Hanging Out, Calgary
At the lively corner of 4th Street and 21st Avenue Southwest, a trio of oversized amphibians has been turning heads since 1994. Known collectively as Hanging Out, this playful sculpture features three towering frogs鈥攅ach about 10 feet tall鈥攍ounging casually on a steel bench. Created by Calgary artist Peter Smith, the installation combines hand-welded steel, sheet metal, and vibrant paint to bring a humorous, larger-than-life twist to the urban landscape. With a whimsical sense of ease, these frogs have become something of a local institution, often joined by passersby eager to share the bench for a quick photo.
More than just quirky d茅cor, Hanging Out invites reflection on public space, scale, and interaction. 鈥淏ecause of their size,鈥� Smith notes, 鈥渢hey can dominate a frog/human interaction鈥攚ho is watching whom?鈥� The figures may be fixed in steel, but they exude a laid-back personality that encourages onlookers to slow down, smile, and maybe even strike up a conversation with a stranger. True to their easygoing pose, the frogs don鈥檛 mind sharing the bench, offering a rare moment of levity in the daily urban shuffle.
In early 2025, the frogs briefly hopped out of sight, prompting a wave of concern from locals and curious updates on Reddit. But fear not鈥攖hese steel creatures were merely away for a much-needed restoration. According to the 4th Street BIA, they鈥檙e 鈥渙n a leap of absence鈥� and will return refreshed and shinier than ever. Until then, their spot on the bench remains reserved.
More than just quirky d茅cor, Hanging Out invites reflection on public space, scale, and interaction. 鈥淏ecause of their size,鈥� Smith notes, 鈥渢hey can dominate a frog/human interaction鈥攚ho is watching whom?鈥� The figures may be fixed in steel, but they exude a laid-back personality that encourages onlookers to slow down, smile, and maybe even strike up a conversation with a stranger. True to their easygoing pose, the frogs don鈥檛 mind sharing the bench, offering a rare moment of levity in the daily urban shuffle.
In early 2025, the frogs briefly hopped out of sight, prompting a wave of concern from locals and curious updates on Reddit. But fear not鈥攖hese steel creatures were merely away for a much-needed restoration. According to the 4th Street BIA, they鈥檙e 鈥渙n a leap of absence鈥� and will return refreshed and shinier than ever. Until then, their spot on the bench remains reserved.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Calgary. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App
Hanging Out on Map
Sight Name: Hanging Out
Sight Location: Calgary, Canada (See walking tours in Calgary)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Calgary, Canada (See walking tours in Calgary)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Calgary, Alberta
Create Your Own Walk in Calgary
Creating your own self-guided walk in Calgary is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Calgary Introduction Walking Tour
Calgary is the largest city in Western Canada and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The city was named after a hamlet with the same name on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.
The area that is called Calgary today was once populated by indigenous people, now known as the First Nations, until Europeans arrived in the 19th century.
John Glenn, an Irish immigrant who served... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The area that is called Calgary today was once populated by indigenous people, now known as the First Nations, until Europeans arrived in the 19th century.
John Glenn, an Irish immigrant who served... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Inglewood Walking Tour
Inglewood, a picturesque neighborhood on the bank of the Elbow River in central Calgary, is brimming with historical significance and natural beauty. One of its notable sites is Fort Calgary, a historic landmark that takes you back in time to the days of the Canadian frontier. Here, you can explore exhibits and learn about the city's early history, making it an ideal spot for history buffs.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Sculptures in Calgary Walking Tour
In Calgary, you won't find imposing grey monuments with tonnes of history behind them. Instead, the city boasts a wealth of outdoor sculptures of a different sort. It's all about the sites scattered throughout the city, rarely revealed in tourist handbooks but colorful enough to be captured in photos. Some of them weird, some outstanding, and some merely amusing.
One of the notable... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
One of the notable... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Downtown Calgary Walking Tour
The vibrant heart of Alberta's largest city, Downtown Calgary, is a place "where urban sophistication meets western warmth in the Shadows of the Rocky Mountains." As such, the area has quite a few landmarks that showcase the city's dynamic nature.
One such is the Old City Hall, a historic sandstone building that commands attention with its majestic presence.
A short walk... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
One such is the Old City Hall, a historic sandstone building that commands attention with its majestic presence.
A short walk... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles