Events & Festivals
PorchFest in Medicine Hat
An outdoor music festival in Medicine Hat's historic neighbourhood.
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An outdoor music festival in Medicine Hat's historic neighbourhood.
A free outdoor event hosted in one of Medicine Hat’s most historic neighbourhoods invites local musicians to perform on front lawns and porches on the Southeast Hill.
The quaint neighborhood is full of century-old homes and beautiful boulevards, where people can stroll from home to home to bask in the fresh air and watch the live, local performances.
August 2027
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Artists travel from all over the world to perform at Medicine Hat’s almost 30-year-old Jazz festival.
Exquisite symphonies are performed at The Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre — on-stage in the beautiful, acoustic theatre, on the rooftop terrace, and in the dimmed lobby. There are also outdoor performances hosted on the lush, front lawn, next door to Alberta’s oldest brick residence, Ewart-Duggan House.
An exclusive evening presents a Latin band inside the Medicine Hat Regional Airport Hangar. Dancing guests and the live band are backlit with a sunset and airplanes. A sight to see and experience first-hand.
“This festival is entirely about bringing joy and good experiences to people. The energy the festival creates is transformative. You see life in a different way — you appreciate your City, your neighbours, and friends. We’ve really coined the phrase ‘You don’t have to be a jazz fan to be a fan of JazzFest’.” - Lyle Rebbeck.
The Medicine Hat Jazz Society, then in its seventh year, hosted the first Medicine Hat JazzFest in 1997. 2025’s festival will swing to Medicine Hat from June 17-22, 2025.
medicinehatjazzfest.ca
Join Miywasin Story Tour on September.
Visit areas in Medicine Hat with rich Indigenous history, led by Elders and members of the Miywasin Friendship Centre, with historic photos and stories from people with connections to the areas. Start at the World’s Tallest Saamis Tepee, where directly behind is a birds-eye view of the Saamis Archaeological Site. Explore Saratoga Park, where a Métis community lived until 2012. The final stop is at the Miywasin Friendship Centre for a traditional craft to take home.
Keep your family smiling and experiencing with this list of activities.
Bask underneath the sun and enjoy a game of chess on the World’s Largest Chess Set. Contact mhchess.com to book your game. Bill Taylor is the visionary of the popular space, which has been in Medicine Hat since August 2005.
He also worked with expert woodworker Adam Szulski for several years to design a 21-foot-tall, over 4,000 pound, GIANT King Piece and installed it beside the Chess Set on Nov. 4, 2021.
John’s Butterfly House is located inside Windmill Garden Centre. This tropical paradise has hundreds of butterflies. Relax on the deck and read about the life cycle and habits of the beautiful insects. Stroll the walkway to observe the red-eared turtles and swimming Koi.
Leinweber Park is conveniently located beside Gilwell Park, turning the nine-basket disc golf course into an 18-basket course. Lay down a blanket, pack a picnic, bring some more activities, and enjoy the game with a view. Disc Golf baskets are also found in Kiwanis Central Park, Kin Coulee Park, and Medicine Hat College Campus.
This waterpark is full of fun features, like a giant bucket that fills with water and pours over those who stand underneath it. There is a large green space to lay a blanket and bask in the sunshine and have a picnic. This park is located in a family-orientated neighbourhood near the south side of the City close to hotels, restaurants, and shopping.
An 18-hole miniature golf course that’s fun for families of all ages. There’s a clubhouse that offers snacks and a meeting room for birthday parties and special events.
A large, inflatable water park to run on, climb, and bounce off of into the swimming lake at Golden Sheaf Park. Located only 20 minutes outside Medicine Hat, make the stay an overnight experience and book a campsite.
In a 12,000 sq.ft space, families can axe throw, play virtual reality, and swing a round of golf with the simulator, and more in Medicine Hat’s Historic Downtown. Grab a bite to eat at a neighbouring restaurant, then head to Six One Six Entertainment for hours of fun.
Load up your e-token card, and let the playing begin. A large variety of new and retro games, from racing to sports, and claw machines to virtual mazes. Once you’re all played out, collect your prizes to take home.
A winter tradition for many Hatters.
When it was announced Hidden Valley wouldn’t open in late 2021, the Medicine Hat community collectively voiced their concerns on social media, reaching out to leaders, starting and signing petitions and using hashtags to show why it was important that the ski hill stay open.
The park was more to the community than just hills with snow. It was an oasis they looked forward to every winter, where they’d pile on snow gear, pack up the vehicle and drive 45 minutes to a winter wonderland. They’d race down the slopes and feel the rush of the wind and their adrenaline for several minutes, with friends and family members, and when they’d reach the bottom they’d do it all over again.
The Elkwater Ski Club sent letters to MLAs and the Minister of Environment and Parks lobbying to keep the region-wide favoured ski hill open. They created the hashtag #littlehillontheprairie and encouraged locals to share photos using the hashtag. As a result, many families posted their smiling faces on the chairlift, at the top of the hill and carving down the slopes.
“Hidden Valley, as a part of Cypress Hills, hosts a unique ecosystem that is stunning year round. In the winter, visitors are often treated to a winter wonderland with bluebird skies and snow covered pines, even when there is no snow in Medicine Hat," says Morgan Blair, member of Elkwater Ski Club. "You can watch for moose, deer, eagles, hawks and owls that live in the hills, and on the way home, see if you can spot the snowy owl that hunts from the tops of telephone poles along Highway 41 at sunset."
She says it’s prime for the Medicine Hat community to be situated in the prairies with a nearby ski hill that’s less than an hour drive away. One minute, they’re surrounded by breathtaking coulees and relaxed flatland, and the next they are encircled by tall pine trees and invigorating hills in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
Only a 45 minute drive from Canada’s Sunniest City, Hidden Valley Ski Resort encompasses eight hills that range from beginner to advanced skill levels and is now open for the 2022 season.
To say the residents of Medicine Hat were happy when Hidden Valley Ski Resort announced its opening is an understatement, considering the social media responses have been full of excitement and optimism. 2022 will be the start to another thrilling season at Hidden Valley Ski Resort, and another thrilling year for those who plan to spend the majority of the first four months of the year riding the chair lift up and flying down as snow trails behind them.
Find more information about Hidden Valley Ski Resort.
Find the list of places to stay while skiing and snowboarding the slopes at Hidden Valley Ski Resort.
January 25-29, 2027
In various venues throughout the city, the Folk Music Club is hosting the 21st year of Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival. Local artists and musicians will perform inside cafes and restaurants, complimented by a delicious food and beverage menu to order from. A week long festival bringing a space to indulge in sights, sounds, and flavours. During the January season, stay warm listening to live performances and dining local eats.
Find more festival details at mhfolkmusic.com
Looking for a winter job? Hidden Valley Ski Resort is hiring!
Hidden Valley Ski Resort is nestled in the Cypress Hills Provincial Park near Elkwater in an alpine environment with stunning vistas overlooking the prairies and just 65 kilometers South West of Medicine Hat. Operated by Alberta Parks, the resort opens in December and remains in operation until March.
Thousands take to the resort every year to ski and snowboard — with all experience levels accommodated. Nearby Elkwater also has many activities to enjoy, from Snow Shoeing, Cross Country Skiing, Ice Skating Trails, Ice fishing, Backyard Luge Track and selected rental equipment are available.
As snow season approaches, check out these job postings:
Bring your family on an adventure to three Southeast Alberta destinations!
Medicine Hat is close to so many nearby attractions that make for a great day trip. Whether you’re by yourself, a group of friends, or for the whole family, these locations are sure to be boredom busters!
Head Towards the Hills
A popular day trip for locals and visitors alike is to Elkwater, in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Don’t miss the treasures along the way, like the Prairie Memories Museum in Irvine.
A must-see attraction for anyone interested in rural history, this museum portrays various aspects of pioneer life. They have many artifacts and buildings including an old schoolhouse, church and lumber store. Be sure to check out Irvine’s 20 Milepost Days held annually during September’s long weekend. This event features all kinds of events, including a parade, rodeo, gymkhana, bench show and much more.
In Elkwater, there are many options for activities such as renting paddle boards, hiking the trails, riding horses, relaxing on the beach or mini golf. If your group is looking for a bite to eat, is always a great stop.
Stick around after the sun goes down, the Cypress Hills are a Dark Sky Preserve. Due to its high elevation and lack of urban light pollution, Cypress Hills was the first designated Dark Sky Preserve in Alberta. The park also offers a variety of camping options, so cozy up by the campfire and gaze at the starlit sky. If the conditions are right, you may even see the Northern Lights.
Explore the Badlands
Head west on Highway 3 to find some of the most breathtaking natural views in the area. Start off your adventure at Red Rock Coulee.
Red Rock Coulee Natural Area is 324 hectares (800 acres) of badlands, hard sandstone capped hoodoos and large, round, red boulders. Formed in prehistoric seas as layers of sand calcite and iron oxide collected around a nucleus formed by shells, leaves, or bones. These concretions grew larger as the circulating waters deposited more layers. The reddish colour comes from iron oxide. At 2.5 metres (8 feet) in diameter, they are among the largest in the world. Along with the exposed rocks, you will also find prairie inhabitants such as deer, coyotes, rabbits, rattlesnakes and nighthawks.
Once you have had a chance to explore your first stop, continue on towards Etzikom for the Etzikom Museum and Historic Windmill Centre.
The Centre features outdoor restored examples of windmills encompassing over 200 years of Canadian wind power (particularly water pumpers). Indoors at the Museum are many hands-on displays in time-period settings, featuring early pioneer life, native artifacts, fossils, petroglyphs, homesteader tools and a historic church.
Next up, hop over to Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to view some of the coolest hoodoos and natural formations in Southern Alberta. The unusual landforms of Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai'pi resulted from the dynamic interaction of geology, climate, and time. The sedimentary rocks exposed in the Milk River valley were formed 85 million years ago at the edge of a great inland sea. Huge volumes of meltwater began eroding the soft sandstone after the last ice age. This is how the coulees and hoodoos you see today were formed. The unique habitat created is suitable to many diverse species not typically found in surrounding areas.
On the way home, head north and go through Bow Island, where you can visit Pinto Mcbean, the 15-foot-tall mascot of the bean capital of the West, and grab a bite to eat. We recommend The Rolling Pin Bakery and Cafe, a local favourite serving up some of the best lunch in the region.
Walk with the Dinosaurs
Discover and experience a unique landscape of haunting formations and rich fossil resources at Dinosaur Provincial Park. You will be amazed when the gently rolling prairie grass
lands suddenly drop off, plunging the visitor into a remarkable world of hoodoos, pinnacles, coulees and buttes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site situated along the Red Deer River just
Just 90 minutes west of Medicine Hat, the Park is the largest area of badlands in Canada and one of the richest sites in the world for late Cretaceous fossils.
While you’re in the area, don’t miss Lake Newell, considered one of Alberta’s best kept secrets! Lake Newell, located 14 kilometres south of the City of Brooks in the Newell region, is one of southern Alberta's largest and warmest human-made lakes. The clear warm waters are perfect for canoeing, sailing, fishing, swimming, motorized water sports and more. Visitors can camp at Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, which is situated right on Lake Newell, or stay in one of the many options within the City of Brooks. Extend your stay and enjoy some of the nearby attractions, including the Brooks Aqueduct and the world-famous Dinosaur Provincial Park. Lake Newell is also home to Lake Newell resort, which includes a marina and boat launch facilities.
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