The first weekend of summer 2018 has officially arrived, and there is no shortage of fun stuff to check out during your gloriously free days off.
Sled Island will be rocking out throughout the weekend, along with plenty of markets, concerts, and delicious foods to try out — and we know just where to find all this fun stuff!
Take a look at our list to plan out the first of many wonderful Calgary weekends this summer.
See also
- This Canada-wide fast food chain is launching a bleeding vegan burger
- Cannabis legalization in Canada officially law as bill receives royal assent
- There's a huge FREE party you can check out during Sled Island
Friday, June 22
TEDxYYC: Adjacent Possible
What: Join TEDxYYC for their ninth year of bringing the world’s strongest minds, powerful ideas, and positive change to the stage right here in Calgary. This year they will be exploring the idea of the limited opportunity held in the Adjacent Possible, the premise that there is an enormous untapped sphere of ideas that exist just outside what we think we are capable of. This space can only exist when creativity and curiosity are given the freedom to blossom! Attendees will be inspired to see what some of Calgary’s movers and shakers are up to.
When: Friday, June 22
Time: 1 pm
Where: Jack Singer Concert Hall – 205 8th Avenue SW
Tickets: Online, $72 to $102
Summer Market Presented by Southcentre + Curated
Summer market/Shutterstock
What: Southcentre Mall and Curated market have partnered up together to bring four uniquely curated artisan markets to YYC this summer. You can look forward to shopping from many talented makers and artists, treating yourself to delicious foods from YYC Food Trucks, and enjoying live entertainment, all in the south parking lot of Southcentre mall!
When: June 22 and 23
Time: 5 to 10 pm
Where: Southcentre Mall – 100 Anderson Road SE
Admission: FREE
Whales Tohora
What: Coming all the way from the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, this exciting exhibition has been travelling North America for the last 10 years and Calgary marks its final destination. Excite your senses with this unique cultural experience that will show you everything you need to know about the king of the ocean, the whale. The exhibit has exhibits from life-size whale skeletons to the evolution of these creatures and understanding how they communicate. There is so much to know about these beautiful beings.
When: January 20 to June 20
Where: Telus Spark – 220 St. George’s Drive NE
Tickets: Online, $26
YYC Burger Battle 2018
Fedorovacz/Shutterstock
What: You’ve got 10 days to try all the different burger from close to 50 purveyors around the city, all in the name of charity. This year competitors include Last Best Brewing, Donna Mac, Dairy Lane Cafe, Veg-In YYC, and many more. Now, this is our kind of challenge!
When: June 15 to 24
Where: Various locations
The Market on Stephen Avenue
What: Shop up to 60 vendors offering fresh food, spices, sauces, treats, art, fashion, and more. Enjoy shopping the walk!
When: June 19 and 26
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Stephen Avenue – 1st Street SE to 2nd Street SW
Admission: FREE
Sled Island 2018
Sled Island/Facebook
What: Calgary’s favourite entertainment festival is back and larger than ever! The sheer amount of entertainment, art, music, and comedy that is packed into the five-day long festival is actually incredible. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of the festival and see as much as possible. Have fun!
When: Wednesday, June 20 to Sunday, June 24, 2018
Time: Full schedule can be found here
Where: 35+ venues around the city
Tickets: Discovery Pass available online for $214 (until June 17)
Saturday, June 23
Market Collective + Sled Island Vintage Pop-Up
What: Stroll through countless vintage gems all while enjoying plenty of music, dancing, and food trucks. You never know what treasures you could walk away with!
When: Saturday, June 23
Time: 7 pm
Where: Inglewood – 10th Avenue SE and 10th Street SE (CPA Lot 43 and 44)
Admission: FREE
Farmers and Makers’ Market at cSPACE
What: This ain’t your typical farmers’ market! Join cSPACE every Saturday for a market featuring local fresh produce, baked goods, food trucks, live music, interactive art activities for your little ones, and so much more! This market will showcase over 40 local farm, food and artisan vendors, along with small-commercial makers, bakers, and growers. Come celebrate the joys of shopping local!
When: Every Saturday
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Where: cSPACE King Edward – 1721 29th Avenue SW
Admission: FREE
PARKSHOW
What: Celebrate 10 years of fashion and PARK in Calgary. Shop Canadian fashion labels during the day at Parkshow and stick around for the fashion show in the evening. This brings together some of Canada’s emerging fashion designers, rising artists, musical performers, and culinary talents. It will take place on George C. King Bridge and will be an event like you’ve never seen before!
When: Saturday, June 23
Time: 6:30 pm
Where: George C. King Bridge
Tickets: Online, $42 to $190
Sled Island Block Party 2018
Sled Island (The Witt/Sled Island/Facebook)
What: This year is going to be a rage! Join Sled Island for the city’s largest all-ages dance party. Enjoy a brew from Steam Whistle in the beer gardens, delicious eats from YYC Food Trucks, shop a vintage market, and dance in the street until late.
When: Saturday, June 23
Time: 2 to 10 pm
Where: Inglewood – 10th Avenue SE and 10th Street SE
Admission: FREE
Ice cream date
What: These are not your average ice cream cones! For those hella hot days ahead in Calgary, nothing will beat the heat like having a frozen treat brought to us by some talented local purveyors.
Where: see our list 18 must-try ice cream treats here!
Celebrate the first days of summer on a patio
What: With it being the first few days of summer, there is no better time than the present to enjoy a meal, cold drinks, and good company in the great outdoors. Luckily for us, Calgary offers a never-ending list of fabulous patios, providing city views, people-watching opportunities, endless sunshine, and solid menu choices.
Where: See the full list here
Sunday, June 24
Outdoor HIIT with Movement U
What: Get a tan while you work on your fitness! Spend an hour outdoors as two Movement U instructors team up to take your summer workout to the next level at Murdoch Park in Bridgeland.
When: Sunday, June 24 with Luke and Audrey
Time: 12 pm
Where: Murdoch Park
Admission: Online, regular drop-in $23
Cool Choir Live
What: This ain’t your average choir! Feel the contagious energy from the uplifting harmonies from over 250 voices of this adult rock and pop choir. For one-night-only the choir will be joined by 2016 CCMA ‘bass player of the year’ nominee Justin Kudding and his world-class five-piece rock band to bring you a performance that will leave you truly high on happiness!
When: Sunday, June 24
Time: 7 pm
Where: Southern Jubilee Auditorium – 1415 14th Avenue NW
Tickets: Ticketmaster, $23 to $37
Check out the East Village Junction Pop-Up Retail Park
What: In only one year, this colourful container lot has turned into a popular Calgary mainstay. Located behind the King Edward Hotel, this is a unique destination that features local retail shops, workshops, music, art, and, of course, YYC Food Trucks. You won’t want to miss out on the fun summer festivities that they have planned at this hip community gathering space this summer.
When: Weekends, May 18 to September 3
Where: 430 8th Avenue SE
Admission: FREE
Hang out with the pandas
Three of the four pandas that at the Calgary Zoo (The Toronto Zoo/Facebook)
What: The long wait is finally over! The Calgary Zoo has officially welcomed four pandas, two adults and two cubs, into their newly built habitat, The Panda Passage. These furry black and white friends are charming and have a ton to teach us in the five years that they will be with us before returning to China.
Where: The Calgary Zoo — 210 St. Georges Drive NE
Admission: Regular admission to the zoo
Take a cruise around Maligne Lake
What: Take a cruise around the largest glacier-fed lake in the Canadian Rockies. You’ll be inspired by the beauty of the vibrant blue waters around you as you sail to the iconic Spirit Island (only accessible by boat) on this 90-minute interpretive tour of this magical area.
Where: Maligne Lake Road, Improvement District No. 12
Tickets: Online, $67 (adults), $34 (Ages 6-15)
Check out the newly opened Lamphouse Hotel
What: Formerly the Bow Valley Motel, this space has gone through an entire transformation. Now a blend of retro-chic and rustic contemporary style, this 25-room boutique hotel offers stunning views of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Be sure to add this spot to your bucket list this summer for a true mountain adventure in the heart of Canmore!
Where: 610 8th Street Canmore
See also
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