What’s Up This Week?

May 19 to 22

May 18 to 21; DIY Theatre Presents: Each & Every Song, a distinctive one-woman show, written and performed by Canadian songstress, Ellen Braun at 1206 20 Ave SE. Each & Every Song takes you through the journey of one woman who, against all odds, continues to lift her songs out of her heart and into the world. Part musical, part drama, this 90-minute production was inspired by Ellen’s journey to rediscover and honor her Personal Legend. Learn more at diytheatre.org.

May 18 to 19, 7:30pm; Marvel Studios Presents: Black Panther in Concert, in 2018, Marvel Studios’ Black Panther quickly became a global sensation and cultural phenomenon, showing a new dimension of what superhero films could be. Now you can relive the excitement of T’Challa becoming king and battling Killmonger all while the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra performs Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar®-winning score live to picture. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

May 19, 6pm to 9pm; Taste of Crossroads, Taste of the Market will give the community a chance to sample the delicious and diverse cuisine available at Crossroads Market. Featuring live entertainment from local performers including Liquor Mountain, Kristian Alexandrov and Shannon Gaye. Learn more at crossroadsmarket.ca.

May 19 to 21; Opening Weekend of Calgary Farmyard, looking for the perfect way to celebrate Spring in Alberta? Spring is the perfect time to meet newly born barn babies and explore all the fun of being at the Farmyard. The cutest barnyard animals, plus hours of great attractions to keep you entertained for hours. Learn more at calgaryfarmyard.com.

May 19 to 21; Otafest, Calgary’s volunteer-run, non-profit, all-ages Japanese anime and pop culture festival featuring anime screenings, an exhibitor hall, community panels, cosplay contests, voice actors, concerts, and so much more at Calgary Telus Convention Centre. Learn more at otafest.com.

May 20, 11am; Cineplex Family Favourites: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, visit participating Cineplex theatres near you and watch a favorite family film each week for only $2.99. Learn more at cineplex.com.

May 20, 2pm; Fear or Freedom Workshop Project, the workshop will consist of a reading of The Writers Circle, which is based on the journey of numerous women from different backgrounds and what they have done to harness their fear or encourage their freedom at Evergreen Theatre. Learn more at broadwayworld.com.

May 20, 2pm to 10pm; Moby We Care Music Festival, come enjoy free live music, DJs, photobooths, food and beer gardens and more at Fort Calgary. Proceeds go to The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. Learn more at getmoby.com.

May 20 to 21, 11am and 2pm; Toys R Us Activity: Pitter Patter Pets Demo, gather your young animal fans and check out the cumulative cuteness of the Wiggle Jiggle Dachshund and the Puppy and Kitty Friendship Pack. Kids will fall in love with these adorable, interactive (and mess-free) pets. Learn more at toysrus.ca.

May 20 to 21; Stretch Fest, check out Stretch Fest, a family-friendly fundraising festival that will take place at the Crossroads Market. Calgary’s community of entertainers will be donating their time and services to provide free balloon animals, face painting, magic, and more for families to enjoy. The event is in honor of Michael Stretch, a balloon artist and a regular busker and entertainer at all the markets and large-scale events in Calgary. Funds raised will go to Canadian Blood Services Organ and Tissue Donation. Learn more at secure3.convio.net.

May 20 to 21; YYCaesarfest, we created it, let’s celebrate! Come out and sample Caesars from across Calgary, then vote for Calgary’s best Caesar at the Big Four Building. This event will kick off Calgary Caesar week where your favorite venues will showcase their Caesar and a portion of the proceeds will go to a charity of their choice. Learn more at calgarycaesarfest.com.

May 20 to 22; Calaway Park Opening Weekend, 32 family-friendly rides! High-energy entertainment! Tempting treats! Calaway Park has something for everyone. As Western Canada’s Largest Outdoor Family Amusement Park, Calaway Park has been offering affordable, family- friendly fun and entertainment for over three decades. Learn more at calawaypark.com.

May 20 to 22; Heritage Park Opening Weekend, be one of the first to check out Heritage Park this season. Expect to see and do more than ever before when you visit. Take a ride on the train, pan for gold, explore a mine shaft and chat with one of the many interpreters, every visit is a new experience. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

May 20 to 22; Opening Weekend of Cobb’s Adventure Park, farm fun for city kids! It is home to over 40 different activities, including Bouncy World, Euro Bungy, Zorbz, Pedal Carts, a Tractor Ride, a Rope Maze, giant puzzles and games, mini golf, and much more. Don’t forget to visit the wallabies, too. Learn more at cobbsadventurepark.com.

May 20 to 22; Skyline’s Downhill Karting Opening Weekend, a fun, fast-paced family activity that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy at Winsport. Skyline’s Downhill Karting experience is a unique wheeled gravity ride that provides riders full control over their descent on a purpose-built track. Learn more at downhillkarting.ca.

May 21, 2 to 4pm; Michael’s Make Break: Painted Garden Rocks, visit participating stores and make a make a painted rock, perfect for your garden or yourself! You can use their designs or make one all your own. This event is free, and all supplies are included. Learn more at canada.michaels.com.

May 21, 5pm; Cavalry FC vs. Atlético Ottawa, check out Canada’s professional soccer league at Spruce Meadows. Learn more at ticketmaster.ca.

Ongoing

Opening May 15; Bow Habitat Kids Can Catch Trout Pond, the Bow Habitat Station’s Kids Can Catch Trout Pond opens in mid-May and is stocked with rainbow trout in the fish hatchery for you to catch and release. Learn more at bowhabitat.alberta.ca.

Until May 20; Workshop Theatre presents “The Odd Couple (Female Version)”, Unger and Madison are at it again! Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is, in Neil Simon’s hilarious contemporary comic classic: the female version of The Odd Couple at Pumphouse Theatre. Instead of the poker party that begins the original version, Ms. Madison has invited the girls over for an evening of Trivial Pursuit. The Pidgeon sisters have been replaced by the two Costazuela brothers. But the hilarity remains the same. Learn more at workshoptheatre.ca.

Until May 22; Calgary Reads Big Book Sale, at the 19th CalgaryReads Big Book Sale at Calgary Curling Club, discover more than 150,000 gently used books of every genre imaginable – and help more children experience the life-changing joy of reading. Learn more at bigbooksale.ca.

Until May 22; The Living Sea – Fragile Beauty Exhibition at the Glenbow, an exhibition featuring the work of Prince Hussain Aga Khan, celebrates the beauty and magic of the ocean, testifying to some of the most enthralling and surprising encounters the photographer has experienced under the surface. Learn more at glenbow.org.

Until May 27; Cannonball! A Festival of Youth Theatre, seven youth-produced one-act plays performed over two weeks presented by Calgary Young People’s Theatre. You heard that right – every show is directed, written, designed, stage managed, produced, and performed by youth ages ten to 19. There are also have a handful of special guests, including performances from Improv Intensives and a Staged Reading Series of new works that might see the stage next year. Learn more at cypt.ca.

Until May 27; Cottagers and Indians, in this funny and fierce play, an Indigenous man, Arthur Copper, has taken it upon himself to repopulate the lakes of his home territory with wild rice—known amongst the Anishnawbe as Manoomin. The local non-Indigenous cottagers, Maureen Poole in particular, are NOT impressed. She feels the plant interferes with her favourite lake activities and is an eyesore that brings down the property value. Based on real-life events in Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes region, the story infuses contemporary conflicts between Indigenous and non-Indigenous sensibilities with Drew Hayden Taylor’s characteristic warmth and humour at Vertigo Theatre. Learn more at lunchboxtheatre.com.

Until June 3; Wedding Singer: 1999, we’ve all attended a wedding or two. Which is why we could all relate to the classic movie about a 1980’s wedding singer who finally found a love of his own. By the 1990’s, the wedding singer has had lots of practice and is often called on to sing at the biggest weddings of the year. But what happens when he must sing at, what everyone says will surely be, the wedding of the millennium? Oh, and the millennium bride just happens to be his daughter. Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Until June 3; Sleeping Beauty at Stage West Theatre, when Prince Princely shows up, Princess Gillian thinks she has found the love of her life. But, a jealous witch has other plans. When a sleeping spell, meant for the Princess, goes wrong, craziness ensues and no one is safe from catching some extra zzz’s! Based on the classic tale of the same name, this comedic adventure with a modern twist is sure to entertain audiences of all ages. Learn more at stagewestcalgary.com.

Until June 3, Jubilations Junior Presents: Super Duper Mario Musical, who knew that those Mario Bros could sing and dance? Well, they can do that and a whole lot more when they come to life on the Jubilations Junior stage. Can Mario save the kingdom? Or will it be game over for the good guys? With Mario and Luigi, Princess Peach and Bowser… the gang’s all here so you should be too. Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Until June 3; Storybook Theatre Presents: Disney’s Newsies The Musical, based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs Carrying the Banner, Seize the Day, and Santa Fe, Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience. Learn more at storybooktheatre.org.

Until June 4; NEVERMORE: The Imaginary Life & Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe, Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, battled addiction, tragedy and poverty, all while creating some of the most influential works in genre fiction. Bizarrely beautiful and whimsically witty, NEVERMORE uses haunting song, poetic storytelling, and surreal imagery to explore the events that shaped Poe’s career and ignited his lifelong battle with “visions dark and sinister” at The Playhouse. Learn more at catalysttheatre.ca.

Until June 17; FreshFaces | Invitational Group Exhibition, Newzones Gallery announces the third edition of the invitational exhibition, “FreshFaces.” “FreshFaces” is a curated exhibition which brings together select artists from North America for a one-time group showing. Surveying each artist’s practice in depth, “FreshFaces” will analyze the ways in which the artists challenge both the traditional use of materials and formal aesthetics through painting, photography, mixed media and sculpture, resulting in a stimulating and fresh view of “New to Newzones” and “New to Calgary” talent. Learn more at newzones.com.

Until June 25; Stage West Presents: 9 to 5 The Musical, based on the seminal 1980 hit movie, set in the late 70s this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic. Learn more at stagewestcalgary.com.

Until August 27; Prairie Persuasion: Communication and Propaganda in Southern Alberta 1860-1950, visit Gasoline Alley Museum at Heritage Park to learn about the darker side to propaganda, one which was aimed at different groups of people using discrimination and violence. Propaganda changed the shape of society as we know it today. Discover the power of propaganda for yourself, while you can, by visiting this new, temporary exhibit. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

Until September 15; Inglewood Night Market 2023, the Inglewood Night Market is a modern market with locally sourced and handmade vendors selling diverse goods; from handmade crafts to vintage clothing, antiques and collectibles, artisan eats and more. Learn more at inglewoodnightmarket.ca.

Until October; Sacred Defenders of the Universe at TELUS Spark Science Centre, a vibrant floor-to-ceiling journey inside a graphic novel that follows four Indigenous superheroes as they seek to bring back the balance of earth between humility and respect for the land, and the excessive destruction of human ego. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.

Mobile Adventure Playgrounds. Join The City of Calgary for a self-directed, drop-in program that uses loose parts and natural materials to inspire active and creative outdoor play, and connect people, young and old, to nature. Visit calgary.ca/free for locations and details.

Calgary AfterSchool. Calgary AfterSchool offers free afterschool programs across Calgary. The programs are offered two to three days a week at various recreation facilities, community centres and community-based partner agencies. Visit calgary.ca/afterschool for locations and details.