From lights and treats to Santa and shopping, December is here, and it’s packed with exciting activities and cozy holiday nights. Embrace the magic with your family this season — it’s time to make some memories! Check out our top picks for December events happening in and around Calgary, and find more family fun in our calendar. Happy holidays, everyone!
⭐️ TELUS Spark Merry and Matter | All Month
FEATURED | Merry and Matter at TELUS Spark runs all month, with a NEW exhibit, a NEW planetarium show, and the classic Goodnight Moon digital immersive experience. Take in holiday-infused science experiments, brave the weather to play in the Brainasium, and explore hands-on science.
⭐️ The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo ZOOLIGHTS | All Month
FEATURED | This year’s ZOOLIGHTS experience will be bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever, with millions of twinkling lights at every turn and the best of winter fun.
⭐️ Jubilations Junior | Select Weekend Days
FEATURED | The holidays are the perfect time for families to create special memories, enjoying yummy food and laughing together. This Christmas, head to Jubilations Junior for a special event the whole family can enjoy stress-free. They are presenting Petey Paan’s Christmas Pirate Adventure, a production written for kids that is designed to make adults laugh, too.
A Mountaintop Christmas | Weekends in December
Banff Gondola is celebrating A Mountaintop Christmas with lots of great activities 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.
⭐️ Heritage Park Once Upon A Christmas | Weekends, December 6 – 23, 2025
FEATURED | If you love an old-fashioned Christmas, Heritage Park celebrates Once Upon A Christmas. 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.
Calgary Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss | December 7, 2025
The Enmax Teddy Bear Toss is coming, so when you cheer on your Calgary Hitmen, bring a teddy and help make it rain at the Scotiabank Saddledome as thousands of bears hit the ice after the first Hitmen goal. (These bears go to places like hospitals, so make sure it’s a new bear.)
CPCK Holiday Train | Select days, December 9 – 13, 2025
Over the course of the holiday season, a CPKC Holiday Train will travel across the country, stopping along the way to collect food and money for local food banks and raise awareness in the fight against hunger. The train will feature free concerts (featuring the Barenaked Ladies in Calgary), but you are asked to bring food or monetary donations for local food banks.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ | Until December 24, 2025
Let yourself 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.
Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker | December 12 – 24, 2025
It’s a Christmas classic, and Calgary loves the Nutcracker! Alberta Ballet presents this sumptuous production from December 12 – 24, 2025. But you have other opportunities, too! Jeunessse Classique Ballet performs the Nutcracker from December 5 – 7, 2025. And little ones will love Nutcracker (In a Nutshell) on December 5 – 7, or 12 – 14, 2025.
Calgary Nativity Pageant | December 19 – 21, 2025
Visit the Calgary Nativity Pageant to experience the classic Christmas story. This free event includes live actors, animals, and choreographed performances.
New Year’s Eve Guide | December 31
Happy New Year! Find family-friendly New Year’s Eve fun with help from our New Year’s Eve Guide.
Christmas Event Guide
All Month | We love those Christmas moments. From the cozy ones, snuggled up in pyjamas by the Christmas tree, to the big events dressed in our sparkling best, there’s so much to love about the holiday season. Christmas is a magical time, and however you celebrate the winter holidays, we wish you joy and peace. We’ve put together a guide for the best Christmas events in and around Calgary to help you have special holiday fun with your family.
Read more about it here.
Christmas Experiences Gift Guide
All Month | What’s on your holiday shopping list this season? Instead of more stuff to fill your closets, what about wrapping up joyful experiences and special memories with your family? Experience-oriented gifts are always the perfect size and can bring you closer as a family as you embark on new adventures together. Make Christmas easy this year. Check out the Family Fun Calgary Experiences Gift Guide, and give experiences, not stuff!
Read more about it here.
Christmas Lights Guide
All Month | Sparkling, shining, and festive: Christmas lights are one of the best parts of the holiday season. When it gets dark so early, Christmas lights help lift your spirits. Plus, whether you want to be outside in that invigorating December air or just drive by in the warmth and comfort of your car, it gives you a fun reason to get the whole family up and out the door!
Read more about it here.
Holiday Concerts and Shows
All Month | The familiar strains of Christmas carols, a chance to dress in holiday finery, and an opportunity to enjoy a special event with your family. This time of year is filled with holiday concerts and shows, from classic Christmas theatre to light-hearted outings. Find the perfect concert or show for your family this year, with help from our guide. Slip on the sparkly shoes or don your Santa hat and head out the door!
Read more about it here.
Light Ups and Parades
Early December Weekends | With so much going on during the holiday season, Christmas Light Ups and Parades are a great way to combine the magic of sparkling lights with some seasonal fun. We’ve compiled a list of the best experiences, whether it’s a community light-up event, a parade, or an all-out party.
Read more about it here.
Markets and Craft Fairs
Until December 13 | The Christmas season is here, with its twinkling lights, cocoa by the fireplace … and trying to find the perfect gift. This Christmas season, forget the mall! Get your shopping done, support local businesses and enjoy a festive holiday experience! Christmas markets and craft sales are a fun and affordable way to get into the holiday mood and tick some “to-dos” off your list.
Read more about it here.
Winter Classes for Kids
All Month | This is the time to register for all the great extracurriculars that make life more fun! Here at Family Fun Calgary, we want to make it easier for you to find quality extracurricular programs that you AND your kids will love. It’s always a great time to try something new or get back to something you enjoy, so keep reading to find the BEST lessons for kids in Calgary!
Read more about it here.
Ski & Snowboard Deals
Get Your Passes Soon | When you live in a place as wintery and as well-situated as Calgary, it makes sense to embrace alpine winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. But the cost of outfitting a family can really add up – and you don’t always want to do the same runs at the same hill. So, we’re bringing you special deals that can save you some of your hard-earned dollars.
Read more about it here.
But Wait … There’s More!
Do you love seeing all the December events in Calgary, but want MORE?! Sign up for the monthly Family Fun Calgary newsletter. We give you a peek at all of the upcoming, family-friendly activities scheduled in Calgary. You can also keep up with everything happening in #YYC on our events calendar, and stay tuned to all the best local family events through Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Did you know you can submit your family-friendly event to us? Fill out the submission form with your event details, and we’ll do our best to add your event to our events calendar.
Enjoy the month, Calgary!
