Ghouls' Night Out turns Heritage Park's Historical Village into a Halloween wonderland for three nights, the Dash of Doom puts runners and dogs in costume at North Glenmore Park on Saturday, and the Saddledome has hockey on all three days. The Calgary New & Used Ski Sale opens in its new home on Tsuut'ina Nation, Kensington's Pup Crawl goes trick-or-treating on Sunday, and the farms and theatre runs that started in early October all have their final weekend.
Saturday is the big day: a Halloween skate at the Olympic Oval at noon, the dog costume parade at the Dash of Doom at 2:15, Ghouls' Night Out from 5 and the Flames at 8. Sunday is gentler, with the Pup Crawl, a free artisan market in a red barn and Corpse Bride on the big screen.
Fifteen things worth doing in Calgary this weekend, with times, addresses and what each one costs.
Ghouls' Night Out at Heritage Park
Family
Calgary's favourite family Halloween night: the Historical Village fills with lights, a Halloween maze, classic characters, crafts, games and spooky storytelling. Meet the Ghostbusters and get a photo with Ecto-1, decorate a cookie, shop the Halloween market and, if you dare, try the haunted house. Bring treat bags and come in costume. Tickets are dated and non-refundable, so buy for the night you can actually make. Thursday is a separate adults-only night; Friday to Sunday are the family nights.
When: Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, 5 to 9 p.m.; Sunday, October 25, 3 to 7 p.m.
Where: Heritage Park Historical Village, 1900 Heritage Drive SW
Cost: $24.95 ages 16 and up, $18.95 ages 3 to 15, plus GST
Hockey all weekend at the Saddledome
Sports
Three games in three days in the Saddledome's farewell season: the Hitmen host the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday at 7 p.m., the Flames take on the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday at 8 p.m., and the Hitmen are back on Sunday at 4 p.m. against the Saskatoon Blades. The Sunday Hitmen game is the cheap family pick, from about $19.75, and it is over in time for dinner. Flames tickets start around $35. Take the CTrain to Victoria Park/Stampede for all three.
When: Friday 7 p.m. (Hitmen), Saturday 8 p.m. (Flames), Sunday 4 p.m. (Hitmen)
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise SE
Cost: Hitmen from about $19.75, Flames from about $35
Dash of Doom at North Glenmore Park
Active
Run Calgary's Halloween race is the most fun you can have in running shoes this month: a pet-friendly 5 km, a 10 km and a kids' race that you can run, walk or roll, with almost everyone in costume. The dog costume parade starts at 2:15, the kids' race at 2:45 and the 5 and 10 km waves from 3:30. Strollers are allowed on both adult courses. Even if you are not racing, the parade is worth the trip.
When: Saturday, October 24; dog costume parade 2:15 p.m., kids' race 2:45 p.m., 5 and 10 km from 3:30 p.m.
Where: North Glenmore Park, 7305 Crowchild Trail SW
Cost: Registration from about $25; free to watch
Frozen Frights: Halloween on Ice at the Olympic Oval
Family
The Olympic Oval turns Saturday afternoon into a Halloween skate on the same ice the world's fastest speed skaters train on. Skating in costume is the whole point, and the families who come dressed as superheroes, skeletons and inflatable chickens set the bar. It runs noon to 5 p.m. and costs less than a movie ticket. Helmets are a good idea for small skaters.
When: Saturday, October 24, noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Olympic Oval, University of Calgary, 288 Collegiate Boulevard NW
Cost: $7.25
Calgary New & Used Ski Sale
Shopping
The ski sale that has been a Calgary tradition since 1963 has moved after 30 years at the Max Bell Centre: this year it is at the Chief Jim Starlight Centre in the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex on Tsuut'ina Nation, near Anderson Road and Stoney Trail. Expect racks of new and consigned skis, boards, boots and clothing. Friday night gets the best selection; Sunday is red-tag day, with 50 per cent off red-tagged items. Your map app may label the address as Priddis.
When: Friday, October 23, 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, October 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Chief Jim Starlight Centre, 7 Chiefs Sportsplex, 19 Bullhead Road, Tsuut'ina Nation
Cost: $10, children 16 and under free, free parking
Pup Crawl in Kensington
Free
Kensington's annual Pup Crawl is trick-or-treating for dogs: dress your dog in its spookiest costume and walk the neighbourhood, collecting treats at participating businesses. There is a Halloween photo booth and a caricature artist on the outdoor plaza along Kensington Road. Go early in the window, before the popular stops run out of treats.
When: Sunday, October 25, 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Kensington, along Kensington Road and 10 Street NW
Cost: Free
The Halloween Market at the Shawnessy Barn
Free
The Barn Artisan Market's monthly Sunday market has a Halloween theme this time: more than 30 Alberta makers across two floors of the old red Shawnessy Barn, selling handmade and locally made goods, with a fresh line-up of vendors every month. Admission and parking are both free. It is a good early start on holiday gifts.
When: Sunday, October 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: The Shawnessy Barn, 224 Shawmeadows Road SW
Cost: Free
Frightful Family Favourites: Corpse Bride at The Confluence
Family
The second of The Confluence's two Halloween movie Sundays is Tim Burton's stop-motion Corpse Bride, shown in the Burnswest Theatre. It is all ages, and a ticket includes a small popcorn and admission to the cultural centre. Doors open at 1:30 and the film starts at 2. Registration was due October 22, so check online that seats remain before you head over.
When: Sunday, October 25, 2 to 4 p.m. (doors 1:30)
Where: Burnswest Theatre, The Confluence, 750 9 Avenue SE
Cost: $12 plus fees
Cavalry FC at ATCO Field
Sports
The club is billing Sunday as the chase for the CPL Shield continuing at ATCO Field, with the regular-season title race going down to the wire. Spruce Meadows' small stadium is the best atmosphere for the money in Calgary sport, and a title-race game is when it gets loudest. It is a long drive south with no train, so leave early and dress for a late-October afternoon. Kickoff time and tickets are on the club site.
When: Sunday, October 25 (kickoff time on the club site)
Where: ATCO Field, Spruce Meadows, 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW
Cost: From about $27
Little Shop of Horrors at Theatre Calgary, final weekend
Culture
Theatre Calgary's take on the cult musical about a florist's assistant and a very hungry plant wraps up this weekend, and it has been close to selling out: the Friday and Saturday shows have extremely limited availability, and Sunday's 2 p.m. matinee has a few more seats. Theatre Calgary recommends it for ages 13 and up. It runs about two hours with an intermission.
When: Friday, October 23, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 24, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 25, 2 p.m.
Where: Max Bell Theatre, Werklund Centre, 205 8 Avenue SE
Cost: Tickets on the Theatre Calgary site
Clue the Musical at the Pumphouse, closing Sunday
Culture
MisFit Theatre's musical version of the board game closes on Sunday. The audience helps decide who killed Mr. Boddy, where and with what, so no two nights end the same way. Tickets are around $28, and it is the easy family theatre pick for kids old enough to play Clue.
When: Through Sunday, October 25
Where: Joyce Doolittle Theatre, Pumphouse Theatres, 2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW
Cost: About $28 plus fees
Fall Days and Harvest Lights at Calgary Farmyard, final weekend
Family
Last weekend of the fall season at the farm east of the city: corn maze, wagon and tractor rides, zip lines, a tube slide, the goat wall and a pumpkin patch during the day, then Harvest Lights on Friday and Saturday evenings, when the farm is lit up and the corn maze becomes a flashlight challenge. Friday and Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday 10 to 5.
When: Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Calgary Farmyard, 284022 Township Road 224, Rocky View County
Cost: About $25.95 to $29.95
Harvest Pumpkin Fest at Butterfield Acres, final weekend
Family
The working farm on Rocky Ridge Road is the gentle pumpkin outing for toddlers: pick a pumpkin, see the animals, ride the wagon and get the photo in front of the red barn. The festival ends on Sunday, so this is the last chance until next fall. Dress for the wind; the fields are wide open.
When: Through Sunday, October 25
Where: Butterfield Acres, 254077 Rocky Ridge Road
Cost: About $16.99 to $19.99
Pumpkins After Dark at WinSport
Family
The lit walk through thousands of hand-carved pumpkins on the hill at Canada Olympic Park has one week left: no jump scares, carving demonstrations and food trucks along the path. Entry is timed, and the final-weekend evening slots go first, so book the time you want. Dress warmer than you think; the wind finds the hill.
When: Evenings through October 31
Where: WinSport, Canada Olympic Park, 88 Canada Olympic Road SW
Cost: From about $17 plus fees, timed entry
SUE: The T. rex Experience at TELUS Spark
Family
The most complete T. rex ever found is at Spark until November 29, with the giant-screen T.REX film in the Infinity Dome and the Impossible Geometries exhibition alongside, all included in regular admission. It is the standard cold-weekend move, which means the lot is full by 11; arrive at opening or after 2.
When: Through November 29
Where: TELUS Spark Science Centre, 220 St. George's Drive NE
Cost: Regular admission
Editor's Pick: Saturday, done as a Halloween triple. The Frozen Frights skate at the Olympic Oval when it opens at noon, the Dash of Doom dog costume parade at North Glenmore Park at 2:15, and then Ghouls' Night Out at Heritage Park from 5, which is a ten-minute drive from Glenmore. Wear the same costume all day.
Know an event we missed? Tag us @culturealberta or email hello@culturealberta.com.
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