What’s Up This Weekend?

March 17 to 19

March 17, 6:30pm to 11pm; Shamrocks & Shenanigans (Adults only), Heritage Park is bringing back this iconic event at Gasoline Alley featuring Calgary’s favorite Celtic band, Cabot’s Crossing. Enjoy a feast of classic Irish dishes and some upscale takes on Irish pub classics. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

Until March 17, 7pm; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Small Time Theatre proudly presents the Broadway musical hit, Joseph and Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Come and enjoy your favorite songs from the musical with our children’s ensemble cast, representing communities from all over southeast Calgary. Immerse yourself in the imagination and wonder of live theatre. Learn more at smalltimetheatre.ca/buy-tickets.

March 17 to 18; Calgary Farmer’s Market: St. Patty’s Day, organizers are filling the market with music, dancing, fun, and food for the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Visit both the south and west markets for free live entertainment. Learn more at calgaryfarmersmarket.ca.

March 18, 6pm to 11:30pm; Calgary Roller Skate: Stayin’ Alive, roller skating is staying alive in Calgary thanks to a group aptly named Calgary Roller Skate. Calgarians can join them for a groovy time roller-skating with lights, music, and 15000 square feet of wood floor at the JVC Center. Learn more at calgaryrollerskate.com.

March 18, 7:30pm; The Calgary Philharmonic Presents: New World/New Generation, hear the next generation of orchestral musicians in this thrilling collaborative performance featuring one of Canada’s leading youth orchestras side-by-side with the Calgary Phil. The concert opens with Vincent Ho’s Fanfare, then the world premiere of a new work by Calgary’s Allan Gordon Bell. Antonin Dvorák’s spectacular New World Symphony caps off the evening. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

March 18, 7pm; Where will this train take us at The GRAND, the Hungarian National Assembly (Hungarian Parliament) has marked 2020 as the Year of National Unity. In the spirit of this “national togetherness” the Canadian Hungarian folk dance groups from coast to coast, joined forces and formed the Togetherness Dance Ensemble. The result is an hour-long dance performance that tells the history of the Hungarian nation from the 1848 Revolution and Freedom Fight to present days through an art composition involving dance, music, and poetry. Learn more at thegrandyyc.ca.

March 18, 7:30pm to 9:30pm; Cantare Children’s Choir Presents: Sing Spring In, an uplifting performance of powerful music presented with beauty and artistry by our award-winning ensembles. The repertoire for this concert is chosen from the classical choral tradition that also embraces innovative contemporary works, offering an unparalleled experience for all at Knox United Church. Learn more at cantarechildrenschoir.org/new-events.

March 18, 5pm to 9pm; Wild About Art at the Calgary Zoo (Adults only), ​art, wine and food stations all in one night. Support local artists and appreciate how nature inspires us all. Unique art of all kinds – painting, photography, sculptures, chalk, music, artistic performances and more will be paired with food and drinks throughout the zoo. Many artists will be demonstrating their skills live and welcome your questions and comments. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

March 18, 11am to 4pm; Highfield Food & Beverage Market Fest, experience the food, beverage and market finds with entertainment at the Highfield Food & Beverage Market Fest at City & Country Urban Winery (544 38A Avenue Southeast). Learn more at eventbrite.ca.

March 18 to 19, 1pm; The Kitty Cabaret, this engaging cabaret of stories is co-hosted and emceed by Jen Bain and her puppet Louis the Cat – it’s a purrfectly delightful afternoon full of stories, puppets, masks, and music at the BMO Theatre Shane Homes at YMCA at Rocky Ridge. Learn more at ymcacalgary.org.

March 18 to 19; Calgary Golf Show, the Professional Golfers’ Association of Alberta organizes two consumer golf shows every year, one in Edmonton and one in Calgary at the BMO Centre. These shows include an indoor driving with some of the industry’s top suppliers, including PING, Callaway and Cobra Puma Golf, along with a Clearance Center that is clearing out clubs, clothing and accessories. Learn more at albertagolfshows.com/calgary-show.

March 18 to 19; The Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show, over 200 exhibitors offering the latest camping gear, paddle sports, outdoor clothing, scuba diving and ultimate adventure travel destinations at the BMO Centre. Learn more at outdooradventureshow.ca/calgary-visitor.

March 18 to 19; Alberta Bike Show, the show promises to be an incredible day out for cyclists. Explore the latest bikes and special offers from some of the best cycling brands and retailers, ride our test track, enjoy high-flying action at the Alberta Jump Jam at the BMO Centre. Learn about the hottest cycling destinations, meet pro riders, learn from the experts, plus much more. Learn more at abbikeshow.com.

March 19, 2pm to 4pm; Michaels Make Break: Pom-Pom Bunny Art, Michaels runs Make Break, for kids of all ages to enjoy crafting fun. With some of the crafts, an additional purchase will add fun to it, but all supplies are included for these free crafts. Learn more at canada.michaels.com.

March 19, 3pm; Mister Mojo Concert for Kids, Mister Mojo is an award-winning singer/songwriter and performer from Victoria, B.C. who frequently travels throughout Western Canada. He is coming to the Banff Trail Community Association with his catchy songs that appeal to kids and adults alike, so get your tickets for this affordable family concert. Learn more at mistermojo.ca.

Ongoing

Until March 18; Workshop Theatre Presents: A Murder is Announced, an announcement in the local paper states the time and place when a murder is to occur in Miss Blacklock’s Victorian house. The victim is not one of the house’s several occupants, but an unexpected and unknown visitor. What follows is a classic Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, a second death and a determined inspector grimly following the case’s twists and turns. Fortunately, Miss Marple is on hand to provide the solution – at some risk to herself – in a dramatic final confrontation. Learn more about the event at the Pumphouse Theare at eventbrite.ca.

Until March 19; Winsport Tube Park, the perfect activity for a day with family and friends. WinSport’s Tube Park is one of the fastest of its kind in Western Canada. Learn more at winsport.ca.

Until March 19; Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo – Penguin Walk, the 2023 Penguin Walk marks the 11th year of the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo’s penguin walk. During the winter months, the king penguin colony heads out on zoo grounds for a daily enrichment walk to keep their brains and bodies healthy and visitors get to experience the fun. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

Until March 19; Bombay Black, why would a blind man visit an exotic dancer? Set in present-day India, Bombay Black is a powerful love story of vengeance, betrayal, and seduction. Apsara resides in Bombay with her mother Padma, making a living by selling erotic dances to wealthy men. When Kamal, a blind man, arrives for an appointment, the lives of Apsara and her embittered mother are altered as their complex and brutal past rises to the surface. Mythic, brave and featuring a remarkable poetic text, bold theatrical imagery and contemporary Bombay bar dancing, Bombay Black is a thought-provoking work by one of Canada’s leading playwriting voices. Learn about this performance at the Martha Cohen Theatre more at albertatheatreprojects.com.

Until March 25; Alberta Ballet Presents: Giselle, you will be awe-struck by the emotional power and inspiring choreography when you join Giselle, a young peasant girl whose secret relationship unravels the fabric of her idyllic village with a deeper deception at play that drives her to madness. Your journey will continue as trust and betrayal twist the plot in the other-worldly realm of Act 2, when the ethereal Willis seek their revenge. Learn more at albertaballet.com.

Until March 25; Jubilations Theatre Presents: Mama Mio, a singing and dancing sensation with music from ABBA, the most popular band of the disco era! With so many movies and musicals celebrating ABBA’s music, Jubilations is taking all the best of the ABBA music and movies and putting them into one classic Jubilations Dinner Theatre parody romp, Mamma Mio. Learn more at calgary.jubilations.ca.

Until March 25; Jubilations Theatre Presents: Freakish Friday, some people don’t like Mondays… but for this family, Fridays are the days you really gotta be worried about. Mom and daughter just can’t seem to see eye to eye. Why can’t each of them really understand what the other is going through? Well… they may want to be careful what they wish for! Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Until March 26; YYC Food & Drink Experience, ten days of delectable dining! This is Calgary’s premiere culinary festival, celebrating the city’s exciting food and beverage scene, along with the talented chefs, sommeliers, bartenders, and local producers who contribute to the city’s culinary culture at various locations. Learn more at foodanddrinkexp.com/calgary.

Until March 31; In Full Bloom: A celebration of artwork by and about women, ATB’s Branch for Arts and Culture (BFAC) is hosting an awe-inspiring exhibit titled “In Full Bloom” curated by Calgary-based multimedia artist, Miriam Fabijan. The art display includes pieces from 14 local female artists with diverse backgrounds and is rooted in celebrating the creative practices of women, with an emphasis on female and nature-inspired imagery and narratives. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.

Until April 1; Theatre Calgary Presents: Forgiveness at Max Bell Theatre, Forgiveness is the acclaimed 2018 Canada Reads–winning novel by Mark Sakamoto. It’s a memoir of Sakamoto’s grandparents and their harrowing experiences during the Second World War. Mark’s maternal grandfather was a Canadian soldier who spent years as a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp. His paternal grandmother was one of the thousands of Japanese–Canadians interned by the Canadian government during the war. In the face of tremendous adversity and transgressions, they chose not to live a life of anger but instead to embrace and teach forgiveness. Be prepared to be moved by this Governor General’s Literary Award-winner Hiro Kanagawa’s heartfelt adaptation. Learn more at theatrecalgary.com.

Until April 2; Festival of Animated Objects, breathing life into the inanimate and giving expression to the inert, the Festival of Animated Objects brings world-class artists to engage and entertain audiences of all ages through the innovative and sophisticated art of storytelling through mask, puppetry and animated objects at various venues around the city. Learn more at puppetfestival.ca.

Until April 9; Nightrise, this unique winter activity merges multimedia, storytelling and nature for a new and inspiring perspective at Banff Gondola. Learn more at banffjaspercollection.com.

Until April 16; Howie Tsui: Retainers of Anarchy at the Edison, featuring a 25-metre hand-drawn animation strip, this exciting exhibit brings together martial arts characters and techniques with the social and political realities of present-day Hong Kong. Learn more at glenbow.org.

Until April 16; Stage West Dinner Theatre Presents: Elvis Has Left The Building, in this whacky comedy, it’s December 20, 1970, and Elvis Presley has disappeared. No one, not even his wily manager, “The Colonel”, knows of his whereabouts. But the Colonel is all shook up because he has racked up a secret debt – and with the King himself missing, the only way to pay it off is to find an Elvis impersonator within 24 hours. Learn more at stagewestcalgary.com.

Until April 16; Gaslight at Vertigo Theatre, Bella Manningham believes she is living an idyllic married life with her charming husband Jack, but is she? Items begin to disappear, pictures move by themselves, and the gaslight dims without even a touch. Bella worries that her grip on reality is slipping and that she will drive Jack away. Secrets from the past are slowly revealed as Bella searches for answers and realizes that the people she loves are not always as they seem. Learn more at vertigotheatre.com.

Until April 19; Heritage Park Ghost Tours, visit Heritage Park for a guided ghost tour through the darkened streets of the Historical Village. Behind the Park’s old-fashioned charm lie stories of otherworldly encounters, spine-tingling history and some memorable manifestations! Meet up spot is in Town Square, in front of the Gasoline Alley Museum. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

Until April 30; We Were Here: Stories from Early Chinatown, Gasoline Alley Museum welcomes a new exhibit from January 14 to April 30; We Were Here: Stories from Early Chinatown. Bring your family and come learn about Chinese history on the prairies through art and imagination, discover fictional stories written by members of the Chinese community and explore two iterations of Chinatown in Calgary. Learn more at heritagepark.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.