Celebrate Local. Spark Joy. Give Back.
From December 8–19, we’re opening the doors on our Downtown Advent Calendar! Each one revealing something special from the restaurants, shops, experiences, and community organizations that make downtown shine.
Starting December 8, visit the CDA Instagram for an exciting local giveaway. in addition to our daily surprises, we’re introducing Starlight Spotlights. These special features shine a light on charitable organizations creating meaningful impact in Calgary. These are non-giveaway highlights designed simply to inspire giving, encourage connection, and celebrate the people lifting up our community during the holidays.
Join us December 8 as we begin celebrating the restaurants, shops, experiences, and community organizations that make downtown shine.
Day 12: The Dorian, Autograph Collection
Located in the heart of downtown Calgary, The Dorian blends boutique elegance with whimsical, literary-inspired design - creating a stay that feels both luxurious and delightfully unexpected. As a MICHELIN Key hotel, The Dorian offers a one-of-a-kind urban escape that celebrates creativity, comfort, and Calgary charm.
Prize: An overnight stay (valid on a Friday or Saturday night) in a Dorian Guestroom.
Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Learn more: The Dorian | Calgary Hotels | Official Site Downtown Luxury Hotel
Downtown Calgary Gift Card
The winner of today’s giveaway will also receive a $250 Downtown Calgary Gift Card, redeemable at hundreds of local businesses across the core - including restaurants, boutiques, cafés, services, and cultural experiences.
The gift card supports the local economy, uplifts downtown merchants, and makes it easy to shop, dine, and explore the heart of the city all year long.
Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Learn more: Downtown Gift Card | Calgary Downtown Association
Day 11: Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
For seven decades, the Calgary Philharmonic has been bringing communities together through the power of live music, presenting more than 60 concerts each season across classical, pop, film, and family programming. As a cornerstone of Calgary’s arts scene, the orchestra is known for creating memorable experiences that inspire audiences of all ages.
Prize: Win 2 tickets to matinee of The Music of Hans Zimmer on January 17, an epic concert featuring some of the composer’s most iconic film scores.
Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Learn More: Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra | Calgary, AB
Starlight Spotlight: Alpha House Society
Alpha House Society has supported Calgarians facing homelessness and addiction for nearly 45 years through an Emergency Shelter, medically supported Detox program, over 350 supportive housing spaces, and 24/7 mobile outreach teams that reduce crisis intervention demands on police and EMS. Their work is rooted in compassion, client care, and helping individuals find stability at their own pace.
This season, Alpha House is running a Holiday Donation Drive to support vulnerable community members with essential items, care, and comfort during the winter months.
Donate today: How You Can Help - Alpha House Society | Calgary, Alberta
Day 10: Deville Coffee
Deville is a group of coffee crafters and baked-goods dreamers who have been serving Calgary since 2008. Locally owned by people who live in the community, Deville sources, roasts, and serves direct-trade coffee beans, crafting every latte and espresso drink by hand using ingredients like organic vanilla and house-made chocolate ganache. With multiple locations across the city, they continue to be a beloved gathering spot for high-quality coffee and warm, welcoming service.
Prize: A curated Deville gift basket valued at $120, including direct-trade beans, a Deville-branded MiiR cup, and four handcrafted lattes.
Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Learn More: Deville Coffee
Day 9: Werklund Centre
Werklund Centre brings world-class programming to downtown Calgary through its National Geographic Live series, showcasing explorers, photographers, and storytellers who deepen our understanding of the natural world. Their upcoming presentation features National Geographic Explorer Jaime Rojo, who brings the breathtaking monarch butterfly migration to life on the Jack Singer Concert Hall’s 48-foot screen.
Prize: Two tickets to the National Geographic Live presentation of Jaime Rojo: Chasing Monarchs at Werklund Centre Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Learn more: Jaime Rojo: Chasing Monarchs
Day 9: Cucina
Cucina is a cozy, intimate, Italian-inspired bistro on Stephen Avenue, known for its warm atmosphere, exceptional service, and contemporary menu created by new Chef de Cuisine, James Lawson. With shareable dishes, expertly suggested wine pairings (sourced from the renowned Teatro wine cellar), and a central location perfect for a pre- or post-show outing, Cucina invites guests to slow down and savour a memorable dining experience.
Prize: A $100 gift card toward your next evening out at Cucina.
Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Learn more: Home - Cucina Market Bistro Calgary
Day 8: Pineapple Hall
Pineapple Hall brings together some of Concorde Group’s most beloved culinary concepts - including Lonely Mouth, Double Zero Pizza, Surfy Surfy, and Clive Burger - into a single lively food hall in Stephen Avenue Place. Opened in fall 2024, it was designed as a gathering space where people can enjoy morning coffee, lunch, dinner, or late-night snacks all under one roof. It’s a vibrant new hub for downtown dining, perfect for sampling the flavours that have shaped Calgary’s food scene.
Prize: A $100 Pineapple Hall Gift Card, redeemable anytime across its mix of concepts. Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Learn more: Pineapple Hall
Day 8: Needs Must Cafe
Located inside Pineapple Hall, Needs Must is Concorde Group’s café and patisserie concept offering Monogram Coffee, house-made juices and smoothies, and beautiful baked goods crafted fresh by an in-house pastry team. With a focus on quality and comfort, Needs Must brings a refined café experience right into the heart of downtown.
Prize: Coffee for a month; one handcrafted coffee per week during January 2026 (each voucher valued at $8). Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Explore more: Needs Must — Pineapple Hall
Starlight Spotlight: Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA)
No family should face their first winter alone. This winter, many newcomer mothers and children are spending their first holiday away from home, family, and support. The isolation can feel overwhelming, but together we can change that.
Through CIWA’s Adopt-a-Family: Here for You campaign, every donation helps build a hamper filled with food and essentials these families will need to feel supported.
For over 40 years, CIWA has stood alongside immigrant and refugee women and their families, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and care.
Join us in saying, “we’re here for you”.
Donating today:: Adopt a Family - CIWA
Established in 1982 as a registered charity, CIWA is a culturally diverse settlement agency that recognizes, responds to, and focuses on the unique concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families.
Day 7: Vertigo Theatre
Prize: Two tickets to one of Vertigo Theatre’s remaining productions of their 2025-2026 Season, winner’s choice! A gothic tale, MONSTRESS (January 17 - February 15), A Canadian thriller - A KILLING SNOW (March 14 - April 12), or a courtroom drama, THE VERDICT (May 9 - June 7).
Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
About Vertigo TheatreVertigo Theatre is Canada’s National Theatre for Mystery and Intrigue and has been captivating audiences for almost 50 years. Located at the base of the Calgary Tower in the heart of downtown Calgary, their aim is to thrill, entertain and inspire audiences with high-quality live theatre experiences.
Learn More: Vertigo Theatre
Day 6: Sunterra Market
Prize: a $100 Sunterra Gift Card
Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Sunterra Market is proud to be Alberta-grown and locally focused. Their original Bankers Hall Market & Café has been serving downtown Calgary for over 35 years with fresh meals, local groceries and chef-made convenience.
Learn More: Sunterra Market
Day 5: Contemporary Calgary
Contemporary Calgary is a public art gallery dedicated to creating a place of wonder and belonging, where everyone is invited to imagine, learn, and explore new ideas through contemporary art. Presenting local, national, and international exhibitions, the gallery brings people together through powerful visual storytelling and thoughtful programming.
Prize: A visit for two to the gallery, a collectible exhibition tote featuring Omar Ba: Same Dream, and Monologue by Chitra Ganesh, enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Learn more: www.contemporarycalgary.com
Day 5: Italiano Please!
Italiano Please! is a Calgary-based, family-run social enterprise crafting authentic Roman cuisine in small batches right here in the city. Known for their curated meal bags, boxed cakes, and holiday gift baskets, they bring tradition, care, and bold flavour to every dish. By supporting Italiano Please!, you’re also supporting a business that empowers individuals from marginalized communities through meaningful work.
Prize: Dinner for four from Italiano Please, featuring handcrafted Roman-style cuisine, enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
Explore more: https://www.italianoplease.com/holiday-specials-2025
Day 4 Starlight Bonus Giveaway!
Prize: LAMY Studio Pen from Madison + PAGE, and a Holiday Candy Gift Basket from Volios Confections.
Enter to Win: @downtowncalgary
Madison + Page
Madison + Page is a thoughtfully curated stationery and lifestyle shop offering elevated everyday tools that celebrate craftsmanship, design, and the joy of writing. Their premium selections include globally respected brands like LAMY, whose Studio pen is hand-assembled in Heidelberg and known for its elegant, minimalist form. Whether you’re a collector or simply someone who appreciates beautifully made objects, Madison + Page brings timeless quality to every desk.
Learn more: https://www.madison-page.com/store/
Volio’s Confections:
Volio’s Confections is a Calgary treasure known for small-batch, joy-filled sweets made with care, colour, and creativity. Their holiday collections are packed with nostalgic flavours and handcrafted treats—from ribbon candy and sponge toffee to candy canes, hard candies, and playful pops. Every box is designed to spark wonder, delight, and a little holiday magic.
Explore their treats: https://www.voliosconfections.com/
Day 4: Spirit of Giving with Hyatt Regency Calgary
Each holiday season, Hyatt Regency Calgary opens its doors – and it’s heart - to the community through Spirit of Giving on 700 Centre Street. Now in its fourth year. This donation drive invites guests, neighbours, and downtown visitors to help fulfill wish lists for organizations supporting both people and animals in need.
This year’s beneficiaries include the Calgary Region Foster & Kinship Association, Heaven Can Wait Animal Rescue, Tsuut’ina Nation Food Bank, and Women in Need Society. Donations are accepted in the hotel lobby beside the Front Desk, or curbside with the help of Hyatt colleagues.
Running till December 17, Spirit of Giving is a reminder of how small acts of generosity can bring warmth and comfort across our city.
Day 3: Alforno [CLOSED]
Prize: Win a $100 Alforno gift card plus an Alforno-branded hat and one of their new premium tumblers.
Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
About Alforno:
Alforno has been creating exceptional coffee, pastries, and Italian-inspired fare for Calgarians for over ten years. Their cafes are a downtown staple and are the perfect stop for a morning latte, a pastry run, or a warm break while holiday shopping. Every espresso is crafted from beans roasted specifically for Alforno by a local partner, and all pastries and sandwiches are made fresh each day at their Eau Claire location. Guests can also download the Alforno app to earn rewards, order ahead, and enjoy exclusive seasonal perks.
Day 2: Hawthorn Dining Room & The Chocolate Lab (CLOSED)
Prize: A Yuletide Feast for Two, and A deluxe Holiday Chocolate Gift Set.
About Hawthorn Dining Room at Fairmont Palliser
Located inside the historic Fairmont Palliser, Hawthorn Dining Room brings modern prairie flavours to a beautifully restored dining room that glows during the holiday season. Their 3-course Yuletide Feast blends festive comfort with refined culinary detail, featuring roasted turkey, seasonal vegetables, and decadent desserts. Available daily for lunch and dinner, it’s an inviting way to savour the spirit of the season downtown Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary. Learn more: https://www.fairmont.com/palliser-calgary/dining/hawthorn/
About The Chocolate Lab
The Chocolate Lab is a beloved Calgary confectioner known for imaginative flavours, meticulous craftsmanship, and internationally award-winning chocolates. Their holiday collection transforms the season into a sensory experience, from bonbons and chocolate-dipped citrus to whimsical hot chocolate bombs and sculpted treats. Every box is designed to spark joy, curiosity, and a little wonder. Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary. Explore more: https://www.thechocolatelab.ca/
Day 1: The GRAND (CLOSED)
Prize: Win a Movie Night at The GRAND! Two tickets to It’s a Wonderful Life on Friday, December 12, plus popcorn, drinks, and fresh-made slices from Uncle Fatih’s Pizza.
Enter on Instagram: @downtowncalgary
About The GRAND:
Founded in 1912, The GRAND is Western Canada’s oldest theatre and a cultural cornerstone in the heart of downtown Calgary. Today, it remains a vibrant home for artists, audiences, and the stories that move us—offering bold, inclusive programming that connects its rich heritage with contemporary culture.
Movie Nights at The GRAND are an important part of that mission, creating welcoming spaces where people can gather, unwind, and experience the magic of storytelling together.
As an arts nonprofit, every bit of support matters: attending a show or a movie night directly helps The GRAND stay bold, accessible, and fearlessly committed to Calgary’s creative future.