Calgary is a beautiful city year round, and whenever you visit you’re going to find plenty of ways to explore the city, and devastatingly gorgeous surrounding mountains and parks. Here are five perfect Calgary fall activities that you can enjoy before the weather turns:
Walk amongst the fall foliage. Whether you want to take a long hike to check out the fall colours, or prefer a short stroll through a close-by park, there are some truly lovely places to check out the leaves in and around Calgary. Our favourite spots? Larch Valley near Lake Louise is stunning, as the Larch (or Tamarac) trees turn gold before dropping their needles and the place takes on a fairytale-like quality, with of course all those incredible mountain vistas in the background. Confederation Park in the city has such a wide variety of trees that you’re greeted by an explosion of colour when they turn.
Watch exciting films. Every September the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) brings hundreds of multi-genre films from all over the world to venues throughout the city. There are also gala events, opportunities to meet film-makers and actors, special presentations, and more. There’s a good chance of running into a celebrity or two when the CIFF is in town, which is always exciting. (In 2016, the festival runs from September 21 – October 2nd.)
Visit the pumpkin patch. If you’re visiting Calgary with your family, then the Autumn Pumpkin Festival has plenty of old school appeal. There’s a petting zoo, pony rides, and a corn maze, as well as of course the pumpkin patch where you can pick up a pumpkin to take home with you. (This runs weekends throughout October.)
Eat lots of pie for a good cause. Each Thanksgiving the Calgary Farmers’ Market hosts a Thanksgiving Pie Bake Off. Turn up, make a cash donation to the Calgary Food Bank, and you’ll be given five delicious pieces of pie to sample and then vote upon. This year’s competitors include Wild Turkey Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie and Caramel Pumpkin Pie. Mmmmmm.
Catch a burlesque show. The Calgary International Burlesque Festival takes place the weekend after Thanksgiving every year, and brings some of the world’s most exciting performers to venues across the city. There are also some pretty awesome after parties run in conjunction to the burlesque shows, so if you love a great night out then you’ll want to get a ticket to these.
Looking to book a perfect fall getaway to Calgary? We have spacious and luxurious suites that are perfect for families, business travel, or just a break away from it all. Check out our newest suites in Luna Tower.
