December is very much the season for comfort eating, and luckily, there are plenty of delicious bites and sips to be had at Calgary’s many food events this month.
With holiday pop-up bars, unique collaborations, and so much more, here are some of the best food events to check out in Calgary.
One-time-only events
Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market
Get in the festive spirit with a visit to this Calgary Christmas market. The market hosts over 330 local vendors from which to shop, and there will also be delicious festive fare, including mulled wine, bratwurst, and holiday dinner stuffing balls.
When: December 1, 2024
Where: 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW, Calgary
Price: Admission starts from $11; buy tickets here
No way, José!
If you’ve been eager to try out some award-winning wines from Las Jaras, you won’t want to miss out on this one-time party at Class Clown. The “cocktail-style” affair will have delicious food, wine by the glass, and costumes are encouraged. What’s not to love?
When: December 2, 2024 from 7 pm
Where: Class Clown – 1711 4th Street SW #106, Calgary
Popular Czech pop-up Prasátko is hosting a one-night collaboration with Posto Pizzeria. The menu screams winter comfort food, with dishes such as pickled camembert with sourdough, goulash, and potato pizza.
When: December 4, 2024, from 4 to 10 pm
Where: 1014 8th Street SW, Calgary
Flavours of Alberta
Head to One18 Empire for a six-course feast with pairings from Bridgeland Distillery. With dishes such as burrata with taber corn berbon, Alberta beef tartare, and braised Alberta lamb, the experience will surely be a hit for foodies.
When: December 5, 2024 from 6:30 pm
Where: One18 Empire – 820 Centre Street S, Calgary
Price: $150.43 per person; buy tickets here
Francine’s x Paper Lantern
The teams behind Francine’s and Paper Lantern are teaming up on a very special two-day event. The vibe? French bar meets Vietnamese speakeasy. Consider us intrigued!
When: December 15 and 16, 2024
Where: Paper Lantern – 115 2nd Avenue SE Basement, Calgary
Recurring events
If you’re looking to escape from the city and enjoy the fresh mountain air, why not take some time to check out the Hot Chocolate Trail? Over 20 locations across Banff and Lake Louise will offer festive sips to enjoy.
When: From November 14 to December 31, 2024
Where: Various locations across Banff and Lake Louise
Miracle on First Street
One of Calgary’s most popular seasonal cocktail bar pop-ups has returned to the city once more. Until December 24, Proof will be transformed into a winter wonderland and serve up plenty of festive sips.
When: From November 15 to December 24, 2024
Where: Proof – 1302 1st Street SW, Calgary
Sippin’ Santa
If you’re looking to get your hands on some holiday-themed cocktails with a tropical twist, look no further than Ricardo’s Hideaway.
The menu includes some delicious holiday options like the Merry Spritzmas and Sugar Plum Mai Tai. You can also enjoy eats from Ricardo’s menu, such as the Cheese Empanadas.
When: November 18 to December 31, 2024
Where: Ricardo’s Hideaway – 1530 5th Street SW, Calgary
Eighty-Eight Brewing Co’s Home Alone House
The season also sees the return of Eighty-Eight’s festive Home Alone house. Inspired by the iconic Christmas movie, there’ll be Wet Bandits Triple IPA, cheese pizza just for you, and nods to some other classic movies to keep an eye out for.
When: From November 19 until December 29, 2024
Where: 2600 Portland Street SE #1070, Calgary
Red Nose: A Holiday Bar
If you just can’t get enough of the holiday pop-ups, there’s a brand-new offering from UNA Pizza + Wine and Frenchie Wine Bar to check out. With festive flavours and holiday-inspired sips, what’s not to love?
When: From November 22 to December 23, 2024
Where: Frenchie Wine Bar – 616 17th Avenue SW, Calgary
Banded Peak Brewery Tour
Get a behind-the-scenes peek at one of Calgary’s most popular craft breweries. You’ll get an exclusive tour of the production facility and a walk-through of the process before tasting six of Banded Peak’s signature beers.
When: Every Saturday
Where: #119 – 519 34th Avenue SE Calgary
Price: $27.96 per person; buy tickets here