What’s Up This Weekend?

September 15 to 17

September 14 to 16; Alberta Ballet welcomes Ballet Hispánico in Doña Perón, performed by New York-based Ballet Hispánico and with live music, Doña Perón has delighted audiences across North America since its 2022 premier. Alberta Ballet is pleased to welcome guest company Ballet Hispanico in Doña Perón, a complex and moving portrait of Eva “Evita” Peron, Argentina’s most controversial first lady to the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Learn more at albertaballet.com.

September 14 to 17; Beakerhead: 10 years of Weird, this year’s festival is full of immersive experiences and artistic performances that illuminate science, technology and engineering. Plus, a little bit of pyrotechnics. The four-day, free event takes place across three iconic Calgary locations: Contemporary Calgary, Millennium Park, and TELUS Spark Science Centre. Learn more at beakerhead.com.

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 mid-September; WildScapes at the Calgary Zoo, this summer, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo will be taken over by larger-than-life animal topiaries. This one-of-a-kind summer garden experience can’t be found anywhere else in Western Canada, and will only be available for three short months. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

September 15, 11am, Cineplex Family Favourites: Chicken Run, visit participating Cineplex theatres near you and watch a favorite family film each week for only $2.99. Learn more at cineplex.com.

September 15; Garden Noir at The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo (Adults Only), step into a world of elegance, indulgence and mystery at Garden Noir, the zoo’s most exclusive event of the season. The garden vistas of the ENMAX Conservatory will be draped in sultry deep hues of noir, with lights casting a magical glow over the surroundings. A feast for the senses, this sumptuous affair promises decadent delights and culinary encounters designed to satisfy the most discerning palate. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

September 15, 6pm; Rattle the Bones Music Festival, go over to Capitol Hill Community Association for part two of the Rattle the Bones Festival. This is a family-friendly, free festival that is part of the Alberta Culture Days program. There will be playground fun, beer gardens, food, kids’ entertainment and more. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.

September 15, 7 to 11pm; Carvivàle at Heritage Park, experience a magical night out in Calgary with the enchantment of Carnivàle, the biggest fundraiser of the year! As the sun sets, Heritage Park comes alive with mesmerizing performances, fortune tellers, games, rides, gourmet treats, cocktails and more. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

September 15 to 16; WildDogs International Screendance Festival, W&M Physical Theatre is proud to host the fourth edition of WildDogs International Screendance Festival, a festival of international screendance works presented at the Globe Cinema and online. Over the course of the weekend, WildDogs will present four in-person programs and an additional three programs online. The full lineup includes 40 short films and features from over 20 countries. Learn more at wilddogs.ca/tickets.

September 15 to 17; Alberta Star Party 2023, get together with other astronomers at a camping event where you can enjoy speakers during the day and the sky during the night at Starland Recreation Area. The Annual Alberta Star Party is hosted by the Calgary Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Learn more at calgary.rasc.ca.

September 15 to 17; Mountain View Arts Festival, this is Mountain View County’s largest festival of its kind. Art lovers see Didsbury Alberta come alive with all that is arts and culture in our region, including dancers, storytellers, musicians and songwriters, handicrafts, painters, potters, carvers – you name it, if it’s artsy, it’ll be here. Learn more at mountainviewartsfestival.ca.

September 16, 9am to 3pm; Holy Spirit CWL Used Book Sale, stock up on gently used books covering all subjects and genres, including children’s book at Holy Spirit Church. Funds raised provide scholarships and support educational programs. All books are 50 cents each. Learn more at calgarycwl.ca.

September 16, 9:30am; Run for Childhood Cancer, take part in the Gold’s 10th Annual Run for Childhood Cancer at Calgary Peace Park. The event starts in the morning with a breakfast or snacks, a run (10km or 5Km) or family fun walk (2km), and then lots of family-friendly entertainment such as bouncy castles, face painting, crafts, magicians and artists dressed up as favorite childhood characters. Learn more at believeinthegold.ca.

September 16, 10am to 12pm; Haskayne Legacy Park Grand Opening, join the City of Calgary and partners at the official grand opening event of Haskayne Legacy Park, the city’s newest 126-acre regional park. Enjoy live music, a free pancake breakfast, speeches, Indigenous educational activities, wagon rides, display tables, park tours and more. Learn more at calgary.ca.

September 16, 10am to 2pm; 30 Years of Helping Wildlife, the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) celebrated 30 years of helping wildlife this year. Over 36,000 injured and orphaned wild animals have been cared for by AIWC during this time. Come celebrate at cSPACE! Learn more at aiwc.ca.

September 16, 10am to 4pm; Marda Loop MADE SeptemberFest Outdoor/Indoor Festival, shop Marda Loop MADE’s Outdoor/Indoor Festival showcasing 85 Alberta artisans, makers and foodies at the Marda Loop Communities Association Hall. 

September 16, 10am to 5pm, Grand Trunk Festival, experience enchantment at the Grand Trunk Festival. This extraordinary one-day celebration commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the West Hillhurst Community Association. Step back in time to the 1940s with a delightful fashion tribute. Embrace camaraderie, forge new connections, and immerse yourself in the boundless creativity that defines the flourishing community in Calgary. Learn more at grandtrunkfestival.com.

September 16, 11am and 2pm; Toys R Us Activities: Kinetic Sand Demo Day, bring the family to experience the super-sensory satisfaction. Staff will have the Kinetic Sand Sandbox Set and ready to go – a fan fave with fun moulds to make and break. Learn more at toysrus.ca.

September 16, 3 pm; Cavalry FC vs. Vancouver FC, visit Spruce Meadows to see Calgary’s soccer team take on the Vancouver FC. Learn more at cavalryfc.canpl.ca.

September 16, 3:30 to 6pm; El Salvador Independence Day Festival, celebrate 203 years of El Salvador with a DJ, dancing, artists, face painting and more at Eau Claire Market. Learn more at allevents.in/calgary.

September 16, 4 to 10pm; 4th Street Night Market, Calgary’s hippest night market located in the heart of Mission. Visit the lively main street neighborhood of 4th Street for food, fun, local finds and friends. Learn more at 4th-street-night-market.myshopify.com.

September 16, 5pm; Queen of Canada The Pageant 2023 Coronation Night, get ready for the most glamorous event of the year – Queen of Canada The Pageant 2023. Join for an unforgettable evening filled with beauty, talent and excitement at Genesis Centre. Be prepared to witness the enchantment as stunning contestants from all over Canada compete for the prestigious title of Queen of Canada. Learn more at allevents.in.

September 16, 5 to 8pm; ‘La Serenissima’:  KOAC Harry Kiyooka 2023 Memorial Fundraiser, an enchanting Venetian-themed evening of art, live classical music, spritz drinks, antipasti and convivial company in honor of Harry Kiyooka at Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.

September 16, 5:30 to 11pm; BrazilFest, experience the celebration of the summer with the Brazilian Community Association of Alberta (BCAAB). With Brazilian music, dancing, foods, crafts and activities at the Chinese Cultural Centre. Learn more at brazilianassociation.org.

September 16, 7:30pm; Pictures at an Exhibition, be transported by the Calgary Phil on a journey through orchestral sound. Music Director Rune Bergmann is your guide in Modest Mussorgsky’s splendid instrumental showcase, Pictures at an Exhibition, as well as Ludwig van Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3 — a tale of darkness to light. Plus, the premiere of a new work by composer John Estacio celebrating the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus’s 60th anniversary. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

September 16 to 17; Granary Road Garlic Fest, are you ready for a stinking good time with your friends, family and fellow foodies? Enjoy all the tasty garlic-y treats that vendors have to offer such as garlic bread, pickled garlic, garlic pizza and more. Learn all about how garlic has played a major part in folklore, how garlic is grown/harvested, and how it is braided. Learn more at granaryroad.com/garlicfest.

September 16 to 17; Saskatoon Farm Annual Fall Fair, featuring 90 local vendors who make, bake or create quality and unique. There will also be local artists and musicians performing all day in partnership with Cowboy Trail Records straight from Black Diamond. Learn more at saskatoonfarm.com.

September 16 to 17; Culture Connect Festival 2023, a festival that celebrates Culture Days in Canada. The festival embraces multiculturalism and anti-racism in Canada. The event will feature various multicultural performances and fun interactive activities at Olympic Plaza. Learn more at culturedays.ca.

September 17, 10am to 12pm; Terry Fox Run Calgary, registration, merchandise sales, entertainment and more opens at 9am with the run officially kicking off at 10am. The scenic route will loop behind Fort Calgary and through St. Patrick’s Island. It is a 3.3km loop with markers and turnaround points. Learn more at run.terryfox.ca/28661.

September 17, 10am to 5pm; Orange Shirt Beaded Pin Workshop, join Métis artisan Janis Laboucane to learn the basics in beading and create your very own Orange Shirt Beaded Pin at Fort Calgary. All materials are supplied and yours to take home if you don’t finish the pin during the workshop. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.

September 17, 1 to 4pm; Sports Swap and Yard Sale, join for the Edgemont Community Association’s Sports Swap and Yard Sale. Clean out your closet and storage rooms and bring your old or outgrown gear. You can swap, buy, or trade gear with others at the event. This is the perfect place to get new sports gear for your kids. Learn more at edgemont.ab.ca.

September 17, 1 to 4pm; Free Block Party at University District, University District is hosting a free Block Party featuring live music, activities and more. The Block Party will include a variety of fun family activities, such as face painting, balloon twisting, giant inflatables, roaming performers and a LEGO building booth. Learn more at myuniversitydistrict.ca/blockparty.

Ongoing

Until September 23; Summer on 17th, returning for its sophomore season along with all of your favorite events. From movies in the park to live bands, theatrical performances and fitness classes, the 17th Ave Business Improvement Area is pulling out all the stops to ensure this summer is epic. Along with last year’s crowd favorites, there’s also tons of exciting new editions for 2023, so clear your calendars, because your summer plans are officially set. Learn more at 17thave.ca/summer.

Until September 24; Alberta Biodiversity Festival, developed through a partnership between the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo and the Ministry of Alberta Environment and Parks and their Inglewood facility Bow Habitat Station, the festival will highlight the rich biodiversity in our province and what can be done for these diverse ecosystems. Learn more at springbankpark.com.

Until September 24; Gotta Minute Film Festival, wait for it! Watch for it! The Gotta Minute Film Festival is coming soon! Gotta Minute is Western Canada’s first Film Festival for Commuters. Selected films will be shown on Pattison Onestop screens in Edmonton and Calgary (such as the Edmonton LRT and the Calgary Ctrain), in select Edmonton Public Library and Calgary Public Library locations, in the lobby of the Metro Cinema and online. Learn more at fava.ca.

Until September 30; Alberta Culture Days, this event will feature hundreds of free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to discover their inner artist, experience their heritage, and celebrate what it means to be Albertan. Learn more at alberta.ca/alberta-culture-days.

Until October; 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 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.

Until October 1; YYC Pizza Fest, an annual event with charity, community, and pizza crusts in mind. Each year, local participating restaurants craft an original recipe in a competition to be lauded Calgary’s best pizza. Learn more at yycpizzafest.com.

Until October 1; Loose Moose Theatre Presents: Snow White, the Loose Moose Theatre For Kids is a truly magical experience for children four to ten years old, as well as fun and entertaining for parents. Learn more at loosemoose.com.

Saturdays until October 7; Millarville Farmers’ Market, the people behind the tables at the Millarville Farmers’ Market are the real deal. They are the growers, farmers, makers, bakers, and artists. Ask them about their farm, their art, their love of what they do. Learn more at millarvilleracetrack.com.

Until October 8; Cirque Du Soleil’s KOOZA, KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil that combines two circus traditions — acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor at Stampede Park. Learn more at cirquedusoleil.com.

Until October 8; Theatre Calgary Presents The Mousetrap, on a dark and snowy night, seven strangers find themselves trapped in a remote guesthouse. The next morning, the snowed-in guests are joined by a police sergeant who brings news of a grisly murder in London. To the guests’ horror, he reveals that the killer may be in their midst. Can you put the pieces together and solve the murder before the final curtain? Learn more at theatrecalgary.com.

Until October 9; Halloweekends at Calaway Park, stroll through Hallotown… if you dare! Is it scary? No, it’s friendly. Dress up as your favorite family-friendly character and enjoy a day of fall fun! It’s a spooktacular good time for the whole family. Learn more at calawaypark.com.

Until October 14; Art Exhibition | Anda Kubis “Languorous,” Newzones Gallery is pleased to present “Languorous”; a solo exhibition of work by Canadian contemporary painter Anda Kubis. Learn more at gallerieswest.ca.

Until October 21; Jubilations Dinner Theatre Presents Crocodile Rock: The Legend Of Elton John, he’s one of the all-time great rock legends, with hit after hit all across the world. And now the story of the Rocketman is getting the Jubilations Dinner Theatre twist. Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Until October 21; Jubilations Junior Dinner Theatre Presents The Secret Life of Trolls, Melanie’s apartment seems like a normal place to live, but when she’s gone to work, the Trolls come out to play! While the Trolls are having a fun day full of music, a mysterious package gets dropped in the living room… that’s moving on its own? What’s in the package? Will their secret life be exposed? Will Melanie’s cat threaten their very existence? Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Until November 12; Frank Ferrante In An Evening With Groucho, award-winning actor and director Frank Ferrante ignites his PBS, New York and London acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in this fast paced 90 minutes of hilarity. The two-act comedy consists of the funniest Groucho one-liners, anecdotes and songs including “Hooray for Captain Spalding,” and “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady.” The audience literally becomes part of the show as Ferrante ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style at Stage West (727 42 Avenue SE). Learn more at eveningwithgroucho.com.