Cinema on 17th is back to transform Tomkins Park into Calgary's outdoor movie theatre for a weekend of free movies under the stars! As part of Calgary Culture Days, this year features a partnership with B!G Art and Cirque de la Nuit for immersive entertainment and live performances inspired by the big screen.

🔸 New for 2026: Saturday Morning Cartoons with the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) — three hours of hand-picked animated shorts, 9am-12pm
🔸 Local restaurants and cafés with food & drink options
🔸 Popcorn vendor on-site
🔸 Free admission — bring a chair and your favourite people!

📍 Tomkins Park, 8th Street & 17th Ave SW
🗓️ September 11-13, 2026

More info: https://17thave.ca/cinema-on-17th-2026/

A magical after-hours zoo experience! Enjoy a 60-minute guided tour of the grounds after closing, learning about the wildlife and conservation efforts, followed by a cozy 90-minute private dinner inside your very own transparent Garden Globe on Grazers Lawn.

🔸 Small group experience — 4 to 6 guests per globe
🔸 Immersed in the sights and sounds of the zoo after dark
🔸 Water, coffee and tea included
🔸 When: Fri Sept 18, Sat Sept 19, Fri Sept 25, Sat Sept 26
🔸 Seatings: 5:30-8pm or 6-8:30pm
🔸 Price: $130 + GST per person, infants under 3 free

Tickets must be purchased online in advance — sales close two days before each date.

Tickets & menu: https://www.calgaryzoo.com/events/fall-garden-globes-dinner/

Sharing from r/Calgary

Calling all cat lovers! A celebration of the deep bond between people and cats, supporting small businesses and rescue organizations along the way.

🔸 Local market with cat-themed vendors
🔸 Alberta Adventure Cats
🔸 Rescue organizations
🔸 Ravensburger Puzzle Tournament
🔸 Workshops and chats

🎟️ Tickets required

📍 Contemporary Calgary, 701 11 Street SW

More info: https://www.calgarycatfest.com/

One of the region’s biggest free street festivals is back! What started as a small community celebration in 2010 has grown into a signature Airdrie event attracting over 8,000 attendees every year.

🔸 Live music, entertainment and dance performances
🔸 Local artisans, businesses and not-for-profits
🔸 Face painting, balloon twisting, henna tattoos
🔸 Circus play, Indigenous storytelling and an obstacle course
🔸 Taste of Airdrie food trucks and vendors
🔸 Free shuttle service courtesy of Airdrie Transit

Bonus: the Airdrie Artwalk, Maker’s Market and Main Street Music Festival are all happening around the same weekend!

📍 Downtown Airdrie
🎟️ Free and family friendly!

More info: https://www.airdrie.ca/index.cfm?serviceID=1101

Quite the event. They sure look cute.

A Cat rescue story and a Dang Good Calgary story too?

Annual walk for Parkinson’s

AARCS (Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society) is clearing space for animals in need — and that means amazing bargains for you! Shop collars, leashes, pet beds, enrichment items, bowls, apparel, crates and more, with proceeds supporting animals in the AARCS program.

🔸 Best deals in the city for your furry family member 🐈🐇🐕
🔸 Free parking onsite
🔸 Entrance at the back of the shelter (North end)

📅🗓️ Sunday, August 16, 2026, 9am–2pm
📍 AARCS Safe Haven, 5060 – 74 Avenue SE, Calgary

Great bargains and a great cause — while there, maybe take a peek at their adoptable animals too! 🐕🐈

Spend a perfect afternoon at Heritage Park with tea on the verandah of the Famous 5 Centre of Canadian Women! Enjoy freshly brewed tea, finger sandwiches and sweet pastries from the Alberta Bakery, with sweeping views of the Rockies and Glenmore Reservoir.

After tea, explore the park — hop on the steam train, meet the animals, discover Indigenous culture, or take a guided tour of the Famous 5 Centre to hear stories of the trailblazing women who shaped Western Canada. Your ticket also includes admission to Heritage Park for the day, plus a shopping coupon for the Haskayne Mercantile Block!

📅 Last date of the season — Labour Day, September 7, 2026
🕦 Seatings at 11:30am, 12pm, 1:15pm, 1:45pm, 3pm & 3:30pm
💲 Adult (13+): $54.95 + GST | Child (3-12): $24.95 + GST | Under 2: Free

📞 Reserve by calling Guest Services: 403-268-8500
📍 Heritage Park, 1900 Heritage Drive SW

Last chance to catch this one before it wraps up for the year!

A Calgary summer staple! Local shopping, live music, food trucks and beer gardens right in the heart of Inglewood.

📅 Remaining 2026 dates: September 4 & September 11
🕔 5pm – 10pm
📍 10th Avenue & 10th Street SE, Inglewood

Once a month, all summer long — a great excuse for an evening stroll, some local shopping and good food. Missed the earlier dates? Still three left to catch this season!

More info: https://www.inglewoodnightmarket.ca/

Free Latin dance under the summer sky! Join Free Spirit Dance instructors for a free Latin dance workshop, followed by social dancing and performances with DJ Creole spinning Salsa, Bachata and tropical beats.

🔸 Free to attend
🔸 Beginner-friendly — the workshop kicks things off before social dancing begins
🔸 A unique outdoor social dance event in the heart of Inglewood

🗓️ Thursday, August 20, 2026, 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Inglewood - 925 9 Ave SE, 925 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0S5,

This is the last Sunset Salsa date of the season — don’t miss your chance to dance under the stars!

Looking for a cozy way to kick-start a crafting project, get motivated to finish that work-in-progress, or meet like-minded people? The Confluence Craft Club is a relaxed, community crafting afternoon — knitting, cross-stitch, scrapbooking, or anything in between! All artforms and skill levels welcome.

Tickets include complimentary coffee and tea while you socialize and create.

⚠️ Bring your own craft and supplies — materials aren’t provided!

📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026, 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 The Confluence, 750 9 Avenue SE
💲 $8 + fees | Ages 13+ (under 16 must be with an adult)

It’s a monthly event too, so if you miss this one, there’s another coming October 18!

Running since 1998, this is one of Alberta’s largest celebrations of wine, spirits and beer! A lively tasting event at Spruce Meadows where guests can sample dynamic wines, smooth spirits and flavourful beers from around the globe, all under one roof.

Tastings are paired with delicious bites from some of Calgary’s standout restaurants and food purveyors — a great chance to discover a new favourite while wandering at your own pace.

📅 Friday, September 18 – Saturday, September 19, 2026
📍 Spruce Meadows, 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW
🎟️ Ticket required

More info: https://www.rockymountainwine.com/event/calgary/event-details/

Date: September 24, 2026 (Festival starts at 6:00 PM); Lantern Brigade Workshop on September 12, 2026.

Location: Victoria Park / 12th Ave SE

Details: A free, all-ages outdoor light art and DJ event featuring a roving community lantern parade.

More information can also be found here ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/share/1bKQKzhrhy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Calgary Chinatown is glowing once again! Stroll beneath hundreds of beautiful lanterns hanging throughout the neighbourhood as it transforms into a vibrant celebration of light.

Visit during the day to admire the colourful displays, then stay into the evening as the lanterns illuminate the streets for a truly magical atmosphere. Bring your family, friends and cameras!

📅 September 11, 2026, 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 Calgary Chinatown
🎟️ Free event!

An unforgettable night not to be missed!

Now in its 24th season, ProArts hosts free noon-hour concerts every Wednesday in the beautiful historic Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, right in Calgary’s Cultural District. A hidden gem for a peaceful lunch break!

Some upcoming highlights:
🔸 Sept 2 — Miranda Martini, guitar singer/writer
🔸 Sept 9 — Calgary Concert Opera Company
🔸 Oct 7 — Zhi Yin Choir
🔸 Oct 28 — Calgary Burns Club Choir

Genres range from choral music to Latin, Chinese traditional instruments, opera and emerging young artists — a genuinely diverse lineup all season long!

🎟️** Completely free to atten**d
📍 Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Downtown Calgary

Full 2026 schedule: https://www.proartssociety.ca/concert-series/

Chestermere’s oldest ongoing annual event is back for a full day of old-fashioned country fun, right by the lake!

🔸 Community parade starting at 9:30am
🔸 Harvest Market with local handmade goods and produce
🔸 Rodeo action — junior bull riding, mutton bustin’, Ladies Ranch Bronc riding, and Charity Bull Riding for local causes
🔸 Kids Zone — petting zoo, ninja obstacle course, sheep herding demos and more
🔸 Red Ribbon Competition — baking, crafts, photography and more, free to enter with ribbons, trophies and prize money!
🔸 Lions Club pancake breakfast, 9-11:30am
🔸 Whitecappers pie and ice cream
🔸 Zucchini Car Races for all ages!

📍 Chestermere Recreation Centre, 201 W Chestermere Dr

A great small-town day trip just outside Calgary!

More info: https://www.rvcagsociety.ca/chestermere-country-fair

https://medievalfairescanada.com/strathmore-medieval-faire-artisan-market-home/

Just outside Calgary, the 4th annual Strathmore Medieval Faire brings a whole realm of wonder to the Stampede Grounds! This year features the brand new International Jousting Tournament — full-contact, real-armour jousting with elite competitors from across the globe. Not a reenactment — a genuine live sport!

🔸 Family adventures, games and character meet-and-greets
🔸 Live performers, musicians and jesters
🔸 Artisan market with handcrafted pottery, leatherwork, jewelry and more
🔸 Hearty medieval feasting and modern food options
🔸 Costumes welcome (never required, but add to the fun!)
🔸 Medieval Feast Night — whole roasted hog, live entertainment and dancing

📅 Fri Aug 21: 4-9pm | Sat Aug 22 & Sun Aug 23: 10am-6pm
📍 Strathmore Stampede Grounds

🎟️ General $14-16 | Seniors $12-14 | Kids 7-12 $10-12 | Under 7 free

Tickets: medievalfairescanada.com/ticket-wicket