Events & Festivals
Valentine's Weekend in Medicine Hat
A romantic road trip to a small Southern Alberta city.
A romantic road trip to a small Southern Alberta city.
Dine at one of Medicine Hat’s local restaurants serving chef-curated menus.
Book a Romance Package through Stay Medicine Hat. It includes a one-night stay, $50 Mastercard Cash Card, candles, sparkling cider, and European chocolates made locally from Annegret’s Chocolates.
Stay in a unique bed and breakfast in Medicine Hat and area, from a country-side experience to being located in the heart of the city.
Canada’s National Historic Site, the Medicine Hat Historic Clay District once produced ⅓ of all clay distributed in Canada in the early 1900s. The century-old factory can be explored to learn more about the people who once worked in the clay industry. Step inside a historic beehive kiln, where clay was fired for 7-8 days. Browse the Tony Schlachter Collection, where 2,500 pieces share insight of who was specialty ordering Medalta pottery, from Canadian hotels to restaurants. Machinery is highlighted that still works, and the gift shop features dishes using historic techniques, moulds, glazes, and machinery, originally used in 1912 at Medalta Potteries.
Watch a movie in Canada’s oldest, surviving, purpose-built cinema in the heart of the city. Spend $10 for a movie ticket and two items from the concession, with popcorn, pop, chocolate bars, and candy to choose from.
Just under an hour drive brings road trippers to Elkwater Townsite, where they can snowshoe, cross-country ski, ice skate, ice fish, toboggan, and hit the slopes of Hidden Valley Ski Resort. For outdoor enthusiasts or those wanting to spend more time in nature, this winter wonderland is located in the beautiful rolling hills. It’s the highest elevation between the Rockies and Labrador. Visit the Cypress Hills Visitor Centre for snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals and more information about the area.
A favourite summer sport, but make it winter and in Medicine Hat. Over a handful of indoor golf simulators live in Medicine Hat, including a Golfuture Toptracer Range. Find the full list here.
Coffee shops, bakeries, local retail stores and restaurants, galleries, and entertainment experiences all live in the heart of the city. Choose your self-guided tour, or explore the area and find Alberta’s oldest brick residence, Ewart-Duggan house. More century-old brick buildings stand along the streets and avenues, and most have independent businesses inside.
At the Co-op Place, watch a home game on Saturday, February 15 or Monday, February 17. The Medicine Hat Tigers is a junior hockey team in the Western Hockey League that was established in 1970. Tigers games at the Co-op Place are a true community experience from the “Go Tigers Go” chants, to lining up among friends at the concession stand.
On your way in or out of Medicine Hat, stop by the World’s Tallest Tepee and read the stories below the ten hand-painted canvas’. There is an Indigenous story behind Medicine Hat’s name, and the Tepee is representative of those who’ve lived on this land many years before it was incorporated as a town, and then city.
Three award-winning breweries in Medicine Hat pouring a pint of the city’s history with each keg — Medicine Hat Brewing Company was an original brewery name in 1912, Hell’s Basement Brewery is an ode to Rudyard Kipling’s quote about Medicine Hat, and Travois Ale Works is inside a century-old building in Medicine Hat’s Historic Downtown. For the final stop, Grit City Distillery has liquor flights and a full food menu.
Book a romantic sky-seeing experience with Eagle Butte Observatory, only 10 minutes outside of Medicine Hat. View the sky with state-of-the-art telescopes with amateur astronomer and owner of the observatory, Rod DeVries.
Rotating Canadian artists and galleries are featured inside the art hub in downtown Medicine Hat. Visit the Esplanade's website to find out which exhibition is being highlighted.
A relaxing escape in Southeast Alberta.
Country Escape
A brick, quonset-style bed and breakfast bringing a taste of farm life with chickens, farm fresh eggs, in-season raspberry picking, and more, located just outside of Medicine Hat. Equipped with everything guests need, a kitchen, quiet reading spots, a private patio, and a living room for entertainment, Country Escape is a pure prairie experience.
Guesthouse 71
Owners Dawna and Darrel Motz have two homes on their property, Guesthouse 71 and GH71 STUDIO. The cozy and chic folk-style bed and breakfast brings a peaceful place in the prairies, surrounded by the wide open sky and neighbourhood horses. The fridge is filled with locally-sourced snacks, from a charcuterie board, to yogurt parfait, toast, fruit, breakfast beverages, and sweet treats sprinkled throughout the homes.
Healing Grounds
Beautiful dome lodging and cabins offer a perfect blend of adventure, solace, and rest, making them ideal for a rustic glamping getaway. Wellness retreats are hosted throughout the year as well, from yoga to equine therapy. Snow shoe around the property with flat and hilly terrain. A sanctuary where comfort meets the beauty of the great prairie outdoors.
Riverside Retreat
A cozy and newly-renovated 1940s home located in one of Medicine Hat’s oldest neighbourhoods, Riverside. Nearby is also Medicine Hat’s Historic Downtown, full of coffee shops, bakeries, local stores, historic buildings and beautiful murals. Stroll the neighbourhood to find the South Saskatchewan River and hop on the Heritage Trail Network to explore the heart of the city on foot.
Silver Springs Guesthouse
Located in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, this large home accommodates up to 12 guests. Being only 10 minutes from Elkwater Townsite, guests are close to a swimming, paddling, and boating lake, fishing lakes, hiking trails, mountain bike trails, mini golf, and free summer programs. In the winter, hit the slopes at Hidden Valley Ski Resort. A country-style stay perfect for stargazing in the dark sky preserve.
Spend time indoors on the cold winter days.
Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre
Keep an eye open for events, concerts, educational programs, and exhibitions throughout the winter and year-round. Visit esplanade.ca for the full list of events.
Police Point Park Nature Centre
Browse the informative demonstrations related to ecosystems and prairie wildlife in Medicine Hat and Southeast Alberta. Family events take place throughout the winter, and the interpreters are always ready to answer questions about the area. Visit natureline.info for seasonal programs.
Rock Climbing at Badlands Training Centre
Rock climb Badlands Training Centre's 40 foot rock climbing wall. Challenge yourself with the different levels, with the support from gym trainers.
Inside this boutique plant shop, attend a public workshop or book a private one for up to 14 people. Visit botanicalsmh.com to find more details.
There are over a handful of indoor golf studio’s to play your favourite summer activity in the winter.
Medicine Hat’s largest entertainment studio features axe throwing, indoor golf simulator, and laser tag. This space is an alcohol-free zone, perfect for families of all ages to spend time together.
Watch Editing Luke’s Documentaries
Luke Fandrich, “Editing Luke”, released Clay, Creativity, and the Comeback in 2019. The documentary about Medalta in the Historic Clay District shares a strong connection to Medicine Hat’s history and the people who built its creative culture over the years. Watch at fandrix.com.
A family-friendly gaming centre featuring over 5,000 square feet of arcade games. Collect as many tokens as possible, and redeem a prize to take home. Located at 2360 Divison Ave N.
Swim the pool, skate the rink, or stop by the gym. The Big Marble Go Centre is a building full of activity to indulge in with family and friends.
Shop Medicine Hat’s Historic Downtown
Located inside century-old buildings are small shops owned by Medicine Hat neighbours. A range of products are found, from Alberta-made, to home decor, books, clothing, records, and so much more. Along the way, find coffee shops, bakeries, breweries, restaurants, creative hubs, and fitness studios.
Medalta in the Historic Clay District
Tour this National Historic Site and learn about past-time workers and the century-old machinery. Attend a pottery class in the place that once supplied ⅓ of all pottery distributed throughout Canada. Visit medalta.org for the full list of events.
*Medalta in the Historic Clay District is closed until February 4, 2026, to prepare for their 140th birthday celebration.
Drive the road less traveled for good food.
Frequent road tripper Kat Tancock wrote in the Globe and Mail, "My favourite quiche – one I’ll happily go out of my way for – is at Zucchini Blossom Market & Cafe in Medicine Hat, Alta."
She doesn't live in Medicine Hat or Alberta. It was during one of her cross Canada road trips she spotted on Google maps a local cafe snug in a charming neighbourhood.
She wrote, "Not only did I get a delicious lunch, I got to see much more of Medicine Hat than if I’d stayed on the Trans-Canada."
A partnership to strengthen the Tourism Hospitality industry.
“This could be a template for other communities on how you can use your local educators and institutions to help keep your people locally." - Elisha Ammann.
The high turnover rate with hotel and hospitality employees in larger cities has garnered the attention of the Medicine Hat Accommodation Association, an organization in Medicine Hat that focuses on marketing initiatives that draw visitors to the city for the purpose of staying in hotels.
In knowing how valuable front desk team members are for the visitor experience, Elisha Ammann, who is the executive director of Medicine Hat Accommodation Association, says they have partnered with the Medicine Hat College to create a custom program to elevate the skills of their front desk employees, that’s partially funded by Jobs, Economy and Trade.
Ammann has worked with the organization for over 20 years, and around 15 years ago they went forward with a similar project that was a success. It seemed timely to conduct another to show employees how valued they are, and to update employees skills, knowledge, and education.
Front Desk Fundamentals will cover items that are fitted into the day-to-day tasks, from communications, to writing skills, applying artificial intelligence, and more essential skills that will help employees work efficiently and confidently.
The training will be in the classroom, along with in the workplace. The instructor will ensure the bookwork is translating to the hands-on tasks and that the program is effective and easily applied on the job.
There are two cohorts of 15 people. The class size is intended to be smaller, so it’s more personal and employees feel heard and included with questions and conversations throughout the experience.
Ammann says for the Medicine Hat College to be on board from the beginning, create a custom eight-week program to start in September 2024, and offer instructors to teach, is extremely appreciated and will enhance the employee learning experience.
Front Desk Fundamentals is partially funded by Jobs, Economy and Trade through the Workplace Essential Skills Training.
Spend the Holidays in Medicine Hat with these seasonal events.
Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede
River Ridge Seniors Village
Medicine Hat Lodge
Indigenous Holiday Artisan Market
Medicine Hat College
First Assembly
Medalta in the Historic Clay District
Something for Everyone Christmas Market
Medicine Hat Stampede & Exhibition
Homestead Market
Police Point Park Christmas Market
Police Point Park
Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede
Homestead Market
Downtown Medicine Hat
The Monarch Theatre Presents: Elf
The Monarch Theatre
d’Carlo Pasta House
Homestead Market
Medalta in the Historic Clay District
North Railway Street
Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre
Cross Country Ski
Police Point Park and Elkwater in the Cypress Hills are your winter cross-country ski spots. Rentals available at the Cypress Hills Visitor Centre. Cypress Nordic Ski Club offers lessons with equipment.
Snowshoe
Follow the many natural and forested trails through Elkwater in the Cypress Hills and Police Point Park for a snowshoe adventure. Rentals available at the Cypress Hills Visitor Centre.
Toboggan
Kin Coulee Park is a community favourite. The hill is lit up into the evening and is always perfect on a snow day. Elkwater in the Cypress Hills builds a snow luge each year.
Skating
Find many community rinks around Medicine Hat — check out Kiwanis Central Park for a small skating rink amongst 200 to 300-year-old Cottonwood trees. Find the full list of ice skating rinks here.
Crokicurl
All the things you need to play crokicurl are in Strathcona Island Park, so look up the rules and head out for a round or two. Winter fun, here you come.
Disc Golf
If you haven’t played disc golf in the winter, you really need to, and if you haven't played disc golf at all, then you really, really need to. Find two great courses in Medicine Hat, in Kiwanis Central Park, Leinweber Park, and Gilwell Park.
Ice-Fishing
Grab a group, a kit, and head to one of many locations in and around Medicine Hat to ice-fish — Rattlesnake, Elkwater, Spruce Coulee, Reesor Lake, Michelle Lake, Cavan Lake, Newell Lake, and 40 Mile Reservoir.
Book a Sky-Seeing Experience
View the sky with astronomer Rod DeVries at Eagle Butte Observatory. Group booking available to find dinner with the sky events.
Tour Medicine Hat’s brightest Christmas lights on the Sunshine Trolley this December, with time to hop off, capture photos, and take in all the beautiful bright lights. Private group bookings for up to 26 people are available from December 1-23, 2024. This experience is wheelchair friendly.
Don't miss these spooky(ish) October events!
Fall has arrived in Medicine Hat, and Halloween is on its way. Family events, pumpkin patches and carving contests, haunted houses, and ghost tours are only a few of the events happening in the city this October 2024.
Haunted Medicine Hat Trolley Tour
Be introduced to some of Medicine Hat’s spirit residents, guided by a local during an evening tour on the Sunshine Trolley.
MT Nest Cafe & Market: Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest
A good ol’ fashioned Halloween party, with treats, drinks, and pumpkin carving. Located inside the neighbourhood cafe on the Southwest Hill.
Test your knowledge of all things eerie and enigmatic as we delve into the shadows of horror, mystery, and the supernatural.
Back for another smashing good time. Enjoy live music, treats, hands-on activities, and smashing pumpkins at the free, all ages, halloween event. This year, Juno award-winner Norman Foote will be performing at a “Pay What You Will” concert. Get your free tickets at Tixx.ca. Costumes encouraged.
Boo’s & Blues at Copper Coulee Casino
Bringing you brews, boo's, and blues by Mike Clark Band, the community is invited to dress up in their best Halloween costume and enjoy some live music, drink specials, and prize draws.
Forest of Fear at Police Point Park
*adult event*
Calling all ghosts, goblins, and ghouls! Police Point Park invites you to their haunted forest walk. This year in the Forest of Fear, you can look forward to being unraveled and thoroughly creeped out. Designed for adults and teenagers.
The Silver Buckle Haunted House
Located in the basement of The Silver Buckle, this Haunted House screams scary. The opening night is Friday, October 11 at 6:00p.m. They’ve added dates and are allowing minors on Friday and Saturday evenings.
A haunted greenhouse in Redcliff, where the floors are dirt and twigs snap with every step. This haunted house features a mix of natural and curated Halloween decor, and actors throughout the building. Opening night is October 13 from 6-10p.m.
Hundreds of pumpkins, for baking and carving, and gourds for decor.
A little pumpkin patch near the entrance, where all proceeds are donated to charity.
Located in the Greenhouse Capital of the Prairies in Redcliff, family-owned Huber’s Farm Market has an array of pumpkins, both large and small.
Molnar’s Fun Farm (located near Taber, Alberta)
A day trip on Highway 3 brings you to Molnar’s Fun Farm, where you can walk kilometres to find thousands of pumpkins. A hay bale maze and tractor ride are also featured for families to enjoy even more time on the pumpkin prairie land!
Astronomy stories don’t only live in the sky.
“I want people to know how close and accessible it is to see and know the sky, and the stories it tells through constellations.” - Rod DeVries
They’re in our homes — in the songs we sing and the titles of movies we watch.
Constellations float far away, but their stories are often spoken by a family member, a mentor, a neighbour, or nearby stranger, without us knowing.
And Rod DeVries at the young age of four was fascinated by the creations and constellations in the sky, later learning that the Jack and Jill song is about the phases of the moon and the Beetlejuice movie is named after the star Betelgeuse.
With a suitcase of curiosity and a stack of questions, he’s read thousands of pages to learn the atmosphere. Dozens of books sit on his wooden shelf in his observatory. And he’s gone from having one microscope as a child, to now 14 telescopes in his viewing room, from reflecting (mirror), refracting (glass lens), and catadioptric (mirror and glass lens).
He’s traveled internationally to experience once-in-a-lifetime astronomical events, once traveling hours to Idaho to witness a 2 minute and 10 second total eclipse with his own eyes, “and it was totally worth it,” he says.
When the sun finally sets in Southeast Alberta, and a sea of stars appear, the amateur astronomer is ready with his telescope as the roof of his observation deck slides back like a mechanical door, normally found on the front of a garage.
But not every time is he alone. He often has a group of people he’s presented to before he highlights the sky. Teaching astronomy for over 20 years, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors have listened to him tell stories with liveliness and vibrancy.
“My goal is to turn the light on where the bulb already existed, to acquaint people with the sky and stars they see every night, but now they’ll know names and stories.”
His partnership with Tourism Medicine Hat presents evenings where they begin at a local eatery, with mindfully prepared dinner and drinks, and then a short drive to Eagle Butte Observatory. Find tickets here.
Before viewing the sky through a telescope with DeVries, the beauty above is admired, but with little context. In under an hour with the self-taught astronomer, people see more than stars.
“I want people to know how close and accessible it is to see and know the sky, and the stories it tells through constellations.”
The list of topics and events related to astronomy is astronomical. DeVries has guided people through partial solar eclipses and supermoons as they’re occurring, and dives into all different subjects that astronomy flows into.
He sets up Eagle Butte Observatory for public and private groups, and visits the dark sky preserve in Elkwater, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, to host ‘Dance of the Dark Sky’ in the summer for campers.
“I really enjoy igniting the fire for learning. When I’m helping other teachers with a science program, the first thing I tell them is, ‘please don’t be boring’”, he says.
From six to 60 years old, the curiosity that lives within is sparked while with DeVries, illuminating like the stars in the sky viewed every night. DeVries’ shares his vast knowledge, like how a pirate’s eye patch is directly related to astronomy, and which star the Arctic is named after.
For some, science is a passing fad. It was when DeVries’ was young, he looked down, picked up a rock, and noticed the colours, crystals, and size. He looked up, and saw a space that called for life-long learning, “For me, it wasn’t a passing fad. It was forever. I love science.”
Find more information about Eagle Butte Observatory or book your private tour here.
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