Evolving Christmas Lights Tradition at Spruce Meadows

Glistening Horses and Holiday Magic: The Evolving Christmas Lights Tradition at Spruce Meadows

For nearly 30 years, the Christmas lights at Spruce Meadows have been a beloved Calgary holiday staple, a free drive-through spectacle where families could cruise slowly through a dazzling wonderland of millions of twinkling bulbs stretching over 50 kilometres. Whimsical displays like shimmering peacocks, bear families, foxes, and especially the iconic illuminated horses (nodding to the venue's world-class equestrian roots) created pure magic from the warmth of the car. But as popularity soared, so did challenges: massive traffic congestion on internal roads and nearby neighbourhoods, creating safety risks that became unsustainable. Following recommendations from local authorities and their own Health and Safety Committee, Spruce Meadows made a bold change in 2025. The traditional drive-through retired, replaced by the Enchanted Festival, a ticketed, park-and-walk experience prioritizing safety, immersion, and family fun. Debuting on opening night, December 5, 2025, the Enchanted Festival transforms the grounds into an interactive winter village. Stroll past the same breathtaking lights, including over 100 glistening horse sculptures (one standout pair proudly sponsored by PwC, glowing in golden warmth against the snowy backdrop), fire pits for roasting marshmallows, light tunnels, and seasonal vendors. Duck indoors to the massive Equi-Plex for Calgary's only indoor Christmas lights maze, family movie screenings (from The Grinch to classics), interactive displays, and warm snacks to escape the chill. Proceeds support the Spruce Meadows Leg Up Foundation, aiding Calgary-area food banks and pet initiatives. It's more sustainable, less congested, and arguably more enchanting, letting you linger, snap photos (like this stunning PwC horse duo under colourful tree glows), and soak in the atmosphere on foot. Spruce Meadows shines year-round with equestrian events, markets, and open spaces, but the holiday lights remain the seasonal highlight. The shift to walk-through feels like a natural evolution—trading car queues for cozy strolls, while keeping the heart of the tradition alive. If you love the lights as much as I do, bundle up and experience the new magic!Spruce MeadowsTravel Alberta ListingGrok Ai helped craft this article with us.

Giant Nutcracker Steals the Show

Giant Nutcracker Steals the Show at Spruce Meadows’ New Enchanted Festival

Calgary, Dec 9, 2025 – If you scrolled YouTube this weekend and saw KassDays’ viral Short of a massive, glowing Nutcracker looking like he’s ready to fight the Grinch himself, you’re not alone. That epic soldier is the breakout star of Spruce Meadows’ brand-new walk-through holiday event: The Enchanted Festival.
After years of the beloved Christmas light drive-through, Spruce Meadows switched things up in 2025 for safety and a more magical vibe. Now you park once, bundle up, and wander through millions of lights, fire pits, s’mores stations, and jaw-dropping displays. Opening night (Friday, Dec 5) was packed, and KassDays perfectly captured why: that Nutcracker, decked out in a shiny red coat and boots bigger than most toddlers, lit up against the snowy sky like a scene straight out of the ballet—only ten times bigger and a million times cooler.
Tickets are only $20 for adults, $12 for kids/seniors, and the whole family gets 30% off for groups of four or more. Bonus: every ticket helps the Leg Up Foundation support local food banks and animal rescues.
You’ve still got a few weekends left (Dec 12–14 & 19–24) to see the Nutcracker flex under the stars, get lost in the indoor light maze, grab a spiked hot chocolate, or let the dog run wild in the holiday puppy park.
Grab tickets quick at sprucemeadows.com/enchanted before they sell out, and tell KassDays we said thanks for the perfect 15-second hype video. This is the new Calgary Christmas tradition you don’t want to miss. 

European Kids Joy on December 6th

Why European Kids Wake Up RICH on December 6th (and North Americans Are Still Waiting for Santa)

Move over, December 25th—there’s a sneaky little holiday that’s been dropping presents TWO WEEKS early across half of Europe, and it’s gloriously chaotic.
Meet December 6th: Saint Nicholas Day! While the rest of us are still untangling Christmas lights and stress-eating advent chocolate, kids in Germany, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and beyond are waking up to boots and shoes STUFFED with candy, oranges, chocolate coins, and little gifts. Yes, actual presents. On the 6th. Santa’s basically doing a warm-up lap.
Here’s the deal: the night of December 5th, kids scrub their boots (or sneakers, no judgment) sparkling clean and leave them by the door or fireplace. Saint Nick—real beard, real bishop vibes, zero reindeer (he’s got a horse or sometimes just walks like a boss)—sneaks in with his… slightly terrifying sidekick.
In some countries that sidekick is Krampus, a horned demon who literally carries a sack for naughty kids. In the Netherlands it’s a whole squad of mischievous “Zwarte Pieten” (Black Petes) who climb roofs and chuck cookies down chimneys. Europe said “cute Santa” and then cranked the chaos to 11.Good kids = treats. Bad kids = a potato, a lump of coal, or the looming threat of Krampus yeeting you into his basket. Motivation? Crystal clear.
So while Canadian and American kids are still writing their letters to the North Pole, European kids already cashed in round one and are basically flexing on us until Christmas round two hits. Double-dipping legends.
Moral of the story? Be born in Europe… or just leave a boot out on December 5th and see what happens. Worst case, you get a potato. Best case, Saint Nick thinks you’ve been nice and you beat the Christmas rush.
Happy (early) gift-grabbing, you beautiful boot-stuffers! 
(Full 60-second explainer in the YouTube Short—go watch before Krampus finds you.)

Why Country Christmas Markets Will Forever Own My Heart

 

 

Frost on My Lashes & Magic in My Hands: Why Country Christmas Markets Will Forever Own My Heart

(a very cozy, slightly sugar-high love note from the prairies)It’s officially That Time of Year again, the one where I trade fluorescent lighting for fairy lights and parking-lot rage for gravel-crunch under my boots. Millarville’s 2025 Christmas Market has packed away its reindeer and its 300+ artisans for another year, but my soul is still wandering those heated barns, humming along to a slightly off-key fiddle and trying to decide if I really need a fourth jar of saskatoon-berry jam.(Yes. Yes I do.) If you’ve never been to a real country Christmas market, let me paint it for you with the sugar still stuck to my fingers from the mini-donut stand: You arrive, cheeks already pink from the cold. Someone greets you with a smile and a paper cup of something warm that definitely has a little “extra cheer” in it. The air smells like pine, woodsmoke, cinnamon, and fresh waffles. A kid in a snowsuit the size of a marshmallow runs past clutching a candy cane like it’s Excalibur. You buy a hand-turned wooden bowl from the guy who literally felled the tree himself. You pet an alpaca wearing a Santa hat (Granary Road, I’m looking at you). You cry a little when the high-school choir starts “O Holy Night” beside a bonfire. And you leave with bags full of treasures that have stories instead of barcodes. Compare that to the mall and… yeah, no contest.So for everyone who missed Millarville’s magic this year, here’s your official permission slip to skip the big-box chaos and head straight for the countryside. These beauties are still happening before Santa slides down the chimney: 

Market	Dates (2025)	The sugar-coated reason you need to go	Where exactly
Granary Road Christmas Market	Dec 6–7 & 13–14	Alpacas in festive attire, heated greenhouse glowing like the North Pole, tractor rides & a million lights	Foothills sparkle
Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park	Dec 6–7, 13–14, 20–23	Wagon rides, heritage houses decked in real greenery, the smell of woodstoves and fresh bannock	Heritage Park, Calgary
Saskatoon Farm Christmas Market	Dec 5–7	200 vendors, berry everything, fresh wreaths bigger than your head, and the coziest farm vibes on earth	De Winton (just 15 min south of Calgary)
Cochrane Christmas Farmers’ Market	Dec 13–14	Small-town hugs, hot cider, and the kind of bakers who slip an extra cookie in your bag	Spray Lake Sawmills Centre, Cochrane
Authentically Indigenous Christmas Craft Fair	Dec 5–7	Gorgeous beadwork, art, and stories that make every purchase feel sacred	The Confluence, downtown Calgary

 Put on your cutest toque, grab the biggest travel mug you own, and go fall in love with Christmas all over again. I promise the cold is worth it when you’re standing under a string of mismatched lights, snowflakes melting on your lashes, holding a gift that was made with someone’s actual hands and heart. I’ll be the one in the red coat with powdered sugar on my scarf and a Lindor wrapper in my pocket.Come find me. First hot chocolate’s on me.  — Kass (currently powered by mini donuts & pure holiday feels)Full length video here.