Featuring Poutine Week, a province wide Burger Fest, and a gin-centric celebration, Calgary’s food events calendar for spring is marked with a number of fun food-focused outings.
We’ve complied a list, which we will keep adding to, of upcoming food-related events happening in the city this spring.
Taste of Jamaica 2016
Presented by the Jamaican Canadian Association Alberta, this annual festival returns to the city this year to share the rich, warm Jamaican culture with Albertans. Entry to the event includes a sample of Jamaican cuisine (in the form of Jamaican dumplings, jerk chicken, patties, and the national dish of ackee and saltfish). There will also be live performances from local artists.
When: Saturday, March 26 from noon to 7 p.m.
Where: Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association – 5600 Centre Street N
Price: General admission is $16.51. Tickets can be purchased online here
Taste of the Opera
Get a ‘taste’ of each upcoming opera at this behind-the-scenes event. On a Friday prior to the show, the Mamdani Opera Centre opens its doors for a unique insider’s look at the production, followed by a taste of local food and wine from the region in which the opera takes place.
When: Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m.
Where: Mamdani Opera Centre – 1315 7 Street SW
Price: Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online here
Poutine Week
Poutine with a purpose. From April 15 until April 23, local restaurants will serve special, feature poutines. For every poutine sold during Poutine Week (from any of the participating restaurants) a person in need receives a meal thanks to the event’s non profit partner Mealshare. In 2015, 50 restaurants served 5000 poutines in seven days.
When: April 15 to 23
Where: Various locations. Click here to find the list of participating restaurants
YYC Food Trucks Spring Frenzy 2016
YYC Food Trucks Spring Frenzy, an annual food truck festival, will take over C-Square in Calgary’s East Village for two days at the end of April. Celebrating the return of the warmer weather and Calgary’s ever-expanding food truck scene, YYC Food Trucks Spring Frenzy will offer attendees an assortment of deliciousness. Some 15 plus food trucks will be in attendance at this year’s event.
When: Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: CSquare (4th Street and 7th Avenue SE)
Price: $5 Entry (free for kids under 12)
YYC Taco Fiesta 2016
Combining food and charity, YYC Taco Fiesta, a six day long festival celebrating tacos, makes its debut in Calgary this year, running from April 29 through to May 5. Once the list of participating restaurants has been finalized, this taco-centric event should end up with over 35 eateries all slinging their versions of this handheld delight. A percentage of taco sales during this week long fiesta will go to the Calgary Homeless Foundation and Kids Up Front.
When: April 29 through to May 5
Where: Various venues throughout the city (click here for participating restaurants)
Alberta Burger Fest
Alberta Burger Fest is a province wide competition where burgers take centre stage and restaurants are encouraged to raise funds for charity. Eat a burger, 10 per cent will go to charity. Vote, and the winner will be the “Burger Champion” of their municipality. Later in the year there will be a burger off between the winners who will battle it out for the Alberta champion title.
When: May 6 to 16
Where: Locations in Calgary and across Alberta
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Calgary International Beerfest
Calgary International Beerfest is Western Canada’s largest Beer Festival, showcasing hundreds of premium beers, both domestic and international. The 2016 edition of the Calgary International Beer Festival occurring on May 6 and 7 is promoted as being bigger and better than previous years. Beer enthusiasts will have the opportunity to sample some of the 500 plus beers on site, take part in beer seminars, vote for the People’s Choice awards, and learn something new at Beer University.
When: May 6 and 7
Where: BMO Centre – 20 Roundup Way SW
Price: Ticket prices vary and can be purchased online here
GinAPalooza
Canada’s second annual gin-centric celebration is back for 2016 and is set to shake things up in YYC from May 18 through to June 1. During GinAPalooza Calgarians will have the chance to sample a variety of unique gin-inspired cocktails carefully crafted exclusively for the two week event. Interested parties can pick up their G-PASS (official event guide) at any participating venue starting one week before Calgary’s launch date.
When: May 18 to June 1
Where: Various locations in downtown Calgary
Price: Drink prices vary but range anywhere from $8 to $15
YYC Rhubarb Fest
Back for its fourth year, this family friendly festival, located in Southwood, reaches out to all surrounding communities to join the fun. Last year the event included the Village Brewery Beer Garden, a Cash BBQ with Spolumbo’s sausages, rhubarb pie, market stalls, live music, a mobile skatepark, face painting, and more. Attendees to the 2016 event are encouraged to bring a donation for the Calgary Food Bank.
When: June 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Southwood Community Hall – 11 Sackville Drive SW
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