A brand new festival from the City of Calgary hopes to get Calgarians outdoors this weekend for some winter fun.
FrostFest, launching this Friday, will be featuring a variety of family-friendly and date-night-friendly activities outdoors over the weekend.
“We know that Calgarians love to get outside and experience all that Calgary has to offer outdoors, even when the weather turns cold,” said Kyle Ripley, director for Calgary Parks, in a prepared release.
Activities include a Forest Friends animal light display, The DOOR(s) art display, ice sculpture carving, drum groups performing, stilt walkers, and for the kids, play forts.
Couples looking to enjoy a fun date night out can warm up together at the fire pits, step out of the cold into one of the warming huts, or enjoy the fully-licensed Warming Café.
The events begin at 4 p.m. and go to 9 p.m., Friday through Sunday at Valleyview Park. The fun continues next weekend, Nov. 26 through Nov. 28, with the same hours at Sacramento Park.
Sacramento Park is also a popular spot in Calgary for tobogganers, although Environment Canada has not predicted much snow to fall by next week in Calgary.
Food trucks will also be available both weekends at both parks.
Turning winter into a win for Calgarians
In 2019, Calgary city council directed city administrators to create a Winter City Strategy. The goal was to lengthen the festival season in Calgary, and to improve the winter economy.
“As a new winter event, I am excited to see FrostFest putting Winter City Strategy initiatives into action to help Calgarians have fun outdoors, support local business, and showcase local artists during the start of this winter season,” said Jennifer Davis, winter city business strategist with Calgary Recreation.
Another event that the City of Calgary has put on included Chinook Blast, which took place in February of this year, and is due to return in January 2022.
