December in Calgary runs in three parts. The first three weeks are busy with lights, markets and get-togethers. Christmas itself is about family and whoever has flown in. Then come the quiet days before New Year, when nobody is quite sure what day it is.
The best things to do in Calgary in December change with each part, so this guide takes them in order.
Lights and markets, early in the month
Holiday lights are one of the cheapest December outings. Some of the larger attractions run ticketed light events, and plenty of residential streets put on a show for nothing. A slow drive or a walk through a well-lit neighbourhood after dinner works for every age in the car.
Markets are the other early-December fixture. They are usually calmer on weekday evenings than on the weekends closest to Christmas, so if you are shopping rather than browsing, go early. Every market and light event sets its own dates, so check with the organiser before you go.
Skating and a bit of fresh air
Outdoor skating is the most Calgary thing you can do in December. City rinks are spread across most communities, and Bowness Park has a well-known skating lagoon. Ice depends on the weather, so check conditions before you load the car.
If skating is not your thing, a walk along the Bow with a hot drink in hand does a similar job. Go in the middle of the day, when there is the most light.
When family comes home
A house full of visitors needs a short list of outings that work for mixed ages and mixed energy levels. A few rules make it easier:
- One outing a day. Visitors usually want to see the city and also want to sit down. One plan per day leaves room for both.
- Split the group when it helps. The people who want to shop and the people who want to do something active do not have to go together.
- Have a plan for the restless ones. Every family gathering has someone who needs to get out of the house by day three.
- Check opening days. Many places change their schedule around Christmas and New Year, so confirm before you drive over.
Office and friend-group parties are a separate job. Our guide to Christmas party venues in Calgary covers dates, formats and cost for groups of eight to twenty.
The quiet days between Christmas and New Year
The days after Boxing Day are the strangest part of the month. Plenty of people are off work, the kids are home, and the routine has gone. It is a good stretch for anything that needs a free afternoon: a long movie, a new board game, the gym at an odd hour, or a drive out to the mountains if the roads are good.
It is also when people start to feel cooped up. Having one thing booked each day, even something small, keeps the week from blurring into one long afternoon on the couch.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve plans fall into two camps: going out, or staying in with people you like. If you are going out, book early and plan rides home before the night starts. If you have young kids, an early countdown in the evening lets everyone celebrate and still get some sleep.
Golf in December, any day of it
For the golfer in the family, or anyone who needs an hour away from the house, PGM Indoor Golf is just south of Glenmore Trail in SE Calgary. It has six private bays, each with its own simulator and touchscreen, and it is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. That includes Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Winter rates apply in December: $20 an hour early in the morning and late at night, $40 in regular hours, and $45 on Friday from 6 PM and on Saturday. The rate is per bay, shared by everyone in it, plus GST. Our post on the new golf simulator rates sets out the hours for each band, and the rates page has a planner for working out how long to book.
A family round, priced out
Three players need about 3 to 4.5 hours at 1 to 1.5 hours each. In regular hours at $40 an hour that is $120 to $180 for the group, plus GST. Early in the morning or late at night at $20 an hour it is $60 to $90. Everyone brings their own clubs, since PGM does not provide them, and minors must be with an adult.
Nobody works on site, so the holidays do not change how a booking works. You get a door access link by email, let yourself in, and the simulator runs for the time you booked. The how it works page covers it step by step. When January arrives, our guide to things to do in Calgary in January picks up where this one ends.
Book a slot around the holidays
If December needs an hour that belongs to you, pick a time on the Calgary booking page and bring your clubs. Questions go to the FAQ, or call 403-680-3380 and a real person will answer.