Despite frigid holiday temperatures, Calgarians poured into the city's shopping centres on Friday, December 26, 2025, turning the traditional Boxing Day sales into a bustling social event. For many, the day offered a dual purpose: hunting for steep discounts and escaping the cabin fever induced by a cold snap.
A Family Affair Amid the Deals
At Southcentre Mall in Calgary's southeast, the scene was one of determined shoppers mixed with families enjoying an outing. Tim Gordon was there with his two teenage daughters, planning a day that combined bargain hunting with quality time. Gordon's agenda included searching for a new television and clothing deals, with stops at stores like Boathouse.
"It's all the money you don't have left after Christmas, but you end up spending more because it's too good a deal to pass up," Gordon remarked, capturing the ironic spirit of the post-holiday shopping spree. He noted that while his family does much of its gift buying online, they make a point of visiting the mall after Christmas to experience the in-store sales atmosphere.
Beyond the discounts, Gordon highlighted the value of the simple family excursion. "It's nice to get out with them and just putz around while they look at stuff," he said, adding that the trip was a welcome break after being cooped up indoors during several cold days.
Retailers Welcome the Annual Rush
For store employees and kiosk workers, the surge in foot traffic was a familiar and mostly welcome Boxing Day phenomenon. At the Hickory Farms kiosk, sales associate Brenda Paul observed the typical pattern. The morning started slowly but business picked up considerably as the day progressed. "We get busier in the afternoons," Paul said, identifying Boxing Day and the week before Christmas as the shop's busiest period.
With all items marked down by 50 percent, Paul reported that much of the remaining holiday stock had already been sold by 11 a.m. Between helping customers, she worked to restock shelves with large red gift boxes to maintain full displays. Despite the hectic pace, Paul expressed enjoyment in the day's energy. "I enjoy working with the people," she said. "We have our regular customers and new customers that have never had the product before... (I'm) very excited for them."
Early Birds and Positive Vibes
The demand was evident from the earliest store openings. Ivy Younge, manager of Twisted Goods—a cottage chain gift shop with locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan—said shoppers were already lining up when she arrived for the store's 8 a.m. opening at Southcentre Mall.
"Even when I was parking this morning, there were lots of people coming in to line up for other stores too," Younge reported. She described the day's atmosphere as positive and busy, with customers in high spirits. "Today's been really good. Everyone in a great mood, and everyone's looking for those nice little deals," she summarized.
The annual Boxing Day tradition proved once again to be a significant draw for Calgarians in 2025, serving not only as a major retail event but also as a communal activity that brought people out of their homes during the winter chill. The combination of deep discounts and the desire for social connection created a vibrant, if crowded, scene in malls across the city.
