Calgary’s Best Christmas Light Displays
Travel Alberta / Andy Young @sunpluse.ay
It's the most wonderful time of the year and there's no better way to get into the holiday spirit than by checking out Calgary's dazzling, sparkling Christmas lights.
Perhaps the most popular holiday light display in Calgary is ZOOLIGHTS. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this yearly tradition has become a favourite among Calgarians and visitors alike. The award-winning display at the Calgary Zoo features all kinds of animals, Christmas characters, and mythical creatures. There is also an outdoor market, skating rink, and firepits to warm up around. ZOOLIGHTS runs nightly until January 2, 2022.
The Lions Festival of Lights is another long-standing tradition in Calgary. In fact, the festival has been delighting attendees for 35 years! Located in Confederation Park, the display is organized and set up by volunteers with the Lions Festival of Lights Society as a way to give back to the community and spread some Christmas cheer. The lights are illuminated nightly throughout the holiday season and can be viewed from 14 Street NW.
Spruce Meadows is transformed into a holiday wonderland each Christmas with thousands of lights strung up throughout the grounds. It will definitely be worth adding this to the list of holiday light displays to check out this December.
Get in out of the cold at Sparkle Sparkle. This indoor 'Winter Palace' light display at Telus Spark Science Centre features LED walls and strings of hanging lights. The Immersive Snowstorm Experience uses floor-to-ceiling projection technology to give you the feeling of walking through a blizzard without the pesky snow and freezing temperatures.
There are plenty of decorated homes in Calgary that give Clark Griswold a run for his money. The community of Legacy has been putting on a Christmas Light Parade for the past seven years. Take a walk or drive around the neighbourhood until January 10 to see it for yourself. You can also map out a tour around the city to see festive decked-out homes thanks to the website Lighten UP Calgary.
Travel Alberta / Tourism Calgary
