The year is almost over, but there are still things you can do in December 2020!
December is finally here, and wow, what a rollercoaster the year has been. From the global COVID-19 pandemic to the historic Australian wildfires to menacing murder hornets… this year was filled to the brim with unwanted surprises. After the wild ride that 2020 was, we really deserve to treat ourselves to some fun and frivolity before the year ends. But what are the best things to do in Calgary in December 2020? Check out the below list for some magical ideas!
1. Visit Canada’s largest indoor light park and Christmas market
Noël Christmas Festival is making it’s return to Calgary for the 2020 holiday season and it’ll be bigger, brighter, and safer than ever! The largest of its kind in Canada and the only one in Calgary, this indoor light park and Christmas market will arrive on December 18, 2020 (postponed from its original November 26th opening date).
2. Stroll through the mesmerizing ZOOLIGHTS
ZOOLIGHTS is a popular annual light celebration at the Calgary Zoo. This magical, family-oriented tradition features over two million twinkling lights, including 200+ light figurines and interactive and choreographed light displays.
3. Sip on tasty holiday drinks at a pop-up cocktail bar
Miracle on 1st Street YYC has returned to Calgary with the goal of adding much-needed joy to our festive season celebrations! Hosted at Calgary’s beloved Proof YYC, this cozy pop-up cocktail bar will be around every day until Christmas Eve!
4. Slide and glide your way through Alberta’s largest snow tube park
The best part of the chilly season is it gives us the opportunity to participate in tons of fun winter sports activities such as snow tubing at Mount Norquay! Considered one of Alberta’s best tube parks and the only one located in Banff, the popular Norquay Tube Park is opening for the season in the middle of December (exact date to be announced).
5. Attend a virtual Candlelight concert
On Saturday, December 19, you’ll be whisked away to a magical concert by über-talented pianist Franck Laurent-Grandpré, who will be playing a curated selection of beloved classical numbers via livestream during this special edition of the popular Fever Originals Candlelight series.
6. Celebrate the holidays on top of Banff’s Sulphur Mountain
No need to head to the North Pole to find Santa — it appears he’s bringing his elusive workshop and bundles of Christmas joy to our very province at the summit of Sulphur Mountain during the Banff Gondola Mountaintop Christmas! You’ll be able to heighten your holidays at this one-of-a-kind Christmas experience in the mountains taking place starting December 19 (postponed from the original November 14th opening date).
7. Shop ’til you drop at CrossIron Mills’ Holiday Haven
‘Tis the season for shopping, but sometimes searching for gifts can be tedious or mundane. Luckily, you can now jazz up your annual Christmas shopping with Holiday Haven, a fun and festive outdoor shopping experience hosted by CrossIron Mills in their H&M parking lot. This jolly holiday shopping event begins on December 11th and will feature numerous local artisan vendors (10 per weekend) selling unique items for you to browse through to find the perfect gift.
8. Consider taking a staycation within Canada
As we get deeper into Canada’s typically chilly winter, you may be starting to consider travelling for a change of scenery. When planning a trip for the snowy season, we often tend to look outside of our country for inspiration. However, with all the travel restrictions this year due to COVID-19, you may want to look within Canada’s borders for a winter staycation.
9. Go on a trip to the local national parks
After a long year of the usual grind and hustle, maybe we’d rather stick the long-distance travel and visit some nearby national parks. Luckily for us, Calgary is completely surrounded by endless natural beauty. There are plenty of local places to immerse yourself in nature — just don’t let a moose lick your car!
10. Try some typical Canadian winter comfort foods
As the days get shorter, darker, and colder in the winter, many turn to food as a source of internal warmth and comfort. Besides being essential for life, food brings people together and generally just makes us feel good. So why not try one of the iconic dishes and treats that we eat in Canada during the frosty season?
11. Sell back your unneeded furniture to IKEA
The world’s largest furniture store chain is taking a stand for sustainability by purchasing your used IKEA furniture! IKEA’s new Sell-Back initiative allows you to trade in your unwanted pieces of used furniture for in-store IKEA credit to use on other items.
12. Try out Canadian Tire’s limited edition KFC firelogs
If you’re a devoted fan of KFC’s signature fried chicken, you’re in luck — Canadian Tire is now selling the Enviro-Log 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog for a limited time. These special firelogs release the famous irresistible scent of Kentucky Fried Chicken into the vicinity when burned in a fireplace, woodstove, chiminea, or campfire.
13. Watch some new Netflix Christmas films
There’s a bunch of brilliant original festive flicks arriving to Netflix for the holidays, and we’ve picked out the biggest releases that’ll wrap you up toastier than a roaring fire and a mug of hot chocolate.
14. Try out Calgary’s latest specialty bubble tea shop
There’s a new bubble tea shop in town! Calgary is now home to Truedan, the self-proclaimed “masters of brown sugar drinks”, and they’re serving up unique boba drinks bathed in hand-cooked brown sugar.
15. Download the COVID-19 alert app
With nations around the world still fighting to keep the COVID-19 pandemic under control, it’s important that we all do our best at the individual level to prevent further transmission of the virus in our communities. Fortunately, in Canada, there’s a mobile app that can help you determine if you’ve been exposed to someone who has COVID-19.
[Featured Image Source: Shutterstock]