14 FREE things to do in Calgary this May

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It’s a classic conundrum. You want to go out, have a day on the town, alone, with friends or with your significant other, but money is a little tight. Not a problem.

This May there’s lots of events happening around the city that are entirely free to attend.

Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age

A documentary presented by Bishop Carroll High School and Banbury Crossroads School that addresses youth issues surrounding social media, video games, and Internet addiction. The event is free to attend and family friendly.

When: May 11, 7 to 9pm
Where: 4624 Richard Road SW

Brushmasters + Brewmasters Pop Up Art Show and Sale

Hosted by the Common Crown brewery, a group of emerging artists are showcasing their work in a special two-day event. Enjoy a Common Crown beer while admiring artwork by local artists. It’s free to attend, but if something there catches your eye, you just might go home with a beautiful new purchase to display in your home.

When: May 12 from 4 to 9pm; May 13 from 1 to 5pm
Where: 943 28 Street NE

ADAC Calgary Gallery Hop

Presented by the Art Dealers Association of Canada, this event is put on hopes of stimulating Canada’s art market and raise awareness of the arts, but for you this means you can see all of Calgary’s best art galleries in one day. Spend the day at Jarvis Hall Gallery, the Herringer Kiss Gallery, the Paul Kuhn Galler and several others, all for free.

When: May 13 from 11am to 5pm
Where: Various Locations

Calgary Stampeders Fanfest

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A pancake breakfast, on-field games, and the chance to interact with Stampeders players and staff are all available at this free event to help get Stamps fans excited to kick off another great football season. This party will be happening rain or shine, nothing can scare off Stamps fans from this great time.

When: May 13 from 8:30am to 1pm
Where: 1817 Crowchild Trail NW

Science Rendezvous

Taking place across Canada in more than 300 events in 30 cities, Science Rendezvous helps promote science awareness and scientific literacy. This year’s theme is outer space. At this event you can hear from guest speakers, enjoy educational panels, take part in an engineering design activity, watch a live planetarium show and enjoy lunch, all free to attend.

When: May 13 from 10am to 3pm
When: 220 St George’s Drive NE

Terry Fenton- The Long Distance

The Edge Gallery will be hosting the paintings of Terry Fenton for much of May and June, free for you to enjoy. Fenton’s paintings are known for capturing light, atmosphere, and sentimentality of the natural world.

When: May 13 to June 17, 1 to 5pm
Where: 1416 9 Avenue SE

Westwinds Family Fun Day

Image: Dog Park / Shutterstock

Part of the Canada 150 celebration, the annual Westwinds Family Fun Day is a great chance to bring a picnic to Park 96 for free musical entertainment by four different Westwind choirs and five concert bands.

When: May 13 from 12 to 5 pm
Where: 14660 Parkland Boulevard SE

Horde at the Hive

If you’ve ever thought to yourself that you would have fun at a Viking village but you didn’t know where to find one or how much it would cost to visit, there’s good news for you. The Chinook Honey Company is having a two-day event featuring live battle reenactments, Viking style food, and even award-winning mead in their Viking Village. It’s also free to attend, and it’s right next-door in Okotoks.

When: May 13 to 14 from 10am to 5pm
Where: 386087 16 Street W, Okotoks

Bee Kingdom Glass Mother’s Day Sale

This weekend at Bee Kingdom Glass studio, you can see beautiful handblown glass items featured for a special Mother’s Day price, as well as watch a glassblowing demonstration, absolutely free.

When: May 13-14 from 12pm to 5pm
Where: 427 22 Avenue NW

Single Onion #141

Happening 10 times per year, the Single Onion is a free to attend poetry event. This month, the Single Onion is presenting the work of award-winning Edmonton poet Lisa Martin.

When: May 18 from 7 to 9pm
Where: 1302 4 Street SW

Late Night Thursday: Urban Utopia in Film

Late Nights at Contemporary Calgary are events that bring film and guest speakers together to talk about the arts and design. Coming up, they will be showing Urbanized, a documentary that portrays the strategies behind urban design. The guest speakers will introduce the film and discuss the challenges that Calgary faces when it comes to our own urban design.

When: May 18 from 6 to 9pm
Where: 117 8 Avenue SW

Writing Menopause Book Tour Kick-off Party

Shelf Life Books is hosting a party to celebrate the release of Writing Menopause: An Anthology of Fiction, Poetry and Creative Non-fiction, a book that contains more than 50 works by writers from all over Canada and the United States depicting menopause. The party itself includes readings from some of the contributors of the book.

When: May 25 from 7 to 9pm
Where: 1302 4 Street SW

Blue Sky Artists

Do not paint this ladder.

Hosted by the Okotoks Library, this event is an art show and sale featuring local artists. It’ll be great way to see art and artists from our area while supporting their craft.

When: May 26 to 27 from 10am to 4pm
Where: 7 Riverside Drive Okotoks

The Most Beautiful Day

It’s the Canadian premiere of the biggest German film of 2016. The film is a tragicomedy about two terminally ill young men embarking on one last adventure. The film is in German with English subtitles and recommended for everyone ages 12 and over, and is free to attend.

When: May 27 from 7 to 9pm
Where: 616 Macleod Trail SE