With April in full swing, there are plenty of fun things to do in Calgary right now. Plus, there’s a long weekend coming up, so if that’s not a reason to get out and explore the city, we don’t know what is.
Enjoy some live theatre, pretend you’re Alice at a Mad Hatter Tea, get spooked on a ghost tour, walk into a parallel universe at the science centre, kick off the long weekend at the Feel Good Thursday party, check out a free new art exhibition, and much more.
Here are 15 of the best things to do in and around Calgary this week.
Check out Glenbow’s new FREE satellite exhibit at The Edison
Rendering of Glenbow’s satellite location at the Edison (Courtesy of Glenbow)
What: Glenbow’s main building is currently closed for renovations, but its new satellite location at The Edison opens this week, featuring visiting exhibitions on temporary display. The first exhibition at The Edison, Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment, allows visitors to experience 200 works of art by a generation of 20th-century women painters, photographers, weavers, bead workers, and sculptors who remained largely unrecognized amid celebrated male artists of the time.
When: Beginning April 9
Time: 11 am to 8 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays
Where: The Edison (150 9th Avenue SW, Calgary)
Cost: Free; timed ticket required for entry
Pretend you’re Alice at Hawthorn’s Mad Hatter Tea
Courtesy of Hawthorn
What: Indulge in delectable pastries, dainty finger sandwiches, and oven-fresh scones to enjoy with Fairmont-curated loose leaf teas at Hawthorn’s Mad Hatter Tea. Alice-in–Wonderland-themed sweets include the Queen of Hearts Cookie, Eat Me Macaron, Cuckoo Clock Cupcake, and more.
When: Saturdays and Sundays from April 2 to May 1
Time: 11 am to 3:30 pm
Where: Fairmont Pallier’s Hawthorn (133 9th Avenue SW, Calgary)
Cost: $95 per adult
Catch some of the fastest tap dancing in the world at Celtic Illusion
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What: Fusing contemporary Irish dance with magic and grand illusions, Celtic Illusion features a cast of internationally acclaimed dancers, including performers from both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. Displaying some of the fastest taps in the world, the dancers’ thunderous rhythm fills the stage in perfect unison.
Celtic Illusion is led by Australia’s Anthony Street, the first Australian to perform in a leading role in Michael Flatley’s widely acclaimed Lord of the Dance.
When: April 12
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (1415 14th Avenue NW, Calgary)
Cost: Tickets starting at $61.40
Enjoy a performance by alt-country singers Jay Gavin and Emmet Jerome at The Prairie Emporium
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What: Join Vancouver-based alt-country musicians Jay Gavin and Emmett Jerome for a folkin’ good night or stripped-down tunes at The Prairie Emporium on their Spring Therapy Tour. There will be a full drink menu and limited snack menu available throughout the evening to fulfill your cravings too!
When: April 14
Time: 7 pm
Where: The Prairie Emporium (300 – 334 53rd Avenue SE, Calgary)
Cost: $10
Attend an adults-only evening of science and boozy beverages at Spark After Dark
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What: TELUS Sparks’ latest adults-only night explores the ways that legal drugs and narcotics interact with your brain. Hear from leaders in the cannabis industry, a psychedelic therapist, and a cannabis cook while enjoying some munchies and understanding the brain under the influence. You’ll also find full bar service (featuring the James Bong speciality cocktail) and themed snacks throughout the evening.
When: April 15
Time: 5 to 10 pm
Where: TELUS Spark Science Centre (220 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary)
Cost: $26
Get spooked at Heritage Park’s ghost tours
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What: Visit Heritage Park after dark for a guided ghost tour through the abandoned streets of its Historical Village. Hear spooky stories and learn a little bit about Calgary’s haunted past during a 90-minute walking tour, covering approximately three kilometres of the park.
When: April 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, and 29
Time: Tours beginning at 7 and 9 pm
Where: Heritage Park Historical Village (1900 Heritage Drive SW, Calgary)
Cost: $22.95
Be entertained by a cheesy, over-the-top performance from Ricky Diamonds
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What: Ricky Diamonds is a former Las Vegas lounge singer who is now the current crooner king of the Kootenays. With his signature slicked-back hair and moustache, Ricky will melt your heart and make you blush with his cheesy, over-the-top performances. With all of your parents’ and grandparents’ favourite songs paired with charming comedy, this is one show you won’t want to miss!
When: April 15
Time: 7 pm
Where: The Prairie Emporium (300 – 334 53rd Avenue SE, Calgary)
Cost: $12
Meet that special someone at a queer speed dating event
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What: If you don’t fit into WLW, M4M, or monogamous dating spaces, this is for you! This queer speed dating event takes place on April 14 at The Dark Arts, and your ticket includes a complimentary glass of bubbles and the chance for you to make some really great connections.
When: April 14
Time: 7 to 9:30 pm
Where: The Dark Arts Restaurant & Drink (834 11th Avenue SW, Calgary)
Cost: $10
Visit David Wilson’s solo exhibition at Gibson Fine Art
Courtesy of Artsbiz Public Relations
What: David Wilson has established himself among the most prestigious artists in Vancouver, and, after three decades and more than 20 solo exhibitions in his adopted hometown, Wilson is thrilled to make his debut at Gibson Fine Art in Calgary this month. Wilson marks his arrival in the city with In From the Cold, a characteristically sensitive collection of new works that marry the artist’s vivid technique with an interior narrative matured over his 30 years of work.
When: April 2 to 21
Time: 11 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Saturday, and by appointment.
Where: Gibson Fine Art (523 Cleveland Crescent SE, Calgary)
Be awed by Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition
Elle McLean/Daily Hive
What: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition invites visitors to experience the 34 frescoes of the Vatican ceiling in life-sized, close-up detail right here in Calgary. Guests will be able to see reproductions of works such as The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment, down to each individual colour and brushstroke.
When: March 3 to April 15
Time: Time slots available between 10 am and 7 pm Thursday through Sunday, with the exhibit closing at 8 pm
Where: BMO Centre – Hall F (20 Roundup Way SE, Calgary)
Cost: Available online starting at $16.60
Walk into a parallel universe at Calgary’s science centre
Elle McLean/Daily Hive
What: Fascinated by the idea of parallel universes? If so, you can now take a deeper trip into the world of the subatomic in a new exhibit at Telus Spark Science Centre’s digital immersion gallery. The team at Calgary’s science centre has taken what many would consider to be the hardest science subject – quantum physics – and turned it into a floor-to-ceiling visual adventure that everyone can relate to.
When: Open as of March 1, 2022
Time: Science centre hours (9 am to 4 pm Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm Friday through Sunday)
Where: TELUS Spark Science Centre (220 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary)
Cost: Included with general admission ($26 for adults, $19 for children)
Kick off the long weekend at Feel Good Thursday
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What: Kick off the long weekend at Feel Good Thursday, a queer party at The Dark Arts. DJ NZANE will be providing all the best beats. You’ll be partying in an interactive art gallery, and The Dark Arts’ creative food and cocktail main are sure to keep you energized all night long. Since Friday is a holiday, this event goes until late!
When: April 14
Time: 10 pm to 2 am
Where: The Dark Arts Restaurant & Drink (834 11th Avenue SW, Calgary)
Cost: Tickets available from $5
Watch live theatre during High Performance Rodeo
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What: The spring edition of One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts, gives local audiences the chance to watch touring performances from across Canada, acclaimed international shows, and new and experimental work from artists right here in YYC.
The festival boasts theatre, dance, music, film, free lunchtime concerts, late-night cabarets, and much more, with shows in the basement of the Calgary Tower, at the Royal Canadian Legion, in the city’s +15s, a wrestling ring, an elevator, in City Hall, at the Central Library, and other unique and iconic venues around the city.
When: March 27 to May 28
Time: Varies by performance
Where: Various venues in Calgary, ranging from the Globe Cinema to Contemporary Calgary, The GRAND to Big Secret Theatre, and more
Cost: Ticket prices vary by performance
Go on a cheap movie date at select Cineplex theatres
Cineplex/Shutterstock
What: Looking for budget-friendly entertainment options? Cineplex is featuring select movie screenings for $2.99 this month at several of its Calgary locations. The Cineplex Family Favourites series runs every Saturday at 11 am and offers the chance to enjoy a good flick at a great price.
When: April 16, 23, and 30, and May 7
Time: 11 am
Where: Varies by date; participating Calgary locations include Cineplex Cinemas Seton and VIP, Cineplex Odeon Crowfoot Crossing Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon Sunridge Spectrum Cinemas, Cineplex Cinemas East Hills, Scotiabank Theatre Chinook, and Cineplex Odeon Westhills Cinemas
Cost: $2.99; tickets available online
Have a “wild” brunch at the Calgary Zoo
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What: Enjoy weekend brunch at the Calgary Zoo. Held in the heart of Destination Africa, the zoo’s Safari Brunch features both gourmet and comfort breakfast foods, including a free-flowing chocolate fountain with fresh fruit, eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon, a Belgian waffle bar, and much, much more.
When: Every Sunday until November 13, 2022
Time: First seating 9 to 10:30 am, second seating 11 am to 12:30 pm, and third seating on select dates from 1 to 2:30 pm
Where: Calgary Zoo (210 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary)
Cost: $44.95 for adults, $27.95 for children