Calgary,
17
December
2025
|
10:59
America/Denver

City Services: Holiday Season 2025

We're adjusting our hours of operation for the winter holidays

Holiday cart pickup schedule changes: 

Instead of the usual Thursday pickup for blue, black and/or green carts:

  • Christmas Day collection moves to Monday, Dec. 22
  • New Year’s Day collection moves to Monday, Dec. 29
  • Regular Thursday pickup resumes Jan. 8 

There are no changes to service for Wednesday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) or Wednesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve). Stay updated and set reminders at calgary.ca/cartschedule or download the Garbage Day app.    

Things to do

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with family-friendly activities, live entertainment, local food trucks, an outdoor skating/dance party, fireworks and more at Eau Claire Plaza and Prince’s Island Park starting at 8 p.m.

Ring in 2026 with midnight fireworks launched from Prince’s Island Park. This dazzling show will be perfectly timed to music on CJSW 90.9 FM.

Watch the fireworks in person from Eau Claire Plaza and Prince’s Island Park or at home by watching our livestream starting at 11:55 p.m. for a blessing by Elder Bryan Little Chief, followed by a countdown to midnight with Mayor Jeromy Farkas.

Free ice skating

Join us over the holiday break for some free ice skating at the arenas below:

Boxing Day: Dec. 26, 1 – 2:15 p.m.

New Year's Day: Jan. 1, 1 – 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.

Due to the popularity of our free skates, we ask that you only attend one timeslot for our New Year's Day skate. The ice may be cleared at 2:30 p.m.to make room for more customers.

View our arena rules for public skates. Equipment rentals are not available.

The following facilities will be open Dec. 20 – 24 and Jan. 2 – 4:

We are adjusting our hours of operation from Dec. 20 - Jan. 4. View all our facility hours at calgary.ca/pools.

Getting around

Calgary Transit

Buses, CTrains and On Demand will be running on a Sunday level service on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

On New Year's Eve, CTrain service will be extended into the early hours of Jan. 1, along with several bus routes. Transit will be regular price throughout the holidays. 

For more details including customer service, Calgary Transit Access and On Demand hours, visit calgarytransit.com/newyearseve

Thurs, 
Dec. 25		Buses and CTrains operate on a Sunday level of service. On Demand service 
operates on Sunday schedule and level of service.
Fri, 
Dec. 26		Buses and CTrains operate on a Sunday level of service. On Demand service 
operates on Sunday schedule and level of service.
Weds, 
Dec. 31

CTrain: Both the Red & Blue Lines will run every 10 minutes until around 9:30 p.m., 
and then switch to every 15 minutes. Service will end around 4 a.m.

Bus: Service extended for Routes: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22, 302, MAX Orange, MAX Yellow, 
MAX Teal, MAX Purple, and MAX Green.  These buses will run every 30-35 minutes. 
Last trips will leave downtown at approximately 3 a.m.

On Demand service operates on Sunday schedule and level of service.

Thurs, 
Jan. 1, 2026		Buses and CTrains operate on a Sunday level of service. On Demand service 
operates on Sunday schedule and level of service.

New Year’s Eve road closures

For pedestrian and traffic safety, the following closures and restrictions will be in effect from 9 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025 to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026:

Memorial Dr. N.W.: Closed in both directions (eastbound and westbound) from 10 Street N.W. to 4 Street N.E. 

  • After midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, any vehicles parked in Sunnyside will be able to exit westbound onto Memorial Dr. N.W.

Crescent Heights & Rosedale Communities

  • No public access. Access restricted to residents only.
  • Residents can access their homes via the vehicle access points.
  • Proof of residence in Crescent Heights or Rosedale is required for vehicle access.
  • If you have guests arriving to your home during the closure, please meet them at a vehicle access point with proof of your residence so they can access the area.
  • To avoid delays, consider asking your guests to arrive before 9 p.m.

Crescent Heights traffic restrictions:  From 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 to 1 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026: 

  • No parking zone: 8 Avenue N.E. from Centre Street N. to Edmonton Trail
  • Right turn only exits:
    • From 6, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 Avenue N.E. right turn only onto Edmonton Trail N.E. (southbound)
    • From 7, 8 and 9 Avenue N.E. right turn only onto Centre Street N. (northbound) 

Visit calgary.ca/trafficinfo  for a full list of all current traffic incidents, road closures and detours.

It’s not a pain when you have a plan. Download the Waze app for real-time driver info and visit calgary.ca/PlanYourTrip for all the tools to help you navigate your commute.

Calgary Parking

Christmas and Boxing Day
Enjoy free parking in on-street ParkPlus zones on Thursday, Dec. 25 for Christmas and Friday, Dec. 26 for Boxing Day. Please note that regular rates will be in effect at partner lots such as Calgary Stampede, TELUS Spark, Calgary Zoo and Heritage Park.

The Calgary Parking Contact Centre and Impound Lot will be closed on Dec. 25. For more information, please visit Calgary Parking.

New Year’s Eve/Day
With celebrations, traffic and winter weather, planning ahead helps keep you prepared, safe and stress-free. Learn more about New Year’s Eve parking at calgaryparking.com/NYE  

Enjoy free parking in on-street ParkPlus zones on Thursday, Jan. 1. Weekend rates apply at all Calgary Parking parkades and surface lots. Please note that regular rates will be in effect at partner lots such as TELUS Spark, the Calgary Stampede, Calgary Zoo and Heritage Park.

The Calgary Parking Contact Centre and Impound Lot will be closed on Jan. 1. For more information, please visit Calgary Parking.

Around the house

Landfill and Eco Centre hours

Landfill and Eco Centre locations will be closed on Dec. 25, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026 only. Hours are available at calgary.ca/landfill.

Facility hours and closures

The following facilities will be closed on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1 (except for the free ice skating opportunities listed under the ‘Things to do’ section above):

Facilities closed Dec. 25 – Jan 1:

Facilities closed Dec. 25 – Jan 4:

Facilities closed Dec. 19 – Jan 4:

Programs

Swimming lessons and most registered programs will not run Dec. 25 - Jan. 1. Check your schedule at liveandplay.calgary.ca.

Winter Safety

Storm ponds

As temperatures fluctuate and winter activities begin, The City of Calgary is reminding Calgarians that rivers, the Glenmore Reservoir, waterways and storm ponds are not safe to be on. Storm ponds are not safe for any recreational activity, especially in winter. To learn more about safety around storm ponds visit calgary.ca/stormpondsafety

Frozen pipes

As we head into winter and holiday travel, remember to take preventive steps to ensure your pipes don’t freeze.  Frozen pipes can burst leading to water damage and service outages. It is important to take preventive actions in the event the temperatures drop while you are away. 

  • Maintain indoor temperatures: keep your thermostat at a minimum of 15°C, even when away.
  • Have someone check on your property when away: refer to your home insurance for the frequency they require.
  • Eliminate drafts: seal cold drafts in unheated areas such as basements, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Open cabinets and doors: let warm air circulate to exposed pipes in colder areas.
  • Heat maintenance areas: ensure external hot water tank rooms are adequately heated.
  • Keep water flowing: have whomever is checking on your home run water through pipes to reduce freezing risk.

To learn more visit calgary.ca/frozenpipes