Calgary announces Chinook Blast, a new festival of sorts for midwinter

Calgary will get a new winter festival of sorts starting next year, details to come.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi announced the creation of Chinook Blast on Monday, saying the festival will provide a banner for the promotion ofpre-existing winter events like the High Performance Rodeo, Chinese New Year, Block Heater and sporting events.

It will provide"central branding" for disparate events, according to a city news release, and also include"a number of new experiences,"but there are no details on those events at this time.

"Chinook Blast is a real opportunity for Calgarians to send a message to those who want to visit our city that it is just as great in those short winter days and long winter nights as it is on these long summer days," said Nenshi.

The festival will run for six weeks, from Jan.14 until the end of February, when tourism dollars are sparse in the city.

The city says there are over 55 partners tied to the festival, from the arts, non-profits, neighbourhood groups, tourism and sports, and that there will be central hubs "at a number of different locations."

There will be both free and paid events.

Nenshi said the organizers are still looking to speak with more partners and to approach the federal and provincial governments for funding.

The city says that while the festival is slated to start in January 2021, "adjustments and protocols" will be determined based on the state of the pandemic at that time.