Good morning, Calgary.
Hope you're having a wonderful February so far.
It is interesting that lately we’ve had quite a bit of news about filming happening in Calgary. In line with that, MovieMaker magazine placed Calgary 4th in North America on the list of best places to film. I wonder what the implications of that are for the city's future? I guess becoming an established filming spot might be good for both the economy and tourism. What do you think?
Also, summer camp planning season is here. As a mom of two, I’ve started planning for summer, and I’m wondering if we should cover camps and summer plans in general in the Scoop.
What is your current February vibe?
On another note, as usual, we will never get tired of featuring the Penguin Walk at the Zoo. Come on, they're penguins, right? There are also a few festivals and trivia nights, plus we've included some Valentine's Day events (which we will cover in even more detail on Thursday).
Let’s get to it.
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We built more homes than ever (again). Calgary set another record for housing starts in 2025, with nearly 28,000 new units hitting the market. That is double the typical annual volume. While the experts predict a bit of a slowdown for 2026, the sheer number of cranes in the sky suggests we aren't exactly taking a break. Read the report
The Wicked wands came from Okotoks. Local news just broke that Fantasy By Numbers, an Okotoks workshop, landed the contract to manufacture 10,000 wooden wands for the film's release. They ran 18-hour days to fill the order, proving a local woodshop can hit a Hollywood deadline. See the wands
We are the #4 best film city in North America. MovieMaker magazine moved Calgary up the ranks this month, placing us 4th on the continent. This secures our status as a "proven" production hub. The ranking cites our ability to double for almost any location, which generated $372 million in economic activity and supported over 4,000 local jobs in 2024. The outlook for 2026 is even busier, with cameras rolling this month for The Icetalker and Netflix returning to film Season 3 of My Life with the Walter Boys. See the ranking
The Hot Chocolate Festival is pouring now. February means one thing: an aggressive amount of cocoa. The YYC Hot Chocolate Fest is running until the 28th, with cafes across the city competing for the title of "Best Cup." Every cup sold donates $1 to $3 directly to Calgary Meals on Wheels. Find a cup
Monday
Penguin Walk | The King Penguins march at the Zoo daily at 10:30 a.m. It is their world; we are just living in it. Check status
All Sport One City | A city-wide discovery festival running until Feb 16. Try fencing, pickleball, or underwater hockey (probably) for free. Browse sessions
Chinook Blast | The downtown winter festival is still lighting up Eau Claire. See map
Tuesday
Trivia at High Line | High Line Brewing in Inglewood hosts a solid trivia night at 7:00 p.m. $5 to play, max teams of 6. Register
Wednesday
Hitmen vs. Broncos | Wednesday Night Hockey at the Dome. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. Tickets
Candle Making & Pizza | Tailgunner Brewing is teaming up with Acme Pizza for a workshop. Make a candle, eat a slice. Starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets
Thursday–Sunday Lookahead
Love Letters (Thu) | cSPACE Marda Loop transforms into four floors of art, live performances, and hands-on activities. Free entry starting at 5:30 p.m. Details
In the Heat of the Night (Fri) | The Zoo’s adults-only Valentine’s event. Dinner, drinks, and a "cheeky" talk about animal courtship. Get tickets
Valentine's Day Milonga (Sat) | A special dance night at the Haysboro Community Hall featuring Argentine Tango music. Beginners are welcome to watch or join in. Event info
The Tale of the Gifted Prince (Sat) | A world premiere musical opens at the Max Bell Theatre. See show
Want your event to be featured? Hit reply and send us the details. If it's cool, we'll share it with Calgary.
Monday
VIRAGO | The Blues Can | 8:00 PM Info
Tuesday
Santiago Angel | Comedy Cave | 7:30 PM Tickets
Tom Phillips & The DTs | The Blues Can | 8:00 PM Info
Punk Rock Bingo | Ship & Anchor | 7:00 PM Info
Alberta Songwriter Stage | Gravity Espresso (Inglewood) | 6:30 PM Info
Wednesday
SHIP HOP (Hip Hop Showcase) | Ship & Anchor | 8:00 PM Info
Apricity Band | The Blues Can | 8:00 PM Info
Open Mic Night | Ironwood Stage & Grill | 7:00 PM Info
Thursday
Alex Andra and Mike Hell | The Blues Can | 5:00 PM Info
Red Hot Hayseeds | The Blues Can | 8:00 PM Info
Imbibition | Gravity Espresso | 6:30 PM Info
Friday
Lovers Under Covers | Ironwood Stage & Grill | 8:00 PM Info
Cold Little Crow / Wild Coulee | The Palomino Smokehouse | 9:00 PM Info
Mark Sadlier Brown | The Blues Can | 12:00 PM Info
Crawford and Company | The Blues Can | 9:00 PM Info
Saturday
Fox Big Band (Valentine's Edition) | Ironwood Stage & Grill | 8:00 PM Info
Denzal Sinclaire (JazzYYC) | Ironwood Stage & Grill | 8:00 PM Info
Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne | The Blues Can | 9:00 PM Info
Veronica Raine | Gravity Espresso | 6:30 PM Info
Jaiden Riley & The Crybabies | King Eddy | 8:30 PM Info
Sunday
GString Brunch (Burlesque) | The Palomino Smokehouse | 11:00 AM Info
Sunday Jazz Jam | Gravity Espresso (Inglewood) | 2:00 PM Info
Have a great week.
P.S. Forward this to someone who deserves a hot chocolate today.