Summer starts here — in the heart of downtown Calgary! With more than 200 festivals and events lighting up the core, downtown will be bursting with music, art, food and community spirit all season long. Whether you’re planning a local getaway or hosting out-of-town guests, there’s never been a better time to explore all downtown has to offer.
The fun kicks off with Calgary’s beloved Canada Day celebration on July 1. Thanks to funding support from Canadian Heritage and shaped by feedback from more than 1,000 Calgarians, this year’s event is bigger, more interactive and packed with activities for all ages. The festivities start at 11 a.m. at The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (formerly Fort Calgary), St. Patrick’s Island and the Municipal Building.
Highlights include:
- Powwow and Indigenous programming
- Main Stage show at The Confluence featuring Canadian artists, including Lu Kala, Big Sugar, Aysanabee and headliner Sam Roberts Band
- Cultural clothing try-on and activitiesface painting, food trucks and more
- Fireworks above Stampede Park at 11 p.m.
Visit calgary.ca/CanadaDay for a full schedule and an interactive map.
Beyond the fun, these events bring real benefits to the city. Festivals drive tourism, support local businesses, and help build a vibrant, inclusive downtown. “With Calgary International Airport expecting over 5.8 million guests this summer and more Calgarians opting for local getaways, there is no better time to rediscover downtown,” says downtown, Ward 7 Councillor Terry Wong. “Whether you are here for a weekend or a lifelong Calgarian, downtown has something for you this summer.”
“Festivals are powerful drivers for tourism, creating opportunities for visitors to connect, explore, and extend their stay,” says Alisha Reynolds, President & CEO of Tourism Calgary. “As we launch into a busy summer, the Downtown Summer Festival Season contributes to the incredible momentum of Calgary’s growing visitor economy by inspiring trips, enriching visits with friends and family and showcasing the vibrancy of our city while creating significant economic opportunities for our local businesses.”
Forty per cent of the total annual visitation to Calgary comes between May and September, and as we continue to see a rise in spend year-after-year during the summer months, the Downtown Summer Festivals Season offers travelers near and far the opportunity to experience the best our city has to offer.
“The Calgary Downtown Association (CDA) is excited for another busy summer in the core. Festivals and events are key to a vibrant downtown; more people in the area will lead to increased economic activity for businesses,” says Mark Garner, Executive Director of the CDA.
“As we shape a greater downtown, festivals and events are a key piece of the puzzle,” adds Franca Gualtieri, Manager of Arts & Culture with The City of Calgary. “They activate public spaces, support local talent and create unforgettable moments for our community.”
To plan your unforgettable summer, visit calgary.ca/summerfestivals—a simple, searchable calendar that lets you browse events by date, interest, or filters like free and family-friendly.
-30-
The Canada Day kicked off a summer of festivals in downtown Calgary
Summer begins here, in the heart of the city center of Calgary! The city center will vibrate with more than 200 festivals and events, honoring music, art, gastronomy and a beautiful community spirit throughout the season. Whether you plan a local getaway or receive outdoor guests, this is the perfect time to discover everything that the city center has to offer.
The festivities start the 1is July with the long -awaited celebration of Canada’s Day in Calgary. Thanks to the financial support of Canadian heritage and comments of more than 1,000 Calgarians and Calgarian, this year’s edition is larger, more interactive and filled with activities for all ages. The festivities will start at 11 a.m. at the historic site The Confluence & Parkland (formerly Fort Calgary), at Île Saint-Patrick and the municipal building.
Highlights:
- POW-WOW and Aboriginal programming;
- Main scene show In The Confluence with Canadian artists, including Lu Kala, Big Sugar, Aysanabee and the headliner Sam Roberts Band;
- Cultural clothing fitting, activitieschildren’s makeup, street trucks and more;
- fireworks Above the Stampede Park at 11 p.m.
Consult the site calgary.ca/CanadaDay For the full schedule and the interactive card.
Beyond entertainment, these events bring real advantages to the city. Festivals stimulate tourism, support local businesses and help create a dynamic and inclusive city center. “Calgary international airport expects to receive more than 5,8 millions Visitors this summer, and many Calgarians favor local getaways. It is therefore the ideal moment to rediscover the city center, “says Terry Wong, city councilor in the district 7.” Whether you are here for a weekend or you are a long-standing citizen, the city center has something to offer you this summer. »»
“The festivals are powerful engines for tourism because they offer visitors opportunities to meet, explore the city and extend their stay,” says Alisha Reynolds, president and general and general of Tourism Calgary. “With the arrival of a busy summer, the festival season in the city center contributes to the remarkable momentum of the growing tourist economy of Calgary, by encouraging travel, enriching stays with friends or family and highlighting the dynamism of our city, while generating major economic benefits for our local businesses. »»
Forty percent of all annual visits to Calgary take place between May and September. With a continuous increase in spending each summer, the summer festival season in the city center allows travelers, which they come directly or indirectly, to live the best experiences that our city offers.
“The Calgary Downtown Association (CDA) is delighted with another summer full in the heart of the city. Festivals and events are essential to a dynamic city center; More visitors in the sector will lead to increased economic activity for businesses, ”says Mark Garner, CEO of the CDA.
“In our effort to shape an even more attractive city center, festivals and events represent a centerpiece,” adds Franca Gualtieri, director of arts and culture of the city of Calgary. “They animate public spaces, support local talents and create unforgettable moments for our community. »»
To plan your unforgettable summer, visit calgary.ca/summerfestivalsa simple and viewable calendar that allows you to look for events by date, by center of interest or using filters such as “free” or “adapted to families”.
-30-
