What’s New This Weekend?

July 1 to July 3

Canada Day Celebrations

July 1, 11am to 3pm; Canada Day Outdoor Carnival, there will be lots of fun activities in and around Springs Church (924 Heritage Drive) for all ages. Admission is $5 per person (ages three and older) or $20 for a family. The event will include Butterfield Acres petting zoo, face painting, balloon animals, carnival games, an obstacle course and more. Learn more at springschurch.com.

July 1, 12pm to 4pm; Celebrate Canada Day with Calgary Public Library, join the library for a day of fun for all ages, including The Big Borrow Book, where adults and families can get personalized reading recommendations; family storytime featuring a special guest; Indigenous crafts, games and movies; musical performances; and lots of opportunities to be artistic, from zine-making to art therapy. The first 500 people to check out books get a special gift! Learn more at calgarylibrary.ca.

July 1, 10am to 9pm; BownessFest Canada Day Festival, enjoy live entertainment, a free community barbeque, a local vendor market, food trucks, and family fun activities. You can also enter the Canada Day poetry contest. Don’t miss the 20-square-foot birthday cake to celebrate Canada’s 155th birthday. Learn more at bownessfest.ca.

July 1, 9am to 6pm; Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo Canada Day, enjoy special treats, like maple Nanaimo bar sundaes (exclusively available on Canada Day) and Canada Day coloring pages for the little ones. There will be biofact stations for all ages to explore and a photo-op with a larger-than-life beaver to experience. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

July 1; Granary Road Canada Day Kite Fair, check out some fun events where you get to decorate and fly your own kite. Registration required. Learn more at granaryroad.com.

July 1, 10am to 5pm; Canada Day at Heritage Park, you can enjoy the antique midway, train and boat rides and celebrate the old-fashioned way and enjoy some treats from one of the Heritage Park food vendors. The first 1,000 guests will be treated to a mini butter tart and special entertainment. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

July 1, 10:45pm; Lynx Ridge Golf Club Canada Day Fireworks, come check out northwest Calgary’s biggest fireworks display. Plenty of parking available. Learn more at lynxridge.com.

July 1, 11am to 1:30pm; Celebrate Canada Day at Prairie Winds Park, enjoy your friends and family and celebrate by participating in the annual Canada Day celebrations hosted by Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at at Prairie Winds Park. Chow down at a free barbeque and check out displays and educational activities run by various City departments, and numerous fun activities and games for kids. Learn more at celebratecanada.ca.

July 1; Spruce Meadows Canada Day, Spruce Meadows is planning a Canada Day party, while they are hosting the Pan-American horse jumping competition from June 30 to July 3. There will be activities for the whole family throughout the day, shopping and show jumping. Learn more at sprucemeadows.com.

July 1, 10am to 5pm; Canada Day at Studio Bell, Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (NMC), is ready to rock for Canada’s birthday! Explore Canada’s rich musical history with Pay-What-You-Can admission on July 1. NMC will also be offering 50 percent off all NMC memberships purchased on July 1. Visitors can explore Canada’s musical mosaic through new exhibitions, hands-on, family-friendly activities, and pop-up performances across multiple floors. Learn more at studiobell.ca.

City of Calgary Canada Day Celebrations

July 1, 11am to 5pm; St. Patrick’s Island, enjoy family-friendly entertainment and the beautiful St. Patrick’s Island. There will be buskers and performers, face painting, crafts and activities, live music, an Indigenous Artisan Market, and a visit from the Calgary Fire Department. Learn more at calgary.ca.

July 1, 11:30am to 5pm; Fort Calgary, visit Fort Calgary, home to the Indigenous Showcase and Powwow (11:30am to 5pm) and the TD Canada Day Stage with a lineup of all-Canadian musicians (3pm to 11pm). There will also be walking tours starting every hour. Learn more at calgary.ca.

July 1, 11am to 5pm; East Village Street Fair, if you’re in East Village, be sure to stop by the street fair, with over 100 vendors, musicians, and cultural performances, plus you can stop by the beer garden. Learn more at calgary.ca.

July 1, 11am to 5pm; Olympic Plaza, head down to Olympic Plaza for a great day of music and public art. You’ll find ArtsXpeditions, presented by Arts Commons and local music, from jazz to Indigenous, country and more. Plus, it’s a great location to watch the fireworks. Learn more at calgary.ca.

July 1, 11pm to 11:30pm; City Fireworks, end the day with a bang and fireworks off the Calgary Municipal Building. You can listen to a musical soundtrack here. Before the fireworks at 11pm, there will be a blessing by Stoney Nakoda Elder Cindy Daniels, a moment of silence to recognize the children who died and are still missing after being taken to residential schools, and a message from Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. Watch live from anywhere with a view of the Calgary Municipal Building or watch the livestream.

Canada Day Events Outside of Calgary

July 1; Airdrie Canada Day, celebrate Canada Day in Airdrie and start the day off with a parade at 10am on Main Street. Enjoy the day and then head over to Chinook Winds Park at 10:45pm for fireworks. Learn more at airdrie.ca.

July 1; Banff Canada Day, family-friendly events run throughout the day, as the town has transitioned from just a parade to a full day of Canada Day fun. Find live music and special activities all day and enjoy a fireworks finish. Learn more at banff.ca.

July 1, 10am to 5pm; Canada Day at Bar U Ranch, ride into history on a wagon pulled by draft horses to discover the life of a ranching cowboy from the late 1800s at the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site. Try your hand at cowboy skills, learn about the old-style ranching ways, wander through the rustic and authentic buildings or sit around the campfire and listen to old-time tales. Learn more at pc.gc.ca.

July 1, 8am to 11pm; Canada Day in Canmore, experience all that Canmore has to offer for Canada Day. There’s a parade at noon, a fun run, a pancake breakfast, live music, and lots more. Enjoy fireworks at dusk. Learn more at canmore.ca.

July 1, 9am to 11pm; Chestermere Canada Day, enjoy a free pancake breakfast and visit the library for a special celebration. There will be kids’ games, crafts, a trading post, and other entertainment. Try some birthday cake, fireworks, and dancing under the stars. Learn more at chestermere.ca.

July 1, 12pm to 11pm; Cochrane Canada Day, head to Mitford Park for loads of family fun, live entertainment, food trucks, the Half Hitch beer gardens and fireworks. Learn more at cochraneevents.ca.

July 1, gates open at 10am; Canada Day Millarville Races, hosted by the Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society, the Millarville Races have been an annual tradition since 1905. This year’s races include ladies’ sidesaddle, thoroughbred horse racing with Pari-Mutuel Betting, stock races, and pack horse races. Children can also participate in activities such as face painting, a petting zoo, foot races, and more. Learn more at millarvilleracetrack.com.

July 1, 11am to 4pm, Fireworks at 10:45pm; Okotoks Canada Day, join the Canada Day celebration in Okotoks with family fun. Enjoy live music, treats, and family activities. Learn more at okotoks.ca.

July 1, 7:30am to 11pm; Strathmore Canada Day, head to Kinsmen Park for loads of family entertainment, food, live music, and of course, fireworks. The day will start with a daybreak ceremony and a pancake breakfast and continue with all sorts of things that kids love, like a petting zoo, canoe rides, bouncy castles, races, and lots more. Learn more at strathmore.ca.

Other Events

June 28 to July 3, 9am to 3pm; Banff Sunshine Village: Summer Skiing, Banff Sunshine Village has announced that they are reopening for summer skiing from June 28 to July 3. (Weather permitting). Learn more at skibanff.com.

July 1 to 2; Airdrie Pro Rodeo, take in the sights and sounds of the rodeo as well as fun for the kids in a dedicated children’s area. There are also Junior Rodeo events that kids aged five 13 years old can take part in. Learn more at airdrieprorodeo.com.

July 1 to 2, 5pm to 8pm; Zoo Nights, the zoo will be open late over the long weekends throughout summer so you can enjoy your favorite animals and the beautiful zoo grounds a little longer. Whether you make it a date night or you bring the whole family, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

July 2 to 3, Family Fishing Weekends Alberta, family fishing weekends are offered twice a year in Alberta – during the Family Day weekend and during National Fishing Week in the summer. During Alberta’s twice-yearly Family Fishing Weekends, no fishing is licence required. Albertans and visitors are invited to give fishing a try on waterbodies with open fishing seasons (not in national parks). Keep in mind that fishing regulations still apply. Learn more at alberta.ca.

July 3, JazzWalk – JazzYYC Canadian Jazz Festival, JazzYYC’s JazzWalk is world-famous for a fun, family-friendly, safe outdoor music experience. Enjoy live jazz music all day long with food trucks, beer gardens, and some of the best Calgary, and Canadian, musicians around at Jack Long Park. Learn more at jazzyyc.com.

Ongoing

June to August, 5pm to 7pm; City of Calgary Family Golf Nights, get your kids interested in hitting the links this summer with the City of Calgary’s Family Golf Nights! Juniors (ages four to 17) golf for free when accompanied by at least one adult. Learn more at calgary.ca.

Until July 3; YYC Summer Scoopfest; the YYC Summer Scoop Fest is a nine-day ice cream event that celebrates the end of another school year and the start of a great summer. Grab a Summer Passport from participating vendors and start trying all the featured ice cream creations. Collect signatures on your passport for a chance to win prizes from the participating vendors. Learn more at mealsonwheels.com.

Fridays and Saturdays in July, Calaway Park Family Fun Nights, every Friday and Saturday evening in July, you can enjoy an extra two hours at Calaway Park, as they will be open from 10am to 9pm, for the regular price of admission. If you don’t want to play all day, you can visit from 5pm to 9pm for just $21.95 (plus GST) per person! Learn more at calawaypark.com.

Until August 1; Luminarium at Telus Spark, imagine walking through a larger-than-life kaleidoscope or a stained glass window, sprinkle in an immersive soundscape and you have Luminarium. An 11,000-square-foot inflatable structure with 21 mesmerizing rooms, filled with vivid colours that reflect the sun’s natural light off curved walls all within a labyrinthine of tunnels. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.

Until August 28; Rosebud Theatre presents: Songs for a New World, enjoy a soaring musical song cycle about a series of moments in the lives of a startling array of characters who not only survive but thrive in the face of adversity. Rosebud Theatre anchors its 2022 Season with a summer musical all about hope! Learn more at rosebudtheatre.com.

Until August 31, 10am to 8pm; Museum of Failure, the worldwide touring exhibit, The Museum of Failure (MOX), is coming to Canada for the first time. MOX will be popping up in Calgary at Southcentre Mall this summer. This immersive walk-through exhibition showcases a collection of over 130 failed innovations from major brands, including Apple, Amazon, Nintendo, and more. Learn more at showpass.com.

Until September 3; Junior Fishing Clinic at Bow Habitat Station, cast your line into the world of fishing for the first time in an introductory, hands-on clinic designed for families with kids ages four to 12. This clinic will use classroom-based activities, as well as the Fish Hatchery and Discovery Centre aquariums to teach you how to fish responsibly by understanding Alberta’s sportfishing regulations, proper fish handling techniques, identifying different sportfish, and much more. Learn more at shop.albertaparks.ca.

Until September 4, Wagonstage 2022 presents: Bee-trayal, Bee-trayal features bees, wasps and hummingbirds in a hilarious and interactive performance where our creatures vie for the top spot as Pollinator Extraordinaire. Wagonstage Children’s Theatre is part of the University of Calgary’s School of Creative and Performing Arts. Learn more about the dates and times of shows at arts.ucalgary.ca.

Weekends until September 5, 10am to 4pm; Open Aircraft Days at the Hangar Flight Museum, the No. 1 wish visitors have expressed at The Hangar Flight Museum is to be able to sit inside the historical aircraft. Now’s the chance. From June 25 to September 5, there will be Open Aircraft Days on Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays. Knowledgeable staff and volunteers will be available to answer your questions. Learn more at thehangarmuseum.ca.

Until September 16, Inglewood Night Market, a modern market with locally sourced and handmade vendors selling diverse goods; from handmade crafts to vintage clothing, antiques and collectibles and artisan eats at 10 Avenue and 10 Street SE.

Until September 30, #YYCBlockParty – Roller Rink on the Boulevard, Block Party is back for the third summer, bringing the same vibrant energy to Deerfoot City with a new twist – say hello to the Roller Rink on The Boulevard. Dig out your vintage roller skates (or rent some vibrant wheels) and live your best retro ‘70s summer life. Get your tickets at the door. Learn more at deerfootcity.com.

Ongoing until October 1; Bow Habitat Kids Can Catch Trout Pond, the Bow Habitat Station’s Kids Can Catch Trout Pond is open for the season. This pond is stocked with rainbow trout raised in the fish hatchery for you to catch and release. Visit bowhabitat.alberta.ca for more information.

Until October 26; Dinosaurs Awakened at The Calgary Zoo, get ready to marvel at the sights and sounds of these magnificent life-like creatures and see for yourself what Alberta might have looked like when dinosaurs reigned supreme. Entry included in admission to the Zoo. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

Until October 27; National Music Centre’s Jam Club, join the National Music Centre’s free after-school Jam Club program. Youth ages thirteen to nineteen are invited to jam, practice their skills, and explore their creative potential, all while making new friends, every Thursday at Studio Bell for free. Students can drop in at any time between 3pm and 6pm and there is no obligation to attend week to week. Snacks, drinks, and pizza are provided. Learn more at studiobell.ca/after-school-jam-club.

Visit Gasoline Alley at Heritage Park is buffed up and ready to shine under the bright lights as it opens for another season. Discover highlights from the vintage pick-up truck collection, play games, and visit with members of the Rocky Mountain Model Club.

Visit the Glenbow at The Edison, the satellite location of the popular museum at The Edison building in downtown Calgary is now open. Best of all – admission is free for everyone, thanks to the support of the Calgary Downtown Association. A timed ticket is required for entry. To reserve your ticket, visit glenbow.org.