That’s a Wrap! Chinook Blast 2024 Delivered a ‘So Winterful’ Experience for Calgary!

March 4, 2024 | Calgary, Events, Festivals, What's Happening

What a ride! This year, Bird Creatives finished its third year of producing Calgary’s signature winter festival, Chinook Blast! We couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to work with local artists, community members and partners! From unique events to high-action sports, incredible light and art installations to live music, experiences and more, we’re proud to have delivered an authentic experience that was truly “So Winterful” with the help of Calgary’s many cultural groups.

What does it take?

A village! This year, there were over 200 events with over 70 partners in all city quadrants, three distinct night markets at the City Hall Atrium, five pop-up galleries at Calgary Public Library locations, and an immensely diverse lineup of performers at the RISE UP Calgary Community Outdoor Stage at Olympic Plaza! Check out some of our highlights!

Lights & Installations

Chinook Blast saw a whole new slate of installations and projection mapping art this year, the majority of which were created by local artists! From the interactive fire-breathing Trippity Twitchit in Olympic Plaza to the Cosmic Nexus in East Village and so much more, we were delighted to see visitors engage with these pieces! (Include photos of all installations and projection mapping art). Here are just a few highlights!

The STARQUARIUM by BIG ART with Calgary Party 50 (City Hall)

Trippity Twitchit by True North Absurdities (Olympic Plaza)

Wild Ice by Petrucci Glass (Olympic Plaza)

Cosmic Nexus by Ken Hacke Arts (Celebration Square)

Fancy Meeting You Here by The Communication and Design Lab (Old Fire Hall #1)

PARC by Jonathan Monfries and Madisen Killingsworth (Olympic Plaza)

Photos by Neil Zeller

Live Music

From live music at the RISE UP Calgary Community Outdoor Stage to incredible concerts across Calgary, Chinook Blast brought forward incredible performances this winter. The diverse lineup for 2024 is thanks to our festival partners Calgary Folk Music Festival’s Block Heater, BIG Winter Classic, Ethnik Festivals, and High Performance Rodeo, as well as performances presented by Arts Commons, Alberta Theatre Projects, YYC Music Awards, JazzYYC, Calgary International Blues Festival, Global Fest YYC, One Big JAM, Four Winds, Asian Heritage Foundation, Market Collective, Casa Mexico, and Calgary Downtown Association!

Le Vent du Nord, presented by Block Heater

Elemento Band, presented by Casa Mexico

Virago at the Trailer Stage, presented by Calgary Downtown Association

Photos by Marc Tran

Sports

This year, we saw even more high-action winter sports! Calgarians came out to enjoy Nitrocross, the Snow Rodeo Halfpipe World Cups, The Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the ISU World Speed Skating Championships, and the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. Olympic Plaza also featured a full day of activity at Sport Calgary’s Sports Festival including child-friendly sporting demonstrations of many iconic winter sports!

For every weekend of Chinook Blast, we had free skate rentals allowing visitors of all abilities to try out skating while they enjoy live music at Olympic Plaza.

Try Ringette at Sport Calgary’s Sport Festival

Dead Cold Run 2024 (East Village)

Crokicurl at Frost Fest (Lot 6)

Photos by Neil Zeller

And that’s not all!

Chinook Blast was also host to an incredible array of unique events and experiences! Here are just a few of the many to take in:

  • Markets

City Hall hosted three distinct night markets for each weekend of Chinook Blast thanks to our partners Four Winds Indigenous Showcase and Market, Asian Heritage Foundation, and Market Collective!

  • Lunchtime Mini Jams at the Artists Pavillion

The Central Library is home to the Artists Pavillion, sponsored by the TD Bank Group, where we celebrated Indigenous culture, Lunar New Year, and Black History Month through fully improvised pop-up lunchtime mini jams curated by One Big JAM.

  • Pop-Up Art Galleries

Libraries across Calgary featured five pop-up art galleries showcasing diverse Asian artworks, crafts, and cultural expressions. These galleries gave local artists space to exhibit their works promoting cultural exchange and economic support within the community. (include assets of artists)

  • Glow Fusion Experience

A return of a crowd favourite, the Artists Pavilion featured the Glow Fusion Experience, a one-of-a-kind celebration of the Lunar New Year brought to you by MakeFashion, Cirque De La Nuit, and Indi City. In collaboration with the Gai Lan Ensemble and the Asian Heritage Foundation, this event combined wearable tech, circus arts, and dance performances to showcase a mesmerizing fusion of cultures.

  • Drag on Ice

Another crowd favourite returned to Chinook Blast! Drag On Ice 2: Babes on Blades, presented by Cabaret Calgary Productions lit up Prince’s Island Park’s Ice Lagoon for a star-studded all-ages drag show unlike any other!

Featuring an all-star cast and fresh beats by DJ Molly Fi, Drag on Ice 2 was a stunning display of drag performance for the community!

  • Downtown Tasting Tour

This year, we partnered with Taste the City to provide festivalgoers with a curated tasting experience on Stephen Ave!

Four Winds Indigenous Showcase and Market (City Hall)

Dragon Dance, presented by Asian Heritage Foundation (Central Library)

One Big JAM at the Artists Pavilion, sponsored by TD (Central Library)

Harvey Nichol’s Pop-Up Art Gallery at the Artists Pavilion, sponsored by TD (Central Library)

Glow Fusion Experience at the Artists Pavilion, sponsored by TD (Central Library)

Drag on Ice, presented by Cabaret Calgary Productions (Prince’s Island Park)

Photos by Marc Tran

So Winterful!

Chinook Blast has undeniably brought warmth to our winter season. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our numerous partners for allowing us to bring forward our vision of Chinook Blast. Witnessing the remarkable growth of this festival over just a few years is truly inspiring!

Looking ahead to our collaborative efforts in advancing Calgary's creative economy, Chinook Blast highlights the significance of embracing diverse voices and perspectives. By showcasing Indigenous, Black, Asian, Queer, and other marginalized communities, we not only enhance the festival but also enrich the fabric of our entire city. We're thrilled and honoured to have had a hand in guiding the evolution of Chinook Blast into a celebration of Calgary's winter sports, arts, and culture!

Thank You For Helping Our Vision Come to Life

Thank you to the Executive Sponsors – the City of Calgary, Calgary Arts Development, Calgary Economic Development, and Tourism Calgary, along with our sponsor, TD Bank Group, and festival partners BIG Winter Classic, Ethnik Festivals, Calgary Folk Music Festival’s Block Heater, and High Performance Rodeo, for their invaluable contribution to making Chinook Blast a success this year.

Please enjoy this wrap-up reel created by our incredible videographers Dyllan Goodman and Laurie Hart!