Calgary's weekly round-up packs in a lot for anyone heading to Alberta's biggest city in the next couple of years — plus a timely weather heads-up for this weekend.
First, the nostalgic news: the much-loved Thunder Slide at Village Square Leisure Centre may be gone, but its replacement is officially on the way. The city has revealed the design for the new waterslide, which will be fully enclosed with twists, turns, translucent sections and shifting light effects along the ride. It's slated to open by the end of 2027 as part of the leisure centre's renovation, so put it on the list for a future trip rather than this one.
If you're in town sooner, Lougheed House has a new reason to visit. Its outdoor exhibit, Tricks, Treats and Traditions: A History of Halloween in Southern Alberta, looks at how the holiday was celebrated in the region before pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating took over — told through old photographs, newspaper clippings and other local artefacts. Better still, it's free. The garden exhibit opens Friday, Sept. 25 and runs until Thursday, Nov. 5, making it an easy add-on to an autumn stroll through the historic Sandstone mansion and its grounds.
Weather-wise, summer is making a quick exit. Environment and Climate Change Canada expects temperatures to slide from the low 20s early in the week to around 12°C on Saturday, with a 60 per cent chance of showers, dipping to roughly 3°C overnight. In other words: pack the jacket, even if the week started in t-shirt weather. Anyone who knows Calgary knows conditions can flip fast.
For entertainment, south Calgary is gaining a big new play spot this fall. Splitsville Bowl is opening at Township Shopping Centre in Legacy with 20 bowling lanes, a large arcade, and food and drink service. It'll be the fifth Splitsville location in the city, though an exact opening date hasn't been announced yet.
And for sports fans, this is a season worth witnessing. The Calgary Flames are entering their final year at the Saddledome before moving to the new Scotia Place for the 2027-28 season. The farewell campaign begins at home against the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 1, with 42 home games on the schedule. The last Flames game ever at the Saddledome lands on April 10 against the Vancouver Canucks — a genuinely historic night for one of the city's most recognisable buildings. Catching a game this season means seeing the end of a 40-plus-year era.
Why it matters for travellers: Calgary is quietly stacking up reasons to visit between now and 2027 — a free cultural exhibit running through early November, fresh entertainment venues opening, and a once-only chance to see hockey history made before the Saddledome closes its doors. If you're planning an autumn trip, time it around a Flames home game and Lougheed House's exhibit, and bring layers.
