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Activities . Family Fun . What's Up in Calgary?

What’s Up This Week?

On April 23, 2024 by

April 25 to May 5

April 25, 6:30 to 8:30pm; Reading by the Rivers Book Club – Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. Every month, read a book by a Canadian author. During the last week of the month, all readers will meet at Fort Calgary to discuss the book, eat, and drink, and socialize with other book lovers. If you don’t own the book, don’t worry – all novels on the book list are accessible from the public library. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.

April 25 to 28; Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo. If you’re into comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, or cosplay, this is the place for you. You’ll feel out of this world – and right at home. Find your fandom family at the BMO Centre, all 100,000 of them. Learn more at fanexpohq.com.

Until April 26; Calgary Opera Presents: Das Rheingold. Gold, protected by the daughters of the river Rhine, harbors a deep magic. Anyone who casts a ring made from it can rule the whole world but must also renounce love forever. The promise of unlimited power proves irresistible to opportunistic gods, arguing giants, and ambitious dwarfs. Presented at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Learn more at calgaryopera.com.

Until April 26, 10am to 4pm; Fiber Art Collective Show. The PDD Fiber Collective Show is a collaborative group exhibition that combines the work of the embroidery and rug hooking programs run within Prospect’s Persons with Development Disabilities (PDD) services at Studio C (Prospect). Learn more at gallerieswest.ca.

April 26, 10:30 to 11:30am; Calgary Comic Expo Parade of Wonders. Calling all fans to the POW! Parade of Wonders, Canada’s biggest cosplay parade celebrating all things pop culture and creativity in beautiful downtown Calgary. Learn more at fanexpohq.com.

April 26, 11am to 1pm; Cineplex Family Favourites: Peter Rabbit. Visit participating Cineplex theatres near you and watch a favorite family film each week for only $3.99. Learn more at cineplex.com.

April 26, 7pm; StoryBook Theatre’s Miscast. SBT’s annual MisCast is the musical spectacular featuring Broadway’s hottest hits, sung by local theatre artists performing roles in which they would not traditionally be cast at Beddington Theatre Arts Centre. Funds raised support SBT’s Ellie Tims Project, whose mantra is to “Never say no to a Child,” allowing everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, to participate in Theatre School Programming. Learn more at storybooktheatre.org.

April 26, 7:30pm; Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Performed alongside the FILMharmonic Orchestra, Isabella’s rendition of The Four Seasons is a breath of fresh air, while her fiery take on Astor Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires is an immersive experience, plunging audiences into the sensual universe of Argentine tango at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at artscommons.ca.

April 26 to May 4; Pumphouse Theatre Presents: The Gondoliers. This 12th collaborative operetta by the beloved pair is set in Venice and is rife with nobility, mistaken identities, royalty, young lovers married to the wrong people, commoners, wit, patter, a Cachucha and of course, Rapture. Learn more at pumphousetheatre.ca.

April 26 to 30; JazzYYC International Jazz Days Festival. JazzYYC brings live jazz back to the annual JazzYYC International Jazz Days Festival at various location around Calgary. Learn more at jazzyyc.com.

Saturdays until April 27; Tour Fort Calgary: the Land, the People and Their Stories. Saturdays in April, delve into the complex and rich histories rooted in the lands at Fort Calgary. Through stories, photographs and a tour through the permanent exhibition space, uncover the layered past of the confluence on this indoor tour, which includes a presentation in our beautiful Burnswest Theatre and a guided walk through the Interpretive Centre. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.

Until April 27; The Voice of the Prairie by John Olive. Rosebud School of the Arts’ Artists-in-Training Present… The Voice of the Prairie by John Olive. After being discovered by a traveling radio jock, Davey Quinn conjures memories of his long-ago love, Frankie the Blind Girl, and their misadventures as young fugitives. A company of storytellers bring to life more than 20 characters in a nostalgic journey of young love on the run. Learn more at rosebudtheatre.com.

April 27, 10am to 12pm; Michaels Kids’ Club: Friendship Bracelets. Join us for Kids Club this week and make friendship bracelets to keep or share. Learn more at canada.michaels.com.

April 27, 10am to 3pm; Edgemont Community Association Spring Market. Join for the annual Spring Market and Perennial Exchange. Enjoy a wide range of vendors and peruse crafts, jewelry, clothing, fine art, housewares, plush items, sweet treats, and more. Learn more at edgemont.ab.ca.

April 27, 10am to 4:30pm; Gardeners’ Market. The Calgary Horticultural Society is back with a festive in-person event that carries on a Calgary gardening tradition at The Commons at ATCO Park. A market with educational talks, classes, friendly competitions, and over 50 exhibitors to help gardeners ignite their imaginations for the gardening season. Learn more at calhort.org.

April 27, 12 to 6pm; VAISAKHI MELA 2024. The World Multicultural Festival annually to celebrate diversity and bring together multicultural communities in Canada to share each others’ cultural heritages. Learn more at vaisakhimela.ca.

April 27, 7:30pm; Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Presents: Beethoven X. Coldplay. Experience something new and totally unexpected at this genre-defying concert mixing works from two musical greats, Ludwig van Beethoven and Coldplay at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

Until April 28; Rock the Nation at Studio Bell. A rousing theatrical production celebrating and honoring Canada’s remarkable musical legacy. Experience it all live on stage, and journey through the decades. Learn more at studiobell.ca.

April 28; JazzWalk. A free, family-friendly event at various venues throughout Inglewood and the Music Mile! Come check out all that Calgary has to offer in local jazz music. With multiple shows in multiple venues, there’s a little something for everyone, from the jazz aficionado to the newest listener. Learn more at jazzyyc.com.

April 28, 10am to 4pm; 13th Annual Steps to End Homelessness. Join hundreds of Calgarians at the McHugh Bluff stairs in Crescent Heights for a fun, active way to help end family homelessness in support of Inn from the Cold. We hope you will join us for this family-friendly challenge. Learn more at zeffy.com.

April 28, 10am to 4pm; Triwood Spring Market. Come celebrate the change of seasons, find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, and to get your gardens ready for planting season at Triwood Community Association. An artisan craft and food market with a plant pop-up. Learn more at triwoodcommunity.com.

April 28, 11am to 12pm; Fort Calgary: Stories with Sheldon. Storytelling has been a way to pass down wisdom and knowledge by the Blackfoot people since time immemorial. Through the oral tradition, Blackfoot Elder Sheldon First Rider will share stories from Blackfoot culture in this intimate one-hour program. Every month, Sheldon will speak on a different topic, covering everything from mythology and food to history and spirituality. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.

April 28, 11am to 2pm; US College Expo in Calgary. Meet with American universities, admissions, athletics, arts & financing experts and more at the US College Expo at Arts Common. Learn more at prepskillsconnect.com.

April 28, 11am to 4pm; The Barn Artisan Market. Shop local, support local! The Barn Artisan Market has two floors of local vendors with unique, hand-crafted, and made-in-Alberta products. Learn more at thebarnartisanmarket.ca.

April 28, 1 to 3:30pm; Calgary Pro Musica and Green Fools Theatre Presents More Rocky Mountain Fairy Tales. Storyteller/Musician Samantha Whelan Kotkas and her friends will entertain you and your children with musical interactive tales of child-accessible hikes in the Rocky Mountains. Teach your child about courage, unity, joyfulness, and caring in an afternoon of fun and adventure. An event for the whole family that you will want to be a part of. Recommended for children aged 5 to 12, but created with the entire family in mind at the University of Calgary Rozsa Centre. Learn more at calgarypromusica.ca.

April 28, 7pm; True North Strong and Loud. New West Symphony & Chorus and New West Student Ensemble will show their respect to many of Canada’s most talented musical artists as they perform True North Strong & Loud: New West Celebrates Canadian Music at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at artscommons.ca.

Until April 30; BUMP Mural Tours. Looking to rediscover the city? Explore Calgary’s open air street art gallery with an official guided mural tour led by the BUMP Festival. Learn insights from the artists and stories behind their works. Learn more at yycbump.ca.

May 1, 6:30 to 8pm; Try It Free – Orienteering. Do you know what orienteering is? The sport involves moving through terrain while map reading to help you choose the best route. The object is to run, walk, ski or bike to a series of points shown on the map, choosing routes that will help you find all the required points and get back to the finish in the shortest amount of time. Want to try it out? Do so with Foothills Orienteering for free at Bowness Park. Learn more at orienteeringcalgary.ca.

May 2, 3 to 8pm; RESET Society of Calgary Book Sale. The Calgary Book Sale is back for its 20th year for two weekends. Shop the selection of more than100,000 books at Crossroads Market. Learn more at resetcalgary.ca.

May 2, 5:30pm; Art Party. Meet the artists and creatives who bring inspiration, beauty, and thought-provoking ideas to the walls and public spaces of Arts Commons in this free public event. Come mingle with the artists exhibiting in Arts Commons Galleries with bevvies and nibbles as well as tours of the galleries to hear the artists speak about their work. Learn more at artscommons.ca.

May 2 to 4; Alberta Ballet in Der Wolf & The Rite of Spring. This double bill invites you into the dark and curious landscape of folklore, forest, and frenzy against hard-hitting visceral scores at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Learn more at jubileeauditorium.com.

May 2 to 5, Canada Cup Diving. MNP Community & Sport Centre will host the 2024 Canada Cup of Diving. Learn more at diving.ca/canadacup.

May 3, 1 to 9pm; Calgary Rock and Mineral Show. The 62nd Annual CRLC Rock & Mineral Show will be held at Genesis Centre and will feature more than 50 vendors, door prizes, a silent auction, and more. Learn more at crlc.ca.

May 3, 6 to 9 am; Bike to Work Day. BTWD brings together like-minded Calgarians to promote cycling as a viable means of transportation, reduce inner-city traffic congestion, and reduce pollution in the air. The event features Energy Pit Stops throughout downtown supported by Calgary’s bicycle retailers with swag and free bicycle tune-ups, a free pancake breakfast, prizes, and numerous vendors down at the hub of BTWD at Delta Gardens. Learn more at biketoworkdaycalgary.ca.

May 3, 3 to 4pm; Symphony Sundays for Kids: Saint-Georges’ Sword + Bow. Hoping to become the next great pop sensation, a young girl discovers her music teacher was the biggest star in 18th-century France. In this time-bending musical adventure, Giselle learns about life’s triumphs and tragedies from the most accomplished man in Europe, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. A captivating story of passion, dreams, legacy, and hope at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

May 3, 5 to 9pm; Wild After Hours: Polar Bears (Adults Only). Connect with the zoo’s largest Arctic icons and hear from those closest to them at this one-of-a-kind event. Guests will start their big evening off with an exclusive viewing of polar bears, ‘Baffin’ and ‘Siku’, accompanied by presentations from the Animal Care, Health & Welfare specialists who know them best. Then the excitement will continue with a four-course dinner from our award-winning culinary team. It is sure to be a paw-sitively unforgettable experience! Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.

May 3 to 4, 7:30pm; Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Presents: The Broadway/Hollywood Songbook. Be transported to the bright lights of the Great White Way and the glamor of Hollywood as the Calgary Phil celebrates the biggest musicals from stage and screen at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.

May 3 to 5, Jane’s Walk Calgary. Your city. Your stories. Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, community-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs. Explore your city, share stories about your community and connect with your neighbours. Learn more at janeswalk.calgarycommunities.com.

May 3 to 5; Western Canadian Reason Conference 2024. This event will feature provocative and thoughtful speakers and entertainers. Join with like-minded thinkers to share ideas and build community. WeCanReason is a conference dedicated to free thinkers skeptics and humanists who want to discuss and understand issues in society and work towards solving them at University of Calgary Downtown Campus. Learn more at wecanreason.com.

May 3 to 5, 2 to 4pm; YMCA Calgary Arts Presents: Calgary Young People’s Theatre in Sasquatch Sally. Combining folklore, familial drama and just a tiny sprinkle of summer camp shenanigans, this theatrical tale is as unique as a sasquatch! Summer is the best time of year, and for sisters Sally and Ali, summertime means Summer Camp. An escape from schoolwork, bullies, and a chance to make new friends. Some kids choose to stick close to family, others craft new memories with their cabin roommates, while some find themselves making friends with the impossible at Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.

May 3 to 5; Calgary Artists Studio Tour. The tour has expanded to over 80 local artists participating across our beautiful city and surrounding areas. This is a self-guided tour where you get to meet each artist in their home or shared studio space, and you can plan your visit at your own pace. The Calgary Artists Studio Tour is a unique, informal, connected art experience for both the public and the artists. You are invited into artists’ studios to see beyond their finished work; to have an opportunity to learn more about their creative processes, inspirations and personal stories. Learn more at calgaryartistsstudiotour.com.

May 3 to June 16; Violins of Hope exhibition at Studio Bell. Violins of Hope is a poignant collection of string instruments dating from before and during the Holocaust. These meticulously restored instruments once belonged to Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Today these instruments stand as enduring symbols, serving to educate and memorialize those affected by one of history’s darkest chapters through concerts, exhibitions, and other commemorative projects. darkest moments. Learn more at studiobell.ca.

May 4; Free Comic Book Day. Participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give you a comic book for free! Learn more about Calgary’s locations at freecomicbookday.com.

May 4, 8am to 5pm; Calgary Bike Swap. Looking to buy, sell or swap your bike? Do it safely at the Calgary Bike Swap at Max Bell Centre. Learn more at albertabikeswap.ca.

May 4, 10am; Arts ReED – Teen + Family Jewelry and Beading. This free family workshop will ignite imagination and curiosity, build artistic skills and knowledge, and have you making joyful memories together at Arts Learning Centre. Join the Arts Commons Education team and the workshop teaching artists to make, discover and explore. Learn more at artscommons.ca.

May 4, 10am to 2pm; Cornerstone Music Cafe’s Mother’s Day Market. Let’s make every mother feel special with live music, kids’ crafts, and unique finds from local vendors. Be one of the first 100 moms to receive a special gift! Come for the fun, stay for the memories. Learn more at cornerstonemusic.ca.

May 4, 10am to 4pm; CKE Spring Artisan Market. CKE Artisan Market is just in time for Mother’s Day with some of your favorite past vendors and many new ones at CKE Community Hall. Learn more at ckecommunity.com.

May 4, 6:30 to 8pm; Star Wars Trivia Night at Fort Calgary. Are you a Jedi Master when it comes to anything Star Wars? Think you know the movies better than anyone else? Gather your Jedi Order of friends, family or colleagues and put your knowledge to the test at Star Wars trivia night. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.

May 4, 6:45pm; Land’s End Chamber Music Society Presents Strategies Against Architecture. As part of their residency, Land’s End Ensemble is excited to present a concert of new works that brings together musicians and students of the MRC program. Land’s End Ensemble will feature works that explore a vast range of sonic experiences that defy categorizations at Bella Concert Hall. Learn more at taylorcentre.ca.

May 4 to 5; Day Out With Thomas at Heritage Park. ‘Pop’ on board a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine! Day Out With Thomas: Bubble Tour is rolling into the station with loads of bubble-themed games and activities! Enjoy live entertainment, photo ops, the exclusive gift shop, lawn games and so much more. Take a real train ride with Thomas and spend the day creating memories for the whole family. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.

May 4 to 5; Maker Faire Calgary 2024. A gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, and projects at the Red & White Club. Learn more at calgary.makerfaire.com.

May 4 to 5; Circo Festival Canada. Check out this Western Canadian Competition for aerials, acrobatics, dance, and a variety of circus acts at The GRAND. Learn more at thegrandyyc.ca.

May 4 to 12; World Para Hockey Championship. Watch the best para ice hockey athletes compete in the World Para Hockey Championship at WinSport Event Centre. Learn more at hockeycanada.ca.

May 4 to June 8; Stage West for Kids Presents: Snow White. A traveling troupe of performers ventured out to perform all over the world. They had planned for every story they knew… or at least they thought so. When Lasso chooses Snow White as the story she would like to perform, it becomes very clear, very quickly that no one else knows the tale. A whirlwind adventure begins with a princess, an evil queen, a poisoned apple, a magic mirror, seven small helpers and a prince ready to break a sleeping spell. How hard could it be for four performers to take on a story they’ve never heard of? Learn more at stagewestcalgary.com.

Until May 5; Da Vinci The Exhibition at TELUS Spark. Da Vinci The Exhibition is a hands-on exploration of Leonardo da Vinci’s life, research, and art, developed by Aurea Exhibitions and produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. Guests can go beyond the canvas, exploring over 65 life-size inventions, more than 20 fine art studies, and captivating displays. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.

Until May 5; The Ballad of Georges Boivin. At 77, Georges Boivin decides to “give the dice a roll.” Georges just lost his wife, the “centre of his universe.” But there is life after 70, and it must continue even after great loss. With his three friends, all older than he, he sets out on a cross-country road trip from Québec to Vancouver, in search of his first love who he hasn’t seen in 50 years. Learn more at lunchboxtheatre.com.

May 5, 9am to 12:30pm; Hike for Hospice Calgary. Hike for Hospice Calgary is a fundraising walk for all ages and abilities. Join us at Fish Creek Park to celebrate and honour our clients and families, hear from a client ambassador, meet the Calgary Stampeders, enjoy music, face painting, prizes, and a free lunch. Learn more at hospicecalgary.ca/events/hike.

May 5, 10am to 2:30pm; Spring Bliss Mini-Mental Wellness Festival. It’s a celebration of the brain, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week and Mental Health Awareness Month. The City of Calgary funded event will include performances that celebrate community and wellbeing, displays to show how our brain works and elders to share wisdom on the Medicine Wheel at Carya’s Village Commons. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.

May 5, 10am to 4pm; Mount Pleasant Potters’ Guild Spring Pottery Sale. Mount Pleasant Potters’ Guild (MPPG) is a group of talented local artists with a passion for mucking about in clay. Delicate, fine, brutal, whimsical and everything in between describes the range of wares you’ll find at this awesome pottery sale at Triwood Community Hall. Learn more at calgarypottery.com.

May 5, 11am to 12pm; Granary Road Open Weekend Book Reading & Goats! Join Granary Road and local author Christina Hatton-Fearnley for a live book reading of Kevin The Pack Goat Friendship Fumble and meet our super-cute Goats for a special Play Time afterwards! This event is free with paid admission to Granary Road’s Park. We also have a Farmer’s Market & Garden Centre. Learn more at granaryroad.com.

May 5, 2 to 4pm; Michaels’ Sunday MakeBreak: Yayoi Kusama Inspired Painting. Join in-store to create a painting inspired by Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, celebrating AAPI Month. Learn more at canada.michaels.com.

May 5, 3pm; Luminous Voices and The Next Generation. Calgary is fortunate to have a strong and growing high school and youth choral scene. The spring concert will be the culmination of a weekend workshop with several local high school choirs and individual singers from high schools across the city at Bella Concert Hall. Learn more at taylorcentre.ca.

Ongoing

Saturdays and Sundays until May 12, 11am to 3pm; Bloom & Brunch Festival in Banff. Banff Gondola and Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen are hosting the Bloom & Brunch Festival, a delectable event. Enjoy a buffet brunch, mimosa bar, live entertainment, floral photo opportunities and more. It’s a festive way to enjoy the season and your favorite weekend meal. Learn more at banfflakelouise.com.

Until May 25; Rosebud Theatre Presents: Chariots of Fire. One hundred years after the epic race at the 1924 Paris Olympics, relive the story of Harold Abrahams, the son of a Lithuanian immigrant Jew, running to overcome prejudice against his people and Eric Liddell, the son of Scottish missionaries, running for the glory of God! Based on the 1981 Academy Award-winning film. Learn more at rosebudtheatre.com.

Until June 1; Jubilations Dinner Theatre: Journey to the 80s. Every decade has certain trends that develop… the 60’s had its hippie counter culture, the 70’s had bell bottoms and disco… but no other decade had the sheer explosion of pop culture like the 80’s. And so much of this cavalcade of wild styles and crazy quirks was a direct reflection of the music of the time. Learn more at jubilations.ca.

Weekends; Asylum for Art Brunch. Asylum for Art hosts weekend brunch and live music at the WaffleHaus Saloon. Admission is by donation and you can reserve a spot. Learn more at asylumforart.ca.

Thursdays 3 to 6pm until June 20; NMC Jam Club. The National Music Centre (NMC) is calling all teens to Studio Bell. In partnership with CJAY 92, NMC is supporting the next generation of rock stars with a free after-school drop-in program for teens, as Jesse & JD present the NMC Jam Club. Learn more at studiobell.ca/jam-club.

Monday and Wednesday from 10 to 11:30 am. The Beach YYC Drop-In Children’s Playtime. On Monday and Wednesday mornings take part in children’s play time at the beach. Bring your child to spend a few hours digging and playing in the sand. They supply all the beach toys including shovels, buckets and more. Learn more at thebeachyyc.ca.

Monday to Thursday, 9am; Parent + Tot Drop-In at Cavalry FC Regional Field House. Cavalry offers a variety of drop-in programs for parents to participate in with their children ages 18 months to three years old. Learn more at cavsfcregionalfieldhouse.com.

Drop-In Programs at City of Calgary Recreation Centres. Don’t miss out on Active Play where you can bring your kiddo’s energy to an indoor play space. Roll, jump, throw, and balance while being creative with various active play equipment. Kinder Room Drop-in allows you to play with your child on an incredible indoor play structure. Race through tunnels, over a suspension bridge and slide down slides. Learn more at liveandplay.calgary.ca.

Storytime at Calgary Public Library. Drop into various Calgary Public Library locations to enjoy stories, songs, and finger plays for the whole family at Family Storytime. Learn more at calgarylibrary.ca.