Chinook Blast 2024
Winter festival infuses art, culture, sport and celebration into the cityscape
Calgary’s signature winter festival returns for its highly anticipated fourth year this February! Embrace the spirit of winter with live music, light and art installations, theatrical performances, outdoor sport, cultural experiences, night markets and much more!
Anchored by iconic Calgary festivals like High Performance Rodeo and Block Heater, partner events like Rock the Nation at the National Music Centre and weekend programming onstage at Olympic Plaza — you can check out the festivities beginning this week and running until February 19, 2024
“We want people to get outside and celebrate what makes this city so unique and magical even when the temperature drops,” says says Patti Pon, President and CEO of Calgary Arts Development and Chair of Chinook Blast, who spoke at the recent media launch.
For a closer look at some of the exciting events you can expect this year, and to meet a few of the artists involved, watch the latest episode of our Living a Creative Life web series. We’ve also listed some of the arts and culture highlights below, and you can check out the full festival lineup at chinookblast.ca:
High Performance Rodeo
Until February 4, 2024
Various venues
Prices vary
One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo offers the chance to watch touring performances from across Canada, acclaimed international shows, and new and experimental work from artists here in Calgary. The programming is always bold, cutting-edge, funny, frank and full of heart.
hprodeo.ca
BIG Winter Classic
January 24 – 28, 2024
Various venues
Prices vary
BIG Winter Classic was born from an idea to celebrate Calgary year-round, not just in the fleeting summer months. Don’t miss this four-day winter wonderland weekend. Plus, new this year — All Fest! Enjoy free all-ages programming on January 27 and 28 at BLOX Arts Centre.
bigwinterclassic.com
Artists Pavilion
January 26 – February 16, 2024
Calgary Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free to attend
Take in some arts and culture during your lunch break on Thursdays and Fridays! The Artists Pavilion at the Central Library hosts pop-up performances by local artists, presented by Four Winds YYC and 10 at 10 Music and Culture, as well as mini jams curated by One Big Jam, all in celebration of the Lunar New Year, Indigenous culture and Black History Month.
chinookblast.ca/events/the-td-artist-pavilion
chinookblast.ca/events/lunchtime-mini-jams
4 Winds Indigenous Showcase & Market
February 2 – 4, 2024
City Hall Atrium (800 MacLeod Tr SE)
Free to attend
Check out more than 75 Indigenous vendors with a range of handmade products like beadwork, woodworking, artwork, home decor, apparel, hand-sewn items and more — plus music performances, a powwow showcase and an Indigenous fashion show featuring talent from the Treaty 7 area!
chinookblast.ca/events/four-winds
Outdoor Stage at Olympic Plaza
February 2 – 19, 2024
Olympic Plaza (228 8th Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Olympic Plaza and Stephen Avenue will be filled with music, performances and visual art throughout Chinook Blast. The diverse lineup of talented artists includes an Exposure Photography Festival exhibition; a radically inclusive and fully improvised concert with One Big JAM; a GlobalFest showcase featuring Japanese drumming and a Caribbean steel drum band; itsy bitsy puppet shows; a fiery performance from aGoGo Fire and Flow; a Black History Month reggae celebration and much, much more.
chinookblast.ca
Glow Fusion Experience
February 9, 2024
Calgary Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free to attend
Attend a one-of-a-kind celebration of the Lunar New Year brought to you by MakeFashion, Cirque De La Nuit and Indi City, in collaboration with the Gai Lan Ensemble and the Asian Heritage Foundation. This event combines wearable tech, circus arts, live music and dance performances to showcase a mesmerizing fusion of cultures.
chinookblast.ca/events/glow-fusion-experience
Ethnik Festival
February 9 & 10, 2024
Telus Convention Centre (136 8th Ave. SE)
$25 – $40
The annual Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture is part of the celebration of Black History (Excellence) Month during February each year. Afro-Canadian/Caribbean communities come together to celebrate diversity and inclusivity and share their vibrant cultural traditions.
ethnikfestivals.com
ImaginAsian: Asian Night Market
February 9 – 11, 2024
City Hall Atrium (800 Macleod Tr. SE)
Free to attend
Experience the sights, sounds and taste of Calgary’s diverse Asian-Canadian communities through live performances, art displays, calligraphy writing, unique merchandise, interactive games, lantern making and other activities presented by the Asian Heritage Foundation.
chinookblast.ca/events/imaginasian-asian-night-market
Block Heater
February 15 – 17, 2024
Various venues
Prices vary
Watch your worries melt away this winter with the Calgary Folk Music Festival’s Block Heater, the perfect cozy weekend to get your musical engines revving and is family-friendly musical escape you’ve been waiting for. Plug in and recharge with 12 events across seven venues!
calgaryfolkfest.com
The full schedule can be found at chinookblast.ca.
