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Free skates, free swims, and a snowy Thanksgiving 🦃
Here's what's happening in Calgary this Thanksgiving long weekend.
From Calgary
October 10, 2026
In partnership with
Hey Calgary, and happy Thanksgiving long weekend! Grab a coffee and maybe your snow boots, because Mother Nature is serving a white weekend before the sun comes back for Monday.
We've got free skating and swimming on Thanksgiving Monday, a shiny new $26 million sports park in the northwest, and the scoop on whether you can still sneak in one last round of golf.
Plus a sweet new bakery, cute pets looking for a home, and a Flames team still hunting for its first win. Let's get into it.
🍂 City Spotlight: Fall Colours at Fish Creek's Bow Valley Ranch
Last call for leaves. If the snow leaves a few golden trees standing, Fish Creek Provincial Park is where you want to be on Monday. Start at Bow Valley Ranch (15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE), park, and pick your adventure.
Short and sweet: The Stream Changes Trail by the Visitor Centre is about 1.3 km. It's perfect for little legs and grandparents after a big turkey dinner. A bit longer: The paved Bow Valley Ranch to Sikome loop is roughly 5 km, or about 1.5 hours at an easy pace.
Good to know: It's FREE. Day-use parking runs 8 AM to 8 PM, and the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre is open 10 AM to 4 PM. There's construction in the Central Corridor, so watch for detour signs. Bring layers, a thermos, and grippy shoes, because trails could be slushy after the weekend snow. Verify current trail conditions at albertaparks.ca.
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⛸️ Free Skating and Swimming on Thanksgiving Monday
Need to burn off that second helping of pie? The City is hosting free family skates on Monday, Oct 12, from 1 to 2:15 PM and 2:30 to 3:45 PM. You'll find them at Shouldice Arena (1515 Home Rd NW), Stu Peppard Arena (5300 19 St SW), Murray Copot Arena (6727 Centre St NW), and Rose Kohn/Jimmie Condon Arena (502 Heritage Dr SW).
Prefer the pool? Free family swims run 1 to 2:30 PM and 3 to 4:30 PM at Glenmore Aquatic Centre (5330 19 St SW) and Thornhill Aquatic & Recreation Centre (6715 Centre St NW). The City asks folks to pick just one swim slot, because these get busy. Bonus: on-street ParkPlus parking is free all day Monday. Free fun and free parking. Now that's something to be thankful for.
⚽ Rocky Ridge Athletic Park Is Officially Open
Northwest Calgary just got a serious upgrade. The new $26 million Rocky Ridge Athletic Park is open at 9700 Country Hills Blvd NW, right next to the Shane Homes YMCA. It has two multi-use artificial turf fields with lights for evening games, plus washrooms, parking and spectator seating. Council approved it back in 2021 and construction started in September 2024. It brings the City's athletic park network to 15 parks and 31 soccer fields. More bookable field space means more games, more practices, and fewer parents fighting over the last open slot. Lace 'em up, northwest.
⛳ Snow Delay: City Golf Courses Closed Saturday and Sunday, Monday Is Last Call
Golfers, we have to talk. With below-zero temperatures and snow in the forecast, all City of Calgary golf courses and driving ranges are closed Saturday, Oct 10 and Sunday, Oct 11. The good news? They're set to reopen on Thanksgiving Monday, just as the sun comes back. Monday is also the final day of the season at McCall Par 3, so it's your last shot at a quick nine there. Forecasts keep changing, so check calgary.ca/golfschedule before you load the clubs into the trunk. Snow on Saturday, tee time on Monday. Peak Calgary.
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🍞 Featured Restaurant: Sora Bake & Tea House
Location: 5828 Macleod Trail SW
Vibe: Cozy, Japanese, snack-happy
Calgary's first café dedicated to Japanese salt bread (shio pan) is here, and it's the perfect snowy-day stop. Salt bread is a buttery, crisp-bottomed roll with a pinch of flaky salt on top. Pair one with a hot tea and you've found the cure for a grey October afternoon. It's baked fresh every day with fillings from sweet to savoury, so order the classic first and pair it with their organic matcha or hojicha. It's tucked inside Tokyo Street Market, so make a lap of the market while you're there. Open daily, 11 AM to 9 PM.
A quick word from today's sponsor that helps keep the From Calgary Newsletter FREE!
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REPORT
🌤️ 7-Day Weather Forecast
SAT 10 | SUN 11 | MON 12 | TUE 13 | WED 14 | THU 15 | FRI 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3° / -1° 🌨️ | 0° / -2° ❄️ | 5° / -4° 🌤️ | 11° / -1° ☁️ | 16° / 2° ⛅ | 11° / 5° ☁️ | 18° / 4° ☀️ |
Heads up: Snow boots on, turkey in the oven. Saturday starts wet and turns white, and Sunday brings more flurries before things taper off overnight. The sun shows up for Thanksgiving Monday, and by Friday we're back near 18°, so don't put the patio chairs away just yet.
PETS: Time to meet some new friends. Hank the dog, Figaro the cat, and Atticus Finch the bird are all looking for forever homes.
CALGARY FLAMES
Featured Game - Ovechkin’s Last Game in Calgary
Dec 5 vs Washington Capitals at 2:30 PM
Sec 205, Row 19 (2 tickets) - $350/pair
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 or 4 tickets) - SOLD
It's been a rough start. The Flames are 0-4-0, last in the Pacific, and they've been outscored 23-6 through losses to Seattle (twice), Vancouver, and Colorado. The good news is it's October, and there's a lot of hockey left. Saturday night's home date with Anaheim is a real chance to get that first W and flip the mood in the Saddledome. This is a young group still finding its identity. One win can change the vibe fast, so let's get loud.
Upcoming Calgary Flames Games - Call / text 403-975-5515
Oct 10 vs Anaheim Ducks at 8:00 PM
Sec 208, Row 16 (2 tickets) - $150/pair
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 or 4 tickets) - SOLD
Oct 18 vs Carolina Hurricanes at 6:00 PM
Sec 208, Row 19 (2 tickets) - $150/pair
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 or 4 tickets) - SOLD
Oct 22 vs Minnesota Wild at 7:00 PM
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 tickets) - $129/pair
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 tickets) - SOLD
Oct 24 vs Detroit Red Wings at 6:30 PM
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 or 4 tickets) - $195/pair
Oct 26 vs Toronto Maple Leafs at 6:30 PM
Sec 206, Row 20 (2 tickets) - $399/pair
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 or 4 tickets) - SOLD
HAPPENINGS
FEATURED EVENT - FREE Men’s Workouts!
Here's the deal: it's free, it's outdoors, and nobody cares how fit you are. F3 is a men's workout group that meets outside 4 times per week in the early morning.
No gym membership. No registration. No judgment. You show up, you follow along, you get better. Every workout is different, every workout is led by a fellow member, and every workout will push you.
Men across Calgary are showing up in the dark, in the cold, and walking away sharper, stronger, and more connected than they've been in years. Your only barrier is your alarm clock. Set it, wake up, and show up.
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30–6:15 AM Saturdays & Sundays, 6:30–7:30 AM
Unlock your potential at a FREE Men's Workout at 2019 Chicoutimi Dr. NW (MAP).
SATURDAY 10th
F3 Calgary FREE Men's Workout, 6:30–7:30 AM at 2019 Chicoutimi Dr NW. Snow? Even better.
F3 McKenzie Lake FREE Men's Workout, 6:30–7:30 AM at 16210 McKenzie Lake Way SE. Southeast crew, rise and grind.
Butterfield Acres – Harvest Pumpkin Festival from 10 AM to 3 PM. Tractor rides, pony rides, a firepit and pumpkins to take home.
Calgary Farmyard – Fall Days and Harvest Lights from 10 AM to 9:30 PM. Corn maze by day, glowing pumpkins by night.
Jack Singer Concert Hall – CPO presents Disney's Moana Live-to-Film at 2:30 PM. The full orchestra plays the soundtrack live while the movie rolls.
GMC Stadium – Screamfest from 7 PM to midnight. Seven haunted houses, monster truck rides and the Slingshot. Not for the faint of heart.
Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks at 8:00 PM. Time for win number one. Sec 208, Row 16 (2 tickets) - $150/pair. Call / text 403-975-5515 for tickets
SUNDAY 11th
F3 Calgary FREE Men's Workout, 6:30–7:30 AM at 2019 Chicoutimi Dr NW. Earn the turkey.
Heritage Park – Thanksgiving at the Wainwright Hotel from 11 AM to 3:30 PM. Squash soup, roast turkey and pumpkin pie, and somebody else does the dishes.
Calaway Park – Halloweekends with a parade at 3:30 PM. Costumes encouraged for kids and grown-ups.
Butterfield Acres – Harvest Pumpkin Festival from 10 AM to 3 PM. Your last weekend chance to pick a pumpkin there.
Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary Wranglers home game. Affordable pro hockey on a snowy Sunday.
MONDAY 12th (Thanksgiving)
F3 Nose Hill FREE Ruck, 5:30–6:15 AM at Nose Hill Parking Lot, Brisebois Dr & John Laurie Dr NW. Pack on, holiday mode off.
F3 McKenzie Lake FREE Ruck, 5:30–6:15 AM at 16210 McKenzie Lake Way SE.
City Arenas – FREE Family Skate at 1 PM and 2:30 PM. Shouldice, Stu Peppard, Murray Copot and Rose Kohn/Jimmie Condon.
Glenmore and Thornhill Pools – FREE Family Swim at 1 PM and 3 PM. Please pick just one slot.
Scotiabank Saddledome – Hitmen vs Victoria Royals at 1:00 PM. A holiday matinee for the whole family.
Calgary Zoo – Open Thanksgiving Monday from 9 AM to 6 PM. Walk off dinner with the penguins.
TELUS Spark – Open Thanksgiving Monday from 9 AM to 4 PM. A great rainy (or snowy) day backup for the kids.
McCall Par 3 – Last Day of the Golf Season. Weather permitting, so check the golf schedule first.
Getting around: Transit runs a Sunday schedule, and the Red Line is closed between Chinook and Heritage all weekend, with shuttle buses running instead.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for reading From Calgary today. If you enjoyed this edition, found something useful, or learned something new, please share it with someone who lives in Calgary.
Chat soon,
Brent
Publisher - From Calgary
P.s. BUSINESS OWNERS: Want to advertise to smart Calgary locals? Email [email protected] (or reply to this email) and let me know!
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