April is going to be a busy month full of fun in Calgary! Whether you’re looking for the city’s best Easter activities or something that doesn’t involve bunnies or eggs at all, there’s plenty to keep you busy as our city welcomes the warmer spring weather.
Coding for Kids at The Apple Store in Market Mall – April 3 from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm | apple.com
Did you know that Apple hosts a variety of free workshops for kids in their stores? If you have a kiddo between the ages of 6 and 12 who wants to learn how to use their iPad to code, make sure to register them for this fun-filled session at Market Mall’s Apple store. Tech lovers will program a Sphero robot to navigate its way through a variety of obstacles they’ve created using the Sphero Edu app for iPad. If your child doesn’t have an iPad of their own to bring, devices are supplied.
What’s Up With Bugs at The Bow Habitat Station – April 5 | facebook.com/events
The first Friday of every month means a new “What’s Up With” activity at the Bow Habitat Station. This month, kids aged 2 and up will get to explore the creepy crawly world of local bugs as they participate in a large group activity at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm or 3:30 pm. All activities are included with Discovery Centre Admission, so be sure to check out the hands-on exhibitions and displays to learn more about Alberta’s fish, wildlife and water when you’re finished!
Light it Up Calgary 3/5/10k Walk/Run – April 6 at 8:00 pm | lightitupcalgary.ca
Enjoy a walk or run in the dark wearing a headlamp on your own or as part of a team to support Wellspring Calgary, an organization that provides support to people living with cancer. Your entry (and additional fundraising efforts, if you choose) will contribute funds towards programs and services that meet the emotional, social, practical and restorative needs of people living with cancer, their families and their friends. Enjoy tasty food and beverages and awesome prizes as part of the event. The race kicks off at Eau Claire Market’s Running Room at 8:00 pm, but be sure to show up closer to 7:00 pm to pick up your racing kit and get ready to run!
Ukrainian Easter Egg Workshop – April 6, 13 from 10:00 am -3:00 pm for Advanced Course and from 5:00-7:00 pm for Beginner Course | facebook.com/events
If you’ve ever wanted to create a beautiful Ukrainian Easter Egg but didn’t know where to start, this workshop is the perfect event for you! There are two courses being offered, including a Basic level course for $30, (good for children 5+) and an Advanced Level Course for $50 for more experienced egg decorators wanting to create elaborate geometric patterns and pictures. Both courses are offered Saturday April 6 and Saturday April 13.
Aggie Days – April 6 – 7 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm | ag.calgarystampede.com
Do you have a family full of farm-animal fans? Does the idea of watching stock dogs try to beat the clock while moving sheep through a course and into a pen make your tail wag? Would you get a kick out of watching an Extreme Cowboy Race where a rider helps his horse manoeuvre through a series of obstacles? Would you like to do all of these things for free?! If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’ll definitely want to mark “Aggie Days” down on your calendar on April 6 and 7. Head down to the BMO Centre for a weekend full of free family fun where you can visit animals and learn more about where your food comes from.
Fun Family Portraits at the Apple Store in Market Mall – April 7 from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm |
apple.com
Have you ever left your phone unsupervised and later opened up your Camera Roll to find dozens of mysterious blurry photos, presumably taken by one of your kids? They say, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” so why not sign up your budding photographer for this portrait course offered by Apple? Your shutterbug will learn how to set up and take family photos using both the iPad and the iPhone. They’ll practice using interesting backgrounds and different light sources to set up a family photo shoot that you’ll be proud to store in your photo library. In addition, they’ll use Live Photos to capture action shots and add effects like art and text to their photos! Families and kids aged 5-12 are recommended for this session.
The Rabbit Race – April 13 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm | thegreatdash.com
If you’ve got a family of adventurers who love solving puzzles, eating tasty treats and winning prizes, you won’t want to miss The Rabbit Race! Visit a variety of local shops, restaurants and points of interest in the city where a new adventure and experience is waiting for your team of up to four participants. Celebrate Easter in a totally new kind of hunt that’s fun for family members ages 5 and up (though kids under 5 are welcome, some tasks may be above their ability level). Dress your team in a crazy costume to earn extra points! The race kicks off at Granary Road at 10:00 am on April 13th. Sign up online to guarantee your spot – registration fills up fast.
SUPERTRAIN – April 13 – 14 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | supertrain.ca
Wondering which activity to choo choo choose to take your family to in Calgary this April? Don’t miss out on SUPERTRAIN – Canada’s biggest and best annual train show! There will be over 100 exhibits and displays as well as live clinics, demonstrations, vendors and even trains to ride on. With over 60 000 square feet of operating model railroads, including Lionel, Lego trains, Thomas and Friends, and Garden exhibits, this is one event you’ll want to attend year after year. Don’t forget to visit the food trucks for a bite to eat.
Legendary Easter Hunt at Butterfield Acres – April 14 from 10:20 am – 1:40 pm | butterfieldacres.com
Butterfield Acres has an Easter Egg Hunt so awesome that it’s not just fun – it’s legendary. Tickets for this event must be pre-purchased, so visit their website in advance to choose a time slot for your egg-hunting adventure. Before heading out with their baskets to begin the great hunt, participants will listen to the Legend of the Easter Bunny in the Birthday Barn. After collecting the supplies that the Easter Bunny has hidden on the grounds, kids will send them down the tunnels into the his secret workshop where they’ll be magically turned into Easter Eggs! There’s so much more to do when the great egg hunt is finished. Kids can take home an Easter Pot and plant from the Prairie Palace, visit the animals in the farmyard, and take a photo with the Easter Bunny himself! Pony rides and tractor rides will be underway as well. On the way out the gate, be sure to check to see if the Easter Bunny left a special treat for your kiddo.
Easter at the Calgary Farmer’s Market – April 18 – 20 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | calgaryfarmersmarket.ca
The Calgary Farmer’s Market is going to be the first stop for the Easter Bunny this year, so bring your family down to get your photo taken with the big ball of fluff before he hops away! Photos are available by cash or food donation, which will be collected to support the Calgary Food Bank. After your photo, make sure to stop and decorate a cookie before exploring the tasty treats and fantastic wares of the booths at the Market, which will be open all weekend from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Easter Eggstravaganza at The Calgary Zoo – April 19 – 20 | calgaryzoo.com
The Calgary Zoo is hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza filled with awesome activities such as face painting, arts and crafts, prize draws and tasty treats. There will be four different fun zones with various activities in each, so be sure to visit them all. The Creative Zone will feature face painting and treat bag making, while the Play Zone will host activities like a giant hamster ball, archery, a bean bag toss, bounce houses, a photo booth and more. The Sweet Zone will have a treat from Crave Cupcakes and kids can also help create a mural, visit the photo booth, and try out other great activities. The Enviro Zone will teach visitors about conservation, composting, recycling and will also feature live entertainment. Of course, you’ll want to visit all of the adorable animals throughout the zoo when you’re finished, so plan to make a day of this outing.
Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo – April 25 – 28 | calgaryexpo.com
Calling all comic and entertainment lovers! The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo is back for another year of excitement at Stampede Park. Tickets are available for single day admission or all four days of this event where you’ll get to be fully immersed in the world of comic books, graphic novels, anime and some of your favourite movies and television shows. You might even get to meet a celebrity or two. Stars like Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd and even the Delorean time machine will be ready to greet fans of the classic movie, Back to the Future. Zachary Levi (Shazam), Lynda Carter (the original Wonder Woman), David Harbour (Stranger Things), Rainn Wilson and Catherine Tate (The Office), Pamela Anderson, Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), Corey Feldman (The Goonies), as well as actors from The Vampire Diaries, Smallville, Supernatural, Star Trek and more will all be on site for this highly anticipated event. Voice actors from shows like Adventure Time and comic artists from Marvel, DC, Legendary and Detective Comics will also be in attendance, participating in Autograph Sessions, Panels and Q&As. If that wasn’t enough reason to head down, the incredible Cosplay Parade, Artist Alley, Kid’s Costume Contest and huge shopping venue should do the trick!
YYC’s Largest Used Kids’ Sale – Clothes Toys and Equipment – April 27 from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm | facebook.com/events
If you’re in the market for clothes, toys or equipment for your kids, but don’t want to buy brand new, this is the event for you. Everything you need for babies and kids will be up for sale, including strollers, high chairs, carriers, swings, baby monitors, baby gates, shoes and boots, clothing, sports and dance gear, outdoor toys, books, maternity wear and more. Shoppers are asked to bring their own bags, and sales are cash only. There’s no entrance fee for shopping, so head over bright and early.
Chris Hadfield at The Jack Singer Concert Hall – April 29 at 7:30 pm | artscommons.ca
If you’re looking for something to do this April that’s totally out of this world, look no further. The multi-talented singer, author and space explorer, Col. Chris Hadfield, is coming to Calgary to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing and share the history and future of space exploration at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut to walk in space, has been called “the most famous astronaut since Neil Armstrong” and has won the Order of Canada, the Meritorious Service Cross and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal among other awards. He has written 3 internationally bestselling books and released an album – Space Sessions: Songs from a Tin Can – in 2015. He also hosts BBC’s Astronauts and co-hosts One Strange Rock on National Geographic with Will Smith. I’ve had the honour of hearing Chris Hadfield speak on one of his previous visits to Calgary and can confidently say, you won’t want to miss this!
Will you and your family be attending any of the events from our list? Which ones are you looking most forward to and why? Are there any great ones that we forgot? Let us know in the comments!
Tagged under: Calgary,Things to do in Calgary,Guide to April in Calgary
Category: events,attractions,outdoor-play
