The Best Winter Festivals in Calgary, AB

It's winter in Calgary, which means it's time for Calgarians to bundle up and get ready to celebrate at one or more of the many festivals making their way through the city this year. From winter celebrations to alcohol tastings, Calgary's winter season is sure to have a festival to appeal to anyone looking for a few days of fun in the city.

Check out these upcoming Calgary winter festivals now:

Winterstart Festival

The Winterstart Festival is coming to town for the holidays. Starting November 16 and running through January 19, this festival is in town so you can enjoy the celebration of all things winter. You’ll get to experience the beautiful lights, culinary experiences and holiday cheer for the Winterstart Festival. It’s taking place at Banff National Park where you can spend the afternoon walking through the streets of boutiques in downtown Banff.

Stop in for a seasonal dish at many of the restaurant options and then enjoy a late night fire in your mountain getaway. You can also enjoy the World Cup racing or hit the trails yourself for some skiing fun. Here is a look at everything going on for the 2018 Winterstart Festival.

Starting November 16th at 10 a.m., you can start enjoying the Winterstart Festival events. As the festival continues through January 19, you can take part in the Reel Time Film Screening of The Lunchbox at The Banff Centre, a Visual Arts Lecture Series and Karaoke with Bull Riding night at Wild Bill’s Legendary Saloon. You can learn how to curl, enjoy Ladies Audi FIS Ski World Cup Downhill, try the CP Holiday Train and check out Demo Day at the Lake Louise Ski Resort.

Don’t miss the day with Santa Claus which will include a Parade of Lights, holiday wagon rides and shopping.

During the festival, there will be shopping specials, restaurants serving seasonal dishes and lodging specials. Check out JK Bakery, Maclab Bistro and The Three Ravens Restaurant & Wine Bar. Don’t miss out on this year’s Winterstart Festival celebrating the holidays around Calgary.

Calgary MS Whiskey Festival

If you're a fine connoisseur of whiskey and don't have any plans for this evening you may be interested in checking out the MS Whiskey Festival. Calgary has beer festivals and wine festivals so why not include a whiskey festival as well to top things off?

Tonight, the festival takes place at the Jack Singer Concert Hall Lobby at the EPCOR Centre from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. It's being brought to you by the Calgary and Area Chapter of the MS Society of Canada and its the third annual festival of its kind here in Calgary.

At this gala event you'll have the chance to taste a variety of whiskies, and you can also experience some art and music culture to help support a good cause. Whiskies from various parts of the world will be available for tasting and distillery representatives will be available to answer questions. If you’ve ever wondered how the manufacturing process takes place, this is your chance to find out.

The funds will be used to help provide services for those afflicted by MS in the community and will also go towards research to help find a cure. It's going to be a swanky party and tickets cost $95 each. For an extra $20 you can also attend one of 3 Master Classes that will give you the chance to try various whiskeys that you won't be able to sample on the festival floor.

Of course, you need to be of drinking age to attend this event. If you have a love of whiskey and want to learn more about the distilling process and extend your whiskey palate, you may just want to come and check it out this evening.

Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival

The Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival will celebrate another year of adventures with DamNation with a festival full of fun and an opportunity to attend the Mountain Marketplace. Here’s what you can expect at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival.

A huge part of the festival is the many films shown, but there are also workshops and book events being hosted for visitors to attend based on their interests and preferences. There will be a host of guest speakers and experts on hand, as well as a few sporting events like mountaineering, snow sports, and rock climbing.

The Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival will run from October 27 until November 4. Tickets vary in price depending on the event. Some events will be provided at no cost.

These are some of the greatest winter festivals taking placing in Calgary this winter. Stop by and check in to enjoy the festivities this upcoming holiday season.