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#EXPLOREDOWNTOWNYYC Downtown Summer Festivals

Calgary’s Summer Festival Season is in full swing! Downtown is where you’ll find the electric energy as people unite to celebrate community, creativity, and culture. With over 100 festivals and events happening downtown this summer, the heart of our city will be bursting with fun and entertainment for everyone.

Festivals & events are generally approved to proceed, as long as they adhere to water restrictions currently in place. Please check the events website for any updates.

Explore downtown with these summer festivals and events:


FEATURED EVENT


Calgary International Blues Festival

When: August 1 – 4
Where: Cowboys Park, (formerly Millennium Park)
Website: Calgary International Blues Festival

The 20th Annual Calgary International Blues Festival promises an unforgettable experience with live blues performances, a diverse selection of food trucks, a vibrant artisan market, unique festival souvenirs, and bar service throughout the site. Perfect for all ages, this family-friendly event has been a cornerstone of Calgary's cultural scene for two decades! 

Alcove Centre for the Arts

When: Ongoing

Alcove is a recreational art space open five days a week for free public drop-ins. Visitors can get creative with free to use art supplies and instruments in the space. If you are interested in scheduled programs, such as workshops, or art clubs, visit Alcove’s website for program offerings. All programs operate on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Story City

When: Ongoing

Where: Various Downtown locations  

Choose your own adventure with Story City! Story City is a free, interactive storytelling experience that makes you the hero of your own adventure. Grab your phone, a few friends, and hit the streets to explore locally-made stories by and for Calgarians. Download the app to get started! 

Walk Walk Dance

When: June 20 - July 30

Get ready to dance! The City, in collaboration with the Calgary Downtown Association, invites you to experience ‘Walk Walk Dance’. Dance your way through musical lines as you walk or wheel, turning movement into a joyful and expressive collective dance.

Summer Events at Olympic Plaza

When: July 17 - 31

Where:  Olympic Plaza

Looking to learn a new sport or activity? Check out the free events at Olympic Plaza this summer featuring everything from tennis to fencing to inline skating and baton twirling courtesy Sport Calgary and The City of Calgary. Starting in late July, you will be able to actively participate in some events and attend demonstrations. 

Super Fun Thursdays

When: July 18 – August 22

The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre is set to host a series of themed night market events on five consecutive Thursdays throughout the months of July and August in 2024. The events are open to the public and are free of charge, offering a variety of activities, performances, food and a space for community members to come together.

Wordfest Presents Ann Powers

When: July 31

Rock out (thoughtfully)! Wordfest is thrilled to present legendary music critic Ann Powers and her new book about an Alberta-born icon: Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell. The conversation, hosted by Wordfest's Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut, includes an audience Q & A and book signing, fueled by Shelf Life Books. Ticket holders can pre-order copies of Travelling and Powers' backlist here for pick-up at the event.

Bugs & Bytes

When: August 1 - September 2

This summer, TELUS Spark is buzzing with excitement as the science centre kicks off an epic summer of Bugs & Bytes! Guests are in for a summer full of exploring the secrets of both the digital and natural worlds while getting curious about science.

Calgary International Blues Festival

When: August 1 - 4

The 20th Annual Calgary International Blues Festival promises an unforgettable experience with live blues performances, a diverse selection of food trucks, a vibrant artisan market, unique festival souvenirs, and bar service throughout the site. Perfect for all ages, this family-friendly event has been a cornerstone of Calgary's cultural scene for two decades!  

Taste of Calgary

When: August 1 - 5

Discover Calgary’s rich culinary scene at Taste of Calgary. This event features a unique mix of restaurants and beverage companies with a side of live music. Admission is free, and you have the option to buy sample tickets for just $1. These tickets allow you to savour delicious dishes from some of the finest restaurants and breweries in the city.

Getting downtown


Calgary Transit
You can get downtown with Calgary’s Public Transit system. For more information on Calgary city buses or the CTrain, including schedules, maps, passes and fares, visit Calgary Transit.

Extend your Stay with Calgary Parking!
Sleep-in and enjoy a cup of coffee when you use a City lot or parkade on the weekend and extend your parking session for free! This program provides the flexibility to park your vehicle conveniently and securely, without having to pick it up until 10 a.m. the next morning.

Walk, Wheel or Spin
If you’d prefer an active mode of transportation, walk, wheel or spin downtown!

Submit an event


If you have an event you would like added, please email: downtownevents@calgary.ca
with the subject: Downtown Summer Festivals.

*Please note, this page is updated regularly. The festivals and events listed below are either organized, supported, or in good standing with The City of Calgary.

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