They say it’s the most wonderful time of the year. They say there’s no place like home for the holidays. They say it is the season to be jolly.
All true, but the season does have a little stress. With extra visitors, kids off school, and lingering dark winter nights, families can feel stir-crazy after the dust (glitter?) of Christmas settles. But with the inevitable Christmas bills coming due, you might be feeling the pressure of watching a budget (especially this year!). Raising a family can be costly, and it’s always great to have some budget-friendly ideas for fun things to do with your family.
(Mostly) Cheap Things to Do Over Winter Break
Click each title for more information.
Board Game Cafes
Board games have become a quintessential family activity over the years. But instead of forking out all the money to buy all the games, check out one of the many board game cafes in Calgary. For a fee, your family can buy some snacks and try out some new games.
Calgary Public Library
I’m sure it’s not just me: I love the public library. Not only can you save money (and room in your house) by borrowing books, music, and movies, but they have many services and online resources, too. They have games, toys, and puzzles to amuse you, plus programs, so check out your local branch. It’s a great place to get out of the house together!
Christmas Lights
Have you had enough of Christmas yet?! If not, many places in Calgary will have their Christmas lights up through New Year’s Eve, and sometimes through winter break. Bundle up and take a walk through a brightly lit park. Or grab yourself a coffee, pack the kids into their car seats, and drive past some lovely lights!
Devonian Gardens
Winter can be cold, and sometimes you just get tired of snow pants, hats, and mitts. (Or, maybe you get tired of kids losing them everywhere you go.) Devonian Gardens is a unique indoor oasis located downtown in the CORE shopping centre. It’s a lovely, warm, FREE place to visit on a cold day. If you have kids who love the train, take the C-train downtown to add to the fun!
Geocaching
Geocaching is generally considered more of a summer activity, but there’s no reason not to get outside on nice winter days, too! It will give you an excuse to go exploring. For tips and tricks on winter geocaching, see the official geocaching blog.
Indigo Kids
Head to a participating IndigoKids location at 1 pm from January 2 – 5, 2025, for FREE winter break fun! Expect storytime, activities, and more. Check with your local store for the exact schedule.
Sam Centre
The Sam Centre is a brand-new Calgary experience that shares the Stampede Story through multiple mediums, such as exhibits, an archival collection, and immersive media. You will experience the Stampede’s greatest stories, year-round at Sam Centre. Discover The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth in a whole new way—through captivating exhibits, immersive multimedia shows, and compelling storytelling at Sam Centre. This holiday season, you can visit from December 21, 2024 – January 5, 2025, for only $10 a family (up to 10 people). Plus, there will be ‘Cowpoke Crafts’ every Saturday.
Skating
Instead of swooping down a hill, grab your skates and head to one of the many beautiful skating rinks. The City of Calgary has multiple outdoor skating rinks that are maintained by the city and are free to use. In addition, dozens of rinks are maintained by the Adopt-A-Rink program and many communities also have community rinks. Outdoor rinks are dependent on weather, of course, although the ice surface at Central Commons Park is refrigerated. If the weather is too cold (or too warm), indoor rinks are usually relatively inexpensive, too. There are usually even a couple of City of Calgary arenas where you can skate for free on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Sledding
As much as we complain about our weather, we often have sunny, lovely winter days. If we have enough snow, there are lots of great places to head outside and enjoy the fresh, crisp air. Plus, the kids will burn all kinds of energy running up and down a hill! The City of Calgary has designated specific locations in every quadrant that are safe for tobogganing.
Staples Kids’ Events
There’s FREE fun at Staples Stores, with special in-store kids’ events! January’s event is on January 8, 2025, from 5 – 7 PM. Depending on location, you’ll find Crayola Create It Yourself Penguin Paper Plate craft or a Waddle Into Fun Rainbow Loom Penguin activity. Register with your local store.
Swimming
Yes, it’s winter and baby, it might be cold outside. But that can be a great reason to head to the pool, especially if it has a hot tub or a steam room! And there is nothing like water play to help wear the kids out. The City of Calgary has many indoor pools where families can play, generally for under $20. The two City of Calgary leisure centres are a little more money, but they also offer more activities. Of course, there are lots of other recreation facilities in and around the city, too.
YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre
Part museum and part learning centre, the YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre lets kids indulge their fascination with police and the law. Enjoy hands-on, interactive exhibits. The Centre helps kids start thinking about issues they will be facing in the world today so they can make good decisions and become responsible citizens. YouthLink is free, but they do ask for a $20 donation per family, if possible.
Are you going crazy in the house? I completely understand.
So, Get Out and Play!
Whether winter break flies by for you and your family or feels like a lifetime, add some playtime to your holidays. Everyone needs a break from the house, and you can make some wonderful – and maybe surprising! – memories.
