Calgary Opera's first Serious Family Fun event of the 2025-26 season explores characters from the world of fairy tales and folk tales through the imaginative lens of opera!   

 With the help of professional opera teaching artists, create an original opera scene with beloved characters such as Hansel and Gretel, the Big Bad Wolf, and Napi (the Blackfoot trickster) as well as others from your own imagination. Join Ali DeRegt, professional puppetry artist from the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, to create your own mask, and play a role in the musical story! 

Event Timeline

• 1:00 p.m. Doors Open. Mask-making is available in the Gallery throughout the afternoon.  

• 1:30 p.m. Storytime begins: German storyteller Christine Pastran will share the original story of Hansel and Gretel as the real Hansel and Gretel make an appearance! 

• 1:45 p.m. Hansel and Gretel take their place alongside the audience, listening as Elder Saa'kokoto shares the story of Napi, the Blackfoot trickster. 

• 2:00 p.m. With the help of professional opera teaching artists, attendees will create - and even perform in - an original opera scene using these characters. 

• 3:00 p.m. Event concludes. 

This event is generously supported by the City of Calgary and Calgary Culture Days. 

Open to all ages. Completely free with registration. Full details are available here.