Every year, Calgary hosts more than 80 celebrations, covering everything from food, science, and innovation to railroads, salsa, and quilting. The city also offers cultural festivals borrowed from other countries, including Scotland, Iran, Japan, and Brazil.
As a hub of arts, Calgary offers its residents and visitors literary, music, and theater events, celebrations for local artisans, comic and anime shows, acrobatic performances, and more. Here are 8 of the best festivals in Calgary, listed below on calgaryski.net.
1. Calgary Stampede
One of the largest cowboy rodeo festivals in North America takes place every July for 10 days. During this time, spectators watch rodeo and exciting competitions, as well as parades, stage shows, concerts, exhibitions, and other outdoor events.
The festival calls itself “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” attracting over a million visitors each year. Rodeo and chuckwagon racing events are broadcast across Canada. However, the event is often criticized for the use of animals in its shows.
2. Beakerhead
This multi-day festival is held every September. It combines art, science, and technology to encourage Calgary residents to pursue scientific education and innovation. During Beakerhead, you can see interactive art exhibitions, engineering installations, and participate in various workshops and competitions.
You’ll ride in the MondoSpider, play on a piano connected to 30-foot Tesla coils, or enjoy dinner on an eco-friendly-powered Ferris wheel, all accompanied by live music. Don’t miss the final party with circus performances, dancing, and laser shows. Many events are held outdoors and continue despite rainy weather, so be ready for Calgary’s unpredictable climate.
3. High Performance Rodeo
High Performance Rodeo is an annual festival of avant-garde theater, cinema, music, and dance. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with cowboys. The event takes place over three weeks in January-February, offering the chance to see touring performances from across Canada, renowned international shows, and new experimental works from artists. The program is bold, cutting-edge, fun, and provocative.
The festival is organized by the One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre in collaboration with many major arts organizations in Calgary. It serves as a launching platform for local artists and a center of attention on the global stage.
The shows take place in unusual locations in and around Calgary, including pedestrian paths, boxing rings, and elevators. Take a break from sightseeing to enjoy a free lunchtime concert or a cabaret performance.
4. Lilac Festival
Every year on the first Sunday of June, when the lilacs bloom in Calgary and the festival season begins, the city celebrates the free, one-day Lilac Festival – a celebration of local crafts and artisans.
The day starts with a grand parade of performers in colorful costumes. Afterward, visitors head to stalls where hundreds of vendors sell handmade jewelry, clothing, home decorations, and accessories.
You can enjoy various snacks and drinks at kiosks from the best cafes and restaurants in the city. Around six concert stages feature music from local and regional bands, and dance groups, youth choirs, and martial arts masters perform. Street performers do magic tricks or sculpt animals from balloons, and the inflatable castle provides hours of fun for the kids.
5. Calgary Folk Music Festival
This four-day folk music festival takes place every July at Prince Island Park. The festival features top-notch folk music, as well as funk, indie, country, and other genres. Music icons from around the world perform on daytime and evening stages during concerts and workshops. This provides a family-friendly cultural and musical celebration for local residents and tourists.
A unique feature of the festival is the workshops held on Saturday and Sunday at the side stages. These workshops, also known as “jams” or “sessions,” bring together 4-5 festival artists who perform together on one stage. These performances may be from a single style or a mix of genres. Artists take turns performing each other’s compositions or improvise in a “jam” format, engaging with the audience in unique and unexpected ways, sharing not only their songs but also their life stories.
Additionally, during the festival, the National Music Centre holds a three-day intensive Folk Boot Camp, where Calgary Folk Music Festival artists teach songwriting, arrangement, vocal techniques, and guitar playing.
The festival also features a craft market where you can buy handmade soaps and stationery, as well as dozens of food kiosks with international cuisine.
6. GlobalFest
GlobalFest is a cultural festival that takes place every August, honoring the international influences that shaped Calgary. Food pavilions offer dishes from Indonesian, Caribbean, and Ukrainian cuisines. There is also a night market where you can buy clothing, handmade jewelry, and unique gifts.
During GlobalFest, local artists perform traditional dances, contemporary music, and martial arts on several stages. You can also enjoy five nights of fireworks, designed by pyrotechnicians from around the world. The brilliant show of colorful fireworks lights up the reflective lake at Elliston Park.
7. Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
A fun festival dedicated to pop culture, the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo is a colossal pop-culture party, featuring comics, science fiction, games, fantasy, horror, and more. It takes place every April.
You can attend Q&A sessions with actors, artists, or writers to hear about their upcoming projects or join hands-on workshops. You also get the chance to meet your favorite stars during autograph sessions. There are costume contests for both kids and adults, a red carpet for cosplayers, and a massive cosplay parade through downtown Calgary.
8. Calgary International Beer Festival
This large-scale tasting event takes place every May. Over 200 Canadian breweries offer visitors at least 700 types of beer. Festival-goers have the excellent opportunity to explore the craft alcoholic beverage industry, taste delicious dishes at Calgary’s best restaurants, support major charitable organizations, and immerse themselves in the amazing community of beer and cider enthusiasts, as well as other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
You will enjoy performances from incredible local musicians and soak in the atmosphere at the legendary Cold Garden lounge, where DJs perform throughout the festival.
At the festival’s seminars, you’ll learn the art of brewing. The Brew Master seminars are a great way to learn about the beer-making process, while Cooking with Beer explores various tasty ways to use beer in cooking.
In 2015, the festival introduced Beer University, where “students” can learn about the history of beer, how it’s made, and the different brewing styles.