Experience the magic of Christmas at Heritage Park with the twinkling lights and holiday displays of Once Upon A Christmas. Enjoy classic indoor and outdoor Christmas activities with the whole family like horse-drawn wagon rides, visits with Santa, scavenger hunts, crafts, music, entertainment and so much more! Buy tickets today and get your fix of wholesome holiday cheer at Once Upon A Christmas!
Note: Due to weather circumstances, wagon rides have been cancelled for Saturday, Dec. 17, and all outdoor activities for Sunday, Dec. 18 have also been cancelled.
Price
Child (3-15) $14.95
General (16+) $19.95
Unlimited FREE Access for Annual Membership Holders
Buy a Membership
OR
Buy Tickets
Tickets will also be available for purchase at the front gate of the Historical Village during the event.
Holiday Membership Offer on now! Receive a FREE Express Guest Annual Membership with your annual membership purchase until December 31, 2022.
When
WEEKENDS 10 AM - 4 PM
Nov. 26 & 27, 2022
Dec. 3 & 4, 2022
Dec. 10 & 11, 2022
Dec. 17 & 18, 2022
Where
Throughout Heritage Park Historical Village, Heritage Town Square and Gasoline Alley Museum.
Download the free Driftscape app and complete our Christmas Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win $25.
*Once Upon A Christmas Map and Activity Schedule*
Christmas Activities Calgary
The iconic Calgary Christmas event you don't want to miss. A magical weekend event regardless of the weather with plenty of fun activities inside and out. The classic horse-drawn wagon rides and Santa visits are just the start of this memorable experience. Explore the Historical Village with the free Driftscape app and experience how different cultures celebrated the holidays, including Chanukah, Christmas, Boxing Day, Yule and Hogmanay.
Delight in the sounds of your favourite holiday tunes sung by roving Christmas carolers as you visit the stops along the Christmas Scavenger Hunt! Take your little ones to holiday storytime in Weedon School, stop by Barons Snooker Parlour for a peek into two amazing holiday scenes, visit Didsbury Bandstand for snowshoe races and head over to the Alberta Bakery to smell the mouthwatering aroma of a gingerbread cookie fresh from the oven before you taste its comforting, delicious flavour. Once Upon A Christmas is the perfect backdrop for your festive photos, or visit Park Lane Antique Portrait Studio for professional, family photos. And don't forget to book tickets for our famous Once Upon A Christmas Breakfast Buffet to complete your experience.
Indoor Activities: Christmas musical theatre, Santa visits, Santa photos, reindeer scavenger hunt, cookie decorating, model train display (new this year!), choir performances, holiday storytime, kids' tree ornament craft, family photos and lots of holiday shopping opportunities with the Kids' Only Store, local Christmas market and the Historical Village shops.
Outdoor Activities: Popular wagon rides, snow painting, Christmas carolers, children's maze, snowshoe races, scavenger hunt and the perfect backdrop for scenic holiday photos.
Activity Map & Schedule
Classic Christmas Festivities
Horse-drawn Wagon Rides
Free wagon rides are returning to Once Upon A Christmas! Tour the picturesque Historical Village with your family in a horse-drawn wagon! Wagon rides are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Location: Across from the Wainwright Hotel
When: Daily 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: Free, but after 3 pm you will need a free ticket from the wagon stop.
Santa Visits & Santa Photos
Check in with jolly old St. Nick and share your Christmas wishes!
Location: Famous 5 Centre of Canadian Women
When: 10 am - 12:30 pm and 1 - 3:30 pm
Cost: Professional photos with Santa will be available at an additional cost.
Gingerbread Cookie Decorating
Create the perfect yuletide design on your gingerbread cookie, then savour every bite!
Location: Famous 5 Centre of Canadian Women, Lower Classrooms
When: Daily 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: $5.75 for a Heritage Gingerbread cookie decorating kit or $2.25 for a Heritage Gingerbread cookie. Hot drinks are also available for purchase. See menu.
Indoor Activities in Gasoline Alley Museum
DAILY 10 AM - 4 PM
Join us in Gasoline Alley for model trains, photos with Christmas characters, crafts, games, and special performances by the Kinnect Alumni Choir on Sundays!
Reindeer Scavenger Hunt
Find all of the reindeer hidden in our antique car collection and win an amazing prize!
Letters to Santa
Pen a letter to Santa and send it off to the North Pole in our antique mailbox!
A Storybook Christmas
Enjoy photo ops and fun activities featuring your favourite Christmas storybook characters!
Children's Christmas Crafts
Take home a memory of your Heritage Park experience by making a heritage tree ornament!
*NEW* Model Train Display
Train enthusiasts young and old will enjoy checking out the new model train display!
Special Sunday Choir
Enjoy Christmas Carols sung by the talented Kinnect Alumni choir on Sundays at 11 am, 12:30 pm and 2 pm.
Timeless Holiday Theatre
Constable’s Christmas Caper: A Christmas Musical Melodrama
Constable William Blake has arrived in town to keep the peace. Which is a good thing because Ms. Blackwell has an evil eye on Ms. Turner's large inheritance.
SHOWTIMES
Dec. 10 & 11 and Dec 17 & 18
12 – 12:40 pm
1:30 pm – 2:10 pm
3 pm – 3:40 pm
Venue
Calgary Christmas Markets & Local Christmas Shops
Find Unique Gifts in the Village Shops
Looking for a one-of-a-kind gift? Stop by the Haskayne Mercantile Block and our shops in the Historical Village to find unique holiday gifts for everyone on your list!
Kids' Only Store
Have a seat in the parent's lounge while our friendly volunteers help your little ones find perfect gifts to surprise friends and family with.
Local Christmas Markets
Wander through our bustling and jovial Christmas Markets to discover incredible gifts made by local artisans.
Buy Tickets
Once Upon A Christmas FAQ
Where in Heritage Park does the event take place?
Once Upon A Christmas takes place throughout the Historical Village, Heritage Town Square and the Gasoline Alley Museum, both indoors and outdoors.
Do annual membership holders get free admission to Once Upon A Christmas?
Yes, Annual membership holders get unlimited free admission to Once Upon A Christmas! Give the gift of membership this holiday season - from now until Dec. 31, buy an Escape or Express Family and Friends Annual Membership and receive a FREE Express Guest Annual Membership, valued at $78.95!
Is parking included?
Parking is not included in the ticket prices, but it is available at the Park. Parking kiosks are located in the middle of the parking lot and in Heritage Town Square. If you’re an Escape Annual Membership holder, parking at Heritage Park is free!
Will I be able to get food and drinks at the event?
Yes, there will be several restaurants and concessions open during Once Upon A Christmas, including:
- Once Upon A Christmas Breakfast Buffet
- Railway Café
- Alberta Bakery | Menu
- Wainwright Hotel Saloon | Menu
- Club Café | Menu
- Shepard Station | Menu
- *NEW* Concession at Canmore Opera House | Menu
- *NEW* Innovation Crossing Hot Chocolate Station and Bakery | Menu
- Selkirk Restaurant
What’s the plan for inclement weather?
There are lots of festive indoor activities, so regardless of the weather, Once Upon A Christmas promises to be a fun outing for everyone. During inclement weather, select outdoor programs and the fire pits may be closed for the well-being and safety of our volunteers, but the following activities and events will continue, regardless of weather:
- Holiday shopping
- A Storybook Christmas
- Reindeer Scavenger Hunt
- Letters to Santa
- Gingerbread Decorating
- Santa Visits
- Santa Photos
- Constable’s Christmas Caper: A Christmas Musical Melodrama
- Kids' Only Store
- Historical Village Exhibits
- Christmas Markets
- Carollers in indoor locations
- Children’s Crafts
- Model Train Display
- Christmas Village Display
- Holiday Storytime
- Kinnect Alumni Choir Performances
Will any exhibits be open during Once Upon A Christmas?
The following exhibits will be open during Once Upon A Christmas from 10 am - 4 pm:
- Gasoline Alley Museum
- Montefiore Institute
- Prince House
- Burnside Ranch House
- Strathmore Standard
- Flett's Blacksmith Shop
- Atlas Lumber Yard
- Thorpe House
- St. Martin's Church
What should I wear and bring to the event?
As Once Upon A Christmas takes place both indoors and outdoors, please make sure to dress for the weather. As we all know, the winter can be quite chilly in Alberta.
How does purchasing a ticket support Heritage Park?
As a registered charity, all proceeds from Once Upon A Christmas will allow Heritage Park to continue engaging audiences with immersive experiences and shared stories of Western Canada's diverse culture and heritage.
