48 Hours in Calgary: Friends Summer Edition

This article was created through sponsorship from Calgary Folk Music Festival, The Paddle Station, and Downhill Karting.

The weekend getaway is a surefire way to make summer memories with your friends. The sun is out, your bags are packed, and summer vibes in Calgary await. Round up your best friends, get your summer playlist ready, and create some summer memories with 48 hours in Calgary.

Here’s how to make memories in Calgary your friends will be talking about for years.

Dining in the Design District at Bridgette Bar.

ARRIVAL NIGHT

Arrival Dinner at Bridgette Bar

Weekend getaways are all about good friends and making memories. Let’s start at Bridgette Bar, where the small plates and tasty veggie dishes will have you toasting to the weekend ahead. Order the hummus chips and roasted olives to start, then share, share, share. Wagyu beef carpaccio, braised rabbit on toast, grilled squash, and roasted cauliflower with green harissa yogurt - everyone gets a pick. Order a cocktail and leave room for the banana pie, with pretzel, toasted meringue, and rum caramel. It’s crazy good. Located in Calgary’s Design District, Bridgette Bar is as beautiful as it is delicious.

Late night vibes at Commonwealth

Late Night Vibes at Commonwealth Bar & Stage

Not ready to turn in for the night? Commonwealth Bar & Stage is just steps away from Bridgette Bar on the same city block and has you covered for some late night vibes. This old warehouse is now a nightlife destination with two floors of music. Check their events schedule ahead of time for live concerts and DJs or pop in for World Famous Friday’s, with new music upstairs and party jams in the basement. That’s how you start a weekend in Calgary.

Get breakfast on the go at Neighbour Coffee.

DAY ONE

Quick Breakfast at Neighbour Coffee

Neighbour Coffee is truly a neighbourhood favourite and the perfect place to get breakfast on the go. They serve a full menu of espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos, along with specialty drinks like their turmeric coconut latte. Pair their ricotta toast, topped with truffle honey and toasted almonds, with a Berry White smoothie, or try their breakfast tostadas, served on white corn tortillas. Check the most important meal of the day off the list and let’s get going!

Take a tour at Eau Claire Distillery (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Roth & Ramberg).

Road Trip to Eau Claire Distillery

Thirsty? Eau Claire Distillery, located in Turner Valley, is a beautiful one-hour drive from Calgary. Crafting their own hand-bottled vodkas, gins, and whisky, you can tour the facility and learn all about the traditional techniques they use to create their award-winning spirits. Eau Claire Distillery uses local Alberta grain and traditional horse farming techniques on their own property to create small batch flavours. Try a flight of their farm to glass spirits, order some snacks, or enjoy a custom-made cocktail at the bar and toast to the perfect road trip!

Float the Bow River with The Paddle Station.

Afternoon Rafting with The Paddle Station

Floating down the Bow River is a bucket list Calgary experience. You have to try it! The Paddle Station makes your next great rafting adventure a breeze. Book your ride, show up at Shouldice Park, and let the float begin. Choose from rafts, paddleboards, kayaks and pontoons. Floats can be self-guided or guided. All the safety gear and equipment you need are provided for a relaxing float through downtown Calgary, no experience required! Your paddle begins at Shouldice Park and finishes at St. Patrick’s Island, where their crew will retrieve everything from you, so you’re free for a short stroll to your next destination, the Calgary Folk Music Festival. This river adventure lasts anywhere from two to four hours, depending on the river flow, and how hard you and your friends paddle.

It’s a food truck frenzy at the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

Hit the main stage at the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

Dinner and Dancing at the Calgary Folk Music Festival

Step on shore from your paddling adventure and get right into the action at the Calgary Folk Music Festival. This internationally recognized music festival is hosted on the beautiful Prince’s Island Park, a short walk from St. Patrick’s Island and Downtown Calgary. With over 70 artists and nine stages to check out, it’s the ultimate festival experience in the heart of the city. Set up your tarp in front of the main stage, with blankets, low-rise lawn chairs, and a picnic basket, and dance the night away. The 40th anniversary lineup includes Belle & Sebastian, Half Moon Run, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and The Strumbellas.

Hungry? Step up to a full selection of food trucks or hit the shaded beer garden where you can relax with your friends and take in the music with a beer in hand.

Sunday Brunch at Donna Mac

DAY TWO

Sunday Brunch at Donna Mac

It’s Sunday and time for the morning report of all the great stories you collected this weekend. Round up at Donna Mac for Sunday brunch and let the stories begin. Grilled sourdough to start, brisket and eggs benny for the win, and an official Walter’s Caesar to round out the perfect neighbourhood style brunch. Donna Mac serves brunch until 4:00 p.m. so there’s no need to rush out of bed. Go head, hit snooze.

Get your fix of fun with downhill karting.

Afternoon Thrills at Downhill Karting

Time to have some fun! Take the driving seat with the gravity fueled Downhill Karting. The purpose-built karts put you in control as you master over 50 twists and turns and take on 1,800 metres of downhill fun. Once you complete the course, hop on the chairlift and do it all again, you’ll be hooked. Downhill Karting’s experience has become a worldwide favourite and a must do activity while in Calgary. Enjoyed by all ages and abilities, there is one word to describe it – fun! You’ll soon realize why ‘once is never enough’!

Or, Go For a Thrill Ride at WinSport

Ready for an adrenaline rush? Experience the rush of the Monster Zipline Tour, a wild ride that starts from the top of the iconic ski jump tower at WinSport. It’s North America’s fastest zipline, reaching speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour. If you love the sense of flying, take a leap with the Free Fall experience, where you jump from an eight-storey platform in a bungee-type harness. It’s as close to skydiving as you can get on land before coming to a slow descent to the ground.

Enjoy time with friends on the patio at National on 17th

Happy Hour at National on 17th

It’s time for one last dinner and one last toast to the weekend memories in Calgary. Tuck into National on 17th, in the heart of trendy 17th Avenue SW, for some food curated to go well with beer. Order a round of craft pints and get some bar snacks to share. You’re in no rush to get home, are you? From chicken nuggets and tater tots to fresh oysters and fried egg sandwiches, you’ll be full and ready for the flight or drive home.

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48 Hours in Calgary: Friends Summer Edition

48 Hours in Calgary: Friends Summer Edition