Ahh, fall! The scent of pumpkin spice is in the air, and as the temperatures start to drop, the desire to cuddle up under a bundle of blankets with your date rises. Although the change of the season signifies that the year is coming to a close, it is a reminder to seize the season and plan the best dates for the rest of the year!
Are you SO ready for fall dates and everything spooky season? We’ve put together a list of some great fall date ideas happening in and around the city to make the most of the season!
Pumpkins After Dark
Pumpkins After Dark YYC features over 6,000 hand carved pumpkins. This one-of-a-kind walk-through experience is the must-see date idea of the fall season! Explore the magical pathway of lit pumpkin sculptures and displays, with music, sounds and special effects; perfect for the whole family!
Get your tickets here!
Located: Winsport at 88 Canada Olympic Road SW., Calgary
When: September 22 – October 31, 2022
Fall Days & Harvest Lights at Calgary Farmyard
Calgary Farmyard has become one of the city’s top fall destinations, and perfect for day and night dates! A fall trip to the Farmyard is an annual tradition for many families and friends. In addition to enjoying hours of fun on the farm, pumpkins are on display for photos and for purchase.
During the days (Friday-Sundays & holidays), your ticket to Fall Days gets you access to the multi-award winning venue to enjoy hours of fun on the farm, and the opportunity to take photos with pumpkin displays, and purchase your own to take home!
At night (Fridays and Saturdays), enjoy thousands of lights under the evening sky. You can also check out the many attractions such as a spooky dark corn maze you can explore with your flashlights, and endless photo-ops or admire the cute farm animals!
Located: Calgary Farmyard at 284022 Township Rd 224, Rocky View County
When: Fall Days starts September 23rd and are open Fridays-Sundays from 9:30am until 5pm (6pm on Fri&Say), Harvest Nights start September 16th and are open Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30pm-9:30pm
Oktoberfest at Kaffeeklatsch
Get ready for the 2nd annual Oktoberfest at this Calgary cafe! The event will feature local breweries, live music, DJs, Schuhplattler dancers (traditional folk dancing) and Bavarian-inspired food. Expect an Oktoberfest in their signature Kaffeeklatsch style with breweries, bands, and DJs.
Located: Kaffeeklatsch Cafe at 1205 1 St SW, Calgary
When: September 28th 8pm – September 30th 1am
Canmore Uncorked
Have the most fun dining in the Rockies! Canmore Uncorked is an award-winning food and drink festival with a series of amazing culinary events that mix some old favourites with a number of new and innovative dining experiences.
There’s even themed dinners you can purchase tickets to including:
- Spies vs. Villains Themed Dinner on October 1st at 7:30pm
- Uncorked Murder Mystery Dinner on October 2nd at 7pm
- The Wizard Quest Themed Dinner on October 6th at 7pm
Located: “Festival Central” is at Finchy’s Bar + Grill @ CanGOLF 306 Bow Valley Trail #125B, Canmore
When: Events scheduled from September 29th – October 8th
Pasta La Feasta
Calgary’s third annual food festival kicks off again this October. For the entire month, each participating restaurant will feature a select pasta dish, with $3 from every dish sold going directly to The Alex Community Food Centre. This year, the city’s greatest chefs are serving up some of their biggest hits.
Participating restaurants include Teatro Ristorante, Donna Mac, Cucina Market & Bistro, Alforno Bakery & Cafe, Vendome, Rouge Restaurant, Model Milk, Italiano Please!, Major Tom, D.O.P, The Eden, Dean House, and so much more!
Located: Various restaurants around Calgary
When: October 1st – October 30th
Orange Crush at Spark
Get spooky with science this October at Spark! The Science Centre will transform into a Halloween extravaganza!
Have you ever held an eyeball in your hands? What about watched a pumpkin decompose in front of your eyes? Ever dip yours hands into a tub of fake blood? Explore the gross side of science with fake blood, dissections, gelatin brain surgery and smashing pumpkins!
Get extra messy in the pumpkin splatter room, and decorate walls with the glorious pumpkin guts.
Located: Telus SPARK Science Centre at 220 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary
When: October 1st – October 31st; Sunday to Thursdays 9am – 5pm & Friday, Saturday and Long Weekend Sundays 9am – 7pm
Spooky Season at Heritage Park
This season, there’s tons of haunted fun to be had at Heritage Park. All October long, experience a number of ghost-infused events and activities to give your date a (small) fright so they can hold on tight.
Events include:
- Their ever-popular Guided Ghost Tours on September 28-29, October 5-6, 12-13:
- Ghosts & Gourmet: Frightfully delicious dinner followed by a ghastly ghost tour through the dark and deserted streets of the Historical Village on October 19, 20, 21
- Ghost Teas & Tour: Enjoy a Halloween themed tea, paired with a ghost tour! Drink Witches’ Brew and munch on some Petit Frightful Finger Sandwiches, Mummy Wrappings or some of Dracula’s Delights then head out on a tour on October 22 and 23
- Ghoul’s Night Out: Pick out your costumes, gather the family and get ready to experience this wildly popular, safe and fun-filled Halloween event for all ages on October 28, 29 and 30
Find even more Halloween activities going on at Heritage Park online!
Located: Heritage Park at 1900 Heritage Dr SW, Calgary
When: Various dates throughout October
Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival
The Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival is back this October at the BMO Centre. Get your taste buds ready, because at this event you can experience hundreds of exhibitors with a variety of fine wines, premium spirits, and craft beers.
Chefs from local restaurants are in attendance, serving up delicious fare to pair with the wonderful assortment of beverages.
Located: BMO Centre in Stampede Park at 20 Roundup Way SE, Calgary
When: October 14th from 5pm-10pm and October 15th from 12pm-10pm
Screamfest
Prepare to be very afraid… Screamfest is returning to haunt Calgary this October! Even buying tickets for this event on their website will bring you face-to-face with some seriously scary creatures. If you and your date love a good spook to get the heart rate going, this is for you; but be warned – you WILL scream.
Inside Stampede Park, Screamfest will bring carnival games, thrills and rides (like the Neighbours from Hell – Simulator Ride and Jurassic Attack) and more to Calgary! Explore bone-chilling haunted houses like Clown Town, Reapers & Grimm, Bates Motel, What Lurks in the Dark, What Lies Beneath, and a brand new experience for 2022.
Located: Grandstand, Stampede Park, 3 St SE, Calgary
When: Weekends in October, including October 27th for Adults Night, and of course Halloween. Open from 7pm to midnight each night.
Harvest Days & Pumpkin Fest at Granary Road
It’s harvest time in Calary! Within the next few weeks, local farmers will be harvesting their fall crops such as apples, cranberries, corn, turnips and of course – pumpkins! At Harvest Days, experience Granary Road’s wagon rides, and take pictures with all of their fall décor (like a beautiful orange truck)!
For Pumpkin Fest, Granary Road has partnered with the Okotoks Optimist Club to run their fourth annual PUMPKIN CHUNKIN event. Contestants will create their own machine (catapult or trebuchet) to launch pumpkins as far as possible for messy and hilarious results! There will be pumpkins available for purchase, a costume contest, games, music and more for all ages!
Located: Granary Road Active Learning Park & Farmer’s Market at 226066 112 Street West, Foothills County
When: Harvest Days during Saturdays and Sundays in October; Pumpkin Fest from October 22nd – 23rd
Murder Mystery Game Night at the Zoo
This event is the first Murder Mystery-style event taking place at The Calgary Zoo! Solve the murder of a famous zoologist while you explore the zoo and stop at food stations with your detective crew! By the end of the night, you’ll have everything you need to know in order to solve the mystery – dinner and justice will be served!
This is event is perfect October date idea to get the gang together for a fun and interactive fall evening.
Located: The Calgary Zoo at 210 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary
When: October 14th; First timed ticket entry is 5pm-5:30pm, the last entry is 6:30pm-7pm. Game runs until 10pm.
Indigenous Science Night: Fall Harvest
Indigenous Science Night: Fall Harvest is a celebration of autumn and the science behind preparing for the winter months. The event admission is FREE for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
Expect:
- The science behind preparing for the winter months and see the ways in which Indigenous people give reciprocity to the land.
- Join Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous scientists to learn about how to harvest and use plant medicine, how to read the stars to optimize hunting and harvesting, and the science of smoking and preserving meat.
- Enjoy performances by the Many Nations, One Voice for Wellness hip hop group.
- Watch a special hide scraping demonstration, preparing material that will be used for the creation of a parfleche in December.
- At the always-popular Indigenous Art Market, shop for a wide array of delicious food, hand-crafted goods, and medicinal plant products.
Located: Telus SPARK Science Centre at 220 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary
When: October 21st from 5pm – 10pm
Pumpkin Carving & Craft Beer
What could be a better fall date for Calgary beer lovers? Head to Free House YYC and carve your own pumpkin while enjoying some craft beer! You and your date can bring home your masterpiece and show it proudly on your stoop or in the window for Halloween.
They’ll have halloween movies on the TVs and a couple fun pumpkin beers by the can available, along with their usual drink specials.
Your ticket gets you:
- One pumpkin per person to take home
- Pumpkin carving tools
- A Draft Beer or Non Alcoholic Beverage
Located: Free House YYC at 1153 Kensington Cres NW, Calgary
When: October 27th at 7:30pm or October 29th at 3pm
Looking for more date ideas? Click here!
