Calgary 
August in Alberta brings plenty of harvest-related activities, from apple picking to corn mazes. But if you are looking for a unique harvest activity to partake in before summer ends, then hike a ski mountain to pick huckleberries.
Castle Mountain Resort
Located at Castle Mountain Resort, just a couple of hours south of Calgary, Huckleberry Fest is a great way to spend some time if you find yourself in the Pincher Creek area.
Huckleberry Picking:
Get tickets for the chairlift to get an aerial view of the mountains and the valley. Once you are at the top, you can hike the trails and pick huckleberries, which can be found off the main Huckleberry ski runs, Haig Ridge and in the Haig Valley on the way out to Haig Lake.
Remember to carry a basket or a bag to store your huckleberries, sunscreen, a hat, bear spray and some snacks for your hike to pick berries
Huckleberry Chairlift, which runs on the Saturday of the festival, provides easy access to the berries that grow in the higher elevations of the sub-alpine regions of Castle Mountain Resort.
Castle Mountain Resort
The chairlift operates from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, with the last chairlift down at 4:00 p.m. If you miss the ride down or want to enjoy a hike down to the festival site at the base, take the Haig Ridge trail to the Haig Lake South trail, and follow it all the way to the base.
Castle Mountain Resort
The Annual Huckleberry Festival runs on August 21 and 22, with the main festivities happening on Saturday.
The festival is free to attend with a ticketed chairlift ride. Tickets, priced at $41.95 for adults, $33.95 for seniors, $28.95 for youth (13 – 17), and $16.95 for children(6 – 12), include one trip up and down.
Saturday Festivities:
Saturday, August 22, features a full slate of entertainment.
The day begins with a Castle Snowboard Club pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m., followed by a vendor market, kids’ games, colouring contest and scavenger hunt. Scenic rides on the Huckleberry Chairlift run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the final summit download at 4 p.m.
Families can also join a morning dance workshop, face painting, cheerleading tumbling, bubble and circus stations, plus a Balloon Waddle Race and Giant Skis Race. A watermelon eating contest takes place at 4 p.m., with a $5 entry fee and advance registration required.
Live music runs outdoors from noon to 7:45 p.m., featuring Johnny Bolo, Jasmak Projekt, Caliya and Mudlarker. The evening continues with Pour Decisions performing at T-Bar Pub & Grub from 9 to 11:45 p.m.
Food & Drink:
Huckleberry Festival will have several food and drink options throughout the weekend. The T-Bar Pub will run extended hours Friday through Sunday, serving its regular summer menu, with children welcome until 9 p.m.
On Saturday, visitors can also enjoy an outdoor BBQ and beer garden, with lunch vouchers priced at $19.99 for a burger or smokie, chips and pop. New this year is a seafood boil dinner, available in medium for $74.99 or large for $139.99, featuring shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, sausage, potatoes and corn. Cajun Cake is also available for $17.99.
Organizers remind festival-goers that while bear encounters are rare, the area is backcountry terrain. Visitors are advised to hike in groups and keep bear spray handy.
Huckleberry Festival is Castle Mountain Resort’s biggest summer event, and it’s a fantastic way for the whole family to enjoy some time together outdoors in a beautiful location.
Located near the Alberta and B.C. Border, Castle Mountain Resort is about a 35-minute drive from Pincher Creek, and 250 km (2 hours and 30 minutes drive) from Calgary.
Trip Planning: Huckleberry Festival
What: Enjoy tons of free live music, scenic chairlift rides, berry picking, great food and drink, a mountain market, and lots of games for the kids.
When:
Friday, August 21, 2026 | 5:00 PM to 11:45 PM
Saturday, August 22, 2026 | 8:00 AM to 11:45 PM
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Huckleberry Chairlift open for scenic rides
Where: Castle Mountain Resort, HWY-774, Pincher Creek No. 9
How Much: Festival Scenic Chair Ride -Adult (18 – 64): $41.95
Senior (65 – 74): $33.95
Junior (13 – 17): $28.95
Child (6 – 12): $16.95
Super Senior (75+): FREE
Tiger (5 & Under): FREE
plus GST
