Arts & Culture Festival Guide!

Summer is full of opportunities to get outside and spend your days fooling around, but Calgary summers also offer plenty of opportunities to have some meaningful cultural experiences. If you’re looking to get your creative inspiration flowing, make sure to pencil these dates into your calendar!

CITY OF CALGARY CANADA DAY CELEBRATION
JULY 1, 2016
Each year, the City of Calgary hosts a variety of free Canada Day activities through the city on July 1. This year, festivities include a living flag activity at Fort Calgary, a First Nations Powwow at Prince’s Island Park, live music and food truck at Riverfront Avenue, and fireworks in the evening by the Centre Street Bridge.
www.calgary.ca

OTAFEST
JULY 1 – 3, 2016
Otafest is an annual conference for anime enthusiasts. Three days filled with forums for discussion and education, and an opportunity to show off costumes, music video creations and wonderful array of artwork.
www.otafest.com

CALGARY STAMPEDE
JULY 8 – 17, 2016
Do not miss this greatest outdoor show on Earth! The festival features one of the world’s largest rodeos, a parade, midway, stage shows, concerts, and many more activities. www.calgarystampede.com

FIESTAVAL CALGARY
JULY 23 -24, 2016
Fiestaval is a free and family-oriented, multicultural arts and entertainment festival highlighting the Latin American Culture. It’s an opportunity to support Calgary’s Latin community while encouraging multiculturalism among all Calgarians.
www.fiestaval.ca

CALGARY FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL
JULY 21 – 24, 2016
The Folk fest showcases over 70 artists from around the world, but it’s also a great excuse to spend a weekend bumming around Prince’s Island Park. Discover new musical acts that expand the definition of “folk,” eat delicious food from one of the festival’s many vendors and food trucks, all while hanging out on an island oasis right smack in the middle of the inner city. www.calgaryfolkfest.com

HISTORIC CALGARY WEEK
JULY 22 – AUGUST 2, 2016
Celebrate Calgary during this weeklong event with over 60 free and ticked events. Come to talks, walks, concerts, family events, museum and community visits to name a few, highlighting our cultural, institutional, industrial, architectural, sporting and military heritage.
www.chinookcountry.org

PET-A-PALOOZA
July 23 – 24, 2016
West Coast’s largest outdoor pet festival. With events including: Dock Dogs Canada, Running of the bulls, fly ball shows, agility demos, cool down stations, photo lounges and up to 85 of the leading pet related exhibitors.
www.petapaloozawest.com

CALGARY DRAGON BOAT RACE & FESTIVAL
AUGUST 13 – 14, 2016
As Calgary’s premier sport festivals, the Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival has an abundance of excitement and cultural experiences. The races are geared towards creating an unforgettable experience, all while illustrating comradery, teamwork and inspiration.
www.chinatowncalgary.com

OPERA IN THE VILLAGE
AUGUST 13, 14, 20 & 21, 2016
Canada’s only outdoor summer opera festival. It’s ten days filled with beautiful music, and a host of other fun-filled activites and surprises. Not to mention, Opera in the Village is a great introduction to the opera experience.
www.calgaryopera.com

GLOBAL FEST
AUGUST 15 – 27, 2016
Elliston Park lights up at this massive fireworks festival, featuring pyrotechnic wizzes from around the world. While you’re waiting for the bombastic show, check out the ethnic food booths, three stages of cultural entertainment, and a market filled with cool wares from around the world. www.globalfest.ca

CALGARY PRIDE
AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 5, 2016
Celebrate Calgary Pride with a rocking stage filled with amazing local and out of town talent, local food trucks, parade, vendors, family zone and many more activities taking place throughout the week. There’s something for everyone!
www.calgarypride.ca

BEAKERHEAD
SEPTEMBER 14 – 18, 2016
What happens when science and art collide? You get an amazing cultural happening that gets attendees’ senses and brains working in overdrive. Beakerhead is comprised of a series of (mostly) free events to appeal to anyone with event the slightest sense of wonder, with this year’s programming including a giant mechanical claw game, scientific street fairs, and a catapult competition.
www.beakerhead.com