What’s Up This Week?

April 28 to April 30

April 26 to 28, 7pm; St John Choir Schola Presents: Annie Jr! Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Annie Jr. features everyone’s favorite little redhead in her very first adventure. Take in the show at Bow Valley Christian Church. Learn more at sjcschola.ca.

April 26 to 30; Firefighter Storytime at the Library, drop in and join library staff and Calgary Fire Department firefighters for a special family story time at select public libraries. Learn more at
calgarylibrary.ca.

April 27 to 30; Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, experience the ultimate playground for comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming. Four days of citywide events, family-friendly attractions and world-renowned celebrities await at the BMO Centre and beyond. Learn more at fanexpohq.com.

April 27 to 30; JazzYYC International Jazz Days Festival, JazzYYC brings live jazz back to the annual JazzYYC International Jazz Days Festival. Join an amazing group of local musicians celebrating jazz at various venues around the city, including the April 30 JazzWalk in Inglewood. Learn more at jazzyyc.com.

April 27 to 30; Calgary Psychic & Crystal Fair, the event will include 32 vendors, including some of Canada’s top  mediums, psychics, tealeaf reading, astrology, clairvoyants and healers. There will also be lots of beautiful crystals and handmade jewelry at Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza. Learn more at galaxypsychicfairs.com.

April 28, 10:30am; 9th Annual POW! Parade of Wonders, Calgary Expo & Downtown Calgary Association presents the ninth annual POW! Parade of Wonders, Cosplay Parade and Calgary Expo Opening Ceremonies in downtown Calgary. Learn more at fanexpohq.com.

April 28, 7:30pm; Joey Alexander Trio at Jack Singer, piano virtuoso Joey Alexander must be seen live to be believed! Known for fingers that virtually fly over the keys, Joey Alexander has rocked the music world with his seemingly effortless talent and musical sophistication from a young age. Learn more at artscommons.ca.

Until April 28; Show + Sale Virtual Spring Market, shop local for unique artwork from Alberta University of the Arts students. Learn more at auarts.ca.

Until April 28; Calgary Opera Presents: Macbeth, the warrior Macbeth fights on the side of the King of Scotland. But when a coven of witches prophesy that he shall become king himself, a ruthless ambition drives Macbeth and his wife to horrific acts. Macbeth is one of the most memorable stories of how an obsession with power can destroy the people who wield it. Learn more at calgaryopera.com.

April 28 to 30, 9am; Granary Road Season Kick-Off Party! Granary Road’s resident farm animals are thrilled to see all their friends again! On April 28, the Active Learning Park and Farmer’s Market will be back and better than ever with all last year’s favorite exhibits and vendors, and a few new ones as well. Learn more at granaryroad.com.

April 29, 10am to 1:30pm; YYC’s Largest Sale of Quality Used Kids’ Items, the Twins, Triplets and More Association of Calgary is hosting a huge used kids clothing sale at The Genesis Centre. Shop for a baby on the way or teenagers needing clothes in the next size up and every size in between. Stock up on clothing, shoes, books, DVDs, toys, games, baby equipment, dancewear, sportswear sports equipment and more. Learn more at  ttmac.org/sale.

April 29; Cineplex Family Favourites: My Neighbor Totoro, visit participating Cineplex theatres near you and watch a favorite family film each week for only $2.99. Learn more at cineplex.com.

April 29; Historical Tour and Guided Hike Ribbon Creek and Troll Falls, do you love history? Ghost towns? Join your guide on this historical tour as we reconnect to the rich history of the area. This beginner hike is between 5km and 7km round trip, with minimal elevation gain (some rolling hills will be encountered!). Learn more at banffdaytrips.com.

Until April 30; Ukrainian Art Exhibition at cSPACE, in celebration of World Art Day, Ukrainians of Calgary Association invites you to enjoy a wonderful exhibition featuring talented Calgary and Ukrainian artists. This art show and the silent auction will feature up to 70 pieces from eight different artists, so you are sure to find something to suit your style.

April 30; Sulphur Springs and Riverview Loop: Bragg Creek Area, this is a fun loop with some interesting views- deep forest, open cutlines and a stunning river walk. There is enough elevation gain that you feel accomplished after completing this hike. You will experience sweeping views of the foothills and mountains so be prepared to be amazed. This hike is approximately 11.5km with 415m of elevation gain. Learn more at banffdaytrips.com.

April 30; 11am to 4pm; The Barn Artisan Market – April Market, experience two full floors featuring 35 local artisans, creators, crafters, makers and more in the historic Shawnessy Barn. Learn more at thebarnartisanmarket.ca.

April 30; Steps to End Homelessness, join Inn from the Cold at the McHugh Bluff stairs in Crescent Heights for the 12th annual Steps to End Homelessness. Take that uphill climb on behalf of vulnerable families in need of support to get back on the path to housing independence. After fundraising to support their challenge participants will tackle as many flights as possible of the McHugh Bluff stairs. All funds raised will be matched by the Power of One Foundation. The event will also include a family-fun carnival and BBQ. Learn more at endhomelessness.ca

April 30, 3 to 4:30pm, The Calgary Philharmonic Presents Will’s Jams, Will Stroet — former CBC Kids TV star and Juno-nominated musician — will rock out with you and your family. Singing his favourite songs, it’s a fun-filled symphony jam session your kids will love! Come early for the Instrument Discovery Zoo at 2PM. Program and artists are subject to change without notice. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

Ongoing

Until April 29; Richard III, Shakespeare’s fiery drama chronicles the cutthroat ascension of a king and the havoc he leaves in his wake as he gains power over the realm at Vertigo Theatre. Richard III is an unrelenting demonstration of the exercise of power. Learn more at shakespearecompany.com.

Until April 30; The Railway Children, travel back in time with Edwardian England – 1910 where a young family faces hard times but discovers a world filled with love resilience and humanity. Suitable for ages eight and older this is a live theatre experience for the whole family – performed inside the historic Lantern Church. Learn more at ticketor.com.

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.

Until April 30; Filipino Restaurant Month, Canada’s Filipino Restaurant Month is a chance for diners to explore the diverse culinary scene of the Philippines with participating restaurants across Canada. Learn more at facebook.com/FilipinoRestaurantMonthCA.

Until April 30; Calgary Underground Film Festival, the 20th Anniversary Calgary Underground Film Festival will be an 11-day in-person celebration of film, and the biggest festival yet in terms of days, films shown, special events, parties, and guests in attendance at The Globe Cinema. Learn more at calgaryundergroundfilm.org.

Until April 30; Pysanky for Peace Artwork Fundraiser, a group of local artists led by pysanky master Daena Diduck, will design 14 three-dimensional eggs ranging from three to six feet tall, one for each month that the war has been ongoing in Ukraine. The eggs will be displayed at the mall as public art until the end of the month, when they will be sold in a silent auction with proceeds going to two Ukrainian support organizations. Learn more at southcentremall.com.

Until May 6; Pumphouse Theatre Presents: Yeoman of the Guard, the show takes place in the Tower of London where Colonel Fairfax is wrongly accused of sorcery and sentenced to death within the hour. Fairfax hatches a plan to secretly marry a strolling singer, who now expects to be a wealthy widow upon Fairfax’s imminent demise, leaving her free to marry her lover, the jester Jack Point. However, Fairfax miraculously escapes his fate and chaos ensues. Learn more at tickets.morpheustheatre.ca.

Until May 7; Donate to Calgary Reads Big Book Sale, give your old books new life! The sale’s main book donation site is the Calgary Curling Club. If you can’t make it to the Calgary Curling Club between April 28 and May 7, organizers also host stuff-a-truck events across Calgary. Find the dates and locations for Stuff A Truck events at bigbooksale.ca.

Until May 7; Loose Moose Theatre Presents: The Return of Sherlock Junior, the Loose Moose Theatre Company makes going to the theatre an experience that is truly magical for children four to ten years old, as well as fun and entertaining for parents. Plan an affordable family time out that everyone can enjoy. Learn more at loosemoose.com.

Until May 7; The Sound of Music, a classic that is loved by all, young and old. The Painted Fish Theatre Company Presents at La Cité des Rocheuses Theater. Learn more at paintedfish.tickit.ca.

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, 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 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 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.