Fraggle Rock is Back With a New Holiday Special… and Yes, It Was Filmed in Calgary

Fraggle fans, this one is for you. A brand-new holiday special called The First Snow of Fraggle Rock is landing on Apple TV+ on December 5, and the whole thing was filmed right here in Calgary and around southern Alberta.

If you have kids, nostalgia, or both, this is a very cool local moment. The rebooted Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock has been produced in Calgary since 2021, with huge sets built at the Calgary Film Centre and regular filming days in Canmore. Past seasons and the earlier holiday specials were all shot here too, making Alberta the modern home of Jim Henson’s Fraggles.

Photo via Apple

About the New Special

The First Snow of Fraggle Rock follows Gobo as he tries to write the annual holiday song. Only one snowflake falls in Fraggle Rock, which throws everything off and gives him some serious writer’s block. For the first time ever, Gobo leaves Fraggle Rock and steps into the human world (Outer Space) to find inspiration. Filmed partly in Canmore, this is the first time a Fraggle has appeared in a real Canadian location.

Meanwhile, at the Gorgs’ castle, Junior is trying to figure out life with a brand-new baby Gorg in the family. Both stories come together with a message about how holiday moments don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

The special also includes a cameo from Lele Pons, who appears in a musical duet of the classic Fraggle song “Our Melody.”

A Quick Look Back at Fraggle Rock Filming in Alberta

If you’re new to the reboot, here is a little local bragging rights rundown:

  • Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Seasons 1 and 2 were filmed entirely in Calgary

  • Filming takes place at the Calgary Film Centre, where massive sets like the Great Hall and the Gorgs’ garden fill full sound stages

  • Outdoor scenes have been shot in Canmore, which appears on-screen for the first time in the new special

  • Hundreds of Alberta crew members work on puppetry, animatronics, props, sets, hair, and costumes

  • Previous specials filmed here include:

    • Night of the Lights (2022)

    • Back to the Rock Holiday Special (2023)

Calgary has quietly become the home base for the entire Fraggle universe, which is wild if you grew up watching the originals.

Photo via Apple

Why This Is Fun for Calgary

This is the kind of global, nostalgia-heavy, family-friendly project that puts Calgary on the map in a big way. The sets are huge, the production has grown every year, and the Alberta landscapes sneak into the story in small but very intentional ways.

If nothing else, you can now point to the TV and say “That’s Canmore” in a show that millions of families will be watching in December.

Where to Watch

Streaming on Apple TV+ starting December 5.

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