Please note: These events and activities are no longer up-to-date. Check out What to Do in Calgary This Week for more great things to see and do in Calgary.
Festival season continues with an exciting lineup of summer events in Calgary. This month, discover Calgary's diverse food scene at Taste of Calgary, relish in Granary Road's Pickle Palooza, and catch an impressive firework display at Alberta's most explosive festival, GlobalFest!
This month say "Hi Barbie!" at Barbie: A Cultural Icon at TELUS Spark and experience all things Barbie! This exhibition takes guests from 1959 to present day; examining how pop culture and fashion trends have shaped this global phenomenon.
Where: TELUS Spark Science Centre
When: August 5 - September 10
BUMP FESTIVAL returns with a series of new murals, community events, block parties, and artist talks, transforming the center of Calgary with art from local and international artists.
Where: Various locations
When: August 5-26
Alberta’s Most Explosive Festival returns with GlobalFest at Elliston Park, displaying Calgary’s cultural diversity and artistic excellence with incredible firework displays presented by India, Austria, France, and Germany.
Where: Elliston Park
When: August 17-26
Dazzling fireworks display at GlobalFest (photo Credit: Jeff Cruz)
Get your fingers sticky with the Honeybee Hive Tour at Heritage Park, an interactive program that lets you explore the inside of a beehive, taste fresh honey, and discover the different stages of a bee's life cycle from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Heritage Park
When: August 21, 28
Brewery & the Beast attracts chefs and restaurants from Calgary, Banff, Edmonton and surrounding areas to showcase incredible food and beverages from Alberta.
Where: Fort Calgary
When: August 27
Century Downs hosts the WPCA World Chuckwagon Finals as the world's premiere chuckwagon drivers, outriders, and horses compete for one of the richest payouts in the sport.
Where: Century Downs
When: August 23-27
Experience KOOZA Under the Big Top at Stampede Park! This show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.
Where: Under the Big Top at Stampede Park
When: August 25 - October 8
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is returning to Calgary for its second instalment with headliners Nick Offerman, Jonathan Van Ness, and Andrew Schulz.
Where: Prince's Island Park
When: August 25-27
Join The Military Museums for the Summer Skirmish, a weekend of historical re-enactments, food trucks, and more.
Where: The Military Museums
When: August 26-27
Head-to-head motocross action in the heart of downtown Calgary! A free, all-ages event, Red Bull Outliers in Olympic Plaza will feature thrilling, high-adrenaline entertainment, the sights and sounds of downtown Calgary, and more - perfect for families or the die-hard fan!
Where: Olympic Plaza
When: August 26-27
Red Bull Outliers (Photo Credit: Justen Bruns)
Free Live Music in the Plaza at Heritage Park returns with a series of free summer concerts at the Heritage Town Square. Enjoy music from local musicians each Wednesday night starting at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Heritage Park
When: Until August 30
Visit 17th Ave. this season for Summer on 17th. There will be live music, fitness classes, DJ and drag shows, outdoor movies, and more in Tomkins Park throughout the summer. Best part is that all of the events are free.
Where: 17th Avenue S.W.
When: Until September 23
Deerfoot City brings vibrant local art and free events back for the summer with Block Party, including a retro twist with the introduction of the Roller Rink on The Boulevard. Bring your old-school roller skates or rent a pair of rollerblades!
Where: Deerfoot City
When: Open until September 10
The Calgary Pride Parade & Festival is back for another year! Celebrate gender and sexual diversity with Calgary Pride at a new 2-day festival format at Prince’s Island Park. Both days will feature incredible performances, a marketplace, beer gardens, food trucks, pet-friendly activities, a kid zone, and much more!
Where: Festival takes place at Prince’s Island Park. Find Parade details through Calgary Pride.
When: September 2-3
Calgary Pride
Calgary Pride
The Calgary International Blues Festival serves up a week of blues music from around the world, including workshops, special events, and live concerts. Local and international musicians come together for this Calgary classic.
Where: Shaw Millennium Park
When: July 31 - August 6
Discover Calgary's global cuisine with Taste of Calgary. Sample from a mix of unique restaurants and beverage companies along with live entertainment and marketplace vendors.
Where: 4th Avenue and 9th Street
When: August 3-7
Get ready for an epic showdown as Cavalry FC takes on Hamilton Forge in an electrifying soccer match! Cavalry FC is Calgary’s local Canadian Premier League (CPL) team.
Where: ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows
When: August 4
Celebrate the neighbourhood and the 20th Anniversary of the Tour de Bowness Race and Street Festival with local entertainment, artisan vendors, food booths, kid's area, and more.
Where: Bowness
When: August 5-7
See a 75-minute version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed at multiple locations in Calgary and area, such as Heritage Park and Brookfield Residential properties. All performances take place outdoors, and are family-friendly, engaging, and easily accessible. There are no tickets required and no cost for the show, however donations are welcome.
Where: Various Calgary and area locations
When: Until August 6
The Calgary Fringe Festival is back from August 4-12 with digital and in-person theater, comedy, and art installations. Shows run all week long at various Calgary locations.
Where: Various locations
When: August 4-12
These are the droids you're looking for – at this Spark After Dark that is. Take a byte of all things robots, engineering, coding and technology at this adult night at the science centre. This event is 18+.
Where: TELUS Spark Science Centre
When: August 11
The Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival is Calgary’s premiere water sport festival, with over 1850 competitors and 4000 spectators, displaying dragon boat racing for a family friendly event.
Where: North Glenmore Park
When: August 11-13
The Inglewood Night Market is a modern outdoor market with locally sourced and handmade vendors selling everything from crafts and vintage clothing to antiques and artisan eats. Admission is free!
Where: 10th ave and 10th Street SE
When: August 11
Join the Japanese Canadian community in celebrating heritage, culture, and traditions at the 2023 Calgary Japanese Festival “Omatsuri”, including games and activities for kids, arts and crafts, traditional music, dance, song, and martial arts demonstrations.
Where: Max Bell Centre
When: August 11-12
This August, relish in Granary Road's Pickle Palooza! Not only will you find delicious savoury and sweet pickles across multiple vendors, there will be a pickle eating contest, brine chugging contest, pickleball, and an amateur pickling contest.
Where: Granary Road
When: August 12-13
Marda Gras is a FREE family-friendly event in the neighbourhood of Marda Loop and Calgary’s longest running street festival. Enjoy street performers, live music, dance, and magic shows, along with local businesses and artisans.
Where: Marda Loop
When: August 13
In support of Open Farms Days, Granary Road welcomes you for a day at the farm! Shop local vendors and discover ingredients grown at Granary Road!
Where: Granary Road
When: August 19-20
The Shaw Charity Classic returns as the next stop for the PGA TOUR Champions, a world-class experience for golf fans, and supporting local charities. This year’s players include John Daly, Fred Couples, Mike Weir, Vijay Singh, Darren Clarke, Mark O’Meara, Corey Pavin, Jeff Sluman, David Toms, and Y.E. Yang.
Where: Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club
When: August 16-20
Get ready for a spectacular Caribbean celebration with music, costumes, tradition, and culture, at Carifest 2023, featuring a parade and live music in Shaw Millennium Park.
Where: Shaw Millennium Park
When: August 18-20
Expo Latino is an amazing 3-day festival celebrating Latin food, music, and culture. Join the party at Western Canada’s largest Latin festival in Prince’s Island Park this summer.
Where: Prince’s Island Park
When: August 18-20
Country Thunder returns to Fort Calgary with country music superstars John Pardi, Tim McGraw, Kieth Urban, Kip Moore, Carly Pierce, Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, and more headlining the summer music festival favourite.
Where: Fort Calgary
When: August 18-20
The Chinatown Street Festival returns with live performances, cultural tents, vendors, food trucks, and a kids fun zone for the biggest event of the year.
Where: Chinatown
When: August 19
It's fun for everyone at the Priddis & Millarville Fair, a full weekend of old fashioned, country-style family fun including farm animals, wildlife displays, exhibits and more.
Where: Millarville Racetrack
When: August 19-20
