Spring in Calgary can be snowy, slushy, or warm and sunny, so you need to be prepared for any weather! Our guide to spring family fun in Calgary features outdoor and indoor activities to help you plan a fun spring weekend or spring break with your kids. Choose from FREE activities, to Calgary’s best attractions for kids, and fun spring festivals.
FREE Fun
1. Hike the Douglas Fir Trail in Edworthy Park, then visit one (or all) of the playgrounds, grab ice cream at Angel’s Cafe, and/or have a fire at a picnic area. 2.2 km round trip to the lookout, 60 metres elevation gain (5 km round trip to Cedar Crescent SW). For more information, read this story: Douglas Fir Trail, Edworthy Park.
2. Bike to a bakery (or ice cream shop)! Need inspiration? Try one of these 10 kid-friendly bike routes in Calgary. They are mostly flat, almost completely on city pathways, and include super snack spots!
3. Look for the Medicine Wheel, geocaches, and prairie crocuses (Anemone patens) at Nose Hill Park. Fuzzy prairie crocuses usually emerge right after the snow melts. Read Urban Hikes in Nose Hill Park for more information.
4. Visit the beautiful Central Library: The 1st Floor has play areas, a nursing room, and the Questionarium game/art centre for elementary school-age kids. The Teen Centre on the 3rd Floor is home to a gaming centre, STEM activities, video/music studios, and more. 800 3 St SE.
5. While you’re downtown, check out The Devonian Gardens! These beautiful indoor gardens are free to visit, and even have a playground and fish ponds. Located on the 4th floor of The Core Shopping Centre. 4th Floor, 317 7 Ave SW.
6. Check out a Calgary Parks Event at a park near you. Activities include loose parts play (cardboard, tape, etc.), games, nature walks, and more!
7. Take a nature walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre. Bring binoculars and a camera! (Note: no dogs or bikes permitted.) 2425 9 Ave SE.
8. Discover YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre. Try on a police uniform, sit in a police car, learn Street Smarts, and learn about forensic science at this state of the art facility. We did not expect to stay all afternoon – the exhibits are hands-on and amazing! Open Fridays & Saturdays 10 am – 4 pm. Admission by donation. 5111 47 St NE.
9. Explore Fish Creek Provincial Park’s ice falls and ice caves (weather permitting), and Artisan Garden with over 175 sculptures, then have Afternoon Tea at Bow Valley Ranche or ice cream at Annie’s Cafe (open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 am – 5 pm). 15979 Bow Bottom Trail SE.
10. Take some fun photos at High Park! Located on the top floor of the parkade, there are all sorts of signs, murals, and unique seats (including a swing and stationary bike) to take photos with. 340 10 Ave SW.
11. Smell the flowers at Reader Rock Garden. This gorgeous garden, just south of the Calgary Stampede Grounds, is a provincial historic resource and national historic site and is FREE to visit! While the best time to see flowers is in mid to late June, some of the hardy mountain species bloom earlier. Get coffee or lunch at Reader’s Garden Cafe in the lovingly restored Reader House (opening for the season April 26, 2024). 325 25 Ave SE.
12. Play Pokemon Go. Prince’s Island Park and University Research Park are great places to play as they have a high concentration of PokeStops (virtual supply stations). Can you catch ’em all?
13. Sample tasty treats at a Farmer’s Market. Calgary Farmer’s Market West (Wednesday – Sunday), Calgary Farmer’s Market South (Thursday-Sunday) and Crossroads Market (Friday-Sunday) are open year round!
14. If you have babies or toddlers, visit an Early Learning Centre at a Calgary Public Library near you. These awesome play spaces are FREE to enjoy and the free song & story programs (registration required to hold your spot) are a lot of fun too.
Calgary Attractions
1. Get in the game at Activate, “an active gaming experience.” Instead of moving your thumbs on a controller, you run, jump, hit targets, avoid obstacles, destroy asteroids, and balance to play! Play in groups of 2-5 to race the clock and level up. We worked up a sweat and had a BLAST! Two locations: North (2929 Sunridge Way NE, Unit #420) and Southwest (13226 Macleod Trail SE, Unit 146).
2. Up your biking skills at B-Line Indoor Bike Park. 60,000 square feet of fun with features for all levels! Bring your own bike and helmet or rent gear onsite. 401 33rd Street NE, Unit 6.
3. Visit the animals at The Calgary Zoo! Spring is a great time to visit the zoo as it isn’t too busy. If it’s cold out, there are lots of spaces to warm up in like the Penguin Plunge, African Savannah, African Rainforest, Kitamba Cafe, ENMAX Conservatory (look for butterflies in April!), Polar Bear Sanctuary, and River Lodge. Open year round! 210 St. George’s Dr NE.
4. Climb, play, and learn at Granary Road Active Learning Park. Re-opens for the season on May 1, 2024 (the market is open year-round). Visit their website for tickets & read about our experience here: A fun day at Granary Road Active Learning Park. 226066 112 St W.
5. Go back in time – ride a steam train, learn to make butter, and visit a historical village – at Heritage Park Staff in olden days clothes bring history to life at Canada’s largest living history museum. The Historical Village and Midway open for the season on May 20, 2024. 1900 Heritage Dr SW.
6. iFly indoor sky diving gives you the thrill of skydiving in a safe indoor environment. Adventurous kids aged 3 & up can fly (though I recommend 5 or 6 years old for most kids). An instructor is in the wind tunnel with you at all times, to guide you and cheer you on. To be honest, I was REALLY nervous about this, but I had a ton of fun! Leaning into the wind (vs. free falling from a plane) wasn’t scary, and floating on air was super cool. See our Instagram reel for a sneak peek! 811 64 Ave NE.
7. Ride the 1.8 km Downhill Karting track at Winsport! You control the speed to go as fast as you like. Don’t forget to steer! Opens May 20, 2024. 88 Canada Olympic Rd SW.
8. Discover Telus Spark: Kids will love the interactive exhibits, digital immersion gallery (Space theme this spring!), Creative Kids Museum for kids up to 8 years old, movies at the Infinity Dome Theatre (Worlds of Ice on now, Jane Goodall film starts April 20, 2024), and 19 metre / 63 foot long slide and climbers in the Brainasium outdoor play area. 220 Saint George’s Dr NE.
9. Feed thousands of fish and explore the Discovery Center at Bow Habitat Station. It’s $2 to feed the fish and $5 for a 30-minute Fish Hatchery Tour. Fish feeding was our favorite, but the tour and birthday parties are really well done too (parties are great for Grades K-3). Explore Pearce Estate Park’s wetlands trail after! Open Tuesday-Saturday: 10 AM – 4 PM. 1440 17a St SE.
10. Take the plane lover in your family to the Hangar Flight Museum, home to 27 rare military and civilian aircraft. Read more in my story: Hanging out at the Hangar Flight Museum. 4629 McCall Way NE.
11. Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre is where you can play, hear, and celebrate music. Check the calendar for live performances or behind the scenes tours! 850 4 St SE.
Spring 2024 Events in Calgary
1. February 2 – April 14, 2024: Mirror Mirror by Moment Factory is an immersive multimedia experience with 9 cool installations. Go in any order you like, at your own pace. You can stay as long as you like, but most people spend about 45 minutes taking in the sights and sounds. Located at the north end of Chinook Mall on the main floor. 6455 Macleod Trail South.
2. March 29 – April 1, 2024; 9 am – 5 pm: The Easter Egg-stravaganza at The Calgary Zoo has treats, Easter activities, and lots of photo opps. Animals will be getting Easter-themed enrichment; see what’s new in their enclosures.
3. March 23, 2024, 7 pm – 9:30 pm: Celebrate Calgary Unplugged for Earth Hour at Calgary Central Library with musical performances, games, and crafts! Music and lights will be bike powered. 🙂
4. Saturdays & Sundays from March 30 – April 14, 2024: Butterfield Acres Baby Days welcomes baby animals to the farm. Help bottle feed babies, get photos with them, see the Easter Bunny, or watch a milking or shearing demonstration! See our Instagram Reel here.
5. April 13 – 14, 2024, 10 am – 4 pm: Aggie Days at the Calgary Stampede features real farm animals, stock dog demos, and an extreme cowboy race. FREE!
5. May 4, 5, 10, 11, & 12, 2024: Day Out with Thomas at Heritage Park is your chance to get a photo with Thomas the Tank Engine and Sir Topham Hatt, do some crafts, enjoy live music and face painting, and of course go on a train ride!
With all these fun things to do in Calgary this spring, which will you try first?
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