Holiday Magic in the Canadian Rockies

Calgary is getting ready for Christmas and will be offering various activities to do, starting as early as November.

The festivities begin with the Christmas Market and Christmas Lights show at Spruce Meadows on November 26, 27 and 28, as well as on December 3, 4 and 5. More than 190 local artisans will offer their well-crafted products and all kinds of gourmet treats so you can do all your Christmas shopping in one place. Note that you must purchase a ticket online before arriving on site.

Another very popular venue is the Inglewood Night Market, which is held, as the name suggests, late at night. From 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., people are invited to the South Bank Building to come and find all of their Christmas presents from local artisans. Live music will be played every night. Admission is $5 and tickets can be purchased in advance or on site.

2021 marks the 25th anniversary of a popular Calgary activity, the Zoo Lights. Don’t be fooled, it's not just for kids! The Calgary Zoo puts on its prettiest Christmas decorations to wow visitors. This year promises to be even more spectacular than usual: there will be a light trail retracing all the previous editions of Zoo Lights, to mark their important milestone. There will also be more than 200 illuminated figures, a Christmas market, an icy ring for skating, and more. You can get your ticket now.

Then, move on to Banff, located a 1.5-hour drive from Le Germain Hotel Calgary and Alt Hotel Calgary East Village, to continue your magical holiday route. First stop: the Banff Christmas Market Head to the Warner Stables to stock up on crafts inspired by the Rockies, sample local specialties and enjoy a some festive shows.

Continue your Christmas journey in Banff by discovering the spectacular Banff’s Christmas Lighting Trail. It is a bright and lively outdoor course that tells a touching Christmas story.

Then there is the famous Banff and Lake Louise Hot Chocolate Route. For the occasion, restaurants and cafes in the area offer special editions of the traditional hot chocolate. There's nothing like a delicious hot drink to warm up after a long day outside!

With so much to see and so much to do, plan to spend a few days in Calgary so you have time to experience it all. The Le Germain Hotel Calgary and the Alt Hotel Calgary East Village will be happy to welcome you.