Calgary is a great city for enjoying a wide variety of festivals: food, international culture, music and more… there really is always something to celebrate! The festival season in Calgary is amazing in the summer. Without further ado… here are the festivals coming up in Calgary and area.
BridgeFest 2019
The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth invites you to come and celebrate diversity in Calgary at BridgeFest! Immerse yourself in live cultural performances, engage in crafts and interactive booths, and learn about organizations that support families across the city. This is a great opportunity for families and friends to explore resilient communities who contribute to the diversity of Calgaryâs landscape. This event is FREE!
Read more about it here.
Mexifest
The Latino Folkloric Society presents Mexifest! Mexifest is a family-oriented, multicultural arts and entertainment festival highlighting Mexican culture. It takes place July 5 â 7, 2019, in downtown Calgary at the Eau Claire Plaza. There will be two entertainment stages, one for dancers and one for live bands, and a wrestling ring with real luchadores (wrestlers) from Mexico! Of course, youâll also get to enjoy the most authentic and delicious Mexican food, liquor vendors, artisan market, kids area, and so much more. Read more about it here.
Calgary Turkish Festival
Come experience Turkish culture at the Calgary Turkish Festival from July 12 â 14, 2019. Enjoy art, dance, music, and wonderful food. Entry to the festival is free and youâll get a chance to appreciate Turkish hospitality, culture, heritage and cuisine. There will be kidsâ activities, a market, and fine Turkish cuisine from sumptuous kebabs to mouth-watering pastries. Read more about it here.
Fiestaval Latin Festival
Fiestaval lets you have a vacation to Latin America without leaving Calgary! Fiestaval Latin Festival is a family-oriented, multicultural, arts and entertainment festival highlighting the Latin American culture from July 19 â 21, 2019. Each year, this festival attracts a full weekend of dancers, singers, and musicians. There will be lots of artisan vendors to explore . . . and of course, who can forget all the amazing food that will showcase all the different cultures and countries! Read more about it here.
Rath Yatra: Festival of Chariots
Rath Yatra, the Festival of Chariots, is in Calgary on July 20, 2019. The procession begins at 10:30 am from 1st St and 8th Ave (Stephen Ave) and ends at 11th Street (Shaw Millenium Park) at 2 pm. Then you can enjoy a cultural festival until 5 pm. There will be free vegetarian and vegan food, music and dance, a kidsâ area, and more! Read more about it here.
Calgary Folk Fest
Every July, the Calgary Folk Music Festival comes to Princeâs Island Park, entertaining young and old alike, with a diverse blend of music. Sharing a rich sense of community, the Folk Festival offers a wonderful outdoor experience filled with mutual enjoyment of music and other activities. Food vendors, a beer garden, a childrenâs play area, and a craft market will enhance the weekend. Read more about it here.
Calgary Arab Fest
Bring the family to the Calgary Arab Fest on July 27 â 28, 2019, in Olympic Plaza. This free cultural festival will help you learn more about the diverse Arabic cultures across the Middle East. Explore the exhibition tents and discover Middle Eastern dance, art, and fashion, while enjoying authentic Arabic cuisine and coffee! Read more about it here.
Calgary International Blues Fest
The Calgary International Blues Festival is presenting a week of concerts, workshops, and special events from July 29 â August 4, 2019. They are celebrating 15 years this summer. Bring the family down to Shaw Millennium Park for music, markets, and great food. This is summertime fun at its best! Read more about it here.
SunFest Inglewood
Come out to a feisty summer festival in the heart of Inglewood, and seize the Sunfest on Saturday, August 3, 2019!
At Sunfest, there will be something everyone in the family will love. The kids will love a jump in the bouncer. You might discover a great new band, be amazed by the street performers, or go searching for a trendy fashion; there is no shortage of things happening. Read more about it here.
Calgary Fringe Festival
From August 2 â 10, 2019, the Fringe Festival is coming to Inglewood, Calgary! Fringes are uncensored, non-juried theatre festivals. (Donât worry â there will be kid-friendly stuff.) The first Fringe started in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947, and has grown into one of the biggest arts festivals in the world. Anything goes in this theatre venue, so come prepared for the quirky, the wacky, or the simply unconventional. Read more about it here.
 Taste of Calgary
Taste of Calgary is the cityâs most appetizing festival, giving visitors the chance to sample the cityâs food, beverages, music, and other cool things. From August 8 â 11, 2019, discover Calgaryâs global cuisines from a mix of unique restaurants and beverage companies, plus get a taste of Calgaryâs great musicians!
Read more about it here.
Omatsuri
âOmatsuriâ is the Japanese term for a âtraditional festival.â Visitors to this festival on August 10, 2019, will be treated to authentic Japanese customs, presentations of traditional music, dance & song, martial arts demonstrations, and more! There will be games and activities for the kids and galleries of local Japanese arts and crafts, as well as several food kiosks featuring traditional Japanese cuisine. Read more about it here.
Tour de Bowness Street Festival
The Tour de Bowness and the Bowness Street Festival combine to bring a day of racing, great food, live music, and local vendors and artisans on August 5, 2019, from 11 am â 4 pm! Promoting local talent is a positive way to build our communities to be stronger and healthier. Read more about it here.
Dragon Boat Festival
Come to North Glenmore Park on August 9 â 11, 2019, for the Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival; itâs an unforgettable experience! Stemmed from a 2000-year-old Chinese legend, Dragon Boat Racing is still very active and remains a tradition to this day. The dragon boat competition illustrates comradery, teamwork and inspiration. There are other activities and itâs fun for the whole family! Read more about it here.
No Greater Love Music Festival
f your family is looking for a music festival that you can all enjoy together, The No Greater Love Festival is worth checking out this summer on August 10 â 11, 2019. It is the largest faith-based music festival in Canada. The festival promises two jam-packed days of uplifting and inspiring music, featuring international and Canadian artists. Besides the music, however, there are lots of other fun things to do: food trucks, a vendor alley, a First Nations Village, a skateboard park, and a kidsâ zone. Read more about it here.
Marda Gras Festival
Marda Gras is a FREE family-friendly event on the streets of Marda Loop in Calgary. On Sunday, August 11, 2019, come out to celebrate the festivalâs 35th year in the community! Enjoy live music, dance and cultural performances, a fun kidsâ area, unique shopping, and lots of great food! There is something for each member of the family and best of all, itâs no charge to attend!
Read more about it here.
Franco Festival
Franco Festival Calgary will be held on August 17, 2019, at Olympic Plaza, with FREE family fun. This event will offer performances of music and dance with artists representing the diversity of the Francophonie, a cultural village where you could discover multiple products from different cultures, a childrenâs village, and a bistro and a tasting corner, all offered in a safe, family atmosphere.
Read more about it here.
Photo Credits: Nathalie Terekhova c/o J&J Lawrence Photography â at GlobalFest 2015
Globalfest
The skies of Calgary are going to light up during the annual Globalfest extravaganza! The annual fireworks festival kicks off at Elliston Park on August 15, 2019, with five nights of fireworks. The USA will begin the festivities on August 15 and the grand finale of this explosive event will be on August 24, 2019.
The festival will also feature food vendors, a childrenâs village presented by Shakerâs Fun Centre, the Oneworld Festival, a Night Market, and more fun.
Read more about it here.
Carifest
Calgaryâs Carifest celebrates Caribbean arts and culture from August 16 â 17, 2019. There will be a steel drum concert on Friday night and the festival will kick off on Saturday at Olympic Plaza with a parade down Stephen Avenue. Afterwards, you can join the celebration at Shaw Millennium Park and enjoy local, international, and Caribbean entertainment, food, art and more. Read more about it here.
Chinatown Street Festival
The Chinatown Street Festival on August 17, 2019, is the annual premier festival in Calgary Chinatown. The festival is a combination of multi-cultural performances on stage and off stage, cultural food and retail booths, and cultural family fun activities and entertainment. This is a festival that offers all ages plenty of food, entertainment, and shopping. The Chinatown eateries and malls are also open to welcome all visitors. Read more about it here.
 BBQ on the Bow
BBQ on the Bow is an annually occurring festival. It takes place at the Montgomery Community Association (Shouldice Park) during Labour Day long weekend. The mission is to spread the love, passion, and joy for âsouthern styleâ BBQ while simultaneously celebrating and promoting local products, businesses, and musicians. The BBQ on the Bow is free to attend and aims to provide something for all ages. Come out and enjoy food demonstrations, music, beer gardens, a kid zone, and a marketplace. Read more about it here.
Honens Music Festival
As summerâs rays fade into fall, the Honens Festival presents an outdoor chamber music concert. Itâs one piano, one accordion, and a quartet of strings! On September 8, 2019, bring your sunglasses and a picnic blanket (and donât forget the kids!) to soak up the warmth of the September sun at Central Memorial Park from 2 pm â 3:30 pm for this open-air concert. Read more about it here.
 Circle – The Traveling Carnival
Circle is an annual carnival of local food, beer, music, art, and performers. Circle provides kids, pets, and families a green, comfortable, dynamic, and entertaining space to spend quality time with their loved ones. Circle is a reflection of Calgaryâs vibrant and inspiring local scene. This year Circle â The Traveling Carnival is on September 13 â 14, 2019! (September 13 is an adult-only night.) Bring the kids, Fido, friends, and loved ones for a fun and entertaining day. Read more about it here.
 Kiwanis Apple Festival
Autumn and apples go together like a warm mug of apple cider on a crisp day! Celebrate the arrival of Autumn with a day of apple-themed family fun at the annual Kiwanis Apple Festival on September 21 and 22, 2019. There will be apple baking, arts and crafts, archery, a bouncy castle, face painting, games, a farmers market, live entertainment, a silent auction, and more! Read more about it here.
