BIG

09/06/2024

A Heartfelt Goodbye from Big Winter Classic

After an incredible 10 years, we’ve made the difficult decision to say goodbye. From the very beginning, Big Winter Classic has been more than just a festival—it’s been a celebration of art, music, and community. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the countless musicians, artists, venues, and volunteers who poured their passion and heart into every moment. You helped create something truly magical, and for that, we are forever grateful.

To everyone who attended, supported, and believed in Big, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without you, this dream could never have existed, let alone succeeded. 

Though this chapter closes, the memories and connections made will stay with us forever. Thank you for 10 unforgettable years. ❤️

Much love friends,

Big Winter Classic Team

04/26/2024

Good day hive, just a friendly reminder that we had to, very unfortunately, cancel The Beatnuts show tomorrow at Commonwealth Bar & Stage. All tickets will be fully refunded. Bummer news for sure. Thank you to all of you that support and to our amazing locals for being understanding. Much love

04/12/2024

AMAZING!!!!!

By Will YannacouliasPhotos by Oliver ClarkeAfter a night of sleepless anticipation, the day has finally come! Saskatoon’s veteran noisy post-punks Slow Down Molasses have teamed up with Calgary filmmakers Oliver Clarke and Deyson Thiara to shoot and produce a video for “Street Haunting”, the l...

02/29/2024

who is creating killer gig posters out there Calgary? Looking for a one off poster design for a Hip Hop show….

02/28/2024

Well folks one more thank you as we close the books on 2024. To all the artists, performers, staff, volunteers, venues and attendees. We are truly blessed to be able to create with all of you. All that said we want to continue and learn and grow from your experiences to make each version of BIG the best it can be. Festival survey is live - link in bio - we would be grateful if you could find the time to share your feedback on this past years festival. Also drop a comment or three below on who we should be looking 👀 to bring to BIG 2025. We will toss in all the names from the survey and the comments below in to a hat and give away 2 BIG prize packs. Much love friends and thank you again from all of us at BIG.

02/07/2024

We are so excited to be part of Chinook Blast alongside the RISE UP Calgary crew to present the amazing Amy Nelson this Friday at Olympic Plaza - weather looks amazing and the event is free and open to everyone. Let’s go Calgary

02/03/2024

Dear BIG community,

We extend our heartfelt appreciation for your integral role in making BIG Winter Classic 2024 an exceptional event that will linger in our memories. Your unwavering support and enthusiasm have been instrumental in the resounding success of the festival.

A sincere thank you goes out to our dedicated team of volunteers whose commitment has transformed Downtown Calgary and The Beltline into a dynamic, inclusive festival space. Your hard work and passion have truly made a significant difference, and we are grateful for your invaluable contributions.

The introduction of ALL FEST at BIG 2024 marked a significant highlight, offering an all-encompassing, all-accessible, and all-inclusive experience that was not only well-received but also added a new dimension to the festival. We are thrilled by the positive response and the excitement it brought to the entire event. More to come in 2025

To our supporters, partners and volunteers, your collaboration and dedication have been the cornerstone of BIG Winter Classic. We express our deepest gratitude for the pivotal roles each of you played in ensuring the success of the festival. Our appreciation also extends to the hospitality venues, both longstanding partners and new additions, for embracing the unique vision of BIG and contributing to the festival’s distinctive character.

As we bid farewell to BIG Winter Classic 2024, we find ourselves filled with gratitude and anticipation for the journey that lies ahead in 2025. The support and contributions from each member of the BIG family have been truly remarkable, and we eagerly look forward to the new and exciting changes on the horizon.

With sincere thanks and anticipation,

BIG

02/02/2024

BIG wouldn’t be the party it is without our beverage partners!🍻

Thank you to Alley Kat Brewery, Blindman Brewing and Drink Brevy for keeping the good times rolling all festival long.

We appreciate you! 🙏

02/02/2024

Shout out to our community partners for helping make this year’s festival the success it was!

We are so lucky to have the support from such creative leaders in the community — you make help make BIG what it is today, and we couldn’t be more grateful!

❤️ City of Calgary – Your Local Government + Chinook Blast for helping us bring to life our first ALL FEST
❤️ The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR) for your support in making this year’s festival possible
❤️ Rockin' 4 Dollar$ Calgary for your curated BIG showcase
❤️ Sajak & Farki for being at our beck and call for all things creative and absolutely killing it
❤️ Shutter Release Productions for capturing all the moments — we can’t wait to see your videos!
❤️ Travel Alberta for your support in making BIG a must-see event
❤️ X92.9 Calgary's Alternative for being our media partner and supporting with all things promo

It takes a village and we could not be more grateful for you.

01/31/2024

A BIG thank you to our venue partners this year — BIG would not be possible without you! 🫶🏼

❤️ The BLOX + BLOX Arts Centre for providing us with and open, inclusive space for Calgarians to connect without barriers
❤️ Commonwealth Bar & Stage for being the go-to pre-game party space to get your groove on
❤️ Dickens for being the perfect laid-back venue for our final late-night show — one we’ll remember for years to come!
❤️ Modern Love YYC for providing big city views on your rooftop patio and an excellent concert/comedy space (and for doing all you could to fix your frozen pipes to open in time! 😅)
❤️ Last Best Brewing & Distilling for the intimate spaces downstairs and on the patio to enjoy tunes with tasty brews🍻
❤️ Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District for opening your central space to curious folks for our panel + documentary screening presentations

Much love from us at BIG and until next year!

01/29/2024

The final day of BIG was one for the books!

Our first year of ALL FEST with the support of our friends at Chinook Blast and City of Calgary – Your Local Government made for an awesome day of free, inclusive, all age programming. And what better place to host than BLOX Arts Centre! ❤️

We saw school rock bands School of Rock Douglasdale and Lightning Ant Music School shred, lots of moshing and hair flipping to PKEW PKEW PKEW, babies in headphones and a whole lot of fun.

Thanks to those who spent our final festival day and first ALL FEST with us. See some of the highlights below ⬇️

📸: Shannon Johnston, Ksenia Artemis’s