12 Things to do in Calgary this Weekend with Kids - December 15 - 17, 2023
Here are the best things to do in Calgary this weekend with Kids
Friday
Visit Storytime with Santa
Visit the Winter Wonderland at Trico Centre! Santa will read everyone a story and there will be an opportunity for parents to make a craft with their children. The photo booth will be open for photos as well.
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Find FREE Holiday Lights Displays
This weekend, use this guide to find free holiday lights displays in Calgary and plan the best weekend ever to get outside for a walk, a drive in the car, or a visit with friends. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and find the best Christmas lights in Calgary.
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City Hall Christmas Event
Join the fun Friday, December 15th at 6:30pm for a Christmas Service inside the Municipal Building with live sing-along Christmas music from local artists, a Christmas message of hope, and free hot beverages and snacks! Bring your friends and family! Parking is free on the streets in designated parking areas after 6 pm, and the Civic parkade will also be open. The Calgary c-train stops right at City Hall, which will be just steps away from the event.
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Get a Free Photo with the Grinch at the CORE
Snap a photo with the Grinch at the Simons Truck on Friday, December 8th and Friday, December 15th. Photos can be taken on your phone for easy sharing with family and friends. Share your photo to Instagram with the hashtag #FindYourselfDowntown to have your photo printed out on the spot courtesy of Fotohub!
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Saturday
There’s a Christmas Party at New Horizon Mall
Join New Horizon Mall for the annual Children’s Holiday Party. Free goodie bags, crafts table and face painting. Special appearances from Christmas Mickey and Minnie and free photos with Santa.
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Get Soaked in the Pool at Trico Super Soaker Swim
Bring your super soaker and join in on the fun every Saturday night at Trico Centre! Regular admission prices apply, as always members are free! If you are in need of a Super Soaker have no fear! Trico Centre does have a few that we can lend, just please ensure they are returned at the end of the swim time! While you’re there, drop off your entry for the colouring contest (you can find the entry, here).
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Watch at $2.99 Movie at Family Favourites
Every Saturday, watch a $2.99 movie on the big screen with the kids during Cineplex Family Favourites. It’s an inexpensive way to catch a movie - and during the holidays you’ll find your favourites up on the big screen. This weekend, watch The Grinch!
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The Nutcracker, in a Nutshell
This holiday favourite returns to the YMCA in 2023. Nutcracker in a Nutshell takes children through the classic ballet The Nutcracker in just 30 minutes. Set to Tchaikovsky's music, The Nutcracker Prince, Rat King, Snow Queen, Sugar Plum and all her friends make an appearance. There is holiday craft-making half an hour before the show, and a ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ interactive character dance and creativity workshop with the kids after the show. This one is best for ages up to six, and tickets start at $15.
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Experience Whimsy on Stage with Calgary’s Young People Theatre
Once upon a time there was a world where joy grew on trees, bats slept right-side-up, and dreams floated down the stream next to the schools of sea stars. But when a Wandering Wizard and his Whimsical Hat cross paths with the Wild and Willowy Witch of the Woods, something on the breeze shifts. Power and Whimsy must come face to face, and the world will be forever changed. And through the disparate stories of this Witch, Wizard, Hat and Yours Truly (the Narrator), the air itself seems to beg the question: What Happens If Magic Separates You?
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Sunday
Christmas Whobilation Kids’ Party
The festivities include a range of activities suitable for all ages such as cookie decorating, live entertainment, a sumptuous kids-approved menu served buffet-style, the mischievous Grinch spreading his unique kind of holiday cheer, and a visit from the one and only Santa Claus.
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Get Outside for Christmas Birding at St. Patrick Island
Join Nature Calgary for a bird walk on St. Patrick's Island on December 17, 2023 and observe the fascinating variety of birds found in their natural habitat. The fall and winter is an excellent time to start birding, with no leaves on the trees it's easier than ever to see the birds! You may have the opportunity to see Bald Eagles, Bohemian Waxwings, Buffleheads, Woodpeckers, and Canada Geese! We'll also be on the lookout for other signs of wildlife on the island. We'll look for tracks, old nests, and maybe even spot one of the mink that frequent the Island in the winter!
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Aspen Landing Holiday Cheer Event
Join the annual Christmas Event at Aspen Landing! Bring the whole family to see Santa and get a ride in the sleigh! December 17th, with the fun starting at noon. It’s a fun, free, way to get out and experience the magic of the holidays this weekend.
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