19 things to do in Calgary this weekend: December 17 and 18
Dec 17 2016, 8:43 am
Yes it’s cold, but no that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do around town to cheer you up. So make the most this week at one of these events happening around Calgary!
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The Funk Hunters Present Funk The Halls
- What: The Funk Hunters are putting the soul back into electronic and dance music in this unique performance, featuring a technical display of creative collaboration between 4 turntables. This DJ duo has successfully played for international audiences at Burning Man, Wakarusa and Shambhala – so they will not disappoint!
- Where: Flames Central – 219 8th Avenue SW
- When: Friday December 16
- Cost: $35, ages 18 and up
Greater Goods Holiday Pop-Up Series
- What: Beginning November 12 Greater Goods, a boutique located in a beautiful heritage building in Bridgeland, will be hosting a series of 9 pop-ups shops each featuring a different local artist each week. From fresh coffee from the Calgary Heritage Roasting Company, to beautiful creative textiles created by ElleBee Tree to handcrafted wooden shelfs in the shape of the mountains nailed together by Needle and Pine, you can find an amazing selection of local handmade goods at each popup event. You can also grab a tea and a treat made by PrettySweet to munch on while you shop!
- Where: Greater Goods – #8, 606 Meredith Road NE
- When: November 12 to December 18
- Cost: Free
Check out the Best Christmas Light Displays in YYC
- What:Want to check out some beautiful light displays, without having to break the bank? Check out the Calgary Christmas Lights Map Marker and drive around the city to holiday music, as you discover the many creative light displays that Calgarians have put up at their homes.
- Where: Calgary and surrounding areas
- Cost: FREE
Go skating outdoors
- What: Now that winter seems to have finally settled in for the long haul, it’s time for the winter activities to commence. Grab a few friends, some hot chocolate and bundle up in your warmest, yet stylish winter attire and go skating on one of Calgary’s many outdoor rinks that are well maintained by either the city or volunteers within the community. Don’t own a pair of skates? Rent a pair at your nearest outdoor center or at specific rinks around the city – see website more for details!
- Where: Various rinks throughout Calgary
- Cost: FREE
Slipper: A Distinctly Calgarian Cinderella Story
- What: A Stampede talent show, a guitar playing teenager and handsome time traveler, could it get any more Calgarian than that? Well, minus the time traveller perhaps – but you get the point. Laugh along to jokes about life in #yyc in this modern day Calgary adaptation of this unique British fairy tale.
- Where: Martha Cohen Theatre – 215 8th Avenue SE
- When: November 22 to December 31
- Cost: $25-$72
Check out WinSport’s Acura Tube Park
- What: Calgary’s only tube park is the largest of its kind in Western Canada and it opens for the season on Saturday, December 17. The park is located on the main hill, which allows tubers to take advantage of the washrooms, eateries, retail store and other amenities located in the Frank King Day Lodge. It features 10 lanes, each of which are 200 metres in length.
- Where: WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park – 88 Canada Olympic Road SW
- When: Opening day – Saturday, December 17
Zoo Lights
- What: This Calgarian holiday tradition continues to live on year after year! Stay warm by dressing in layers and consuming delicious hot chocolate, as you roam through the 200 beautiful light displays, such as the all time favourite, ‘lovers lane’, and other unique light shows set up throughout the Calgary Zoo.
- Where: The Calgary Zoo – 210 St. George’s Drive NE
- When: Now until January 8 nightly from 6 to 9 pm
- Cost: $14.99 Adults, $11.99 Kids
It’s a Wonderful Life
- What: This Christmas classic is celebrating it’s 75 th year of spreading holiday joy on the silver screens! Allow the compassion and kindness that George Bailey embodies and the love he has for his family and the Bedford Falls community, to enter your hearts this Christmas season as you experience this live rendition of this wonderful holiday favourite.
- Where: Pumphouse Theatre – 2140 Pumphouse Avenue SE
- When: Now until to December 17
- Cost: $20-$25
Skate with Santa at Olympic Plaza 2016
- What: Enjoy this free event with hot chocolate on scene by Rosso Coffee Roasters. While there you can enter for a chance to win a life-sized inflatable moose, because who doesn’t need one of these for their porch! Bring your own equipment or rent skates and helmets from the KidSport Skate Shack (limited quantities available).
- Where: 228 8th Avenue SE
- When: Saturday, December 17 from 11am to 3pm
Xmas in Inglewood
- What: Live music, hot drinks, and special offers at local boutiques combine for a fun night out shopping with friends.
- When: December 3, 10, and 17
- Where: Inglewood
- Cost: Free
Visit the Calgary Farmers Market while it’s open 9 days straight
- What: Get to the Calgary Farmers Market and do your holiday shopping before it closes between December 24 and January 4. The market will re-open and resume regular hours on January, 5th 2017.
- When: December 15 to 23
- Where: Calgary Farmers Market – 510 77th Avenue SE
The Nutcracker
- What: Transport into the magical Kingdom of Sweets with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince in this authentic Russian Ballet, proudly performed in collaboration with the Alberta Ballet and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Watch as the stage comes alive in the famous Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the battles they undergo with the mischievous army of life size mice. It’s a holiday performance you won’t want to miss!
- Where: Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium – 1415 14th Avenue NW
- When: December 16 to 24 – Weekdays at 7pm,
Saturday and Sunday at 1pm & 6pm - Cost: Varies
Christmas in Kensington
- What: Enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate and coffee as you roam the streets of Kensington enjoying local holiday shopping, Christmas carolers, horse and wagon rides, selfies with jolly old Saint Nick and more. There is something for everyone in the family to enjoy!
- When: Every Saturday until December 24
- Where: Kensington
- Cost: FREE
Kensington Movie Series
- What: Every Saturday until Christmas enjoy 4 of your favourite Christmas classics up on the silver screen. The best part – it’s FREE! Start the series off with an old time favourite, ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ hang out with Buddy the elf in ‘Elf”, feel all the feels in the romantic drama ‘The Holiday’ and go on an adventure with Kevin McCallister in ‘Home Alone’
- When: Every Saturday between December 3 and December 24
- Where: Plaza Theatre – 1133 Kensington Road NW
- Cost: FREE
A Heritage Christmas
- What: Always wondered why we hang stockings? Or what is so special about trimming the tree? Learn about old-fashioned Christmas traditions and what a classic Christmas on the prairies used to look like at the turn of the century at this exhibition held at the Okotoks Art Gallery, throughout the month of December.
- Where: Okotoks Art Gallery – 53 North Railway Street
- When: Now until December 23
- Cost: FREE
Market Collective Cheer
- What: Local artists create a marketplace selling art, photography, clothing, glasswork, woodwork, and more
- When: December 9 to 11, and 16 to 18 (various times, check website for details)
- Where: Chinese Cultural Centre – 197 1st Street SW
- Cost: Free
The Polar Express Train Ride 2016
- What: Hop aboard the magical Polar Express and head to the North Pole to see Santa! You will receive hot chocolate and cookies on your journey along with caroling and holiday entertainment. Following the protocol in the movie guests are encouraged to wear their PJ’s and each child will receive a sleigh bell from Santa – to those who believe!
- Where: Aspen Crossing – Highway #24 Mossleigh
- When: November 25 until Christmas Eve
- Cost: Economy Seating $57, First Class Seating $65, Coach Class Seating $75, Dome Class Seating $75
A Christmas Carol
- What: Relive this iconic Christmas favourite by Charles Dickens in Theatre Calgary’s 30th anniversary of the production. Laugh, cry and feel the joy as you follow alongside Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Stephen Hair, on his unique journey to discover the holiday spirit and the true meaning of Christmas. Bah humbug!
- Where: Theatre Calgary – 220 9th Avenue SE
- When: Now until December 24
- Cost: $34-$130
Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park
- What: Experience the magic of Christmas past in this enchanting holiday event. Try your luck at gingerbread cookie decorating (worst case you just eat a cookie and a pile of colourful icing), get your photo take in the vintage photo parlour, visit jolly old Saint Nick, take a wagon ride around the park or see a live Christmas Play in the Canmore Opera House – there is something for the whole family to enjoy!
- Where: Heritage Park – 1900 Heritage Drive SW
- When: Weekends from November 19 to December 18
- Cost: General (15+) $10.75, Senior (65+) $8.50, Youth (7-14) $6.75, Children (3-6) $5.50 and 2 under – free
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