December is here and it’s jam-packed with exciting family events and cozy holiday nights! Embrace the magic with your family this season and find our top picks for family fun this month. Happy holidays, everyone!

Let’s get going with all the guides you need to help plan your month. Excellent Christmas activities will be found in the Christmas Event Guide and there are so many Holiday Concerts and Shows (some are free!). Want to do a little shopping without hitting the mall? Take a look at our Christmas Market Guide. Don’t forget the Experience Gift Guide to help with your shopping, too. And if you want to find the best places to see the beautiful Christmas Lights, we also have that!

ZOOLIGHTS at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is a Calgary classic all December long. This year’s ZOOLIGHTS experience will be bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever, with millions of twinkling lights at every turn, and a Sunlight to ZOOLIGHTS combo pass to celebrate the arrival of the polar bears on December 1.

The Guardians of Christmas have landed! Enjoy this terrific family show at Jubilations Junior with dinner theatre fun for everyone. The show plays all month long.

Banff Gondola is celebrating A Mountaintop Christmas on weekends in December. There are lots of great activities and it’s all included with your gondola ticket. Santa will even be there until Christmas. Best part? Kids go free before noon! While you’re in Banff, check out the free Banff Christmas Lighting Trail: In Search of Christmas Spirit, all month long.

Until December 24, 2023, (days and times vary), you can be whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS™. Once onboard, hot chocolate and treats are served as passengers read along with the classic children’s book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg, and are entertained by characters from the movie. Of course, Santa is waiting at the North Pole.

It’s a Christmas classic and Calgary loves the Nutcracker! Jeunessse Classique Ballet is performing the Nutcracker from December 8 – 10, 2023, and Alberta Ballet is performing it on select days from December 15 – 24, 2023. Little ones will love Nutcracker (In a Nutshell) on December 8 – 10, and 15 – 17, 2023.

Working on your holiday shopping? Make it a local Christmas with Southcentre Mall all month long! They have great ideas for shopping locally, supporting community initiatives, and finding that Christmas magic.

If you love an old-fashioned Christmas, Heritage Park is celebrating Once Upon A Christmas, every weekend until December 17, 2023. It’s one of Calgary’s most beloved holiday experiences as it allows families to reminisce and participate in charming and old-fashioned Christmas customs and traditions.

On December 17, 2023, enjoy a Sunday Funday with the Calgary Hitmen. Enjoy special food and beverage pricing and in-game family entertainment. (December 3, 2023, is the Teddy Bear Toss!)

Visit the Calgary Nativity Pageant from December 21 – 23, 2023, for the classic Christmas story. This is a free event!

And Happy New Year! Find family-friendly New Year’s Eve fun with help from our New Year’s Eve Guide.


There are lots of other events happening during the month of December. Calgary is a great place for families to enjoy activities together. Be sure to check out our calendar to find more family fun. You can also submit your family-friendly event to us; just fill out our event submission form. Don’t forget to check out the contests we will be running and take a look at our Winter Classes for Kids Guide. Enjoy the month, Calgary!

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