Thank you, Calgary, for making this Nativity season so meaningful. Your kindness, participation, and enthusiasm created a beautiful celebration that truly reflected the spirit of Christmas. It was a blessing to gather with our community and witness so many coming together in joy and unity. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who attended, volunteered, and helped share the message of Christ’s birth.

May the love and peace of our Saviour be with you and your families throughout 2026.

If you have any questions, please email us at CalgaryNativity@gmail.com.

The Calgary Nativity is a community gift. Thanks to volunteers from the Calgary interfaith community, this production is possible, and it is our Christmas gift to you. Our latest production will operate from Friday, December 18, to Sunday, December 20, 2026. Over the three days, thousands of people join us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

There will be five outdoor performances every evening, starting at 6:00 pm, with the final performance concluding at 8:20 pm. The final performance will take place at 8:00 pm. The start times are 6:00 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm & 8:00 pm.

Please dress for the weather, as the performance will be held outdoors. Admission is free. No ticket is required.

The performance will take place outdoors at the Bow Valley Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 2526 24th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta.

Free parking is at the University of Calgary parking lot L32. Cheerful parking attendants and clear event signage will be on-site to help guide you upon arrival. Arrive a bit early to find the best parking spot and receive a friendly welcome.

We hope that you will join us for the 2026 production.

The Calgary Nativity Society is a non-profit organization led by an independent, volunteer-based board of directors. Donations to sustain this annual production are welcome via e-transfer to:
CalgaryNativity@gmail.com

To support the Calgary Nativity in other ways, e.g. in-kind donations, etc., please email us:
CalgaryNativity@gmail.com

We would love for you to be part of the 2026 Nativity season! Whether you’re interested in acting or helping behind the scenes with wardrobe, makeup, props, or other production roles, there will be opportunities to get involved.

We also need volunteers for operational roles, including:

• Setting up and taking down the Nativity site

• Parking and traffic control

• Event ushering and audience management

• Daytime site security

More Information Coming Fall 2026
Casting calls, volunteer sign-ups, and detailed information about all opportunities will be available in Fall 2026.

Anyone is welcome to participate! Youth under 12 must volunteer or participate with a parent or guardian (18+).

If you have any questions, please email us at CalgaryNativity@gmail.com.

The Calgary Nativity is a longstanding community Christmas tradition that began in 1964 under the direction of the Canada Calgary Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The mission president at the time, Carlos Smith, initiated the event after noting that Calgary lacked the type of public, biblically based Christmas play commonly found in other cities. The first production was held on the lawn of the former mission office on Elbow Drive. It featured a small cast of volunteers—along with a real donkey—establishing the foundation for what would become a beloved annual presentation.

From its modest beginnings 62 years ago, the production experienced steady, significant growth. Over the decades, it evolved into a major seasonal event supported by hundreds of volunteers from both the Latter-day Saint community and other faith traditions. Production quality expanded to include staged sets, professional lighting, digital sound and music, and a variety of live animals such as sheep, alpacas and donkeys. For many years, the production was performed on a hillside overlooking the marina near Heritage Park, attracting thousands of visitors and becoming a highlight of Calgary’s Christmas celebrations.

The Calgary Nativity has always been offered as a gift to the community. Admission is free, and the event is run entirely by volunteers and community donations through the Calgary Nativity Society. Attendees are often encouraged to bring donations such as non-perishable food items, toys, or other contributions to benefit local charities, including First Nations communities and organizations such as the Salvation Army.  In 2025, your food donations were organized into 150 Christmas hampers for youth and their families in the Goodstoney, Bearspaw, and Chiniki First Nations.

Despite periodic pauses and discussions about costs, volunteer demand, and potential discontinuation—particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic—the tradition has continued. In 2023, the production relocated to the grounds of a Church meetinghouse at 2526 24 Avenue NW, near the University of Calgary, where it remains an outdoor experience that invites spectators to dress warmly and enjoy the retelling of the biblical nativity story.  Over 10,000 community members are expected to attend the production this year.

Today, the Calgary Nativity endures as a free, interfaith, family-friendly celebration that brings the community together to reflect on the message of the birth of Jesus Christ—offering themes of faith, hope, goodwill, and unity during the Christmas season.

We are grateful for the privilege of continuing this tradition and wish each of you a Christmas filled with hope, love, joy, and peace.

Thank you for coming!

Sincerely,

The Calgary Nativity Society
calgarynativity@gmail.com