Festivals of Calgary
Related topics

The following is an incomplete list of annual festivals and cultural events in Calgary and the Calgary Region, in the province of Alberta, Canada.

This list includes festivals of diverse types, such as regional festivals, commerce festivals, fairs, food festivals, arts festivals, religious festivals, folk festivals, and recurring festivals on holidays.

List of festivals in Calgary

Whirling dervishes at Calgary Turkish Festival
Carifest 2007 opening day parade

See also: Category:Festivals in Calgary
Festival Occurrence Location Description
Calgary Stampede July 5-14, 2024 Calgary “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
Cowboys Music Festival July 4-15, 2024 Calgary: Stampede Park
Badlands Music Festival[1] July 6-14, 2024 Calgary
Fiestaval Latino Festival[2] July 19-21, 2024 Calgary: Olympic Plaza
Calgary Folk Music Festival (aka Calgary Folk Fest) July 25-28, 2024 Calgary: Prince’s Island Park folk music festival
Calgary International Blues Festival[3] July 29- Aug 4, 2024 Calgary
CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament July Calgary: Spruce Meadows equestrian show jumping tournament
Festival of Chariots (Rath Yatra)[4] July Calgary religious Hindu festival
High River International Food Festival[5] July High River food festival
Inglewood Sunfest[6] July Calgary: Inglewood street fair
Inspirefest[7] July Calgary festival for Alberta-based music, artists, artisans, horticulture, and vendors
Roundup MusicFest[8] July Calgary music festival co-produced by 51 North Productions and Live Nation Entertainment
ShadyGrove Bluegrass Festival[9] July Sundre bluegrass music festival
Shakespeare by the Bow (or Shakespeare On The Go)[10] July - August Calgary Shakespeare festival presented by Theatre Calgary
Chasing Summer Music Festival[11] Aug 3 & 4, 2024 Calgary: Max Bell Centre music festival presented by Live Nation Entertainment
Afrikadey! Film Festival[12] August Calgary
Afrikadey! Music Festival[12] August Calgary
Caesar Week[13] August Calgary week-long festival celebrating caesar cocktails
Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival[14] August Calgary
Calgary Fringe Festival[15] August Calgary fringe theatre festival
Calgary Japanese Festival “Omatsuri”[16] August Calgary
Calgary Pride August Calgary LGBTQ+ Pride parade and festival
Carifest[17] August Calgary Caribbean cultural festival
Chinatown Street Festival August Calgary Chinese cultural festival in Chinatown
Expo Latino[18] August Calgary Latino cultural festival
GlobalFest August Calgary consists of OneWorld Festival and International Fireworks Festival
Great Outdoors Comedy Festival August Calgary: Prince's Island Park Outdoor comedy festival presented by Trixstar LIVE
GuitarFestWest[19] August Calgary: Mount Royal University week-long classical guitar festival
Heritage Day Festival[20] August (first Monday) Calgary
International Reggae Festival August Calgary
Marda Gras[21] August Calgary: Marda Loop street festival
Mountain View International Festival of Song and Chamber Music[22] August Calgary
When Words Collide[23] August Calgary festival for commercial and literary fiction
Tabestoon Festival[24] August (biennially) Calgary Iranian arts and culture festival, organized by the Persian Gulf Foundation
Taste of Calgary[25] August (third weekend) Calgary food and drink festival
Artember[26] September Airdrie art festival
Beakerhead[27] September Calgary celebration of art, science and engineering
Barbecue on the Bow[28] September Calgary culinary festival and barbecue competition
BrazilFest[29] September Calgary
Calgary Corporate Challenge September Games[30] September Calgary 2-week corporate team-building event that features various competitions "focusing on teamwork and networking"[30]
Calgary Highland Games[31] September (Labour Day weekend) Calgary Celtic sports, music and dance
Canmore Highland Games September (Labour Day weekend) Canmore Celtic sports, music and dance
Cochrane Lions Labour Day Rodeo[32] September (Labour Day weekend) Cochrane rodeo
Heritage Park Railway Days September Heritage Park
Calgary Arab Film Festival October Calgary
Calgary International Film Festival September / October Calgary
Calgary Tattoo & Arts Festival[33] October Calgary
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation "CIBC Run for the Cure" October Calgary
Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival[34] October Calgary
Wordfest: Calgary International Writers' Festival October Calgary
Calgary Justice Film Festival (formerly Marda Loop Justice Film Festival)[35] November Calgary environmental and social justice film festival
CUFF.Docs Documentary Film Festival[36] November Calgary Non-fiction film festival presented by the Calgary Underground Film Festival
Otafest Aurora November Calgary anime convention, smaller version of Otafest in the spring/summer
Airdrie Festival Of Lights[37] December Airdrie Rides, Christmas lights, refreshments
Emerging Artism December Calgary
Once Upon A Christmas December Calgary
Zoolights[38] December / January Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo 6-week Christmas/holiday festival
High Performance Rodeo January Calgary 3-week international festival of live art produced by One Yellow Rabbit
International Festival of Animated Objects January Calgary
Calgary Midwinter Bluesfest February Calgary
Chinook Blast[1] February 2-19, 2024 Calgary Tourism Calgary's winter festival
Picture this…film festival February Calgary postponed since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as of 2022[39]
Artifact Small Format Film Festival (formerly $100 Film Festival) March Calgary celluloid-based film festival
Gluten Free Expo[40] March Calgary
MTT Fest[41] March Calgary
Rodeo Royal March Calgary
Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo[42] April Calgary
Calgary Beer Festival April Calgary
Calgary International Spoken Word Festival April Calgary
Calgary Maple Festival des Sucres[43] April Calgary
Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) April Calgary
Vaisakhi Mela April Calgary Punjabi spring harvest festival
FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival May + June Calgary
Calgary International Children's Festival[44] May Calgary
Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival May Calgary
Heritage Park Festival of Quilts May Calgary: Heritage Park
Lilac Festival May Calgary: Beltline + Mission street festival
Otafest[45] May Calgary anime convention
Puppet Power: Festival of Ideas[46][47] May Calgary
Calgary Greek Festival June Calgary
Commuter Challenge Week[48] June (week of June 5) Calgary
Ignite! Theatre-Arts Festival June Calgary
Light & Motion Prop Arts and Circus Festival[49] June Calgary
MEC Bikefest[50] June Calgary
MEC Paddlefest[51] June Calgary
Sled Island Music and Arts Festival[52] June Calgary independent music and arts festival

Most attended festivals

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Calgary Stampede

Main article: Calgary Stampede
Rider at the Stampede Rodeo

The city of Calgary is famous for the Calgary Stampede, a large agricultural fair and rodeo held every July. The Stampede officially bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth". It features an internationally recognized rodeo competition, a midway, stage shows, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon races, First Nations exhibitions, and pancake breakfasts around the city. It is among the largest and most well known festivals in Canada. The event has a 111 year history. In 2005, attendance at the 10-day rodeo and exhibition totaled 1,242,928, which set a new record. Attendance at the Stampede Parade (North America's second longest parade), which takes place downtown on opening day, is usually somewhere between 300,000 and 400,000. [citation needed] During Stampede Week, many of the city's residents dress in country attire, and many businesses decorate their stores and offices in western style.[citation needed]

Lilac Festival

Main article: Lilac Festival (Calgary)

The Lilac Festival is an annual street festival held in Calgary, Alberta. In 2005 it had an estimated 120,000 attendance.[53] The festival takes place along the 13 blocks of 4th Street (between 13th Avenue South and Elbow Drive) in the Beltline and Mission neighborhoods.[53]

Sun and Salsa Festival

Main article: Sun and Salsa Festival

The Sun and Salsa Festival is an annual festival put on in the Kensington Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) of Calgary.[54][55][56][57][58] Attendance of the festival has grown to around 100,000 in 2010.[59]

Former festivals

This is a list of festivals that no longer exist, have been on a prolonged hiatus, or festivals that were once held in Calgary but have since moved to elsewhere.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "BADLANDS". BADLANDS. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  2. ^ "Fiestaval Latin festival – Fiestaval Latin festival". www.fiestaval.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  3. ^ McLeod, Cindy. "Calgary International Blues Festival". www.calgarybluesfest.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  4. ^ "Festival of Chariots | Alberta Canada". www.travelalberta.com. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  5. ^ "High River International Food Festival | 4th Avenue SW, High River". To Do Canada. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  6. ^ Sunfest, Inglewood. "Inglewood Sunfest". Inglewood Sunfest. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  7. ^ "Festival | Inspire Fest | Calgary". INSPIRE FEST. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  8. ^ "Information – The Official Roundup MusicFest". Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  9. ^ ShadyGrove Bluegrass Festival
  10. ^ "Shakespeare by the Bow | Theatre Calgary". www.theatrecalgary.com. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  11. ^ "Chasing Summer Festival - July 30 & 31, 2022". Chasing Summer Festival - July 30 & 31, 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  12. ^ a b "Lobby". Afrikadey!. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  13. ^ "Calgary - Caesar Week Registration now open!". Caesar Week. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  14. ^ "Calgary Dragon Boat Society". Calgary Dragon Boat Society. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  15. ^ CARBON. "Calgary Fringe Festival". www.calgaryfringe.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  16. ^ "Calgary Japanese Festival "Omatsuri"". Calgary Japanese Festival “Omatsuri”. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  17. ^ "Carifest | Calgary's Caribbean Carnival". Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  18. ^ "Home". EXPO LATINO. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  19. ^ "GuitarFest West | MRU". www.mtroyal.ca. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  20. ^ "Calgary Folk Arts Council". Calgary Folk Arts Council. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  21. ^ "Marda Gras". Visit Marda Loop. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  22. ^ "Mountain View Festival | Classical Music Concerts". mountainviewfestival. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  23. ^ "When Words Collide 2018". www.whenwordscollide.org. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  24. ^ "Tabestoon Festival 2016". www.tabestoonfest.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  25. ^ "Taste of Calgary – Taste of Calgary". www.tasteofcalgary.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  26. ^ "Home". ARTember 2020. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  27. ^ beakerhead.com
  28. ^ "BBQ on the Bow | BBQ Competition and Festival - Calgary, Alberta". BBQ on the Bow. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  29. ^ Geiger, Matt (2021-08-16). "BrazilFest". Eau Claire Market. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  30. ^ a b "Calgary Corporate Challenge".
  31. ^ "Calgary Highland Games". FestivalSeekers. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  32. ^ "Cochrane Rodeo | Cochrane Lions Club". Lions Rodeo. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  33. ^ "Tattoo Calgary Home". Archived from the original on 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  34. ^ "Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival". Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  35. ^ "About". Calgary Justice Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  36. ^ "CUFF.Docs Documentary Film Festival - Calgary Underground Film Festival". www.calgaryundergroundfilm.org. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  37. ^ "Welcome to the Airdrie Festival Of Lights". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  38. ^ "Wilder Institute 25 Years of ZOOLIGHTS! | Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo". www.calgaryzoo.com. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  39. ^ "2020 Festival". Picture this... film festival. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  40. ^ "Gluten Free Expo". Gluten Free Expo. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  41. ^ "MTT Fest".
  42. ^ "The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo".
  43. ^ "CALGARY MAPLE FESTIVAL DES SUCRES". CALGARY MAPLE FESTIVAL DES SUCRES (in French). Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  44. ^ "Calgary International Children's Festival | May 24 to 27, 2017". The Calgary International Children's Festival. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  45. ^ "Otafest - May".
  46. ^ McTavish (30 April 2017). "Puppet Power - Festival of Ideas". WP Puppet Theatre. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  47. ^ "Puppet Power - May". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
  48. ^ "Commuter Challenge". www.commuterchallenge.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  49. ^ "Light and Motion - June 11th and 12th". Archived from the original on 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  50. ^ "MEC Calgary Bikefest".
  51. ^ "MEC Calgary Paddlefest".
  52. ^ "Sled Island Music Festival". Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  53. ^ a b "Lilac Festival". 4th Street BRZ. Archived from the original on 2007-05-20. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  54. ^ White, Tarina (2008-07-21). "Smokin' salsa social". Calgary Sun. Canoe Inc. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-22.((cite news)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  55. ^ White, Tarina (2008-07-20). "Sun and Salsa suits Calgarians just fine". Calgary Sun. Canoe Inc.
  56. ^ Sylvester, Krista (2008-07-21). "Sun and Salsa serves up spicy Sunday". Metro News (Calgary). Archived from the original on 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  57. ^ Dormer, Dave (2008-07-20). "Sun-sational salsa adds spice to city". Calgary Sun. Canoe Inc.
  58. ^ "Kensington Heats Up With Sun and Salsa". visitkensington.com/sunsalsa. Kensington BRZ. Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  59. ^ Dormer, Dave (2010-07-25). "Street fest hot, hot, hot". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  60. ^ "The Bow River Flow is a go". Calgary. 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  61. ^ "Bow River Flow". Archived from the original on 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  62. ^ "Turkish INTERCULTURAL Festival". Eventbrite. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  63. ^ "CTF : Home". www.calgaryturkishfestival.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  64. ^ FozzyFest (2011). "FozzyFest".
  65. ^ "Homepage | Victoria Park Calgary". www.victoriapark.org. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  66. ^ "History". mmb.international. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  67. ^ Sun and Salsa Festival [permanent dead link]
  68. ^ "X-Fest Calgary". CBC.ca. Retrieved 19 Dec 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Festivals in Calgary.
Attractions and landmarks in Calgary
Categories