It is a beautiful fall season in Calgary, and there are multiple ways to celebrate with a special someone.
No matter your budget for your next night out together, you have several options of things to do, food to eat, and things to see around the city. But beyond Calgary are the gorgeous views of the Rockies in fall, so you can take advantage of the parks, picnic sites, and trails, west of the city for a guaranteed scenic date.
**Arranged in no particular order. **
More Ideas:
1. Fall Picnic in the Park
Make the most of this cozy fall weather with trips to the park, blanket feasts, and watching the golden sunsets over the Bow River. Some of the more mature forested areas of the River Valley provide exceptionally colourful areas for picnicking. And the entire parkland surrounding the large Glenmore Reservoir can provide beautiful options for date nights. — 5 of the Best Parks For a Fall Picnic in Calgary
2. Creepy Tales & Cocktails
Discover the mysteries of Inglewood’s past with a thrilling night at Fort Calgary, indulging in signature cocktails and eerie tales. Explore the museum and surrounding lands, uncovering stories of ghosts and crimes, on a guided two-hour walking tour with Natalie Heaton and Zack Beer. Drinks included.
Where: Fort Calgary, 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary
When: Thursdays, October 5, 12 & 19 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm
How Much: $50, Ticket price includes two drink
3. Fall Fun at the Zoo
Calgary Zoo has plenty of events and activities planned for the Fall season. Highlights include:
- Your Thanksgiving plans can include plenty of family time, but also a little time for just the two of you. The Calgary Zoo has planned Turkey dinner you can enjoy together after you wander the grounds.
- What about exploring the zoo after dark during After Hours at the Zoo event on October 21 which includes a four-course dinner prepared by an award-winning culinary team.
- If you like escape games, and murder mysteries, then participate in ZooDunnit. It’s Locked Zoo meets murder mystery meets progressive dinner that will keep you on your toes on October 13th.
- Enjoy a romantic and unique enchanted evening under the lights of the zoo. Bring your sweetheart for a magical dinner in the ENMAX Conservatory gardens enveloped in holiday sparkle.
4. Harvest Lights – Calgary Farmyard
Each fall, the Calgary Farmyard lights up its entire field so you can come and enjoy it at night. As teens or adults on a date, you’ll want to take this chance to tackle the farm’s corn maze. The maze will remain dark, but you’re allowed flashlights.
Where: Calgary Farmyard / Calgary Corn Maze, 284022 Township Rd 224, Rocky View County
When: September 15th to October 29, 2023
How Much: $21.95 to $26.95
5. Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF)
The Calgary International Film Festival is back! This year CIFF celebrates the return of Calgary musician Chad VanGaalen, who will perform a live score to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of The Hunchback of NotreDame, as part of the popular Music on Screen section.
Where: Various Venues, Calgary
When: September 21 – October 1, 2023
How Much: $17 & up
6. Celebrate Oktoberfest
Well, it is October and there are quite a few options around Calgary for a fun date-out celebrating Bavarian cuisine and drinks.
- The Calgary Rugby Union: Your tickets to this Bavarian and German style date can include your drink, or your drink and food. You are encouraged but not required to dress up and will be encouraged to dance to the live oompah band.
7. Night Light
Night Light transforms Victoria Park into an illuminated wonderland for three nights, featuring curated light, art, and live performances. Celebrating the autumnal equinox, it embraces the transition into longer nights, using light as a means of wayfinding. The inaugural edition aims to guide patrons towards wonder, fascination, and a new perspective, as they experience projection mapping, light-art installations, music, and various art forms in multiple venues and public spaces. Perfect for a date night!
Where: Victoria Park, Calgary
When: September 29 to 30, 2023
How Much: Free
8. Daytrips West for those Fall Colours
A fall drive through the foothills offers exceptional Alberta views, and as you venture close to the Rockies, you can find tons to do on an afternoon date. Try a riverside picnic at several Provincial Recreation or Day Use Areas. You can stop somewhere like Cochrane or Canmore and grab your picnic eats on the way into the parks or pack your own in a cooler.
While there are several hiking trails west of Calgary, there are some which are notable for their fall colours. Kananaskis, Banff, and the Bragg Creek area are all a short drive from Calgary, offering trails with exceptional fall views. The Bragg Creek area is a perfect combination of the fall colours in the foothills, with the Rockies in the background. Heading into Kananaskis and Banff offers more lake views and the golden larches which cover so much of the National Park.
- 25 Fall Day Trips in and Around Calgary
- Waterfalls Day Trips From Calgary
- Scenic Lookouts in Calgary
9. Dinner Theatre
Jubilations Dinner Theatre: The Jubilations Dinner Theatre presents Crocodile Rock: The Legend Of Elton John, until October 21st and from October 28th, you can enjoy Top Gunn: A Maverick Musical. Along with the live upbeat music, you can also enjoy a romantic three-course dinner together (salad, your choice of one from five entrees, and your choice of two desserts).
Stage West Theatre Restaurants: The Stage West’s fall show – Frank Ferrante In An Evening With Groucho – runs a bit later until November 12, 2023. Frank Ferrante delivers an acclaimed portrayal of comedian Groucho Marx in a 90-minute, fast-paced comedy, featuring iconic one-liners, anecdotes, and songs. The interactive show, accompanied by a pianist, reacquaints audiences with legendary figures like Harpo, Chico, and Charlie Chaplin, making it a perfect experience for comedy fans of all ages.
10. Calgary Philharmonic Fall Shows
This fall, there are a few different types and genres of Calgary’s Philharmonic beautiful tunes. You and a loved one can relax under the sounds of Hollywood soundtracks, classic rock, classical, or Broadway music. Locations of the show vary between the Jubilee Auditorium, the Jack Singer Concert Hall, and Knox United Church.
11. Alberta Ballet in Sleeping Beauty
Experiencing live ballet, in general, can be an inspiring experience- and often visually stunning. Sleeping Beauty is destined to enchant ballet-goers of all ages. A beloved story for the ages, Alberta Ballet’s rendition has everything that aficionados treasure, from Tchaikovsky’s symphonic score to the exacting technique in the Rose Adagio.
Where: Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 1415 14 Ave. NW, Calgary
When: October 26 to 28, 2023
How Much: $57.90- $194.90+fees
12. Live Theatre
If you are looking to enjoy live theatre performances, there are currently many options:
- Vertigo Theatre: You can celebrate the 47th anniversary of the Vertigo Theatre while you also celebrate your loved one – and while you solve a murder mystery! In Sleuth, the famed novelist Andrew Wyke entices his wife’s lover into a deceptive game, leading to a mysterious, high-stakes cat-and-mouse play. This Tony Award-winning, humorous, and thrilling classic is a must-see for the holiday season.
- Theatre Calgary: The 2023/2024 lineup from Theatre Calgary will have date nights prepared for you well into next summer. Enjoy an evening of theatre laughing out loud during the show – Made in Italy is a comedic, semi-autobiographical solo show exploring generational differences in an immigrant Italian family in 1970s Jasper, Alberta, juxtaposing tradition with new cultural icons.
- Calgary Opera: The Marriage of Figaro, a comedic opera by Mozart, depicts a chaotic wedding day filled with mistaken identities, schemes, and class contrasts, exploring themes of love, infidelity, and forgiveness, challenging class norms.
13. Rocky Mountain Wine Festival
What better way to prepare for the holidays than a wine-tasting? Explore an incredible array of dynamic wines, smooth spirits, and downright delicious beers from around the globe, all under one roof. Cap it all off with tantalizing bites from some of Calgary’s best restaurants and food purveyors, and you’ve got a can’t-miss event.
Where: Stampede Park BMO Centre, Halls D&E, Calgary
When: October 13 & 14, 2023
How Much: $23.34 & up
14. Locked Library: The Book Case
Dive into a real-life mystery at Calgary Central Library with Locked Library, a riveting fundraising event offering an evening of exploration, sleuthing, and puzzle-solving. This thrilling adventure, set within an architectural marvel, challenges participants to solve four murders in two hours and locate a missing book. Suitable for seasoned solvers and first-timers alike, the event promises prizes for the keenest minds, all while supporting the life-changing programs and services of the Calgary Public Library. The 12th edition promises intrigue and intellectual challenge, making it a unique date idea.
Where: Central Library, 800 3 ST SE, Calgary
When: Friday November 24, 2023
How Much: $30 to $40
15. Calgary Ghost Tours
On the fall weekends, local historians can guide you on a spooky tour of Calgary’s older neighbourhoods while they tell you tales of everything haunted. Explore downtown, Kensington, or Inglewood while taking in some scares, some history, and stories of the most frightening people to walk the city’s streets.
16. Pumpkins After Dark
The spectacular Pumpkins After Dark show will take over Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park. You’ll be guided along a dark path lit with several displays of hand-carved pumpkin sculptures and displays. The walk takes 45-minutes to an hour with other activities, food trucks, and treats. This is the event’s first year in Calgary!
Where: WinSport Canada, Canada Olympic Road Southwest, Calgary
When: September 22 – October 31, 2023
How Much: $15.95 to $34.95
17. Haunted Calgary
The Scream Team at Haunted Calgary has set up in the parkade of the New Horizon Mall this year with plenty of terror ready for your arrival. For two days in November, you will get to explore the attraction using only a glow stick.
Where: Parkade level, New Horizon Mall, 260300 Writing Creek Crescent, Balzac
When: October 13 to November 4, 2023
How Much: $25 to $40
18. Screamfest
See who screams the loudest at Calgary’s famous haunted attraction. Experience haunted houses, carnival games and creepy entertainment.
Where: Stampede Park, 25 Ave SE, Calgary
When: October 6 to 31, 2023
How Much: $30-$60
19. Hadestown
Broadway Across Canada is bringing an acclaimed production that offers a haunting, hopeful, and gripping love story that resonates in today’s world.. “HADESTOWN,” a Tony® Award-winning musical by Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin, intertwines the mythic tales of Orpheus and Eurydice, and King Hades and Persephone.
Where: Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 1415 14 Ave. NW, Calgary
When: November 21 to 26, 2023
How Much: $45.90 & up
20. Halloween at Heritage Park
Ghosts & Gourmet: The gourmet part of this Heritage Park celebration comes from the Halloween-themed dinner you’ll enjoy, and the ghost part comes from the creepy after-hours walk you’ll get to take through the park. Enjoy an evening of gourmet dining, local history, and plenty of scares.
Ghost Teas: Have Halloween-themed tea featuring Witches’ Brew and munching on some Petit Frightful Finger Sandwiches, Mummy Wrappings or some of Dracula’s Delights. Then, visit some of the park’s most haunted locations and hear tales of unexplained happenings and ghostly sightings.
Where: Heritage Park Historical Village, 1900 Heritage Dr. S.W, Calgary
When: October 19 to 31, 2023
21. Eat Out!
Calgary offers an array of new dining options opened in summer 2023, simplifying the perennial question, “where should we eat tonight?”. For a Fall date night, these establishments, ranging from downtown to the city’s outer neighbourhoods, provide a variety of meal choices including breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks, presenting diverse options for every palate.
22. A Staycation at Hotel Arts
Plan a romantic getaway for two at Hotel Arts. Enjoy a three-course culinary adventure where you’ll experience Chef Scott’s inventive cuisine, a full breakfast for two and all the amenities of Calgary’s first ‘All-Inclusive’ Urban Resort.
Where: Hotel Arts, 119 12 Ave SW, Calgary
23. Trail Rides
An equestrian fall ride through the foothills could be the unique date you need. This outing provides some interaction with beautiful animals, fresh air, and unbeatable views of the hills and the mountains behind.
Where: Homeplace Ranch: #20, 339125 – 178 Avenue, Foothills
24. An Evening of Glamping
Outdoor glamping is an incredibly romantic way to celebrate couple anniversaries or milestones, and they don’t require you to drive too far. Enjoy a short tour of the ranch, a snack, delicious dinner followed by a roaring campfire with the opportunity to share stories and experience the quiet of the natural surroundings at Painted Warriors. After a restful sleep, you are provided with a hearty breakfast to get you energized for the day ahead.
Where: 31341 Range Road 51 Mountainview County
25. Couples Spa
Treat yourselves to some “us” time. From salt saunas, eucalyptus steam rooms, rose hip wraps, and, of course, couples massage. there is something for every couple at Calgary’s Spas.