It’s almost summertime! That means fun in the sun and some great festivals and events happening in the city. The people of Calgary love a good event, and there is everything from community block parties all the way to city-wide celebrations happening all summer. Here are some events we're excited about!

 

Calgary Stampede

The entire city dons cowboy boots and a white cowboy hat for this summer celebration of all things western! This massive festival, dubbed The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth has everything from midway rides to shopping to music festivals and some of the craziest food you’d ever think to try. Of course there’s the high-paying rodeo, the evening shows, the famous parade, Indigenous events, and other agricultural events. It’s one of the biggest festivals of the year, and you won’t want to miss it.

Get all the details and tickets for this year’s Calgary Stampede here.

 

Calgary Folk Music Festival

This music festival has been around for over 45 years! It is one of Canada’s flagship, trailblazing music festivals. It's been held annually since 1980 at the beautiful Prince’s Island Park, right near downtown Calgary. It started as a small affair, but now it’s a 4-day music extravaganza under the summer sun. The festival brings in artists from all around the world, making it a great place to find something you like, no matter your taste in music. This year, we’re excited to see performances from Of Monsters and Men, Catherine MacLellan, and, of course, Corb Lund. We’re also looking forward to discovering new favourites.

Get all the details and tickets for this year’s Calgary Folk Music Festival, here.

 

Calgary Pride

Pride week in the city is a fun time to celebrate love, resilience, and take part in some fantastic events. The Pride Parade is always a highlight of the week, and it will be a popular attraction again this year. New for this year, the festival won’t be in a specific location but will be a tapestry of events throughout the city. There will be performances, panels, markets, and more, with each event contributing to the larger celebration of queer arts and community life. The organizers have categorized the events into “threads,” with everything from nightlife & performance events to two-spirit arts & ceremony events to family & youth celebrations. It’s all laid out in detail on their website. In a time when there’s so much hate and uncertainty in the world, the need for love has never been greater. We hope to see you celebrating love at one of the many great Pride events this year.

Get details on this year’s events, including the parade, here.

A Long Dramatic Pause

This isn’t a large festival, but the description of this live performance intrigues us. It “explores strategies of resistance against ultranationalism and far-right politics through the languages of photography and theatre. Performed by Cindy Ansah and co-developed with artist Erdem Taşdelen, the narrative comprises twelve dramatic scenes that describe a photographic image, never showing it directly but rather bringing it to life through re-enactment and visual analysis.” We feel this performance art is so needed right now, and we’re looking forward to experiencing it at Contemporary Calgary. This performance has specific dates, so make sure to check it out and get your tickets ahead to ensure your space.

Get the details, dates, and tickets, here. Also – be sure to check out what else is on at Contemporary Calgary this summer!

 

There are so many things happening this summer, from theatre to music to art and more. These are just a few of the events that have us excited. Make sure to check out our events page to see what’s on in the city!