Out & About

This winter

Lights, markets and festivals for when it's cold.

• Nov 11 to 15Grey Cup Festival Stampede Park, then McMahon StadiumCalgary hosts the 113th Grey Cup. Four days of free festival programming at Stampede Park, then the game on Sunday, Nov 15.
• Nov 12 to Jan 3In Search of Christmas Spirit Cascade of Time Garden, BanffA lit-up walk through the Banff gardens. Free, but reserve tickets ahead. Make a day of it in the mountains.
• Nov 13 to Jan 3ZOOLIGHTS Wilder Institute/Calgary ZooThe 30th anniversary, with more than a million lights, walk-through gingerbread houses, a bamboo light trail, fire pits and free axe throwing. Book ahead for the best price.
• Nov 21 to Jan 8Lions Festival of Lights Confederation Park, 14 St NWThe free classic. Drive by or walk the park with a hot chocolate.
• Late Nov to Dec 24Calgary Winter Market Eau Claire PlazaNew this year: a European-style holiday market with 40+ wooden huts of gifts and handmade goods, holiday drinks and fire pits. Every day from Dec 15 to Christmas Eve.
• Dec 12 to 23Enchanted Festival Spruce MeadowsChristmas lights at Spruce Meadows, including an indoor light maze. A good one with kids.
• Late Jan to FebChinook Blast Eau Claire Plaza and downtownThe city's big winter festival: light installations, live music and outdoor fun. 2027 dates to come.
• FebruaryYYC Hot Chocolate Fest Cafés across the cityA month of over-the-top hot chocolates, with proceeds to Calgary Meals on Wheels. Make a list and work through it.
• FebruaryBlock Heater Venues across the cityCalgary Folk Fest's winter music festival. Small rooms, great songwriters.

Workshops and date nights

Make something with your hands, or just meet some cats. These run all year, so book whenever the mood strikes.

• Ceramics and glassWorkshop Studios 2501 Alyth Rd SEA standout date night: two hours on the pottery wheel or fusing glass, with a live DJ and a glass of wine. They also run multi-week ceramics and glass courses. Date nights sell out, so book early.
• CeramicsBao Bao Studio ★ New 4620 Bowness Rd NW, MontgomeryA cozy new pottery studio from ceramicist Jordan Chow, of the dumpling-shaped Bao Bao Pottery. Beginner workshops make handbuilt mugs, berry bowls or a matcha bowl and whisk. Workshops sell out, so book ahead.
• Paint your own potteryColor Me Mine Uptown 1504 11 St SWPick a piece and paint it, with a café next door. Ask about the date night package with drinks and a charcuterie board.
• Paint your own potteryColour Café Kensington 1414 Kensington Rd NWPaint pottery or try glass fusing with a latte, open late most nights. Watch for their painting-with-kittens sessions.
• JewelleryMeirako 1907 34 Ave SW, Marda LoopMake your own ring in an hour or two: stamping, bezel setting or silver clay. Cozy, fun and great for a group.
• Mosaic lampsMosaic Art Studio 809 Manning Rd NE #201Build your own Turkish mosaic lamp in a studio that feels like Aladdin's cave, with Turkish tea and Turkish delight. Open Friday to Sunday.
• WatercolourIN ART Studio 601 10 Ave SWBeginner-friendly watercolour workshops with everything provided, snacks included. Single nights or multi-week courses.
• GlassblowingFascapple Glass 7865 56 St SE #104Blow your own glass with a pro beside you. The Barware Edition is the date night: you each make a shot glass, a rocks glass, a pint glass and a wine glass to take home.
• Glass fusingPassion for Glass 1534 17 Ave SWA small studio on 17th with coral bowl, glass fusing and jewellery classes. Great with your mom or a friend.
• CandlesMilk Jar Candle Co. 1450 28 St NE #7Blend your own scent and pour your own candle in a beautiful space. Bring a bottle of wine. A go-to for girls' nights and bachelorettes.
• Rug tuftingTuft Love Studios 4029 8 St SE #106Tuft your own rug in about three hours. Your design is set up when you arrive, so you go straight to picking colours. Open Thursday to Sunday.
• Knife forgingBlack Cat Metal 2525B 16 St SEForge a real knife from raw steel, start to finish. Try the intro class, or the two-day chef's knife course for the serious cook in your life.
• CookingSavorra Culinary Academy 227 10 St NW #103, HillhurstThemed cooking nights like A Night in Italy and Thai Classics, with a three-course dinner at the end. An easy date night.
• Knitting and embroiderySTASH Needle Art Lounge 1237 9 Ave SE, InglewoodBeautiful yarn and friendly classes in knitting, crochet and embroidery. A cozy winter hobby.
• CatsRegal Cat Café 303 10 St NW, SunnysideCoffee, then a half-hour session with rescue cats, all adoptable through the MEOW Foundation. Book ahead, and don't be surprised if you leave with one.

Shows worth circling

The smaller rooms and the good theatres, not the arena. Dates as announced, so check tickets before you plan dinner around them.

This fall

• Thu Nov 5Begonia Commonwealth Bar & StageWinnipeg soul-pop with a huge voice, up close.
• Fri Nov 6Allison Russell Grey Eagle Event CentreSoulful roots and a voice that fills the room.
• Fri Nov 6Gorgon City The Palace TheatreThe UK house duo. Wear shoes you can dance in.
• Tue Nov 10Wolf Parade The Palace TheatreMontreal indie rock royalty, back on tour.
• Nov 12 & 13Boy Golden Modern LoveTwo nights of laid-back Manitoba country soul in a small room.
• Thu Nov 12The Darcys Commonwealth Bar & StageMoody, polished Canadian indie.
• Sat Nov 14The Bros. Landreth Bella Concert HallBrotherly harmonies in one of the best-sounding halls in the city.

Holiday

• Sat Dec 5Funk The Halls with The Funk Hunters The Palace TheatreThe 11th annual holiday dance party. Better than any office party.
• Sun Dec 13Choir! Choir! Choir! The Palace TheatreA giant holiday sing-along. Bring friends and your best voice.

Winter and spring

• Sat Feb 13Mariel Buckley Bella Concert HallCalgary-raised alt-country, a perfect Valentine's weekend date.
• Sat Feb 20Valley The Palace TheatreBright, catchy Toronto indie pop.
• Feb 24 & 25Donovan Woods National Music CentreWry, tender songwriting in Studio Bell.
• Wed Mar 24Death From Above 1979 The Palace TheatreLoud, sweaty and a lot of fun.
• Fri Mar 26The Mary Wallopers The Palace TheatreRowdy Irish folk. Expect a singalong.

Summer 2027 at Spruce Meadows

The Live and Intimate series moves big names into the Equi-Plex for a few thousand people. Tickets are on sale now through Spruce Meadows, and several shows are 18+.

• Jun 11Brothers Osborne Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex
• Jun 12Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex
• Jun 18KALEO Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex
• Jun 19The War on Drugs Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex
• Jul 2Death Cab for Cutie Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex
• Jul 3Shakey Graves Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex
• Jul 9Arkells Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex