Things to do in Calgary over the Holidays

Calgary and winter go hand and hand, after all, we are a resilient population who is used to the cold winters so you may as well dress warm and enjoy what Calgary has to offer in the winter months. 

Ice Skating At The Olympic Oval or Olympic Plaza 

Canada is known for ice skating, so it comes as no surprise that Calgary has one of the top facilities for ice skating. The Olympic Oval was built back in the late '80s (originally for the 1988 Olympics) and is open for ice skating to the public all year round. It is even known to host competitions and training for speed skating. Of course, safety gear, such as helmets, are mandatory and are available for rent there along with skates.

Olympic Plaza, located downtown in front of city hall also offers outdoor skating, weather dependant of course. Sided onto  Stephen Avenue where there are endless places to eat, drink and shop. 

Canada Olympic Park - Tube Park 

 Canada Olympic tube park is one thing that you just cannot miss. The tube park features a variety of multiple and single tubes for you and your loved ones to ride. The management of the park aims to help people, no matter what their age might be, to develop and discover the fun in sports. So, there is no doubt that you will have a blast.

That is not all; the park even has great places to eat from, such as onsite food trucks. This park is particularly ideal for winters as it accumulates enough snow for you to go skiing there, so be sure to grab your ski gear when planning to visit. To get into Acura tube park, you'll have to get your hands on tickets. The park itself is open four days a week, that is, from Thursday to Sunday.

Visit The Calgary Tower

Always a great visit for locals and visitors alike. 

For all of you thrill-seekers out there, the observatory deck designed at the tip of this tower features a glass floor, which will dare you to look down. Apart from an incredible view, the Calgary Tower also hosts a unique revolving restaurant. This restaurant is also connected to the Plus 15 Skyway in Calgary, which is one of the world's longest skywalks open to pedestrians.

Zoolight Expedition

Something fun for the entire family, then there is nothing that can beat visiting the Zoolight expedition. Known as Zoolights, this winter tradition is an award-winning and magical experience.

The best part is that it is to be held between the 19th of November and the 2nd of January, so you can still get your hands on some tickets. In fact, this year will be the 25th edition of the Zoolights, so if you're visiting Calgary, be sure not to miss it. So, what does this award-winning tradition entail? Well, it features a wide variety of activities as well as fun areas that follow a particular theme. Here is a list of some fun things that you can expect to see and do.

• A Zoo market
• Dinos at Night even
• Memory lane for their 25th anniversary
• A tribute to the wetlands of Canada known as Tunnel of Light
• The Nutcracker, which will be shown within the ENMAX conservatory

Apart from this, you can also take a walk around to look at the marvelous and mesmerizing light figurines, in fact, all 200 of them. That is not all; the Zoolights expeditions are also known to feature several mesmerizing light displays, several of which are interactive ones. You are sure to gasp each time you turn a corner.

This truly is one of the highlights when it comes to finding the top things to do in Calgary during winters, so be sure to plan to spend at least two hours at Zoolights. In fact, be prepared to have to convince your kids about leaving the place once you're done.

Ice Skating at the Bowness Park or Prince’s Island Park

Linked with downtown Calgary through the four bridges, the Prince's Island Park is one of the best places for ice skating. It is an urban park, which covers a total of 20 hectares and serves as the perfect getaway from all of the high-rise buildings. This island park is particularly a great place to visit when in Calgary, as you'll get the incredibly natural experience of ice skating on a lake that has frozen.

In the winter when the water freezes it creates a natural outdoor rink. If not Prince Island Park, you can also make do with ice skating at Bowness Park. The great thing is that this park is easily accessible by bus in downtown Calgary.

There is no doubt that when it comes to finding places to visit in December, Calgary has a lot to offer. So, just make sure that you're dressed to combat the winter, and you'll have an incredible time. Apart from that, Calgary also has a very vibrant nightlife even in the winters, with a variety of different restaurants, bars, and even nightclubs. So, whether you are visiting Calgary with friends family, or you call Calgary your home it truly is a phenomenal place to visit or live.