35 festivals happening in Calgary during summer 2017

Courtesy of Inglewood Night Market

The best part about summer in Calgary are all of the fun and exciting festivals that happen all over the city!

It’s a great way to experience Calgary’s deeply rooted culture and heritage while also supporting the organizations that make our city so amazing. From markets, to cultural experiences, to homegrown music festivals, there is something for the whole family to enjoy.

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

The Calgary Stampede

What: It’s the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth and its back for its 105th year – need we say more!
Where: Stampede Ground – 1410 Olympic Way SE
When: July 7-16
Cost: Varies depending on the day

Parks Day Celebration

What: Rediscover and connect with nature as you celebrate the beautiful and diverse park’s that Alberta has to offer. See a list of participating parks here!
Where: Various Provincial Parks across Alberta
When: July 15

Cyclepalooza

What: Join this community-driven bicycle festival for a week full of cycling festivities!
Where: Various locations around Calgary
When: July 14 – July 23
Cost: Free

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: July 14
Cost: FREE

Pet-A-Palooza Calgary

What: A festival all about PETS! There will be a puppy stampede, French and English Bulldog Races, Wiener Dog races, free swag and more.
Where: Eau Claire Market – 200 Barclay Parade SW
When: July 29
Cost: Free Admission

Kensington’s Diagon Alley

What: The community of Kensington will be turning into a magical wizarding world full of brilliant oddities for a day!
Where: Kensington Road and 10 Street NW
When: July 30

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

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

Opera in the Park: Cinderella

What: Relive your favourite childhood romance in this interactive, one-act performance. This is a great introduction to opera and a fun festivity for the whole family to participate in.
Where: ENMAX Park – Elbow River Pathway
When: August 12 – 20
Cost: $15

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

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

Country Kickback

What: Learn how the West once was!
Where: Heritage Park – 1900 Heritage Drive SW
When: August 26-27
Cost: Park admission

Beakerhead

What: Prepare yourself as this interactive art show once again takes over our city for a week where science and art collide.
Where: Various locations around Calgary
When: September 13-17
Cost: Varies per location

Food and Drink Festivals

Photo Courtesy of Taste of Calgary

Taste of Okotoks

What: Eat great food, enjoy live music and shop local vendors and this fun-filled event in the heart of Okotoks.
Where: Downtown Okotoks
When: July 22
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

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

BBQ on the Bow

What: Featuring over 35 teams of BBQ Competitors, along with cooking demonstrations, kids activities, beer gardens and live music from 11 of Calgary’s top local bands.
Where: Montgomery Community Centre – 50003 16 Avenue NW
When: September 2 and 3
Cost: Free

Music Festivals

Calgary Folk Music Festival

What: The Calgary Folk Fest is back for another year and bigger than ever. They are bringing some big names to the city that you won’t want to miss out on!
Where: Prince’s Island Park
When: July 27-30
Cost: $25-$190

Terminus Festival

What: If you enjoy electronic, synth and industrial music then this is a festival you won’t want to miss out on!
Where: Dickens – 1000 9 Avenue SW
When: July 28 – 30
Cost: $70-$180

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 Millenium Park
When: July 31 – August 6
Cost: $35-$50

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 8
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

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

Reggae Festival

What: Calling all “Rastagarian’s,” Calgarian’s 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

2017 Honens Festival

What: Celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday with a 4-day music festival with a side of maple syrup. It doesn’t get much more Canadian than that!
Where: Various venues and parks around the city
When: September 7 – 10
Cost: $10-$55 or festival pass is $129

Circle the Wagons 2017

What: Join the BassBus, YYCFoodTrucks and Village Brewery for a traveling carnival that includes the best Calgary has to offer in local food, beer, music, art, and entertainment.
Where: Currie Life – 3951 Trasimene Crescent SW
When September 9
Cost: $35

Metal Festival

What: Calling all metalheads!
Where: Various locations around Calgary
When: September 17
Cost: TBA

Cultural Festivals

Photo Courtesy of Fiestaval

Calgary Turkish Festival

What: Let yourself be transported Turkey as you experience some of the best of what this rich culture has to offer!
Where: Eau Claire Festival Plaza – 200 Barclay Parade
When: July 12-16
Cost: Free

Fiestaval Latin Festival

What: Celebrate Latin American Culture in this vibrant street festival!
Where: Olympic Plaza – 288 8 Avenue SE
When: July 21,22 and 23
Cost: Free admission

Calgary Arab Festival

What: Come celebrate Arab traditions, such as folk dance, triaditional music, food and so much more! This is a family- friendly event so bring your little along for some fun.
Where: Olympc Plaza – 228 8 Avenue SE
When: July 29 – 30
Cost: FREE

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

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

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

Fiesta Filipino 2017

What: Kick it Filipino style! A fiesta is meant to be a special time with friends with delicious food, fellowship and various activities.
Where: Olympic Plaza – 288 8 Avenue SE
When: September 1
Cost: Free admission

See also

Food and Drink Festivals

Music Festivals

Cultural Festivals