- Kraig Brachman
Family Day 2022 Events
Last year we shared three great parks you can visit to stretch those legs and get out of the house and a delicious Family Day meal you could make afterwards with your family. In 2021, most, if not all, events were cancelled so we focused on things you could do to stay safe and still connect with your family.
For 2022, there are far more events scheduled for February and we or highlighting a few of them. All events and locations have COVID-19 protocols in place, so please wear a mask indoors, follow all government mandates, and social distance whenever possible.
Free & Low-Cost Events in Calgary
114 locations, 97 drinks, and 90 vendors! Discover whose chocolate in Calgary is the hottest at the YYC Hot Chocolate Festival.
“YYC Hot Chocolate Fest is an annual event hosted by Calgary Meals on Wheels. First started in 2011, this event is meant to highlight local businesses and Calgary’s vibrant culture, while also helping support a local charity. Every February, participating cafés, restaurants and chocolatiers compete for the coveted awards of YYC's Best Hot Chocolate, Best Spirited Hot Chocolate and special Cup That Runneth Over Award. For 28 days, Calgarians can sip varieties of hot cocoas and determine the blend that roasts them all!”
Location: Various locations throughout Calgary
Dates: February 1 to 28, 2022
Explore the layered history at Fort Calgary: Known as Mohkinsstsis (Blackfoot), Wîchîspa (Nakoda) Guts’ists’i (Tsuut’ina), and Calgary, this place has complex stories to tell.
Admission is free for Indigenous people and people 17 y/o and under
Location: 750 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 5E1 (https://goo.gl/maps/1FaFWiyQTTdHYiRR6)
From February 4 to February 27, Chinook Blast will be heating up our city with a celebration of community, culture, and civic pride. The best of Calgary’s art, music, theatre, sport and recreation will be on display.
Locations: Various locations throughout Calgary
Inglewood is currently hosting a six-week augmented reality exhibition, Northern Reflections on Thursday, starting January 21 and running through the end of February. Eleven teams of artists (painters, animators and musicians) have taken over the business windows in Inglewood to celebrate the power of music, art and business. The exhibition is a partnership between The Inglewood BIA and Maud Collective, who, alongside a panel of judges, determined the artists that will create augmented reality murals on businesses around Inglewood.
Location: Throughout Inglewood (https://goo.gl/maps/t5fYghFSMK4NguXZ7)
Dates: From January 21 to February 28
The annual Exposure Photography Festival presents exhibitions that showcase photographic work by internationally renowned practitioners, alongside emerging and established talent from Alberta. Last year the festival received over 850,000 visits to its exhibitions from Exposure audience members in Calgary, Canada, the US, Europe and beyond! Exposure provides an exciting, innovative meeting place for photographers and art lovers to connect with one another, along with curators and photography professionals from around the world. The festival brings together people of all ages to celebrate Alberta’s rich photography scene and thriving creative communities.
Location: various locations throughout Calgary
Dates: All throughout February
Outdoor Activities
Lace up your skates and get outside for winter fun! We have lots of outdoor skating rink locations that are free to use on a first-come-first-served basis.
There’s a new way to enjoy outdoor skating at Bowness Park this year! Ice bikes offer a safe, stable alternative for all ages and skill levels. If you’re not a strong skater, you can still join in and have fun on the ice.
You can use Calgary fire pits between 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. These fire pits are available for bookings from 12 to 2 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. weekdays and weekends. Responsible alcohol consumption is allowed at some fire pits.
Family Day Long Weekend
While these events are technically over before February 21st, we still think you should check them out and you can see them on the Family Day Long Weekend.
With a variety of free and paid for events, Block Heater 7.0 is taking place from February 17-20. Block Heater starts with a free online Black History Month discussion panel.
The Beltline Bonspiel at Lougheed House is a premier winter festival celebrating local community and rooted in Calgary’s proud heritage. The one-day festival brings together local Calgary teams to compete in a friendly outdoor curling tournament with the backdrop of the historic Lougheed House, Alberta music, delicious local food and craft beer, and entertainment for all ages.
Dates: February 19th from 11 AM to 5 PM
