Calgary Events: Aug. 20-26

An outdoor comedy festival, the fireworks finale, and night markets

Author

Krista Sylvester
August 20, 2024

Happy Tuesday, friends. Another week, another loaded slate of events. We’d love to know what you think of this newsletter with a review down below. Send your events to [email protected].

Editor’s note: We do our best to provide the most updated information but we encourage you to check ahead of time in case there have been changes to the event details.

A quick peek at the next couple of weeks

🌈 Calgary Pride Parade & Festival: Celebrate Calgary’s Pride at the end of the month and while there is a variety of events happening throughout the city, the official two-day festival takes over the city and paints it rainbow. Aug 31 to Sept 1 at Prince’s Island Park.

🎸 Smackdown Music Festival: This single day multi-genre music festival is owned and operated by 100% volunteers. Ticket proceeds go directly to helping musicians, students and producers get the equipment and assistance needed to make traction. Aug 31 at the Pineridge Community Association

🎶 NMC: Jimmy Rankin: The JUNO and CCMA Award winner Jimmy Rankin returns for one night to dazzle audiences with beats from his newest album release, Harvest Highway, featuring his East Coast charm and wit. Sept 6 at National Music Centre.

On our radar

🎭️ Come From Away: This popular Broadway Across Canada show about the true story of the small town that welcomed the world is making its much-anticipated return to Calgary. Sept 17-22 production at the Jubilee.

Just announced!

📖 The Book of Mormon: Tickets just went on sale yesterday for this show. The winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, will play a strictly limited one-week engagement presented by Broadway Across Canada . Nov 26 – Dec 1, at the Jubilee.

Happening this week and weekend

Tonight, Thursday, and Saturday | Elliston Park | Various times

There are just a few chances left to catch this cultural explosion with the Canadian finale wrapping up the week on Saturday so don’t miss your chance to enjoy fireworks, food, music, and culture.

Thursday | Kensington | 4:30-8:30pm

What’s not to love? It’s free to attend and there’s no shortage of cool shops to peruse while eating, drinking and supporting local businesses in the last days of summer.

Friday to Sunday | Prince’s Island Park | Various times

Catch headliner comedians Tom Segura, Russell Peters, and Iliza Shlesinger at this weekend comedy event taking over the island with additional performers. Tickets are selling fast so don’t wait too long to grab yours.

All The Way Up: All Ages Poetry Slam | Wednesday | 7:30-10:30pm

This poetry night at Loophole Coffee Bar is sponsored by the Calgary Poetry Slam and aims to be a safe space for all ages to present their spoken word creativity with like minds who celebrate the spoken word.  [Free]

Terrarium Workshop Beltline | Wednesday | 6:30-8:30pm

The District at Beltline is hosting a fun DIY terrarium building workshop where attendees will be guided through the creation of a self-sustaining closed terrarium while learning how to keep the closed ecosystem healthy and sipping on refreshments.  [$76]

A&W Burgers to Beat MS | Thursday | 12:30-2:30pm

The A&W located on 130th Ave SE is hosting an afternoon of fun with the goal of raising funds to beat MS. [Free to attend]

The Mustard Seed is excited to offer an afternoon of crafting, painting, beading, and so much more that’s open to the public and aims to be a creative safe space for all to enjoy. [Free]

Ladies Luxury Picnic Party | Thursday | 7:30-9:30pm

This casual networking event aims to connect women with the intention of sharing stories, indulging in charcuterie and refreshing drinks all while making new friends at this private party. [$48]

Halal Ribfest Calgary | Friday-Sunday | Various Times

This weekend festival is taking place at Deerfoot City and is dedicated to highlighting Halal standards, vendors, and local artisans while attendees enjoy live performances, games, giveaways and so much more at this family friendly event. [Starting at $8]

This immersive Hawaiian-themed night market taking place at Canyon Meadows Community Centre offers a taste of paradise with Caribbean flavours, food trucks, soca music, and parade costumes with a variety of local vendors to explore and support at this adults only event. [Free]

Enjoy an evening of live performances at The Attic Bar & Stage where alternative folk duo, Monet & Christian are joined by the funky sounds of The Sunstrokes for an unforgettable show in the heart of Inglewood. [$24]

Happening at the containR Park in Sunnyside, this outdoor screening of the 2002 film DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS is offered by CUFF and aims to be a unique event for both movie lovers and skateboarding enthusiasts. [By donation]

This fundraising event will connect the community with local breweries and restaurants in an evening filled with live entertainment and Memphis-style BBQ while raising money for Kids Cancer Care. [$135]

Deciduous Fashion Show Fundraiser | Saturday | 5:30-7:30pm

The Bonavista Church is hosting a fundraiser in partnership with Stonewall Recovery, Teen Challenge, and Ruth’s House with a goal of combining fashion and philanthropy by showcasing local designers while raising funds to support unhoused individuals as they transition to independence. [$40]

The hilarious hypnotist Paul McQuaid will be at the Century Downs Racetrack and Casino to dazzle audiences with comedic hypnosis while participants enjoy appetizers and beverages in an adults only show. [$34]

Ammolite Opera: Proving Up | Saturday | 7:30-9:30pm

The vibrancy of live opera comes alive at the West Village Theatre in Sunalta as American composer Missy Mazzoli presents the Canadian premier of Proving Up where talented artists demonstrate the complexity of achieving the American dream. [$60]

’80s Dance Party | Saturday | 9pm

Tease that hair, grab your leather jacket, and step back in time with the “Silly Wrabbit” ’80s tribute band playing all your ’80s favourites live in the Chrome Showroom. [$25]

Ongoing

Goat Yoga | Ends this weekend | Granary Road

Is there anything better than goats and yoga? Head on down and cuddle the cutest baby goats while relaxing with yoga.

Polar Bear Breakfast | Ends Sunday | Calgary Zoo

Bring your family and friends down for a fun and educational morning at the zoo with this exclusive before-hours viewing opportunity of the Wild Canada zone with a side of polar bear facts.

A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline | Until Sept 1 | Various times | Stage West

Stage West brings one of the all-time legends of country music to the stage in its latest production. Patsy Cline was always spunky and devoted to music and her legacy spans generations alike with her charm, humour, and unmistakable voice.

AI: More Than Human | Until Sept 8 | TELUS Spark

From its extraordinary ancient roots in Japanese Shintoism and early experiments in computing, to AI’s major developmental leaps from the 1940s to the present day, explore how the dream of creating intelligence has become today’s reality.

#YYCBlockParty | Until Sept 26 | Deerfoot City

There’s a summer long party at Deerfoot City and there’s still plenty of fun to be had! Dust off your roller skates and let the good times roll at the fourth annual #YYCBlockParty, featuring a 100 foot outdoor roller rink amongst a giant street mural—and so much more.

Fly through a technicolour nebula, kick up dust on the moon, and witness Saturn’s rings up close in this out-of-this-world immersive experience. Explore the galaxy through the James Webb telescope with this unique space exploration encounter.

From Me to You: The Beatles in Canada 1964-1966 | Until Jan 5 | National Music Centre

A nostalgic tribute to the band's transformative years upon arriving in Canada for the first time, this display captures the cultural landscape of Canada in the 1960s, and the frenzied excitement of Beatlemania that swept across the country.

That’s it!

Thanks for checking in this week. Hope you found something good to add to your calendar. Thanks for letting us be your tour guide! See you next week? Same time, same place.

✌️ TWIC (from the Calgary Citizen team)

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