21 things to do in Calgary this weekend: July 9 to 11

Jul 9 2021, 5:11 pm

COVID-19 still presents a risk to public health. While restrictions have been lifted across Alberta, it is recommended to continue practicing health and safety measures, including frequent hand-washing, wearing a mask on public transit and in healthcare settings, and staying home if you are sick.

It’s finally Friday, the forecast is looking hot over the next few days, and the Calgary Stampede officially kicks off today.

There are lots of things to do in the city right now, whether you’re into Stampedin’ or not. Shop local at a night market, catch one of several live concerts, take the fam to a drive-in movie, feast on pancakes at free Stampede breakfasts, and more.

Here’s what’s happening in Calgary this weekend.

Catch a live show or movie at the Grey Eagle Drive-In

What: Join the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino at southern Alberta’s largest drive-in venue to watch a live concert or movie. This Friday, Men Without Hats will be playing, offering a “hit-filled, catchy soundtrack” for your July. On Sunday, catch the Grey Eagle’s Family Friendly Double Feature, playing Spider-Man Homecoming and Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby.

When: July 9 and 11
Time: 7 pm on Friday, and 2 pm on Sunday
Where: Grey Eagle Resort and Casino (3777 Grey Eagle Drive, Calgary)
Cost: Tickets start at $95.24 per car for the concert and $40 per car for the movies

Visit the 2021 Calgary Stampede

 

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What: It’s finally back! Dust off your cowboy boots, shine up your belt buckle, and practice your two-steppin’ because the Calgary Stampede is returning for 10 days this July, and it’s bound to be epic. Whether you catch the action at the rodeo, cheer on a fireworks show from your neighbourhood, dance the night away at Nashville North, or watch this year’s Stampede Parade from the comfort of your own couch, there’s no better way to get in the summer spirit.

When: July 9 to 18
Where: Stampede Park (650 25th Avenue SE, Calgary), with some events broadcast virtually
Cost: $20 for a general admission ticket

Try a city-wide scavenger hunt

What: Calgary’s Parks Foundation has teamed up with PlayCity to bring the Hide & Seek challenge to YYC. Hide & Seek is the perfect way to get outside, explore the city’s outdoor spaces, and win prizes. A new postcard is hidden bi-weekly in a park somewhere in the city, and you can download the PlayCity app to find exclusive hints about the card’s location.

When: Bi-weekly starting May 8, running through the spring and summer months
Where: Parks and green spaces through Calgary
Cost: Free

Goat Yoga at Granary Road Market

What: Get your zen on in a whole new way while doing yoga with goats at Granary Road. Afterwards, check out the local market, or bring the kids to play in the Learning Park.

When: July 10 and 11
Time: One-hour classes starting at 11 am and noon
Where: Granary Road Market (226066 112th Street W, Foothills No. 31)
Cost: $20

Snap some new content at The CORE’s Gram Garden

 

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What: If your Instagram game has felt a little boring lately, look no further than The CORE Shopping Centre. The downtown Calgary mall has set up a picture-perfect “Gram Garden,” which will feature a series of rotating backdrops throughout the summer months.

In celebration of the Calgary Stampede, the garden has gone with an all-pink country theme for its first exhibition, lasting until July 19.

When: June 28 to September 30
Time: Mall hours (11 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 pm on Sundays)
Where: The CORE Shopping Centre (324 8th Avenue SW, Calgary)
Cost: Free

Kensington weekend activations

What: Free activations will run each weekend in Kensington Village through until November, showcasing a series of pop-ups that include a variety of artists, musicians, dancers, and artisans. The Sadlier-Brown Band will be performing this Saturday, July 10.

When: Every Saturday from June through November
Time: 12:30 to 2:30 pm
Where: In front of Trapped Escape (1139 Kensington Road NW)
Cost: Free

Check out life-sized dinosaurs at the Calgary Zoo

What: The Calgary Zoo recently opened their brand new Dinosaurs: Awakened exhibit, and it is not to be missed. Check out 26 animatronic dinosaurs, spanning 17 species, that move, sound, and exhibit behaviours of these giant creatures of the past.

When: Now until October 31
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: The Calgary Zoo (210 St. George’s Drive NE)
Cost: Included with regular admission ($34.95 for adults, $14.95 for children)

Tee-off at one of the world’s best courses from Hotel Arts’ Golf Studios

What: Choose from simulations of more than 20 of the world’s best courses, including Pebble Beach, Oakmont, and Valderrama, and tee-off from your own private Golf Studio in downtown Calgary. Players can enjoy their own stocked carts with food and beverage service from Hotel Arts’ Clubhouse during the game.

When: Open daily
Time: Book one-, two-, three-, or four-hour time slots from 8 am to 9 pm
Where: Hotel Arts
Cost: Starting at $50 for 55 minutes

Enjoy pancakes at a Stampede breakfast

What: Arguably the best part of the Calgary Stampede is the free pancake breakfasts. Communities and organizations across the city will be serving up hotcakes, sausages, orange juice, and other favourites in celebration of the 10-day event. Check out our list of 19 free Stampede breakfasts happening in and around Calgary this July.

Spend an old-fashioned day at Heritage Park Historical Village

 

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What: Join Heritage Park for some old-timey fun and explore their historical village, ride the train, check out the new Prospect Ridge area, sail on the Glenmore Reservoir by paddlewheel boat, and take part in all of their other safe, outdoor experiences.

When: Daily
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Heritage Park (1900 Heritage Drive SW)
Cost: $24.95, and $12.95 for the kids

Relax with dinner and a movie at Hotel Arts

What: Escape for a night with an in-room dinner and a movie at Hotel Arts. The package comes with a night’s stay in the hotel’s luxury accommodations, a gourmet in-room dinner for two, a bottle of wine, two craft sodas, truffled parmesan popcorn and other movie snacks, and a $25 credit towards your in-room movie.

When: Available daily
Where: Hotel Arts (119 12th Avenue SW)
Cost: Package starts at $275

Hit up the Inglewood Night Market

What: Shop local at the outdoor Inglewood Night Market this summer. This modern market boasts locally sourced and handmade vendors selling a range of goods, from handmade crafts and vintage clothing to antiques and collectibles, artisan eats, and more.

When: July 9, August 13, and September 10, 11, and 17
Time: 4 to 11 pm
Where: 11 Street and 12 Street SE on 9th Avenue
Cost: $5 entry

Badlands Music Festival

What: This mixed-genre music festival is returning for 2021, promising a “star-studded” line-up. The Badlands Festival Tent is featuring 11 days of live concerts, with musicians that include Felix Cartal, Chad Brownlee, Deadmau5, and more.

When: July 8 to 18
Where: Badlands Festival Tent (840 9th Avenue SW, Calgary)
Cost: Tickets and passes range from free to $233.13

Grab a TUBBY ON THE GO kit

What: Pick up a TUBBY ON THE GO kit from Calgary’s beloved hot dog joint. The kit contains everything you need for a backyard barbecue or picnic in the park, with a biodegradable, one-time-use CasusGrill, a four-pack of Tubby Dog’s Ukey sausages, four hot dog buns, one jar of house-made Tubby Dog mustard, four Twinkies for dessert, two beers from Annex Ale, plus tongs, napkins, and paper trays.

When: Available now
Where: Tubby Dog (1022 17th Avenue SW)
Cost: $50 +GST

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s virtual concert series: City Spaces

What: While their concert hall remains closed, the CPO has taken their show on the road, playing from iconic Calgary spaces for free virtual performances. City Spaces bring music to audiences from places that include the top of a modern skyscraper, the interior of a brutalist-era gallery, the grand ballroom of a historic hotel, and more.

When: Stream the final performance, broadcast from the Jack Singer Concert Hall, until July 12
Time: Any time of your choosing
Where: Watch the performances virtually
Cost: Free

Listen to live music at the Blue Jay Sessions: Summer Nights

What: Groove to the sounds of talented local musicians performing in captivating songwriters’ sessions. The events will also have a fun food menu, created by talented Top Chef Canada alum Elycia Ross, and drink options that include Forty Creek Whisky cocktails, plenty of Russell Brewing Co. craft beer (including the event’s very own Blue Jay Sessions beer), and more.

When: July 7 to 10
Time: Two sessions each evening, with doors opening at 6 and 8:15 pm
Where: Ill-Fated Kustoms (5327 3rd Street SE, Calgary)
Cost: $20 to $120

Attend a free yoga class

What: Relax and get some fresh air with a free class with Calgary Outdoor Yoga. There are two class times offered each Sunday, with locations in Mahogany and Stanley Park. It’s important to note that pre-registration is required, and attendee numbers are limited to adhere to current public health guidelines.

When: Every Sunday through until October 2021
Time: 10 am and 1 pm
Where: Participants will receive an email the night before with the exact secret location of each class.
Cost: Free

Support local with Eat & Seek at Southcentre Mall

Eat & Seek

Courtesy of Southcentre Mall/Brendan Klem

What: Snap some photos of this Instagrammable spot, get some fresh air, and enjoy a meal from one of Southcentre Mall’s local eateries all at the same time. Eat & Seek is a creative new patio space designed to give guests a fun new place to explore while supporting the food court and restaurant vendors who don’t have their own outdoor seating areas.

When: June 1 through fall 2021
Time: Mall hours (currently 11 am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday, and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays)
Where: Southcentre Mall (100 Anderson Road SE)
Cost: Free (guests don’t need to purchase food to enjoy the patio)

The B!G Art Drive-In

What: B!G Art and TELUS Spark Science Centre have paired up again this year to bring back their epic big-screen movies. There’s sure to be something for everyone at this drive-in, with several showtimes each day. This week’s offerings include Back to the Future Part IIIJAWSToy StoryGhostbustersRaya and the Last Dragon, and more.

While you’re there, be sure to stop into the Rocket Fuel Cafe for some astronaut ice cream.

When: July 8 to 11
Time: Varies by show
Where: TELUS Spark Science Centre (220 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary)
Cost: Varies by show

Watch a live drag show while you brunch at Eggs, Henny!

What: Get in the Stampede spirit at two drag-meets-country-music brunch events in Calgary this July. The Eggs, Henny! brunches will take place at Ill-Fated Kustoms’ unique outdoor event space this summer, and each will feature singers and drag performers alongside delicious dishes and cocktail options.

When: July 11 and 18
Time: 11 am to 2 pm
Where: Ill-Fated Kustoms (5327 3rd Street SE, Calgary)
Cost: $20 to $120 per ticket (food and drinks aren’t included in price)

Get into Studio Bell for free

 

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What: Celebrate Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre’s five-year anniversary with free admission on weekends throughout the month of July. Check out new and updated exhibits, catch instrument show-and-tells, and delve into the history of iconic Canadian musicians. Reserve your tickets online now.

When: Weekends from July 2 to 25
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Studio Bell (850 4th Street SE)
Cost: Free

Elle McLeanElle McLean

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