The Winds are Shifting – Week 2 of Chinook Blast
It seems like the only Chinook we’re getting this year is in the form of the event! We were frosted out last weekend, but this weekend is looking slightly warmer, meaning more outdoor activities are on the horizon.
Just in time, too! If you’ve been looking for more ways to support local lately, this is your chance. Calgary needs a reason to celebrate all things Calgarian (and Canadian), so come out and see local artists, musicians, performers, athletes, and more!
Olympic Plaza is under construction, but you can still find us on Stephen Ave and at The Confluence.
What to do tonight in Calgary – Friday, February 7
On Stephen Ave
Wish Upon a Snow Globe helps you unfreeze your wishes, hopes, and dreams by adding them to a personalized, unique snowflake before joining others in the life-size community snow globe. Make your wish on Friday from 6 – 9 pm or Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 5 pm.
Warm up inside the Pioneer for the Authentically Indigenous Pop-Up Winter Market, where you can find traditional and contemporary crafts, Inuit throat singing, powwows and more. Open on Friday from 5 – 7 pm, Saturday from 1 – 9 pm, and Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm.
At the RISE UP Community Outdoor Stage, catch ZENON+’s Neo-soul melodies that are sometimes a little chill and sometimes a little sassy from 6:45 – 8 pm.
Stick around for One Big Jam’s interactive jam session from 8:30 – 10 pm.
While you’re there, keep an eye out for the Casting Cart, a mobile light installation that allows you to project vibrant colours and designs onto any surface. It will roam from 6 – 9 pm, starting at the west end of Stephen Ave. If you miss it tonight, come back tomorrow when it starts from the east end of Stephen Ave.
Seek out lights, or let GLOWful Wanderings’ light-up stilt performers come to you between 6 – 8 pm.
For the night owls, The Little Red Ball roaming circus performance stays out a little later from 8 – 10 pm.
What to do on Saturday, February 8
At The Confluence
To make up for lost time, we’ve extended the hours at The Confluence from 11 am – 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Celebrities Karla Marx and Kaos from Canada’s Drag Race, season 4, are taking to the ice from 2 – 4 pm for Drag on Ice 3.
Delayne Modern Sculpture and Icemanjulian tackle ice in another form: ice carving! Watch them work their magic from 1 – 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Check out the full schedule at The Confluence, including free skating, DJ performances, horse-drawn wagon rides, and a beer and snack garden.
In Kensington
Celebrating Indigenous Arts in Kensington is a vibrant showcase of arts and culture. Join us outside from 12 – 2 pm.
In the East Village
Cross-country ski at Nordic at Night under the stars and the light of the glow party! Bring your own skis and enjoy music, roving performers, hot drinks and a fire pit from 5:30 – 8 pm.
On Stephen Ave
Make your way back to the RISE UP Community Outdoor Stage for some blues and roots with Brother Ray Lemelin and the Matinee Kings from 6:45 – 8 pm.
Followed by DJ BLKFT’s seamless blend of house, techno, hip-hop, and global beats from 8:30 – 10 pm.
The aGoGo performers are back this year to heat up Stephen Avenue from 8 – 9 pm.
Keep an eye out for the Festival of Animated Objects as well! These life-sized puppets can be sneaky, so stay alert for a mischievous squirrel, an enchanting ice dragon, and a trickster from 8 – 9 pm.
Kid.Be is back at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, embarking on a Shadow Bombing Tour and artist talk from 6 – 10 pm.
Across the City
Try a new sport for free between February 8 – 17 with All Sport One City! Register for luge, boxing, fencing, recess games, disc golf, water fitness, climbing, and so much more.
What to do on Sunday, February 9
At The Confluence
Calgary Surge Outdoor Basketball invites you to join pick-up games, test your skills with interactive activities, and win exciting prizes from 1 – 3 pm.
Strap on your skates (or free rentals, provide by Alberta Blue Cross) and groove along to the Disco Blast Sunday Skate Party from 2 – 4 pm, presented by Arts Commons Presents and Springboard Performance.
There’s More to See and Do in Calgary this Weekend
Visit the events calendar for more music, arts, installations, sports, and food and drink specials.
Win Big
Have you spotted the hidden augmented reality (AR) mascots around Chinook Blast? Keep finding them and entering to win a swag bag and a $100 gift card to The Core.