14 things to do in Calgary this week: February 20-26

Valentine’s Day is behind us and if it wasn’t what you wanted, don’t worry, there are still plenty of great things to do in Calgary.

Here are 14 things to do in Calgary this week.

Commemorating Black History Month at Military Museums

military museums

What: February is Black History Month. Join The Military Museums to commemorate black Canadians and their contributions to the Canadian military. A presentation of stories and artifacts will tell the stories of these brave men and women, including the struggles of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. The exhibit will also tell the stories of today’s Canadian Forces soldiers. The exhibition is hosted by TMM volunteers Indra Teekasingh and Allan Ross and runs throughout the month in the museum’s atrium.

If: Until February 28th
Where: The Military Museums – 4520 Crowchild Trail SW
Costs: Included in museum admission

Rock out at the National Music Center

National Music Center | Center National de Musique/Facebook

What: The National Music Center is opening Studio Bell on February 20 with free admission for a special Family Day event featuring The Polyjesters, a band of prairie pirates playing all kinds of swing music. In addition to the swinging tunes, visitors can also expect activations in the gallery for all ages. Whether exploring vibration and volume at a hands-on instrument petting zoo, watching an organ performance at the Kimball Theater, or exploring the new Showcase: Guitars exhibit, families have loads of fun together.

If: 20. February
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m
Where: National Music Center (300-851 4th Street SE)
Price: Free

Enjoy a warm drink with YYC Hot Chocolate Festival 2023

Liliya Kandrashevich/Shutterstock

What: The YYC Hot Chocolate Fest is officially back for another celebration of all things sugary, with participating cafes, restaurants and chocolatiers vying to be crowned YYC’s Best Hot Chocolate. A portion of every mug sold during the YYC Hot Chocolate Fest supports Calgary Meals on Wheels.

If: February 1st to 28th
Where: Participating locations throughout Calgary

See who wins the Beer vs. Wine Sweepstakes with CRAFT Beer Market

CRAFT beer market

What: Banded Peak Brewing VS. Mark Anthony Wines in The Ultimate This or That! Enjoy a beer and wine tasting! Enjoy a four-course meal with matching wine and beer pairings. Guests cast their votes on which pairing matters most, and the champion is crowned at the end of the dinner!

If: February 22 (100 Anderson Road SE) and February 23 (345 10th Avenue SW)
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m
Where: CRAFT Beer Market, (100 Anderson Road SE/345 10th Avenue SW Calgary)
Tickets/Entrances: $90 per person including a four course meal plus beer and wine with each course.

Visit an outdoor ice rink to skate

North Glenmore Park Ice Trail (Elle McLean/Daily Hive)

What: It’s ODR (Outdoor Rink) season! Lace up your skates, pack a thermos of hot cocoa, and get ready to slide across the ice at these outdoor skating rinks in Calgary. This season, take part in a classic Canadian activity for a breath of fresh air and exercise. There are a number of City of Calgary, volunteer and community ice rinks located throughout the city where you can skate during the winter months.

Where: Different locations in the city
Costs: Free

Get your tickets for the Magyar Gala

Magyar Ball

What: In 1956, after World War II, a wave of Hungarians emigrated to Canada to start a new life. In an effort to maintain ties to their homeland and cultural traditions, a group of ex-soldiers founded the Calgary Chapter of the Hungarian Veterans Association and organized their first dinner in 1956. Since then, that small dinner has grown into a large, formal, and celebrated annual event of Hungarian traditions, dance, and one of the most unique cultural experiences Calgary has to offer. Tickets must be purchased in advance by February 27th.

If: March 11, 2023
Time: 5 p.m. Admission is at 4:30 p.m
Where: Grand Ballroom at Westin Downtown Calgary (320 4th Avenue SW)
Tickets/Entrances: Admission is $175 and must be pre-purchased before February 27, 2023. Tickets can be ordered through the website, with various payment methods available. No physical or electronic tickets will be issued; Guests must check in at the front desk to receive their table numbers.

Get ready for family day at the military museums

The Military Museums

What: Bring the family to the annual Military Museums Family Day. Enjoy a fun filled day of activities and meet the great author Janet Love Morrison who will be reading from her new book The Hawk and the Hare. You can also enjoy artifact handling, weapons exhibition, children’s crafts, scavenger hunts, KIM’s game, face painting, book reading and signing, gallery tour and much more. Family day tickets can be purchased upon arrival at the museum or online.

If: 20. February
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
Where: The Military Museums (4520 Crowchild Trail SW)
Tickets/Entrances: $5-$30

Learn about the history of Chinatown in Calgary

What: A new exhibit at Heritage Park will explore the long history of Calgary’s Chinatown. We Were Here is an exploration of the three iterations of Calgary’s Chinatown and the stories of the people who lived there, through creative writing, illustration, audio and historical photography. The exhibit features five stories written by members of Calgary’s Chinese community that are fictional accounts of events that took place in early Chinatown. It is an art and performance exhibition celebrating Chinese culture on the prairie.

If: January 14th to April 30th
Time: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m
Where: Heritage Park
Tickets: Included with Gasolina Alley admission ($14.95)

Enter the game with hockey: Faster than ever on Telus Spark

What: There’s a reason hockey is known as one of the fastest games on earth, and it’s fast becoming the ultimate power play at the Telus Spark Science Center. It’s time to lace up your skates and learn about the technology, anatomy and physics of this Canadian classic. Visitors will experience hockey like never before, including learning about the game’s origins and culture, learning the rules of the game, jumping onto the replica ice rink at The Science Lab and seeing real, game-used gear from hockey’s biggest stars.

If: Now until March 12th
Where: Telus Spark – 220 St. George’s Drive NE
Tickets: General Admission $26

Go tubing down the hills at Winsport

Winsport

What: If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, try a different way to fly down the hill this season with Tube Park at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park. The Servus Tube Park is located in WinSport’s Canadian Olympic Park and has eight lanes, a special magic carpet and the opportunity to connect slides and go down at the same time – weather permitting, of course, because safety first!

If: Saturdays, Sundays and selected Fridays during the winter season
Time: Two-hour time slots are available on select Fridays at 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:00pm and 6:30pm
Where: Canada Olympic Park by WinSport — 88 Canada Olympic Road SW, Calgary
Tickets: Now available; Tickets are $20 for morning tubing and $25 for weekend afternoons, $25 during the holiday season and $16 on select Friday nights

Try cross-country skiing around the city

East Village Nordic Loop (Courtesy of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation)

What: Whether you’re a beginner wanting to learn a new winter sport or you’re already an expert in this Nordic activity, there’s bound to be a perfect trail for you in YYC. Hop into your bindings, grab your poles and get ready to glide across the snow this season. And make sure to dress in layers because even if it’s chilly outside, you’ll likely warm up quickly once you start skiing!

Where: Different locations in the city

Walk with the penguins at the Calgary Zoo

King Penguin Walk / Calgary Zoo

What: One of the most fun attractions at the Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo is back for another year as the Penguin Walk returns this week! This is the 11th year for the must-see attraction. During the winter months, the king penguin colony embarks on the zoo grounds for a daily enriching walk to keep their brains and bodies healthy, and visitors can join in the fun!

Where: Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo – 1300 Zoo Road NE
If: January 13, 2023 to mid-March (weather permitting)
Time: 10:30 am
Costs: Included in general admission and membership

Set out for a toboggan ride

Image: Global Village Calgary/Facebook

Sledding is a staple winter activity in Canada, and it’s the perfect budget-friendly way to get an adrenaline rush, get some fresh air, and even get a workout heading up the hill after you’ve flown down.

Where: Different locations in the city

Test your Potion Putt skills

Courtesy of Potion Putt/Explore Hidden

What: This boozy experience also offers the opportunity to have golf fun in the winter months. This is from the same team that brought similar pop-up adventures to Calgary, like the Alice Cocktail Experience and the Peter Pan Experience Neverland.

This “crazy golf course” is inspired by a certain famous magician who cannot be credited for copyright reasons. There are nine holes to play as you encounter bubbling cauldrons of delicious potions that might even help you cast a few spells to complete some of the mystical tee-off challenges.

If: November 3, 2022 to May 31, 2023
Where: Springbank Links Golf Club – 125 Hackamore Trail, Calgary
Price: $15 per person; Buy here

Source: dailyhive.com