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Heritage Park's new train, Netflix in High River, & Penny Crown (+Flames vs Sabres)

Here's what's going on this week in Calgary, Alberta.

Author

From Calgary
December 08, 2025

In partnership with

Here's what's going on this week in Calgary, Alberta.

📰 In this edition of From Calgary

  • Heritage Park's New Ride: A diesel-electric addition to the holiday magic.

  • Hollywood in High River: Netflix films the Santa Claus Parade.

  • Teddy Bear Toss: Community heroes at Max Bell Arena.

  • Flames vs. Sabres: Game night details.

  • New Restaurant Alert: Penny Crown in Marda Loop.

  • The Elf Bar: A holiday pop-up you can't miss.

  • And more!

Top 3 Stories

🚂 Heritage Park Unveils New Holiday Train

Heritage Park is adding a major new attraction to its "Once Upon a Christmas" event this year. For the first time, the park has introduced a diesel-electric locomotive to the festivities. This new "Heritage Holiday Train" offers a cozy winter ride complete with onboard entertainment and plenty of holiday cheer. It runs on weekends through December 23, giving families a new way to experience the park's winter wonderland.

🎥 High River Gets its Hollywood Close-Up

If you headed south to High River for their annual Santa Claus Parade, you might have spotted some extra cameras. Netflix was in town filming scenes for an upcoming holiday movie, using the authentic charm of High River’s parade as the backdrop. It’s not every day our local traditions get a global spotlight—keep an eye out for High River on your screens next holiday season!

🧸 Teddy Bear Toss at Max Bell

The holiday spirit is in full swing at the Max Bell Arena. It’s a classic hockey tradition: when the Calgary Hitmen score their first goal, fans hurl teddy bears onto the ice, which are then collected and donated to local charities. It’s a fun way to support families in need this Christmas. Over 27,000 teddy bears were tossed and collected and will be donated after yesterday’s game. Click here to watch 27,000 teddy bears rain down on the Saddledome.

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🏔️ TAKE A TRIP

Golden: The Perfect Winter Escape

Tucked deep in the Rocky Mountains where the Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers meet, Golden, B.C., is a winter destination that offers adventure far beyond the typical ski hill. Just a three-hour drive west of Calgary, this mountain town is less crowded than its Banff-Lake Louise neighbours, but offers access to some of the most stunning wilderness in the country, sitting right between six national parks.

Golden is perhaps best known as the home of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, renowned for its deep snow, high-alpine terrain, and the famous Eagle's Eye Restaurant (Canada’s highest dining experience). If skiing isn't your speed, try dog-sledding, take a guided snowmobile tour up to a stunning viewpoint, or walk across the iconic Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge—the longest freestanding timber-frame bridge in Canada. For a truly unique experience, visit the Northern Lights Wolf Centre, a non-profit organization offering educational tours where you can observe wolves in their natural habitat. Golden is the ideal spot for Calgarians looking for an authentic, action-packed mountain escape.

Unique accommodations in Bragg Creek:

🍽 Feature Restaurant: Penny Crown

Location: Marda Loop
Vibe: New York Style Tavern

If you haven't been to Marda Loop lately, you need to check out Penny Crown. From the team behind DOPO, Bar Rocca, and La Hacienda, this new spot is already making waves as a polished, energetic tavern that feels like a slice of NYC right here in YYC.

The menu is a standout, blending high-end comfort with tavern classics. The pepperoni butter scallops are an absolute must-try (yes, you read that right), and their Alberta beef burger is quickly entering the conversation for the best in the city. Whether you're there for a full dinner or just cocktails and bites, the atmosphere is buzzing.

Pro Tip: It’s busy! Book a table if you can, or sneak in early for a seat at the bar.

A quick word from today’s sponsor that helps keep the From Calgary Newsletter FREE!

Check out the Jaspr Air Purifier to improve the quality of the air you're breathing in your home or office. I have two of them in my house, and they're fantastic. Their Cyber Monday sale is 97% SOLD OUT… snag yours while you still can for $300 off. I recently swapped out my Jaspr air filter after the recommended 6 months. Look at all the gunk it filtered from the air in my home! Yuck!

REPORT

🌤️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

-3° / 4°

-9° / 4°

-10° / 3°

-23° / -10°

-23° / -26°

-20° / -14°

-16° / -9°

☁️

☀️

❄️

☁️

❄️

☁️

⛅️

🌤️ Pro Tip:The warm temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will cause a lot of melt, but with the rapid -20° temperature drop coming Wednesday, icy surfaces will form quickly on roads and sidewalks Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. If you're driving or walking, assume all wet patches are black ice. Check your tires and clear any gutters from Monday's rain/melt to prevent ice dams.

PETS: Time to meet some new friends. Mittens the cat, Joaquin the dog, and Franklin the turtle.

SKY: There is a Strong Geomagnetic Storm Watch (G3) in effect for Monday night and into Tuesday morning (Dec 8–9) due to a massive solar flare eruption over the weekend. This means conditions are highly favourable for viewing the Northern Lights in the Calgary region. To maximize your chances, look North between 11:00 PM tonight and 3:00 AM Tuesday morning, well away from city lights (like at Glenbow Ranch or Big Hill Springs Provincial Park). If you can brave the cold, it might be the strongest show of the season!

CALGARY FLAMES

After a slow start to the season, the Calgary Flames might have found their rhythm, securing two straight wins and going 6-3-1 in their last 10 games as they fight to climb the Western Conference standings. The recent surge has been fueled by outstanding play from goaltender Dustin Wolf, who just recorded his second shutout of the season on Saturday, and veteran leadership from players like Nazem Kadri, who is expected to return to the lineup tonight to stabilize the offense. With a home-heavy schedule now underway, the team is focused on building consistency.

View From Your Seats!

Upcoming Calgary Flames Games - Call / text 403-975-5515

Dec 8 vs Buffalo Sabres at 7:00 PM - SOLD OUT
Let me know how many you need, and I can source them for you!

Dec 10 vs Detroit Red Wings at 6:30 PM - SOLD OUT
Let me know how many you need, and I can source them for you! 

Dec 18 vs Seattle Kraken at 7:00 PM
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 or 4 tickets) – SOLD
Sec 206, Row 19 (2 or 4 tickets) – $82/pair

Please call / text 403-975-5515

Dec 20 vs Las Vegas Golden Knights at 8:00 PM
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 or 4 tickets) – SOLD
Sec 206, Row 19 (2 tickets) – SOLD
Sec 206, Row 19 (2 tickets) – $154/pair

Dec 27 vs Edmonton Oilers at 7:00 PM - Battle of Alberta
Sec 206, Row 18 (2 or 4 tickets) – SOLD
Sec 206, Row 19 (2 or 4 tickets) – SOLD
Sec 219, Row 17 (2 tickets) – SOLD
Sec 219, Row 20 (2 or 4 tickets) – Text for price

Dec 29 vs Boston Bruins at 7:00 PM - SOLD OUT
Let me know how many you need, and I can source them for you! 

Dec 31 vs Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 PM - SOLD OUT
Let me know how many you need, and I can source them for you! 

Please call / text 403-975-5515

[BUSINESS OWNERS: Want to advertise to smart Calgary locals? Reply to [email protected] and let me know!]

HAPPENINGS

MONDAY, Dec 8

  • Calgary Flames vs. Buffalo Sabres @ 7:00 PM, Scotiabank Saddledome. Text 403-975-5515 for tickets.

  • Merry Mondays at Zoolights @ 5:00 PM. Enjoy 20% off admission if you grab tickets for tonight!

TUESDAY, Dec 9

  • F3 FREE Men’s Workout @ 5:30 AM. 2019 Chicoutimi Drive. (Details about F3 Calgary Men’s Workouts)

  • Calgary Wranglers vs. Coachella Valley Firebirds @ 7:00 PM, Scotiabank Saddledome. Support the future Flames stars!

  • West Island College Winter Concert @ Jack Singer Concert Hall. A festive evening of student performances.

WEDNESDAY, Dec 10

  • Calgary Flames vs. Detroit Red Wings @ 6:30 PM, Scotiabank Saddledome. Text 403-975-5515 for tickets.

  • A Christmas Carol @ Theatre Calgary (Max Bell Theatre). The classic returns with Doug McKeag as Scrooge.

THURSDAY, Dec 11

FRIDAY, Dec 12

  • Market Collective @ BMO Centre. Weekend 2 kicks off! Shop from local artists, enjoy live music, and grab some food truck eats.

  • Enchanted Festival @ Spruce Meadows. Christmas lights, markets, and reindeer!

SATURDAY, Dec 13

SUNDAY, Dec 14

QUADRANTS

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THANK YOU!

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Chat soon,

Brent
Publisher - From Calgary

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