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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! 

2024 BUMP Festival Trinity Ball and Rave

When: August 17

Prepare yourselves for an unforgettable night where the fierce energy of a Kiki Ball collides with the pulsating beats of an outdoor rave. Presented in partnership with VOGUE YYC & AMBIEN, please save the date for the epic wrap up party to the 2024 BUMP Festival: The Trinity KiKi Ball & Rave!

4th Street Night Market

When: August 17 and September 14

Visit the lively main street neighborhood for food, fun, local finds, and friends. This year, the market will be at the heart of the Beltline due to Mission Bridge construction. This event is pet-friendly!

Chinatown Street Festival

When: August 17

Where: Chinatown (Third Ave. S.E.)

Chinatown Street Festival is an annual event in the heart of Calgary’s Chinatown featuring cultural and food exhibitors, activities, and live performances, including dance, singing, martial arts.

Muslim Heritage Day Festival

When: August 17

Where: Olympic Plaza

Muslim Heritage Day aims to introduce Muslim culture and heritage to fellow Canadians while building bridges between diverse cultural communities.

Calgary Pop-Up Care Village

When: August 21

Where: Olympic Plaza

The Calgary Pop-Up Care Village is a festival supporting those facing vulnerabilities like homelessness, addiction, mental health issues, and poverty. This event honours guests' inherent dignity and bridges the Calgarian community with underserved populations, offering equitable access to essential services such as healthcare, clothing, haircuts, food, and more.

Wild After Hours: Drag Dinner

When: August 23

Get ready to unleash your inner diva and sashay your way to a night of unforgettable fun. Drag your crew or your hot date to the wildest dining experience in town, where tasty treats and fierce performances collide. Show your pride and enjoy a drag show hosted by the talented Nada Nuff. You’ll enjoy a delicious spread from the zoo’s award-winning culinary team and performances from talent at HireHeelsYYC.  But hold onto your feathered boas – your ticket also includes admission starting at 1:00 p.m. so you can enjoy a whole day of fun.

Great Outdoors Comedy Festival

When: August 23 - 25

The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival features some of the best comedy legends in live shows that promise great laughs, good times, and a celebration of all forms of performance comedy. 

Expressitival

When: August 24

This inclusive event features all types of artists from all walks of life aiming to break down barriers by providing an accessible platform for artists to interact with the greater community. Experience over one hundred artists showcasing their art in an interactive way through live performances, exhibitions, installations, demos, workshops and so much more.  

Ukrainian Independence Day

When: August 24

Celebrating 33 years of Ukrainian Independence with Ukrainian Community in Calgary, this exciting event will feature a variety of performances, special guests, and booths showcasing active organizations in Calgary.

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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