Events
The Sundre & District Museum is a community venue for many local events. We appreciate our partnerships as we share our museum spaces with our guests and community. Be sure to mark your calendar as these annual Sundre festivities are sure to bring friends and family much enjoyment, enrichment and celebration.
Winterfest
February - Family Day Weekend
Celebrate February’s Family Day weekend in Sundre with a vibrant array of activities for all ages! Stop by the Sundre & District Museum as they host event features such as local artisans, wagon rides, historical demonstrations, live music and educational programs. Warm up with Bannock at the Ranger's Station or explore the beauty of Sundre’s Riverside District on a scenic wagon ride. Nearby enjoy a Winter Survival Competition, ice sculptures, and more family friendly community activities. It’s a weekend of fun, creativity, and winter magic for the whole family!
International Museum Day
May 18
Each year we celebrate museums! The objective of International Museum Day (IMD) is to raise awareness about the fact that, “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.” Organized on May 18th each year or around this date. The events and activities are planned to celebrate International Museum Day and can last a day, a weekend or an entire week. IMD was celebrated for the first time 40 years ago. All around the world, more and more museums participate in International Museum Day. In past years, more than 37,000 museums participated in the event in about 158 countries and territories. Click HERE for more information.
Sundre Pro Rodeo and Parade
June
Yeehaw! We love our rodeo and can't wait to invite you to our community. Have time between events? Stop in and visit us. Planning to combine the two visits in one trip? Click HERE for the rodeo website. Be sure to wave when you see our parade entry! Hope to see you at the Rodeo and Museum.
Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21
Join us annually in June as we celebrate the rich Indigenous history of our region. Explore the Métis exhibit and enjoy storytelling and music from Otipemisiwak Battle River Territory District 3 Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Tap your toes and learn the jig alongside your neighbors! The Stoney Nakoda also honour us with their dancing, drumming, and song, sharing stories through their vibrant regalia and captivating local knowledge of place names and history. It’s a day of cultural connection and celebration you won’t want to miss.
Multicultural Day
June 27
Join us at the museum as we celebrate our cultural diversity. Past activities have included coat of arm, flag and culture tree crafts, cultural dancing, food tasting and story telling. This is a wonderful opportunity to make cultural connections, learn about equity, inclusion and mutual respect. Our diverse cultural experiences are the fabric of our shared community!
Canada Day
July 1
Celebrate Canada Day with us at the Town of Sundre and the Sundre & District Museum on July 1st! The day kicks off with a traditional flag-raising ceremony, followed by a town council BBQ and live entertainment in our Pioneer Village. Families can enjoy heritage games like egg tosses, tug of war and sack races, while exploring the museum’s exhibits to learn about Sundre’s rich history. It’s a day of community, fun, and patriotism, wrapped in the vibrant red and white spirit of the occasion. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Alberta Culture Days September
Join us in September at the Sundre & District Museum to celebrate Alberta’s rich cultural diversity! Experience art displays, hands-on workshops, and demonstrations, including rope making, felting, spinning, and weaving. Enjoy live music and dance performances on our outdoor stage—bring a chair or blanket! We welcome local Indigenous, Métis, and new cultural communities to share their stories, knowledge, and traditions. This family-friendly event is a vibrant celebration of the many cultures that call Alberta home and the artistic ways those traditions flourish.
Annual General Meeting
October
Held annually on the 3rd Tuesday in October. Come see what we've been up to, join our team, volunteer and help us "Celebrate the way we were".
Please Note: Only members in good standing can join the board and executive so please don't forget to renew your membership with us. We look forward to extending our welcome and call the museum anytime...you don't have to wait for the AGM to join our fantastic group of volunteers.
Haunted Village
October
Each year we partner with the Beck family to transform the village into a Halloween fright! The museum becomes a frightening spooktacular Halloween haunted village as our volunteers change like the fall! Travel through the village buildings if you dare. We look forward to celebrating this important community activity that has a beautiful story of volunteerism, and family tradition. Mr. Ryan Beck began the tradition of an indoor haunted house while teaching here at the Sundre High School. Working with the leadership club he and his students organized this annual event for years. When Mr. Beck was diagnosed with terminal cancer all the Halloween materials he accumulated over the years were donated to us. In 2020, we hosted our first ever haunted village with the help of his son, Donovan Beck. Thank you Beck Family for trusting us with this community legacy.
Christmas Celebrations
December
Kick off the holiday season with a magical evening at the Sundre & District Museum! As the town's lights dim, the museum comes alive with festive cheer. Enjoy a Christmas celebration filled with seasonal activities and holiday spirit. It's the perfect way to get into the holiday mood and experience the warmth of the Sundre community.
Time Capsule
In 2018, the Sundre and District Historical Society Board marked the organization’s 50th anniversary of preserving the community’s history. To commemorate the milestone, members sealed a time capsule at the museum on June 10, with plans for it to remain closed until July 2068, when it will be opened as part of the Society’s centennial celebrations. Director and lifetime member Annette Rose noted, the capsule represents “a blast from the past,” containing a variety of items contributed by local residents. Among the enclosed objects are a town map, some museum history, a 2018 loonie, a telephone directory, a Sundre High School yearbook, and a Round Up newspaper page featuring photos of babies born that year. Additional contributions include items from the family of the late Myron Thompson and a CD from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, donated by local centenarian John Whitesell Sr. A commemorative plaque was also prepared by local business, Smarts Trophies. The idea for the time capsule was proposed by 2018 Society Chair Bruce Temple, with the goal of creating a meaningful connection between past and future generations. This is an idea that received unanimous support from the board.