Calgary 
Staying at home during the extreme cold weather in Calgary is usually a go-to plan for many people.
Credit: Gasoline Alley
But if you get a little bored of the house, still want to stick to social plans, or find something fun for kids, there are many options for (warm) indoor fun in Calgary.
Calgary is, after all, a winter city. We are built for this, and are prepared with indoor attractions, free library fun, museums, galleries, cafes, entertainment centres, arcades, and plenty of other ways to unwind away from the cold.
Play at the Board Game Cafes
- The Hexagon Board Game Cafe, with locations in Calgary and Edmonton, offer a large game library to browse, a café menu, and a selection of beers and cocktails.
- Calgary’s ShoeBox Games & Cafe are always sourcing the latest in new card and board games for visitors to rent and play during their stay. The café also hosts regular events and game tournaments.
- The D6 Tabletop Cafe in Calgary’s Northeast offer game rentals, full room rentals, a bring your own game option, and kids’ games.
Arcades & Pool Halls
Don’t let the cold weather dampen any plans for fun and games for this winter. Take your plans to these billiard halls and arcades in Calgary for a cozy night inside with pool, classics like ski ball and pinball, or a little bit of everything.
- The Deerfoot Rec Room has a little bit of it all with dining options, arcade games, several tv screens, pool, and other tabletop games.
- Calgary’s two Greta Bar locations provide guests with a full arcade, dining service, and drink service.
- Pinbar is a local Calgary arcade and bar with a huge selection of pinball games.
- Chalk’s Billiards in south Calgary is a snooker and pool hall with several tables available at any given time.
Indoor Playgrounds and Play Centres
When your kids start to get as sick of the cold weather as you are, you can take your pick between a number of different places to take them for a playground experience. These indoor playgrounds in Calgary each offer something different in terms of the available activities, the themes, and the playgrounds (or trampolines!).
- SkyCastle is Calgary’s fairytale indoor playground. The fantastical setup includes what resembles an actual castle in the sky. They also host live kids’ entertainment and offer spaces for party rentals.
- The Big Box, an indoor playground in Calgary, provide kids with the large playground structure, bumper cars, an aerial rope course, an arcade, VR, and an inflatable playground.
- Calgary is home to two Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park locations with one in the north and one in the south. The Canadian chain of indoor fitness playgrounds feature massive trampoline with areas for different age groups.
Calgary Public Libraries
There are many reasons to spend a quiet afternoon enjoying the free fun of Calgary’s Public Libraries. First, a select few of the city’s libraries make for stunning backdrops and are worth seeing for the architecture alone. Second, these libraries may provide a warm and cozy space for working, reading, or practicing your art. Third, there are tons of things to rent and take to go for a cozy day at home: books, Blu-rays, and video games for the popular consoles. And last but not least, different branches are continuously hosting events, workshops, and classes for all ages and interests.
Where: all branches
How much: free
Enjoy the Calgary Theatres
Local theatre and the shows which other theatres in Calgary attract are fun to attend any time of the year. But it is an especially memorable night out when you have to hide from the winter cold.
- This winter, get away from the cold with one of many upcoming shows or productions at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. These include Mean Girls, Alberta Ballet and Calgary Opera performances, The Sam Roberts Band concert, a William Prince concert, or Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert.
- Calgary’s Jubilations Dinner Theatre will feature two different shows this winter: Top Gun: a Maverick Musical, and The Beach Boys of Summer. Each show ticket includes a buffet dinner and bar or drink service.
Indoor Racing & Tracks in Calgary
Feeling the need for speed this winter? Take to the safe and comfortable indoor tracks in Calgary. The city has a place for indoor go-karting, as well as an indoor bike park for those who can’t wait for summer for mountain biking!
- The B-Line Indoor Bike Park is open to bikers of all skill levels, ages, and abilities. The park includes tracks, a skills park, and a room for jumps and big air.
- SPEEDERS, Calgary’s fastest indoor go-karting experience, is suitable for people 4’0” and taller. Junior and adult racing is available.
Calgary Rec Centres
Calgary’s Rec Centres, indoor pools, and leisure centres, give families or couples a great variety of activities to choose from, and the chance for everyone to do something different. Drop-in for a workout and hot tub soak, a family day on the waterslides, or for community skating at the indoor rinks.
- View all of the City of Calgary indoor pools and leisure centres here.
- Visit the MNP Community & Sport Centre for Calgary’s biggest indoor recreation centre. The facility boasts an indoor pool with hot tub, dive tank and towers, a gym, various different sports studios, a running tack, and more.
TELUS Spark Events & Exhibits
This winter, the TELUS Spark Science Centre has something for all ages and scientific interests. These include topics like space, animals, medicine, human senses, art, and music. Spark is also home to an Infinity Theatre Dome where they screen a wide variety of different immersive shows, some of which are intended for kids. Spark also hosts their Adult-only Spark after Dark events throughout the winter.
Where: 220 St. George’s Drive NE
How much: $19-$26 per person
A Trip through History and Calgary’s Museums
Calgary is home to a large number of museums. Each museum in Calgary covers a variety of different topics, eras, and types of history.
- Heritage Park’s Gasoline Alley Museum is a year-round attraction at the park with a feature collection of antique cars.
- Calgary’s Glenbow Museum is set to be officially reimagined by 2026. Until then, stop by the Edison, the museum’s satellite location, for a free afternoon out in downtown Calgary.
- The Hangar Flight Museum offers an incredible opportunity to get up close to a variety of planes from Canadian history. You’ll also come across photos, a huge collection of engines, and other pieces of aviation history.
- The Military Museums of Calgary provide visitors with 200 years of Canadian military history. They will have a feature exhibit for Black History Month in February to honour the past, present, and future contributions of black Canadians in our military history.
Mini Golf and Virtual Golf
Work on your golf game with a round of virtual golf this winter, or with your kids and family at the indoor entertainment centers and mini golf courses. In many cases, mini golf is coupled with arcades, bowling, and dining.
- Monster Mini Golf is a kid-friendly experience in which families can enjoy the round of golf before games at the arcade.
- Splitsville have three Calgary locations for their combination bowling alley/arcades/and mini golf courses.
- Schanks Sports Grill is a one-stop-shop for family fun on a cold day in Calgary. They offer virtual golf, mini golf, arcade games, and pool tables.
