Calgary's Chinook Blast winter festival poised to return for 3rd year

Calgary's annual winter festival dubbed Chinook Blast is poised to launchlater this month, promising outdoor concerts, winter sports, night markets, theatrical performances and even rallycross racing.

Weekends will showcase particular events, while outdoor skating, music and art installations featuringlocal artists will be part of the celebrations throughout the three-week festival, which runs Jan. 27to Feb. 12.

"We are excited that a majority of our programming is put on by local artists, musicians and businesses," said Patti Pon, president and chief executive ofCalgary Arts Development and chair of Chinook Blast, in a release.

"We want to make Chinook Blast a global event while supporting local."

Full details of events and locations can be found atchinookblast.ca.

Organizers say this year's event is the biggest and most diverse lineup thatChinook Blast has put together.

Popularfestivals such as BigWinter Classic, High Performance Rodeo, Calgary Folk Festival's Block Heater and Ethnik Festivals are back again.

At Stampede Park, Nitro Rallycross, where elite drivers will raceelectric cars over a course ofsnow and ice, will also be a part of Chinook Blast celebrations this year, as well as snowboard'sFIS Snow Rodeo World Cup.

For aspiringboarders, the Mini Shred Park will be set up in Olympic Plaza on Feb. 4-5. Certified coaches will pull kids aged three to 10 around the shred park on a snowboard with handles.

After two years of COVID cancellations,The Great Canadian Kilt Skateis back on Feb.12 at Olympic Plaza.

The atrium at City Hall will also host a series of night markets over the festival's three weekends.

The Four Winds Indigenous Showcase & Marketwill be featured opening weekend from Jan.27 to 29.The Asian Heritage Foundation will be bringing theAsian Marketback on the weekend of Feb. 3 to 5. Market Collective will close things out on the weekend of Feb.10 to 12.

The Calgary Central Library will host the TD Artists Pavilion, featuring pop-up performances from local artists.

"Chinook Blast showcases the best of winter and our city," Mayor Jyoti Gondek said in a statement.

The city introduced Chinook Blast in2021, saying the festival would provide a banner for the promotion ofpre-existing winter events like the High Performance Rodeo, Chinese New Year, Block Heater and sporting events.