December can be a stressful month for many, but I enjoy the magic and wonder of the season, along with many free outdoor events that raise spirit and hope.
And while the holidays can get expensive, they certainly don’t have to when it comes to family bonding and fun. Check out my ten suggestions below for affordable ways to celebrate the holidays this year, and add a few to your family’s calendar.
1. Support the Calgary Food Bank by attending the CPKC annual Holiday Train event. The Holiday Train arrives at the Anderson Station on December 12 at 7pm. Bring a donation for the food bank and be entertained by a free 30-minute concert by the Barenaked Ladies.
You can also see the Holiday Train roll through Airdrie on December 9 or in Okotoks on December 13. Note that there will be different performers in Airdrie and food bank donations support each community.
2. Visit Confederation Park and walk through the Lions Festival of Lights. The free event takes place at the Confederation Park Golf Course along 14 Street NW, North of 24 Avenue. The event runs nightly from 5pm until midnight, until early January. There is also a sledding hill in the park if you want to bring sleds for the kids. Make sure to wear your helmet.
3. Attend the Airdrie Santa Claus Parade. The parade starts on Main Street at 5pm on December 6. Afterwards, head over to the Festival of Lights (see below) or make an appointment to get your free photo taken with Santa at Bass Pro Shops in Cross Iron Mills Mall. Bookings can be made on the mall website. You may want to start at the mall, finishing up at the parade.
4. Take your family to the Airdrie Festival of Lights. This is Western Canada's largest, free, outdoor walk-through Christmas light display, held in Nose Creek Park. Donations are encouraged. The event runs nightly through December from 6 to 9pm, including holidays. While in the park, you can take a ride through the lights on a miniature train (tickets are $3 per ride) and there are visits with Santa on select evenings.
5. Head south for the High River Winter Market and Santa Claus Parade. The parade is held on December 5 at 6:30pm in the downtown area. While you’re in town, take a walk through George Lane Park to see the Christmas lights. There will also be family entertainment and an outdoor pop-up skating rink. Come early for the High River Winter Market which runs from 2 to 9pm in the Highwood Memorial Centre. Entry is $5. Seniors and children under 16 are free.
6. Celebrate the Spirit of Christmas in Bragg Creek. The free “Spirit of Christmas” event takes place on December 6 in Bragg Creek alongside the annual town Christmas market. During the event, there are free horse-drawn carriage rides, and families can expect to enjoy music, crafts, cookie decorating, and photos with Santa.
7. Visit the Granary Road Christmas market. This is one of the few markets with free entry Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm until December 14. Additional activities at a cost include photos with Santa, Alpaca Christmas photos, tractor rides, goat yoga, and holiday brunch.
Alternatively, the Saskatoon Farm Christmas Market runs from December 5 to 7, featuring over 300 indoor vendors, hot and fresh food, local performers, and holiday activities. Entry for this market is $10 plus GST, but kids five and under are free.
8. Search for Christmas Spirit in Banff. The Canada Strong Pass has been extended for the holiday season, allowing families to visit Banff without paying to enter the park. Take advantage of this by taking the kids to the “In Search of Christmas Spirit” event, which runs nightly at the Cascade of Time Garden in the Town of Banff. Free tickets must be reserved online from the Banff Lake Louise Tourism website. Once inside the park, follow a beautiful trail of illuminated sculptures and lights, where you’ll witness a live Christmas story told by the animals of Banff National Park.
9. Gather some friends for an outdoor skating party. Calgary has outdoor ponds and rinks all over the city with a couple of fun iceways, including Bowness Park and North Glenmore Park that are both lit up at night for a festive feeling. Several parks also have fire pits so you can roast hot dogs and marshmallows. Visit the City website for opening dates and locations. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are both popular times for families and friends to gather at large parks like Bowness or Carburn Park.
10. Get together with friends to decorate gingerbread houses and exchange cookies. Bake cookies ahead of time and then gather with another family or two to decorate gingerbread houses that you can either make or buy from a kit. Order pizza and watch a Christmas movie to extend the day. Then, send everybody home with a mixture of the cookies that were brought to share.
Note that every attempt has been made to ensure the information in this guide is up to date. Please check direct websites for each event or business to verify times, dates, and costs that may apply. Events may be cancelled if temperatures are too cold, and described events may have changed since the time of writing this story.
Tanya is a freelance writer and mom to a spunky boy. She loves hiking, camping, skiing, and all things mountain-related. She is the author of the blog, Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies, rockiesfamilyadventures.com.
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