Calgary, AL

The Calagarians are proud of their heritage and achievements. They have lovingly preserved the stories and structures from their frontier days at the Heritage Park Historical Village, so you can travel back in time and live history. Fort Calgary houses artefacts and symbols of the Mounties, a Calgary institution. Take a tour back in time, marvel at art exhibits, or peek into Calgary’s quirky pop culture scene at the Glenbow Museum. Calgary holidays become more meaningful when you make the effort to understand how Calgary came into being and how the psyche of a people was shaped.

Calgary’s colorful canvases depict reality and give glimpses of the rich, imaginary realms conjured by the artist. Snippets of the artistic side of Calgary are strewn along the roadsides and in the nooks and crannies of the neighborhoods. The city has a well-defined Public Art Policy in place to encourage artists to create keeping public spaces and the sentiments and sensibilities of the people in mind. During your holidays in Calgary, keep your eyes open. While the installations at the Tuscany LRT Station and the Pearce Estate Park are not hard to miss, that at the Crowfoot LRT Station blends in with its architectural environs.

Lilting tunes that climax in dramatic crescendos.  Passionate plays speak of victory and defeat; ecstasy and heartbreak; the past and the present. Ballet productions that juxtapose the grace and elegance of a ballerina’s pirouette with the strength and vigor of the ballerina’s flying leap to create poetry in motion. Cultural holidays to Calgary are filled with many shapes, hues, and textures. The extensive collection of music memorabilia at the National Music Center trace Canada’s musical history while the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Opera, Theater Calgary, and the EPCOR Center for the Performing Arts are the venues where the voices of today ring loud and the issues that touch a chord with Calagarians find creative expression. An evening at the Alberta Ballet is a sensorial experience; the choreography is a lavish feast for the eyes and the music is soul-stirring.

Calgary holidays pack something for everyone in the family—play for the kids, breakneck action for the adventure junkie, grey cell workouts for the nerd, and retail therapy for the shopaholic. Carve out a day of fun, frolic, and adventure for the entire family at the Calaway Park and the Shakers Fun Center or incite the explorer in you at the TELUS Spark Science Center. Set up a date with Mother Nature’s other creations—furry, pawed, clawed, scaly, and feathered—at the Calgary Zoo.  A Canada holiday is colourful and diverse, and you will want to bring home snippets. The shopping districts of Kensington Village, Stephen Avenue, and 17th Ave. and the historic Inglewood stock up on an eye-catching and mind-numbing array of souvenirs, antiques, and knick-knacks that capture the essence of Calgary, the artistic tastes of the people, and a whiff of the land.

A Calgary holiday can be as languid or filled chock-a-block with activities as you choose to make it. Take in at the action as a spectator at the High Performance Rodeo or get a bird’s eye view of the buzz about the city from atop the Calgary Tower. Jump into the action yourself—race down the bobsleigh track at the Canada Olympic Park, speed skate at the Olympic Oval, or ride on the Skyline Luge. However, an action-packed holiday to Canada takes on a dramatic turn at the Calgary Stampede, the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

Holidays in Calgary promise enchanting sights and sounds, breathtaking natural vistas, passionate and soul-stirring artistic performances, and action-packed activities whenever you visit the city. A Calgary holiday is never in danger of being spoiled by blizzards, torrential downpours, or sweltering heat.

Winters here are surreal and magically beautiful. The balmy springs give way to the radiant and gloriously sunny summers. The autumns are colorful. Mother Nature dons a different garb every season, and Calagarians have discovered ample exciting ways to bask in the beauty of a season. From sporting events to music festivals, there is a party going on in Calgary in every season.

Wintry Magic

Nature springs many surprises during a tour in Canada. A blanket of snow envelops Calgary in winter and shimmers and shines under a canopy of stars. The clear skies of Calgary are the perfect backdrop to the northern lights—Mother Nature’s stunning display of lights and colors that only a few places on Earth are privy to. There is magic in the air in Calgary during winter, and plenty of action too. A Canada tour in winter is the perfect time for some serious skiing, skating, and dogsledding action. And when you are in Calgary, the Rockies is where the action unfolds. There is action down below as well. High Performance Rodeo fires up the adrenaline junkies while on the cultural front, the Calgary Winefest and the Calgary Midwinter Bluefest liven up the days. 

Spring Surprises

The short spring season in Calgary presents vibrant contrasts. There is still some snow around, and you can go skiing. But the golf courses too start to open around the city, so some teeing action is on the cards for those who crave action at a more languid pace. The days are sunnier, but the nights are refreshingly cool. The days are also longer, and you have many hours to enjoy yourself at the festivals that take place during this season. The Lilac Festival, Calgary Spoken Word Festival, Salut Calgary Wine & Food Festival, and Calgary International Children’s Festival are the highlights of spring.

Summer Carnival

Summer is THE Calgary Stampede season. With bull and bronc riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, the days are fast, the suspense is intense, and adrenaline runs high in Calgary during summer. The action and the vibes are different at the Calgary Folk Music Festival and the Calgary International Blues Festival, but they are no less exciting and spirited. The ideal Calgary holiday in summer is one where you can soak up the sun and soak in the spirit of the city. These festivals present the sunny side of this city. Summer is also the season to go hiking, biking, and fishing in Calgary.

Autumn Hues

It is the season of colours when Calgary dresses up in rich reds, vibrant oranges, and bright yellows. The days are cooler but still warm enough to head out to the trails and parkways to see the leaves change colour. The best way to enjoy the fall foliage in Calgary is to put on your walking shoes or hop on a bike. The evenings are mellow and create just the right ambience to catch up on the cultural vibes at the Calgary International Film Festival and Wordfest: International Writer’s Festival.