blast Hub, centrally located around Calgary Downtown’s Olympic Plaza.
When: February 4 to 27
Time: Varies by programming
Where: In and around downtown Calgary, with the Chinook Blast Hub centrally located around Olympic Plaza (228 8th Avenue SE, Calgary)
Cost: FREE public programming at the Chinook Blast Hub; other costs vary by event
Sip delicious cocoa for a good cause during YYC Hot Chocolate Fest
@cravingsyyc/Instagram
What: YYC Hot Chocolate Fest is officially back for another celebration of all things sugary sweet, during which participating cafes, restaurants, and chocolatiers will compete to be crowned YYC’s Best Hot Chocolate. A portion from every cup sold during YYC Hot Chocolate Fest supports Calgary Meals on Wheels.
When: February 1 to 28
Where: Participating locations across Calgary
Cost: Varies by location
Watch the adorable Penguin Walk at the Calgary Zoo
King Penguin Walk/Calgary Zoo
What: Head to the Calgary Zoo throughout the winter months and watch the king penguin colony as they waddle their way through the zoo, starting at 10 am daily (weather dependent). The Penguin Walk is an extremely rare chance to observe these adorable animals in a new way and for the penguins to exercise their brains and bodies during the winter months.
When: Beginning January 11 and through the winter months
Time: Daily at 10:30 am (weather permitting – cancellation updates will be posted to the zoo’s website and social media channels)
Where: Walk begins at the Penguin Plunge habitat at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo (210 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary)
Cost: Included with general admission ($29.95 for adults and $19.95 for children age three to 15)
Listen to Natural Twenty perform at the King Eddy
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What: Catch neo-funk band Natural Twenty on the legendary King Eddy stage this Saturday night. The diverse, six-piece band is made up of a vocalist, guitarist, drummer, bassist, keyboardist, and trombonist performing original, dance-y soul, funk, R&B, and jazz music with a modern, urban sound.
When: February 5
Time: 8:30 pm
Where: The King Eddy (438 9th Avenue SE, Calgary)
Cost: $20
Join a Calgary mall for its Lunar New Year celebration
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What: Head to Marlborough Mall this Saturday for a Lunar New Year celebration, with entertainment provided by GlobalFest. There will be lion dancers, music and dance performances, and a Wushu Chinese Martial Arts demonstration to bring in the Year of the Tiger.
When: February 5
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Where: Marlborough Mall food court (433 Marlborough Way NE, Calgary)
Cost: Free
Enjoy all things cheesy during La Poutine Week
Courtesy of La Poutine Week
What: La Poutine Week – the annual celebration of all things fries, cheese, and gravy – will take place from February 1 to 14 this year. There are more than 30 delicious dishes featured at restaurants across Calgary during the foodie festival, with Spicy Beef Vindaloo Poutine, The Mac Daddy, and Collosal Chorizo listed as just a few of the offerings. In 2022, money raised from the event will help support charities across Canada such as the ANEB, United Way, Moisson Quebec, and more.
When: February 1 to 14
Where: Various locations across Calgary
Cost: Varies by restaurant
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
Get cozy at the East Village Hygge Hut
@eastvillageyyc/Instagram
What: East Village is bringing snuggly vibes to Calgary with the return of its popular Hygge Hut this winter. The Scandinavian-style seasonal pop-up is open in a new location this year, and it’s bigger and better than ever. Visitors will find the Hygge Hut in C-Square, at 4th Street and 7th Avenue SE, with fire pits to warm up by, food trucks, live music, ice sculptures, and games, along with a jam-packed schedule of more community programming.
When: Open January 7 through March 2022 (weather dependent)
Time: Fires lit on Fridays from 2 to 6 pm and Saturdays, Sundays, and stat holidays from noon to 6 pm. A complete list of community programming can be found here.
Where: C-Square in East Village (4th Street and 7th Avenue SE, Calgary)
Cost: FREE community programming
Learn about the daring world of heroes in emergencies at the Telus Spark Science Centre
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What: Telus Spark’s newest exhibit, RESCUE, allows guests to experience the thrill of emergency scenarios in the safety of the science centre and get inside the world of the heroes who respond to these situations. Test your rescue instincts in 17 different interactive scenarios, including taking control of a full-size helicopter simulator, navigating a jet ski around obstacles, and finding your way through a smoke-filled room.
When: Exhibit runs from January 12 to May 15
Time: Science centre hours (currently 9 am to 4 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 9 am to 5 pm Friday through Sunday)
Where: Telus Spark Science Centre (220 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary)
Cost: RESCUE is included with general admission ($26 for adults and $19 for children aged three to 17)
Catch some speed at WinSport’s Tube Park
Tubing at WinSport (winsport.ca)
What: If skiing and snowboarding aren’t your things, try a different way of flying down the hill this season with the tube park at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park. The Servus Tube Park boasts eight lanes, a dedicated magic carpet, and the option for sliders to link together and go down at the same time.
When: Saturdays, Sundays, and select Fridays through the winter season (weather dependent)
Time: 4 to 8:30 pm on select Fridays, 10 am to 5:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Where: WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park (88 Canada Olympic Road SW, Calgary)
Cost: $20 for morning sessions and $25 for afternoon sessions on weekends, $15 for Friday evenings
Meet someone new at 17th Ave’s massive “Get Off The Apps And Onto The Ave” singles event
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What: If you’re tired of swiping right, swiping left, going on first dates that never lead to a second, getting ghosted, and spending countless hours online trying to find that special someone, then Calgary’s biggest singles event is for you. The Get off the Apps And Onto the Ave campaign starts on January 7 and runs until February 28, with a huge calendar of events designed to help singles meet other singles, all hosted in various venues along the 17th Ave Retail & Entertainment District.
When: January 7 to February 28
Time: Varies by event
Where: Various businesses along 17th Avenue SW, Calgary
Cost: Varies by event
Take in the Banff Gondola’s immersive Nightrise exhibit
Pursuit (banffjaspercollection.com)
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 March 12
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)
Enjoy Stage West’s The Soul of Motown
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What: Groove to Stage West’s tribute to Motown — members of the Soul Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Nibble on a delicious meal while you take in the sounds of one of the most iconic bands from the 1960s and 70s.
When: On until February 6
Time: Varies by date; see schedule for showtimes
Where: Stage West Theatre Restaurant Calgary (727 42nd Avenue SE, Calgary)
Cost: Tickets available from $78.75
Check out the Otipemisiwak exhibit at Fort Calgary
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What: Fort Calgary launched Otipemisiwak, an exhibition of contemporary visual art, to celebrate Métis Week in November that will remain 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: From now through June
Time: Fort Calgary hours (currently 10 am to 5 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays)
Where: Fort Calgary (750 9th Avenue SE, Calgary)
Cost: $10 for general admission
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