Live Nativity in Calgary
An Interfaith Commemoration of the Birth of Jesus Christ
DECEMBER 18 – 20, 2026
START TIMES FROM 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
20-MINUTE OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES
6:30 PM, 7:00 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:00 PM & 8:30 PM
THE LAST SHOW STARTS AT 8:30 PM
FREE ADMISSION
FREE PARKING
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
PARKING LOT L32 (Map)
Countdown to the Start of the 2026 Season!
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Volunteer Actors and Crew Needed
Be part of the Calgary Nativity’s 62nd year! Everyone is welcome to join this interfaith celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth—on stage or behind the scenes.
Performances take place outdoors December 18–20, 2026, at the Bow Valley Chapel, 2526 24 Avenue NW, Calgary.
Interested in acting?
We’re looking for volunteer actors of various ages, with a suggested minimum age of eight. The application form includes details about rehearsals and the required time commitment. The deadline to apply as a volunteer actor is Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Want to help behind the scenes?
We need volunteers to help with costumes, props, set building, technology, marketing, hair and makeup, and more. Complete our volunteer survey to tell us how you’d like to help.
Sign Up to Volunteer Behind the Scenes
Children under 12 must participate with a parent or guardian aged 18 or older.
Please share this opportunity with friends, neighbours, family, and co-workers. We would love to have you join us!
Who We Are
The Calgary Nativity is a gift to the community. Thanks to volunteers from the Calgary interfaith community, this production is possible, and we’re pleased to offer it as our Christmas gift to you. Our latest production will run from Friday, December 18, to Sunday, December 20, 2026. Over the three days, thousands of people will join us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Five outdoor performances will take place each evening, starting at 6:30 pm and ending at 8:50 pm. The final performance will start at 8:30 pm. The start times are 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm & 8:30 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 Bow Valley Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2526 24th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta.
Free parking is available in 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.
Donate to the Calgary Nativity
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost to attend this event?
The Calgary Nativity is a free event. There is no cost to attend, and no ticket is required.
Where should I park my vehicle to attend the event?
Free parking is provided at the University of Calgary parking lot L32.
Where is this event happening? Will it be at Heritage Park?
The Calgary Nativity takes place outdoors on the grounds of Bow Valley Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 2526 24 Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta.
The production moved to Bow Valley Chapel grounds in 2023 and no longer takes place at Heritage Park.
Where can I get updates about The Calgary Nativity? Are you on social media?
Is this an indoor or outdoor event?
The event is 100% outdoors. Please dress for the weather. Just a friendly reminder: in addition to dressing warmly in layers, please feel free to bring your own blankets to stay cozy. Being over-prepared is best in Calgary's winter weather!
How long is the performance?
Five 20-minute outdoor performances take place each evening at 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, and 8:30 pm. The final performance ends at approximately 8:50 pm.
How do I get involved?
Everyone is welcome to take part in the 2026 Calgary Nativity—on stage or behind the scenes!
Interested in acting? Complete our Actor Application Form. We’re looking for actors of various ages, with a suggested minimum age of eight. The form includes rehearsal details and the required time commitment. The deadline to apply as a volunteer actor is Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Want to help behind the scenes? Complete our Volunteer Survey Form. We need help with costumes, props, set building, technology, marketing, hair and makeup, site setup and takedown, parking, ushering, and more.
Children under 12 must participate with a parent or guardian aged 18 or older.
Questions? Email CalgaryNativity@gmail.com.
How can I make a donation to support the Calgary Nativity?
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
Maps
Posters Ready to Print (PDF Format)
The Christ Child: A Nativity Story
Other Community Service Initiatives
Light the World is a worldwide campaign designed to spread the light of Jesus Christ to everyone. This year for #LightTheWorld, focus on sharing kindness, just like Jesus did. Throughout December, look for ways to bring joy to someone new each day. By following Jesus, the true Light of the World, you can bring a little light to the lives of friends, family members, coworkers, and even strangers!
The Giving Machine returns for its fifth annual season at CF Chinook Mall, December 9–31, 2026.
Share the joy of Christmas by helping someone in need. Through these special vending machines, you can donate meals, clothing, school supplies, hygiene kits, and livestock to support individuals and families locally and around the world.
100% of every donation goes directly to the participating charitable organizations.
Thank you to the donors, volunteers, CF Chinook Mall, charity partners, and community members who make this opportunity to give possible. Your kindness brings hope and makes a lasting difference.
History of the Calgary Nativity
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