• Price Free

If you’ve ventured outside this week you know that winter has found us at last. Good thing there are a bunch of great, free, and mostly indoor, events to warm you up! Here’s what we’re checking out:

Jewish Book Festival

Until December 11, 2016
Calgary JCC (1607 90th Ave. SW)
Free unless noted

Browse hundreds of books and listen to authors, ideas and current conversations that make up the fabric of today’s Jewish world. There’s even a kids storytelling corner as well as a series of literary and musical events.
calgaryjcc.com

ProArts Presents Repsol Choir

December 7, 2016, 12:10 – 12:50pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free

Continuing with its holiday programming, join ProArts for this free, lunch hour Christmas choral concert from the Repsol Choir—a four-part choir that performs in the spring and during the Christmas season and takes the role of company ambassador seriously, performing at various downtown and community venues.
proartssociety.ca

Four Years

December 7, 2016, 2:00 – 8:00pm
Village Brewery (5000 12A St. SE)
Free

Neil Zeller got his start when Village Brewery took a chance on a new photographer and invited him to display a few art pieces on the walls of their tasting room. Four years later, Zeller heads back with a two-month solo show. Raise a glass and see his favourite pieces at this opening reception.
facebook.com

Lifelong Learners

December 7, 2016, 2:30 – 3:15pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration recommended

On the first Wednesday of every month, seniors are invited to join us for a tour and discussion of the current exhibitions. Explore new ideas and engage creatively with arts and culture.
eskerfoundation.ca

Tear Down and Rebuild and Tear Down

December 8, 2016, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration recommended

Join the Esker Foundation for this exhibition tour with Shauna Thompson and discuss how its current shows address examples of public space and architecture.
eskerfoundation.com

9th Annual Under $100 Art Show Reception

December 8, 2016, 5:00 – 10:00pm
Art Spot (2501 Alyth Rd. SE)
Free

Bigger than ever, see works from over 100 participating artists at the opening reception of this local staple.
facebook.com

Creative Mornings: Sound and Groove

December 9, 2016, 8:30 – 10:00am
Manasc Isaac (414 Memorial Dr. NE)
Free

Join Creative Mornings Calgary as it presents this free monthly public lecture series for the creative community. Brian Farrell will speak on sound and groove, and how that translates into everything we do—our walk, our talk, our music. Free coffee and snacks.
creativemornings.com

Not So Mini Print Exchange & Exhibition

December 9, 2016, 7:00pm
Alberta Printmakers (4025 4th St. SE)
Free

Get them quick! Each year Alberta Printmakers hosts this fundraiser where artists are invited to submit a package of 10, 8″ x 10″ numbered original prints. The artists each receive eight prints in return and A/P sells two prints from each edition with the proceeds going towards artistic programming.
facebook.com

Christmas in Kensington

December 10, 2016, 12:00 – 4:00pm
Throughout Kensington
Free

With four weekends of holiday fun, head to Kensington to get into the Christmas spirit. This Saturday features petting zoo animals from Butterfield Acres, complimentary hot chocolate, Christmas tunes by the Rock n Roll Carolers and a chance to snap selfies with Santa. And make sure you stop by The Plaza Theatre (1133 Kensington Rd. NW) at 3:00pm to enjoy a screening of Christmas favourite, Elf.
visitkensington.com

NEXT2016 Curator Tour with Lisa Baldissera

December 10, 2016, 1:00pm
Contemporary Calgary (117 8th Ave. SW)
Free

UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, today’s NEXT2016 Curator Tour will be rescheduled to a date TBD. Please contact Contemporary Calgary for more details.

Contemporary Calgary’s ongoing series in support of emerging practices, NEXT2016 invites artists to investigate the potential of post-studio practices, and how practices may manifest themselves within an exhibition space.
facebook.com

Human Rights Day 2016

December 10, 2016, 5:00 – 7:00pm
Alex Community Food Centre (4920 17th Ave. SE)
Free

Join Antyx and friends to celebrate Human Rights Day 2016 in Forest Lawn. Look for different engagement and arts activities, guest speakers, entertainment, and food—it’s a potluck so attendees are welcome to bring something to share (or just come as you are).
facebook.com

Fire and Sky Calgary Book Launch

December 10, 2016, 8:00 – 10:00pm
Contemporary Calgary (117 8th Ave. SW)
Free, book purchases by donation

Support the Wood Buffalo Regional Library at the official launch of Fire and Sky, a Canadian anthology of poetry with selected poems about the Fort McMurray Fire. Featured anthology poets include David C Brydges, Suzanne Hunter, Zach Agnew, and Cassy Welburn.