Fall for Calgary this autumn
From pumpkins to fall strolls to scary movies, find fun in Calgary this fall.
Fall in Calgary is fleeting, but there are still some days left before the chill of winter sets in. Calgary has the most sunny days of any major city in Canada and that’s true in every season. Wake up to crisp mornings that turn to warm afternoons — here’s a list of activities to make the most of October in Calgary, from parks and hot drinks, pumpkins and fresh air to a scary movie double feature for Halloween.
Leap into the outdoors 🍂
Calgary is known for its extensive urban parks, so if you haven’t explored any yet or need a recommendation for a new one to try, this is the season!
📍 Here are three parks near SAIT that are always beautiful.
🗺 Find more Calgary parks for walking and cycling.
Parks in Calgary
We asked our community #HereAtSAIT for their top park recommendations. Here’s what they had to say:
- “Fun fact, the Bow Habitat Station in Inglewood has a very cool learning centre. On Saturdays for $2 you can go into the hatchery tanks and feed thousands of baby fish before they’re released! It’s a beautiful walk and a great learning experience.” ~ Cassandra G.V.
- “Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It’s fairly close to SAIT and has many walking trails. Entrance is free.” ~ Donna B.
- “Seeing the golden larches is very cool and you don’t have to leave the city.” ~ Janine M.
The mountains are on our doorstep ⛰
Of course, the mountains are only about an hour’s drive away if you’re looking to spend more time outside. There are several parks that make up Kananaskis Country at the edge of the foothills and the mountains, then further west there’s Canada’s oldest national park, Banff National Park. Make sure to stay safe when you go into the mountain parks, especially if it’s a new environment for you.
If you’re an international student, watch for International Centre newsletters and check the iCent app for upcoming field trips.
Look ahead and connect with the Skiing and Snowboarding Club. For affordable gear, try your luck at the Calgary New and Used Ski Sale on Oct. 20 – 22 or rent your equipment from the Outdoor Centre later this fall.
Pumpkinheads 4ever 🎃
Carving pumpkins at Halloween originates from Celtic Samhain, and a myth about a ghost named Jack who carried a burning coal in a carved turnip to light his wanderings. People began to carve faces into turnips and placed light sources inside to ward off evil spirits. Irish and Scottish immigrants in North America adapted the practice to pumpkins, which were more readily available. The tradition evolved over time, and today people carve Jack O’Lanterns with intricate designs, displaying them on their doorstep to celebrate Halloween.
Fresh air + great photo ops + pumpkins = 🤩
- Granary Road Pumpkin Harvest (🎟) Oct. 14 and 15 🥧🍁 Try all the activities like mini golf, a pumpkin hunt and the pumpkin smash (the pieces are fed to the animals afterwards), plus food and photo opportunities.
- Pumpkins After Dark (🎟) until Oct. 31 🌙⭐ More than 10,000 carved pumps along with lights music and effects are displayed along a one-kilometre trail with plenty of spots for photos and snacks. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance as they’re not available at the gate.
Put some pumpkin in your cup on campus
We did the legwork so you don’t have to — here are the spots on campus with pumpkin and other seasonal flavours to try.
- Starbucks: Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Apple Crisp Oat Macchiato and Apple Crisp Oat Shaken Espresso
- Tim Hortons: Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte, Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew and Pumpkin Spice Iced Capp
- Odyssey Market: Pumpkin Spiced Latte
- Jugo Juice: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
- Second Cup: Pumpkin Spice Latte, Vanilla Spice Cold Foam Iced Matcha and Vanilla Spice Cold Foam Iced Blue Butterfly Latte
- 4Nines Diner: Pumpkin Pie Latte and Caramel Apple Spice
Chilling and thrilling choices 🎬🍿
Fall is the perfect time to spend an evening at home with a movie or two — just don’t forget the popcorn! Watch your spending and access Criterion on Demand, a video streaming service, free with your SAIT library account.
Here are six double features to start your spooky season, from ‘not scary’ to ‘terrifying’.
🐉 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) and Harry Potter (1–8)
👻 Corpse Bride (2005) and Sleepy Hollow (1999)
😨 Scream (1996) and Scream (2022)
👽 Alien (1979) and Predator (1987) — then Alien vs Predator (2004)
🤫 A Quiet Place (2018) and A Quiet Place II (2021)
😱 The Conjuring (2013) and The Shining (1980)
For screams off the screen
Grab some friends and head to Stampede Park for Screamfest (🎟), which features six haunted houses and is on until Tuesday, Oct. 31.
👉 For Halloween fun on campus, check out Tedi’s Spooktackular Halloween from 10 am to 2 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the Peer Support Centre, NJ105 Senator Burns building.
There are countless ways to get involved #HereAtSAIT throughout the year, watch your inbox for your next opportunity.
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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.