24 festivals happening in Calgary August 2017

Courtesy of Inglewood Sunfest YYC

August is the heart is heart of festival season here in Calgary! From music festivals to cultural celebrations to festivities that reflect Calgary’s delicious and growing culinary scene, there is no shortage of fun events happening around the city this month.

East Village Junction

What: 12 makers, 12 shipping containers, and 1 parking lot makes the best retail shopping Calgary has ever seen. There are also various performances, a pop-up library, Junction jams and group runs hosted by Lululemon happening at different times throughout each week, so you just have to go more than once!
Where: SW corner of 4 Street and 8 Avenue SE
When: June 1-October 1 (Thursday to Sunday)
Cost: Free admission

Calgary Fringe Festival

What: A plethora of uncensored, non-juried theatre performances happening all around the city. Enjoy!
Where: Various theaters around the city
When: August 4 – 12
Cost: $55-$200

Floating Lantern Peace Ceremony

What: Celebrate Calgarian’s collective desire for peace as you set sail to your lantern in the Olympic Plaza pool.
Where: Olympic Plaza – 228 8 Avenue SE
When: August 5
Cost: Free

Inglewood Sunfest

What: Celebrate summer in #yyc at this day-long street festival featuring over 200 vendors, food trucks, and live entertainment.
Where: Main Street Inglewood- 9 Avenue SE
When: August 5
Cost: Free

Taste of Calgary

What: Going on a date or just looking for something fun to do with friends? Sample some of Calgary’s best global food and beverage cuisine, while you enjoy the great summer weather and listen to live outdoor music for 4 days in a row.
Where: 200 Barclay Parade SW
When: August 10-13
Cost: Free Admission, sampling tickets are $1

Inglewood Night Market

What: Everyone’s favourite street party is back and happening on the first Friday of every month this summer. Be sure to come with an empty stomach and the desire to shop till the sun goes down. The event goes on rain or shine, so come prepared!
Where: 9 Avenue and 10 Street SE
When: August 11
Cost: FREE

Calgary Cocktail Festival

What: Join BassBus and In-Houze Productions for the first ever Peeled Cocktail Festival. You will receive a Peeled Passport, which will be your guide to all of the must-try cocktails at various establishments around the city. Each participating venue has come up with an exclusive cocktail only available to those who possess a passport. Cheers!
Where: Various locations
When: August 12-14
Cost: $40

Calgary Japanese Festival

What: At this “Omatsuri” (traditional festival) you will experience everything from a Sake tasting to traditional Japanese arts and crafts, as you celebrate everything this diverse and wonderful culture has to offer!
Where: Mac Bell Centre – 1001 Barlow Trail SE
When: August 12
Cost: $5

Marda Gras

What: Enjoy live music, exciting cultural performances, kids activities, loads of shopping and delectable bites at this lively family-friendly street festival.
Where: Marda Loop – 33 – 34 Avenues SW
When: August 13
Cost: Free

Calgary Dragon Boat Race and Festival

What: Compete in this traditional Chinese cultural event with a team of max 26 people. After the race enjoy the all day festival that includes a kid’s play zone, food trucks, beer gardens, live performances and more!
*Bicycle parking available onsite
Where: North Glenmore Park – 5R7, 7305 Crowchild Trail SW
When: August 12-13
Cost: Free

YYC Taste the Trucks 7

What: August 11 marks the 6 year anniversary of the Food Truck Pilot Project in Calgary, so they’re throwing a party! Enjoy delicious eats from over 20 of Calgary’s best food trucks, listen to live music from 10 at 10 and ice cold beer from Village Brewery. Happy Birthday!
Where: The River Walk Plaza, East Village
When: August 18-20
Cost: $5 for the weekend

Expo Latino

What: Feel the heat and the energy as this world class festival takes over Prince’s Island park with exciting performances, sizzling dancing, exotic food, a stunning art market and so much more!
Where: Prince’s Island Park – 698 Eau Claire Avenue SW
When: August 18 – 20
Cost: Free

Summer Feast

What: Celebrate Calgary’s vibrant and growing food scene with this new dining event happening this August. You will have the opportunity to enjoy delicious Prix fix summer menus for lunch and dinner, from 13 of Calgary’s best and most diverse restaurants. Bon Appetite!
When: August 11 – 20
Where: Various restaurants around Calgary
Cost $15-$35

GlobalFest

What: Celebrate the different cultures of the world that make up Calgary, with a multicultural marketplace and fireworks show put on by various countries each night.
Where: Elliston Park – 1827 68 Street SE
When: August 15-26
Cost: $20-$90

Brewery and the Beast

What: Calling all meat and beer lovers! At the 3rd annual Brewery and the Beast festival, you will have the opportunity to sample a range of premium, local and ethically raised meats while sipping on a cold delicious beverage.
Where: Pumphouse Park – 2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW
When: August 20
Cost: $95

Calgary Vegetarian Food Festival

What: This festival will showcase some of the best vegetarian and vegan foods and dishes that local Calgary vendors have to offer.
Where: Bowness Community Centre – 7904 43 Avenue NW
When: August 26
Cost: Free

Calgary Night Market

What: Come shop some of the city’s best local vendors, while perusing delicious food trucks and watching live entertainment at the August edition of the Calgary Night Market.
Where: Southcentre Mall – 100 Anderson Road SE
When: August 25-26
Cost: Free

The 27 Annual Pride Festival

What: Literally one of the most colourful celebrations of the year!
When: August 25 – September 4
Where: Prince’s Island Park – 698 Eau Claire Ave SW
Cost: Free

Music Festivals

Image: Chasing Summer Music Festival / Facebook

Calgary International Blues Festival

What: Experience one full week of live outdoor blues performances and end each day off with a Twilight Blues Dance Party. See the full list of performers here!
Where: Shaw Millennium Park
When: July 31 – August 6
Cost: $35-$50

Canmore Folk Music Festival

What: Alberta’s longest running folk music festival is back! Kick the weekend off with a pancake breakfast and forward to headliners, such as Bruce Cockburn, Foy Vance, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and much more talent throughout the weekend.
Where: Centennial Park – 5 Avenue, Canmore
When: August 5 – 7
Cost: $45-$130

Chasing Summer Music Festival

What: Celebrate the passion of Calgarians love for summer in this huge two-day EDM festival.
Where: Max Bell Centre Festival Ground – 1001 Barlow Trail SE
When: August 5-6
Cost: General Admission – $159.95

One Love Music Festival

What: Callin’ all Hip Hop junkies! This is Western Canada’s largest Hip Hop Music Festival so don’t miss out. And if you weren’t already excited enough, Lauryn Hill and Migos will be headlining this year’s festival.
Where: Max Bell Centre Festival Ground – 1001 Barlow Trail SE
When: August 4
Cost: $79.95-$109.95

Chasing Summer Music Festival

What: Celebrate the passion of Calgarians love for summer in this huge two-day EDM festival.
Where: Max Bell Centre Festival Ground – 1001 Barlow Trail SE
When: August 5-6
Cost: General Admission – $159.95

Reggae Festival

What: Calling all “Rastafarians,” Calgarians who share the same love for Caribbean culture and Reggae music. Described as more of an experience than merely a performance, this year’s Reggae Fest is focused on celebrating 150 years of the uniting cultures in Canada AKA the ‘Golden era of Canadian Reggae.’
Where: Various locations around Calgary
When: August 17 – 19
Cost: $35 – $45

Country Thunder Alberta 2017

What: Get your toes tapping and brush up on your two-stepping at this 3-day Country Music Festival headlined by Brad Paisley, Thomas Rhett and Blake Shelton. Country fans rejoice!
Where: Prairie Winds Park – 223 Castleridge Boulevard NE
When: August 18-20
Cost: $130 3-day General Admission

See also

Music Festivals