Alberta Biodiversity Festival
Bow Habitat Station will be closed to the public December 24, 2024 through January 1, 2025. Public hours resume January 2, 2025.
It’s in our nature
Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
From bull trout to great horned owls and wild roses, Alberta’s landscape is filled with rich and diverse flora and fauna. Developed in partnership with the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, the Alberta Biodiversity Festival highlights the amazing biodiversity in our province and the meaningful actions we all can take to protect our diverse ecosystems.
On Saturday, September 20, come experience the Alberta Biodiversity Festival at Bow Habitat Station. With immersive interactive exhibits, fascinating hands-on experiences, special event exhibitors and our event partners at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo - this community celebration will leave you feeling more connected than ever to Alberta’s unique and breathtaking biodiversity.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Featured Experiences
- Meet Vinny, a peregrine falcon - the world’s fastest animal, who can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour when diving to capture prey.
- Create your very own flappy bat craft to take home, while learning fun facts about our nocturnal neighbors in Alberta.
- Become a sustainable rancher in the interactive game, Guardians of the Grasslands.
- Discover how you can protect Alberta from aquatic plants and animal invaders.
- Explore Calgary’s wild side and get to know the animals that share our home through hands-on learning with pelts, skulls, tracks and scat.
- Gather around and listen in on special guest speakers on science and conservation.
- Find out how you can assist Alberta’s scientists to conserve our province’s pollinators and birds through the Citizen Science program.
- Take part in a feeding frenzy with thousands of hungry rainbow trout in the Fish Hatchery.
- Get eye to eye with over 20 Alberta fish species in our freshwater aquariums.
Featured Experiences
Meet Vinny
Considered to be the world’s fastest animal, peregrine falcons can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour when diving to capture prey.
Flappy Bat Crafts
Make your own flappy bat crafts as you learn about the wonderful bats that call Alberta home.
Protecting our Forests
Team up with Bertie the Beaver and discover the secrets of wildfire prevention as you challenge yourself in the helicopter and hoses board game, explore the interactive wildfire information van, and even try on the gear!
Cast a Line
Try your hand at fishing at our newly re-opened Kids Can Catch Trout Pond. Our staff will be there to give you tips and tricks for your side-arm cast.
Special Event Admission Prices
| Child (3 and Under) |
FREE |
| Youth (4-17) |
$6.00 |
| Student/Senior (65+) |
$8.00 |
| Adult (18-64) |
$10.00 |
Admission into Discovery Centre and Fish Hatchery is included in the price of admission for this special event.
Limit one fish feeding per visitor. Re-entry into the Fish Hatchery is not permitted.
Please note the above listed admission prices provide entry into Bow Habitat Station on September 20, 2025.
PURCHASE TICKETS
FAQ
No, we've allocated tickets exclusively for members! Simply arrive on the event day, and we'll take care of everything else.
While you enjoy the convenience of no pre-booking, we recommend that your non-member guests secure their tickets beforehand. This ensures everyone can fully enjoy their time exploring Bow Habitat Station together.
| Child (3 and Under) |
FREE |
| Youth (4-17) |
$6.00 |
| Student/Senior (65+) |
$8.00 |
| Adult (18-64) |
$10.00 |
We strongly encourage pre-purchasing tickets as special events can sell out.
Admission includes entry to the Discovery Centre and one entry per person to feed the fish in the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery.
Limited free parking is available in the lot for Pearce Estate Park. Please consider carpooling or other means of transportation.
Tickets are sold in half-hour increments starting at 10:00 AM and ending at 3:00 PM. Last entry is at 3:30 PM and event closes at 4:00 PM.
Entry is only guaranteed within 30-minutes of the time identified on their ticket. Entry outside your identified ticket time is not guaranteed or may be subject to a wait.
- Refunds will not be provided to late arrivals or no-shows on the day of the event.
Bow Habitat Station offers light snacks and refreshments for purchase. But that’s not all! The following food truck(s) will be on-site to provide you with delicious and tasty options:
Promotion coupons and vouchers are not valid for this event. With extra activities in place, discounts are not applicable to any admission rates for this event (i.e. Canoo, Fee Assistance/Rec Card).
Due to space constraints, we ask that you do not bring your stroller or wagon. If you do bring a stroller/wagon, it must remain outdoors. Bow Habitat Station and the Government of Alberta is not responsible for any lost, missing, or damaged personal items.
Admission to Bow Habitat Station on September 20, 2025, is under special event pricing which includes your one-time admission to the Fish Hatchery and admission to the Discovery Centre.
Single admission to the Fish Hatchery is not available on special event days.
Bow Habitat Station and the public Fish Hatchery are fully wheelchair accessible. An elevator is available for visitor use to access the Discovery Centre spanning two floors.
Updated: Nov 25, 2024