It is a long weekend and there are so many great things to do in Calgary with some festivals and events happening across the city.
Plus, learn about the history of a staple downtown and enjoy the outdoors (if the weather allows).
As always with a long weekend, some things around the city may be closed so make sure you stay up to date.
Here are 15 things to do this weekend in Calgary.
Enjoy your Family Day at the Military Museums
The Military Museums
Bring the family to The Military Museums’ annual Family Day. Enjoy a fun-filled day of activities and meet the amazing author Janet Love Morrison, who will be reading from her new book, The Hawk and the Hare. You can also enjoy artifacts handling, weapons display, kids’ crafts, scavenger hunt, KIM’s game, face painting, book reading and signing, gallery tour, and a whole lot more. Family Day tickets can be purchased upon arrival at the Museum or online.
When: February 20
Time: 9 am to 5 pm
Where: The Military Museums (4520 Crowchild Trail SW)
Tickets/Admissions: $5-$30
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Learn about the history of Chinatown in Calgary
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What: A new exhibit at Heritage Park will examine the long history of Calgary’s Chinatown. We Were Here is an exploration of the three iterations of Chinatown in Calgary and the stories of the people who lived there, through creative writing, illustrations, audio, and historical photographs. The exhibit features five stories written by members of Calgary’s Chinese community, which are fictionalized accounts of events that occurred in early Chinatown. It’s an exhibit of art and imagination that celebrates Chinese culture in the Prairies.
When: Until April 30
Time: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Heritage Park
Tickets: Included in your Gasolina Alley Admission ($14.95)
Enjoy a warm drink with YYC Hot Chocolate Festival 2023
Liliya Kandrashevich/Shutterstock
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 of every cup sold during YYC Hot Chocolate Fest supports Calgary Meals on Wheels.
When: February 1 to 28
Where: Participating locations across Calgary
Hit up an outdoor rink for a skate
North Glenmore Park ice trail (Elle McLean/Daily Hive)
What: It’s ODR (outdoor rink) season! Lace up your skates, pack a thermos of hot cocoa, and get ready to glide around the ice on these outdoor rinks in Calgary. Take part in a classic Canadian activity this season and get some fresh air and exercise while you’re at it. There are a number of City of Calgary, volunteer-run, and community rinks across the city where you can get your skate on over the winter months.
Where: Various locations across the city
Cost: Free
Commemorate Black History Month at the Military Museums
Military Museums
What: February is Black History Month. Join The Military Museums to commemorate Black Canadians and their contributions to the Canadian military. A presentation of stories and artifacts will tell the tales of these brave men and women, including the struggles of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. The exhibit will also tell the stories of today’s serving soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces. Hosted by TMM volunteers, Indra Teekasingh and Allan Ross, the exhibit will be in the museum atrium and run all month.
When: Until February 28
Where: The Military Museums — 4520 Crowchild Trail SW
Cost: FREE
Have a classy weekend with Winefest Calgary
TnkImages/Shutterstock
One ticket to this premier event includes an all-inclusive sampling of wines from around the world, a ton of hors d’oeuvres, and even a take-home wine glass to remember your time here (in case it gets a bit blurry).
When: February 17 to 18, 2023
Where: BMO Centre – Stampede Park — 20 Roundup Way SE, Calgary
Price: Starting at $115
Head out to a hill for some tobogganing
Global Village Calgary / Facebook
What: Tobogganing is a quintessential winter activity in Canada, and it’s the perfect budget-friendly way to get an adrenaline rush, enjoy some fresh air, and even get in a workout walking back up the hill after you go gliding down.
Where: Various locations across the city
Rock out at the National Music Centre
National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique/Facebook
What: The National Music Centre will be opening Studio Bell with free admission on February 20 for a special Family Day event with The Polyjesters, a band of prairie pirates who play swing music of all flavours. In addition to the swinging tunes, visitors can also expect in-gallery activations for all ages. Whether exploring vibration and volume through a hands-on Instrument Petting Zoo, catching a Kimball Theatre Organ demo, or discovering the new Showcase: Guitars exhibition, families have tons to enjoy, together.
When: February 20
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: National Music Centre (300-851 4th Street SE)
Price: Free
Go inside the game with Hockey: Faster Than Ever at Telus Spark
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What: There is a reason that hockey is known as one of the fastest games on Earth, and it is coming in fast for the ultimate power play at Telus Spark Science Centre. It is time to lace up some skates and learn about the technology, anatomy, and physics that go into this Canadian classic. Visitors will get to experience hockey like never before including learning about the origins and culture of the game, learning the rules of the game, jumping on the rink replica in The Science Lab, and seeing real game-used gear from hockey’s biggest stars.
When: From now until March 12
Where: Telus Spark — 220 St. George’s Drive NE
Tickets: General admission $26
Go tubing down the hills at Winsport
Winsport
What: If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, try a different way of flying down the hill this season with the tube park at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park. Located 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 — weather permitting, of course, because safety first!
When: Saturdays, Sundays, and select Fridays through the winter season
Time: Two-hour time slots are available at 10 am, 12:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 4 pm, and 6:30 pm on select Fridays
Where: WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park — 88 Canada Olympic Road SW, Calgary
Tickets: Available now; tickets cost $20 for morning tubing and $25 for afternoons on weekends, $25 throughout the holiday season, and $16 on select Friday evenings
Take part in an interesting discussion at The F Word
Mike Tan
What: Society tells us to deflect, avoid and distance ourselves from FAT. These showrunners are in the midst of a revolution to unearth the deeply ingrained shame, blame, and fear associated with fatness. Fairytales, lectures, dance, and songs are infused with wild whimsy in The F Word as Cheesman and Miranda confront fatphobia, diet culture, and more in this performance.
When: February 9 to 19
Time: 7:30 pm (Matinees at 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays)
Where: 205 – 8th Avenue SE (ATP’s Martha Cohen Theatre in Arts Commons.)
Tickets: Start at $42
Rock the house with the Beltline Bonspiel
Beltline YYC
What: Now in its sixth year, The Beltline Bonspiel ignites the Beltline community to come together at the beautiful Lougheed House. Curling teams will go head to head to try to win the 108-year-old Brewery Trophy founded by the Calgary Brewing & Malting Company around a classic outdoor winter curling bonspiel. There will be plenty of food and drink to enjoy along with a ton of live music.
When: February 19
Time: 12 pm to 5 pm
Where: Lougheed House (707 13th avenue SW)
Try cross-country skiing around the city
East Village Nordic Loop (Courtesy of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation)
What: Whether you’re a novice looking to pick up a new winter sport or are an expert at this Nordic activity, there’s bound to be a perfect trail for you in YYC. Step into your bindings, pick up those poles, and get ready to glide across the snow this season. And be sure to dress in layers, because even if it’s chilly outside, you’re likely to warm up fast once you start skiing!
Where: Various locations across the city
Get your tickets to Magyar Gala
Magyar Ball
What: In 1956, after WWII, a wave of Hungarians immigrated to Canada to start a new life. In an effort to keep ties with their homeland and cultural traditions, a group of former soldiers established the Calgary Chapter of the Hungarian Veterans’ Association, organizing their first dinner in 1956. Since then, that small dinner has transformed into a grand, formal, and celebrated yearly event featuring Hungarian traditions, dances, and one of the most unique cultural experiences Calgary has to offer. Tickets must be pre-purchased by February 27.
When: March 11, 2023
Time: 5 pm Doors open at 4:30 pm
Where: Grand Ballroom at the Westin Downtown Calgary (320 4th Avenue SW)
Tickets/Admissions: Admission is $175 and must be pre-purchased before February 27, 2023. Tickets can be ordered through the website with varying payment methods available. No physical or electronic tickets are issued, guests must check in at reception to receive their table numbers.
Test your skills at Potion Putt
Courtesy of Potion Putt/Explore Hidden
What: This boozy experience offers the chance to have some golf fun even in the winter months. This is from the same team that has brought similar pop-up adventures to Calgary, like the Alice Cocktail Experience and the Peter Pan Neverland experience. This “crazy golf course” is inspired by a certain famous wizard who can’t be named for copyright reasons. There will be nine holes to play as you come across bubbling cauldrons filled with tasty potions that may even help you cast a few spells to help you complete some of the mystical tee-off challenges.
When: Until May 31, 2023
Where: Springbank Links Golf Club – 125 Hackamore Trail, Calgary
Price: $15 per person; buy here