Free This Week Holiday Edition
Wrap up the year with music, art and festivities! Check out a jam session at Alcove Centre for the Arts, make some last-minute holiday ornaments, take a peaceful Soundwalk through Fish Creek Park, attend a Q&A with artist Alex Kwong and then ring in the new year with the Calgary Public Library and City of Calgary. Best of the season to you!
Looking for holiday markets and art sales? Read our 2025 Holiday Market Roundup.
39th Annual Lions Festival of Lights
Until January 3, 2026 (evenings)
Confederation Park (24 Ave. & 14 St. NW)
Free to attend
The Lions Festival of Lights Society lights up Confederation Park Golf Course along 14 St. NW north of 24 Ave. Swing by to check out the fantastic light displays this holiday season!
lionsfestivaloflights.ca
Jam Session featuring Mo
December 18, 2025, 7 – 9pm
Alcove Centre for the Arts (244 7 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Thursday Night Jam Sessions are a welcoming space for musicians, poets, singers and attendees of all skill levels to play non-stop music with one another in an open circle, living room-style setting! Check out week’s jam hosted by Mo.
alcoveartscentre.ca
Snowflake Ornament Make & Take
December 20, 2025, 10am – 2pm
Alberta Craft Gallery (280, 1721 29 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Get ready for a winter wonderland of creativity! Join Alberta Craft Calgary for an exciting free Make & Take for ages 12 and up facilitated by Lizzy Wharton, where you’ll learn to craft stunning snowflakes using unique beading techniques.
albertacraft.ab.ca
Winter Wishes: Rozsa Arts at the Library Performance by BBeats
December 20, 2025, 2 – 3pm
Memorial Park Library (1221 2 St. SW)
Free to attend
Rozsa Arts at the Library brings you a performance by BBeats, a GuZheng duo based in Calgary whose passion is playing relaxing music and integrating global music into their performances.
calgarylibrary.ca
Movie Night
December 20, 2025, 7pm
Spanic Arts (131 6 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Every Saturday night, Spanic Arts present an Hispanic film where intimate cultural passions are expressed in different cinematic genres, ranging from horror and love to hope and freedom. Check the film calendar to enjoy a free admission, join in and discuss the film with fellow lovers of good cinema!
instagram.com
Stampede Christmas
December 20 – 21, 2025
BMO Centre, Great Lawn and Outdoor Plaza, Stampede Park (650 25 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Trade in your cowboy boots for snow boots and saddle up for a merry Western Christmas filled with dazzling lights, hot cocoa, live entertainment and plenty of free festive fun. Join the community or a brand-new holiday celebration where Stampede Spirit meets seasonal cheer.
calgarystampede.com
Soundwalk
December 21, 2025
Fish Creek Provincial Park, Bebo Grove (13610 24 St. SW)
Free to attend
As part of New Works Calgary’s two-year soundwalk residency with the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society, join artist-educator Chad Eastman for a soundwalk series exploring acoustic ecology, climate and place-based listening in Fish Creek Park.
newworkscalgary.com
Open Studio Q&A
December 21, 2025, 2 – 4pm
Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre (244034 Horizon View Rd. SW)
Free
Meet Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre’s December artist-in-R\residence, Alex Kwong. Alex’s residency at KOAC is focused on tracing a movement inward from the expansiveness of large-scale mural painting to a renewed focus on introspective, technique-driven explorations within the studio.
instagram.com
New Year’s Eve at the Library
December 31, 2025, 1 – 4pm
See website for participating branch info
Free to attend
Ring in the new year without staying up until midnight! Say goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026 with a family-friendly, fun-filled day to ring in the New Year. Activities at participating library branches include a special story time, a family DJ dance party, a mock countdown to “midnight” and more!
calgarylibrary.ca
NYE Celebrations
December 31, 2025, 8pm
Eau Claire Plaza & Prince’s Island Park
Free to attend
Enjoy family-friendly activities, live entertainment, local food trucks, an outdoor skating/dance party, fireworks and more at Eau Claire Plaza and Prince’s Island Park starting at 8pm.
calgary.ca
2026 European Film Series: Four Souls of Coyote
January 5, 2026, 6:30pm
Calgary Central Library (800 3 St. SE)
Free to attend, registration required
Set in the present day, Native American protesters confront the crew of an oil pipeline project, just down the hill from the land of their ancestors. The grandfather evokes the tale of their Creation myth, reminding all of us that the challenges facing humanity are universal, and that we need to find our place in the great circle of creatures.
eventbrite.ca
ProArts@Noon: Élisabeth Pion in Recital
January 7, 2026, 12:10pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SE)
Free to attend
Only months after her win at the Honens International Piano Competition, 2025 Honens Gold Laureate Élisabeth Pion returns for her first post-Competition appearance in Calgary. This is an opportunity to experience Élisabeth’s brilliance up close and personal, both at the piano and in person.
honens.com
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
