By Sarah Sussman
Christmas is just around the corner! And what better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with a countdown of festive fun in Calgary? Here are a dozen holiday activities to pencil in this month during the 12 days leading up to Christmas. [Photo courtesy of Trudie Lee/Theatre Calgary]
Feeling a little bit like Scrooge? You should probably go see Theatre Calgary’s performance of A Christmas Carol. The live stage performance is an annual tradition for many, bringing life to the classic heartwarming Christmas tale of Scrooge’s redemption. Performances take place Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35 and are available for purchase online.
Time to lighten up! Into its 20th year running, Zoolights sees the Calgary Zoo transform into a magical, illuminated wonderland for the month of December. The event takes place each night from 6 until 9 p.m. as dozens of displays light up the zoo in a Christmas fantasyland. Tickets are $14.95 for adults and $11.95 for children and can be purchased in advance online.
Need a break from the kids? On the second Thursday of every month, the Telus Spark stays open late for its Adults Only Night. This month’s theme is “Greatest Hits” and features lots of puppy snuggles, a life-sized version of Hungry Hungry Hippos and some 18+ advice from the folks over at The Little Shop of Pleasures. Admission starts at $19.95 and is available for purchase online.
If you haven’t seen The Nutcracker ballet yet, you need to put it on your to-do list. Featuring more than 75 dancers from Alberta Ballet and live music from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the performance delves into a festive fantasy world with sugar plum fairies, scheming mice and one brave Nutcracker prince. Pre-purchase your tickets online now because performances sell out fast.
Haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet? Don’t fret. Head to Market Collective from Dec. 15 to 17 to shop the holiday marketplace for cool finds like Matchstick Wax candles, Smithstine Copper jewellery, Glass House Fine Art blown glass and more. This year’s market takes place at the Inglewood Yellow Warehouse and costs $5 admission for the whole weekend. Make a day (or two) of it and get all your shopping done at once.
It’s the most metal time of the year! If you’re looking for a harder-hitting seasonal outing, Springfield heavy metal band All That Remains performs in Calgary Dec. 17 at Marquee Beer Market & Stage. Shake off the holiday stress and sing (or scream) along to all the classics.
Time to hit the theatre! This year, Alberta Theatre Projects presents a heartwarming stage adaptation of the E.B. White classic Charlotte’s Web. Follow along as an unlikely friendship develops between Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider. Tickets start at $26 and are available online.
There’s nothing quite like a good Christmas movie binge, and this year you can take it to the big screen. On Dec. 19, Canyon Meadows Cinemas presents a screening of the classic holiday romance Love Actually. Fair warning: bring a box of tissues, just in case.
One Big JAM is a Calgary music scene staple. The monthly event is quite literally one big jam – it brings artists, musicians and dancers together for an evening of spontaneous collaborative performance. Show up and watch or join in on the action yourself. It all goes down at The Palace Theatre Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online for $20 with half of all event profits donated to The Boys & Girls Clubs of Calgary.
Ever been to a Christmas drag show? How about a Christmas drag show with a full buffet dinner? On Dec. 21, head to The Palomino for a night of festive drag and dining at A Queerly Festive Dinner & Show. Admission is by donation, so the event is accessible to anyone and everyone. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner starts at 6 p.m. and the kings and queens perform at 7 p.m.
You’d better add “solve a murder” to your holiday to-do list. On Dec. 22, Fort Calgary hosts a special edition murder mystery called Have Yourself a Merry Little Murder! Spend an interactive evening super sleuthing to find out who-done-it as you enjoy a festive dinner buffet spread. Reindeer and elf attire and costumes are strongly encouraged. Tickets are $85 and available online.
Have yourself a very vegan Christmas! On Dec. 23, VegFest Calgary teams up with Ceili’s on 8th to host a vegan Christmas dinner and fundraiser for Robin’s Refuse Farm Sanctuary. Dig in to a gut-busting spread of lentil loaf with gravy and cranberry sauce, grilled green beans and broccoli, stuffing, mashed potatoes and apple pie dessert. Tickets cost $35 per person and are available online.
Make your Christmas Eve merry and bright by heading over to Spruce Meadows for one of the most beautiful light displays around. Drop by in the afternoon for family skating until 4 p.m. and stick around afterwards as the sun goes down to marvel at all the lights.
It’s the day you’ve been waiting for all month – Merry Christmas! Spend today kicking back with the family and enjoying some stress-free relaxation. If you don’t feel like cooking today, that's perfectly fine. Let someone else handle dinner and get a takeaway Christmas feast to go. All you have to do is heat it and serve.
Use this guide and visit these 12 events to help kick off your Christmas season! But whatever you do, make sure you do it with those people who are closest to you. Happy Holidays!
