When a snowstorm or snowfall hits Calgary (or anywhere in Canada or the world), it’s important (and fun!) to be prepared with a list of activities to keep you busy. Some of those activities might be silly to you, but others may find them fun and entertaining.

Please first make sure that it is safe outside in the cold before doing any outside activities. Check your local guidelines about what constitutes dangerous cold weather in your city.

Here are 39 interesting things to do in a snowstorm, from building a fort to snowshoeing:

1. Build a fort: This is a classic snow day activity. Gather some blankets and pillows, and construct a fort in your living room. Then, curl up inside with a good book or movie.

2. Go sledding: If you have a hill nearby, sledding is a great way to spend a snow day. Don’t forget to dress warmly!

3. Go ice skating: If you’re lucky enough to live near an outdoor rink, go ice skating. If not, you can always put on your own rink in your backyard.

4. Make a snowman: This is another classic activity. Build a snowman, or even a whole snow family, in your front or back yard.

5. Have a snowball fight: Gather up some friends or family members and have a snowball fight. Be sure to stay warm and take breaks inside when you need to.

6. Go cross-country skiing: If you have a pair of skis, take them out for a spin in the snow. If you don’t, you can always go for a walk in the snow.

7. Go snowshoeing: If you have snowshoes, go for a hike in the snow. If you don’t, you can always rent a pair from a local shop.

8. Make a snow angel: This is a simple activity that’s fun for all ages. Lie down in the snow and make an angel shape with your arms and legs.

9. Make hot chocolate: This is a must on a cold winter day. Make a pot of hot chocolate and add some marshmallows or whipped cream on top.

10. Bake cookies: Snow days are the perfect time to bake cookies. Make your favourite recipe or try a new one.

11. Make a gingerbread house: This is a fun activity to do with the kids. Decorate a gingerbread house with candy and frosting.

12. Play board games: Get the family together and play some board games. Monopoly and Scrabble are always fun, or try something new.

13. Read a book: curl up with a good book and read it from cover to cover. If you don’t have a book, check one out from the library.

14. Write a story: This is a great activity for kids, but adults can do it too. Write a story about anything you want. It can be fiction or non-fiction.

15. Draw a picture: Get out some paper and pencils and start drawing. If you’re not sure what to draw, try a still life or a landscape.

16. Make a collage: Gather up some old magazines and cut out pictures to make a collage. You can use construction paper or poster board as your background.

17. Play music: If you play an instrument, dust it off and play some tunes. If you don’t play an instrument, listen to music instead.

18. Dance: Put on your favorite song and start dancing. This is a great way to get some exercise on a snow day.

19. Do yoga: If you need to relax, do some yoga. There are plenty of yoga videos online that you can follow along with.

20. Meditate: If you want to relax and clear your mind, try meditation. You can find plenty of resources online to help you get started.

21. Take a nap: Snow days are the perfect time to catch up on some sleep. Take a nap in the afternoon, and you’ll be ready to go for the rest of the day.

22. Make a cake: This is a great activity for kids and adults alike. Make your favourite cake recipe or try a new one.

23. Make a pie: Pies are always a hit, and they’re not as difficult to make as you might think. Get a pie crust from the store and fill it with your favourite fruit filling.

24. Decorate cookies: This is a great activity for kids. Decorate store-bought or homemade cookies with frosting and sprinkles.

25. Make candy: If you’re a fan of sweets, try making your own candy. There are plenty of recipes online for chocolate candies, hard candies, and more.

26. Make a gingerbread man: This is a fun activity for kids. Cut out gingerbread men’s shapes from dough and decorate them with frosting and candy.

27. Knit or crochet: If you know how to knit or crochet, this is a great activity to do on a snow day. You can make blankets, hats, scarves, and more.

28. Learn origami: This is a great activity for all ages. There are plenty of resources online that can teach you how to make origami animals and other objects.

29. Play cards: Get the family together and play some card games. Go Fish, Uno, and Crazy Eights are always fun.

30. Play charades: This is a great game for a large group. One person acts out a movie, TV show, book, or song, and the others have to guess what it is.

31. Play tag: This is a classic game that’s perfect for a snow day. Choose one person to be “it” and have them chase the others around.

32. Do a scavenger hunt: This is a great game for kids. Make a list of items to find, and see who can find the most in a certain amount of time.

33. Have a pillow fight: This is a fun activity for all ages. Grab some pillows and have a fight with your family or friends.

34. Play hide and seek: This is another classic game that’s perfect for a snow day. One person is “it” and counts to 100 while the others hide. Then “it” has to find the others.

35. Play I Spy: This is a great game for a long car ride or a snow day. One person picks an object and says, “I spy with my little eye something that is [color].” The others have to guess what it is.

36. Do a jigsaw puzzle: This is a great activity for all ages. Choose a puzzle with a design that you like and start putting it together. Choose one that’s challenging but not too difficult.

37. Play hopscotch: This is a classic game that’s perfect for a snow day. Draw a hopscotch board in the snow with chalk and see how far you can get.

38. Play chess: This is a very nice way to pass the time while enjoying that time. You play it with your family, or you can play it online against other players. Don’t worry, all skill levels can be found online!

39. Begin your business: What? Beginning my business in a snowstorm? Yes, you can! You can start to learn about preliminary web development using WordPress. WordPress power 40% of the websites on the internet. Many small businesses need a simple website to showcase their products. You could be the one for the job! You just need to check some tutorials (there are tons of them!), buy a domain, a hosting package, and some studying time, and you are good to go. Try it!

Right now, you have plenty of options to choose from to pass your time while a snowstorm is blowing, and the snowfall appears to be non-stop. It is your choice!