The Spruce Meadows Christmas Market Now Splits Friday At 6 P.M.

At 6 p.m. on Friday, November 13, the grounds at 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW will change over. The families who arrived at noon will head for the parking lots, and the market will stay open for three more hours for guests 18 and older only. The cocktail cabin will keep pouring and the fires will keep burning. This happens every Friday of the 2026 season, and it's new this year.

You'll have read the headline already. The International Christmas Market added a fourth weekend. The schedule shows a second change: the market that has run since 2001 now has three distinct versions, each with its own hours and its own crowd, and in at least one case its own ticket. If this has been your annual December outing, the decision has moved from which weekend to go to which market you want. Early Bird pricing for Saturdays and Sundays ends Thursday, November 12, so that decision comes due quickly.

Twelve days, and one of them reaches into December

The Spruce Meadows announcement on October 13 explains the reason for the expansion. The 2025 season drew more than 100,000 visitors, a record. In response, the market adds December 4 to 6 to its usual three November weekends, which gives it 12 days in total. It's the first time in the market's history that it has run four weekends.

Here's the full 2026 schedule from the market FAQ:

The December weekend adds one more Friday evening and one more family weekend to the season, so the three versions of the market each get a fourth date. Spruce Meadows President and CEO Linda Southern-Heathcott put it this way in the announcement:

"The additional weekend will allow us to welcome even more visitors, showcase and support local and Canadian small businesses, and continue creating the memorable Christmas experience that so many look forward to each year."

Western Wheel covered the expansion on October 18 and reported more than 330 vendors this year. The FAQ gives 325-plus. Either way, it's comfortably more than 300 booths, and the extra weekend means more chances to see them before December 25.

Friday is now two markets in one day

The new Friday hours change the market most. Friday used to be simply the first day of each weekend. In 2026 it splits at 6 p.m.:

• 12 to 6 p.m. is open to all ages. The market page says adults can stay into the evening.
• 6 to 9 p.m. is an 18+ adults-only shopping evening. The market page describes it as a night out with seasonal food and holiday cocktails.

The two official pages disagree about the ticket. The FAQ says an adult holding a regular Friday General Admission ticket can stay through the 6 to 9 p.m. session without buying another ticket, and that Adult Night ticket holders can arrive at noon and shop straight through. The market page says "a separate Friday Night ticket is required." If you plan to arrive in daylight and stay until 9, check with Spruce Meadows before you buy. Their main line is 403-974-4200.

Friday tickets come with a bonus this year. General Admission, Senior and Adult-Only Evening tickets for Fridays are entered into a contest for a $500 shopping spree, with official rules posted on the Spruce Meadows contests page.

So in practice, Friday now offers an all-ages afternoon market, followed by an evening that Spruce Meadows pitches as a date night or a night out with friends. A family with young children and a group of friends planning drinks can both go on the same Friday without ever being at the market together.

What's new on the grounds

The new layout fits that split. The new Riding Hall Circle Pavilion adds a shopping area with more than 30 vendors. The online vendor listing is sorted by category and shows each booth's market location. Because the grounds now have one more area, it's worth checking where the vendors you want are before you go.

The evening crowd will be drawn to Miracle at the Meadows, the Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar run with Proof Cocktail Bar. The announcement describes holiday cocktails served in a cabin overflowing with festive décor. The daytime crowd will be drawn to the real reindeer, which appear on select days.

These features are available at every visit, whichever time slot you choose:

• Spruce Meadows Exclusives: booths showing this logo sell one-of-a-kind items available only at this market.
• Mostly indoor shopping: most vendors are in cozy buildings, heated tents and small shops. Some areas are still outdoors, so dress for winter.
• Food across the grounds: international Christmas market favorites, local food trucks, sweets and festive drinks.

The weekend market has a deadline

Saturdays and Sundays are still the all-ages heart of the market. They run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The weekend is also where the timing matters most, because Early Bird pricing for Saturdays and Sundays ends November 12.

The standard admission prices listed in the FAQ:

Spruce Meadows recommends buying early because popular days may sell out. Tickets are also sold at the gate, subject to availability. General parking is included with admission. If you'd like a shorter walk with your bags, you can add VIP Parking at checkout.

With four weekends to choose from, you're more likely to need to change plans, and the exchange rules are specific. Exchanges go through Showpass and must be done by the day before your original ticket date. Fees and price differences may apply. If a cold snap makes the first weekend unappealing, you can move your visit to a later one, as long as you do it before the day of your ticket.

Getting there now that the shuttle is gone

How you get there depends on which market you choose, because the Friday evening session ends at 9 p.m. and the old way of getting there without a car has been discontinued. The Getting Here page says the shuttle bus is no longer running. Spruce Meadows recommends a taxi or rideshare from Somerset/Bridlewood Station instead.

A short checklist for each visit type:

1. Friday afternoon, all ages. Buy a Friday ticket, arrive any time after noon, and confirm whether your ticket covers the 6 p.m. changeover if any adults in your group want to stay.
2. Friday evening, 18+. Plan your ride home before you arrive. Leaving at 9 p.m. by train means arranging a taxi or rideshare between Somerset/Bridlewood Station and the grounds.
3. Saturday or Sunday with family. Buy before November 12 for Early Bird pricing, and consider VIP Parking if you're carrying gifts and keeping track of kids.
4. Any visit. Pets are not permitted on the grounds during Spruce Meadows events. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome on the major walkways, but there's no rental service.

For accessibility, accessible parking is in Lots 7 and 8 for vehicles displaying a valid permit, and a personal care attendant enters free when they identify themselves at the ticket booth.

The market opens Friday, November 13 at noon and closes for the season on Sunday, December 6 at 6 p.m.

I've worked with clients across Calgary and Airdrie since 2005, and a good holiday outing is one of the easier plans to make this time of year. If you're picking a weekend this year and want to talk through any part of your plans for the season ahead, Trenton Pittner is always happy to hear from you. Let's Connect.