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Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park: Alberta's Leading Living History Holiday Experience

Finding things to do during the holiday season in Calgary, Alberta, is not a difficult thing to do. From the abundance of outdoor activities to the multitude of entertainment options, Calgary seldom disappoints. For a unique celebration like no other in the region, Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park is the perfect way to ring in the season.  Beginning in 2008, this is a relatively new holiday celebration, but don't let the age fool you! This event attracts major crowds with over 36,000 people attending during this month long holiday spectacular. Heritage Park is no stranger to putting on memorable events for its visitors. They hosted the precursor to this event called 12 Days of Christmas for nearly 30 years as well as a wealth of other fun events throughout the course of the year. Heritage Park is a beautiful and lush 127-acre park that is filled with numerous attractions and exhibits. It's the perfect place to learn about history in a fun environment.

 

The festival itself is designed to be a winter wonderland for all ages. Take a step back in time and see how the holidays were celebrated in yesteryear. The beautiful historic homes open their doors to showcase various Christmas traditions from the past. This is one of the finest displays of holiday themed living history that you’ll find in all of Alberta. Some of the fun activities you’ll find at the park include live christmas plays, gingerbread cookie decoration, wagon rides, and so much more. Kids will love meeting Santa, the petting zoo, a special kids-only store, and a holiday craft station just for children. In addition to all the fun activities, the park features a series of stores with a wide variety of items to purchase. It is great place to find items for those “hard to buy for” people on your list. For an unforgettable kick off to the holiday season, Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park is the perfect event for you. We sat down with Barb Munro, the Communications Specialist for Heritage Park, to talk about this one-of-a-kind historical holiday event.

 

RAL: Tell me about the event.

BM: Once Upon a Christmas has been running at Heritage Park since 2008.  Before then, the Park had a similar Christmas event called 12 Days Of Christmas. Heritage Park has been providing some sort of Christmas experience to visitors since the mid 1980s. Last year for our 50th anniversary we had a record number of visitors attend our event (over 36,000). Because it is mostly an outdoor event, our attendance can be weather dependant, but we all have our fingers crossed for a mild December! So far, so good.

 

The beauty of this holiday event is that it offers something for everyone! We see families with young children who come to visit Santa, senior citizens who enjoy the old-fashioned aspects of the event, and young twenty-somethings who remember coming when they were kids and want to carry on the tradition.

 

RAL: What makes Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park unique?

BM: Once Upon a Christmas is a chance to experience the magic of Christmas past.  It’s a chance for guests to enjoy a snow covered Heritage Park, and visit some of the historical homes and shops to see how Christmas looked over 100 years ago.  The focus of the event is on families and activities, so it’s a great opportunity for families to just enjoy spending time together and really get in touch with the true spirit of the season.  The event is affordable and inclusive, with plenty of activities, shopping, and dining options to appeal to everyone.

 

RAL: Take me through a typical day at the event.

BM: A typical visit to Once Upon a Christmas  will include a snow painting activity, snuggling under a blanket on a horse-drawn wagon ride, and singing carols in the tiny historical church. Kids will enjoy the petting zoo, decorating gingerbread cookies, visiting with Santa, making crafts, and shopping for mom and dad with the help of a volunteer in our Kids’ Only Store. A festive train display and holiday play add to the magic of the season. Plus, three of the historical homes are open and decorated for the holidays. There’s unique Christmas shopping, an antique portrait studio where families can capture their memories, and visits to the bakery and candy store. A breakfast buffet is offered each day of the event, and fire pits dot the streets of the historical village, where guests can warm their toes. The schoolhouse, print shop, and synagogue are also open and offer activities and programming for all.

 

RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging and are there any specials set up for the event?

BM: Heritage Park is located in the southwest part of the city and just minutes away from a number of great family-friendly hotels in the south. We are only a 15-minute drive from downtown Calgary as well, making us easily accessible from any hotel or B & B.

 

We have a great hotel package that is being offered through Hotel Blackfoot and the Delta Calgary South.

 

RAL: What does Once Upon a Christmas mean to the community?

BM: Once Upon a Christmas is an affordable, inclusive, family-friendly event that offers something for everyone. Our admission is already priced low and on top of that, we offer discount coupons at Safeway and First Calgary Financial locations throughout the city. This event has become a holiday tradition for many Calgarians and we strive to ensure they are getting a quality experience.

 

RAL:  Does the event support a special cause in the community?

BM: Heritage Park is a charitable organization and all of the revenue earned goes back into the preservation, restoration, and programming that we offer throughout the year at the Park. It’s through community support by visitors that we have become Canada’s largest living history museum. We offer quality, immersive programming to over 40,000 school children each year!  During this event we also partner with the Salvation Army and support their Christmas kettle and toy campaigns.  

 

RAL: Why should people come to your event?

BM: Once Upon A Christmas brings the magic of Christmas past to life. There’s something for everyone. It’s an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and it’s a great way to kick off the holiday season.


For more information on Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park please visit their website.