Calgary Events: June 18-24

Larger than life Lego, music festival, and oysters galore

Author

Krista Sylvester
June 18, 2024

Happy Tuesday, friends. There are just so many things to include in our newsletter and we do our best to add what we can but it’s a good problem to have because that means our city is bustling! We’d love to know what you think with a review down below. If you know of an upcoming event, send it 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 next week

🎸 Sled Island: A five-day music and arts festival bringing together a community of music, comedy, film and art as well as over 30,000 attendees across multiple venues. Are you ready? June 19-23, various venues.

🧱 Brick Fest Live: Over a million bricks on display with life-size models, hands-on attractions, hard-to-find Lego, and more. June 22-23 at BMO Centre.

On our radar

🦀 Wild Horse Pub Crab Fest: Mouth-watering Boston Bibb lettuce, hard-boiled egg, double-smoked bacon, radish, grape tomatoes, baby shrimp, and citrus vinaigrette. That’s just to start. Then enjoy one pound of steamed snow crab clusters served with melted garlic butter, boiled new potatoes, asparagus, and a freshly baked bread roll. June 27 at Deerfoot Inn & Casino buffet.

🍷 Stampede Cellar Uncorked: Stampede Cellar Uncorked will celebrate the best in western hospitality, international wine and local culinary innovation as you savour the best bites of the night. June 22 at the newly expanded BMO Centre.

Just announced

🤠 Extended Stampede alcohol hours: The city has approved liquor licensing to start early for the duration of Stampede (6:30am for private events and 8am for businesses).

Happening this week and weekend

Friday to Sunday | Various times | Contemporary Calgary

Enjoy local talent at Market Collective this weekend for a vibrant reminder of how talented our city’s artists, artisans, designers, and musicians are.

Friday-Sunday | 5-10pm | DoubleTree by Hilton Calgary North

Canada’s biggest horror convention is back with special guests, film screenings, photo ops, panels, and more. This is a must-see for all those horror fans.

Saturday-Sunday | 10am-5pm | Heritage Park

Celebrate the 60th anniversary of Heritage Park at the Children’s Festival featuring a play by Wagonstage Productions, puppet making, animal visits, games, candy, and so much more at this two-day event.

Immersive Disney Animation | Wednesday | Various times

Opening this week at the BMO Centre, this immersive experience includes iconic songs and scenes from timeless Disney classics and is happening now through to August. [Free] 

Give the father in your life the unique experience of learning to craft delicious cocktails at the Spirits with Smoke’s private speakeasy where attendees will learn to master the art and science of infusing cocktails with the enchanting allure of smoke. [$95] 

Lip Balm Making Workshop | Wednesday | 7pm

Experience a unique opportunity and create your own natural lip balm while learning about beeswax, bees, and cosmetics in a calm atmosphere with tea and light snacks. [$86] 

The Good, the Bad, and the Bugly | Wednesday | 7-8:30pm

Join Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre to explore The Aquatic Invertebrate Fauna of Fish Creek and learn about weird and wonderful invertebrates while comparing these findings to sites in the bigger Bow basin. [Non-members $10]

Dance the night away at the official Shambhala kick off party featuring beats by Ternion Sound, MYTHM, and more taking place at Commonwealth Bar & Stage. [$34]

Ill Fated Kustoms Kickstart Show | Friday-Sunday | Various times

Support the 9th Annual Kickstart Show weekend event hosted by Ill Fated Kustoms and Grocer Law Firm, where all things motorcycle related are showcased and celebrated and kids under 12 are free to attend. [Starting at $7]

Calgary Gratitude Round-up | Friday-Saturday | 9pm

Connect with like-minded individuals, listen to engaging speakers, and participate in fun activities at this event taking place at the Glenmore Inn & Convention Centre with a central theme of gratitude to cultivate a mindset of positivity and appreciation. [$50] 

Rhubarb Festival | Saturday | 11am-4pm

Enjoy the Rhubarb Fest, featuring live music, vendors, kids activities, food and drinks, and of course, rhubarb-themed contests such as the best drink, the "longest stalk", and best baking.

MAN VAN Pop-up | Saturday | 11am-3pm

Stop by the Prostate Cancer Centre's MAN VAN at Southcentre Mall where quick and convenient blood tests are being offered to bring awareness about prostate cancer and accessibility to life-saving resources. [Free] 

Slow Dance Party | Saturday | 7-11:30pm

Sway the night away at Rising Tides Taproom at the Slow Dance Party where every song is selected for its maximum slow dance-ability and everyone is welcome to dance with a variety of partners and encouraged to utilize the special dance cards. [Pay-what-you-can starting at $10]

A Tribute to Amy Winehouse | Saturday | 8:30pm

The King Eddy invites all music lovers to experience the energy of award-winner Johanna Sillanpaa and her 10-piece Cherry Orchestra in an evening to celebrate Amy Winehouse and feel nostalgic with hits like “Back to Black”.  [$30]

Tie-Dye Workshop | Sunday | 1:30-3:30pm

The Alcove Centre for the Arts welcomes all experience levels and ages to learn tips and tricks on how to tie-dye their very own customized piece while learning about the art of creativity in this workshop led by interior designer and visual artist, Saloni.  [By donation]

Designed for ages 12 and up, this family-friendly event takes place at Crowfoot Brewsters and includes all the supplies needed to decorate a terrarium with fun accessories and beautiful succulents to add to the family. [$68]

The last jam session before summer break is taking place at Found Books & Shop and whether a seasoned musician, aspiring performer, or simply a lover of live music this event aims to showcase original songs and a variety of musical genius. [$5]

Ongoing

Indigenous History Month Celebrations | Until June 23 | Southcentre Mall

Experience educational activities, cultural displays, and storytelling sessions that connect both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians at the fourth annual Indigenous History Month celebration in partnership with Authentically Indigenous.

Beautiful: The Carole King Story | Until June 23 | Stage West

The inspiring and beautiful true story of Carole King’s journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Come for the buffet, stay for the show!

Wingsanity | Until July 7 | St. Louis Bar & Grill

Enjoy flavours such as Lemon Pepper Dry Rub, Garlic Parm, Honey Cajun, and General Tao’s, and Hotter than Hell at this all-you-can-eat festival at AYCE wings where you also get your choice of side.

Polar Bear Breakfast | Until August 25 | 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.

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.

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.

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)

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

❤️ Review of the week

Happy Tuesday, friends. Another week of diverse events such as music festivals, oysters, and life-size Lego are on tap right here at your fingertips so let’s get to it. We’d love to know what you think with a review down below. If you know of an upcoming event, send it 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 next week

🎸 Wild Horse Pub Crab Fest: Enjoy this mouthwatering crab festival with one pound of steamed snow crab clusters served with melted garlic butter, boiled new potatoes, asparagus, and a freshly baked bread roll and more on the menu. June 27 at Deerfoot Inn & Casino buffet.

🎼 Sound Atlas Music Festival: Presented by Latitude 49 and Land's End Ensemble, the second annual event will feature an eclectic and diverse range of musical styles, with a little something for everyone. June 27-29 at Contemporary Calgary.

🍷 Stampede Cellar Uncorked: Stampede Cellar Uncorked will celebrate the best in western hospitality, international wine and local culinary innovation as you savour the best bites of the night. June 29 at the newly expanded BMO Centre.

On our radar

🦀 Sports Card Collector Show: New Horizon Mall and Overtime Sports Cards & Grading are offering free admission to the Sports Card Collectors Show. Explore the fascinating world of sports and learn about the athletes who made history. June 29 at New Horizon Mall.

Now open

🦖 Barney’s Outdoor Adventure Park: Drumheller’s family-friendly 27-acre paradise for kids of all ages is now open 9am-5pm on weekends and open daily in July and August.

Happening this week and weekend

Thursday-Sunday | Various times | Various locations

A five-day music and arts festival bringing together a community of music, comedy, film and art. More than 30,000 attendees are expected to descend upon the inner city over the festival so buckle up.

Saturday-Sunday | Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm | BMO Centre

Check out more than a million Lego bricks on display with life-size models, hands-on attractions, hard-to-find Lego, and more at this family-friendly event that is larger than life.

Sunday | 1-5pm | Rodney’s Oyster House

Rodney's Oyster House is back at it again with its sixth annual Oyster Festival, with proceeds from ticket sales going towards The Mustard Seed. Your $35 admission includes a drink ticket and a food ticket. There will be live music, food and drink booths, and a shucking competition.

This live concert highlights the distinct vibes of New Orleans funk mixed with soulful blues and is presented by Tim Williams and Donald Ray Johnson in an iconic presentation of music from the 1920s and more. [Starting at $44] 

Positive Vibes for Women | Wednesday | 7-9pm

Baba’s Art Haus and Happy & Witchy have come together to make accessible a safe space for women to share and navigate traumatic life events through spiritual activities, sound healing, and genuine connection. [$24] 

Silicone Mould Making Workshop | Wednesday-Thursday | Various times

Fuse 33 Makerspace is offering an entry level class for those aged 18+ to explore the artistic creation of silicone mould making where participants will have a hands-on opportunity to make their very own creation to take home. [$160] 

Robots and Puppies | Thursday | 9am-12pm

Join Platform Calgary to explore the wondrous world of AI technology by comparing similarities to man's best friend using games, insightful forums, and engaging conversations and snacks. Children and dogs are welcome. [Free] 

Tequila & Stampede Charm | Thursday | 6:30-9:30pm

Indulge in a delicious tequila tasting session with Patron while learning how to make a charm necklace with guidance from Meirako jeweller at this hands-on Stampede themed workshop taking place at The Westley Hotel. [$125]

Summer Solstice Soiree | Friday | 6:30-9:30pm

The Bloom Culture studio is celebrating the summer solstice with an after hours event featuring floral crown making, 20% off all in-store purchases, tasty summer snacks, drinks and so much more. [$35] 

Rhinestone Cowboy Weekend | Friday-Sunday | Various times

Summer on 17th is thrilled to host a fantastic pre-stampede weekend party featuring a variety of events like a vintage market, dance lessons, food vendors and live music. [Free to attend]

Good as Gold: the Musical | Saturday-Sunday | 2pm & 7:30pm

Happening live at the Vertigo Theatre, this play highlights themes of generosity through the compassionate journey of two timeless narratives that become intertwined to create a captivating storyline and entertain audiences. [Starting at $33] 

Dim Sum 101  | Saturday | 11:30am-1pm

Friends of Chinatown YYC invites Calgarians to the Chinese Cultural Centre to learn about this popular meal while tasting eight dim sum dishes followed by a historic walking tour of Chinatown. [$34] 

The Sunalta Community Hall is excited to host the Multicultural Trail Network for a family friendly event to explore popular outdoor adventures and activities around Southern Alberta like rock climbing and hiking, along with raffle tickets, drinks and food available for purchase. [Free] 

The Irish Cultural Society of Calgary is excited to present a solo performance by the talented Aidan Dooley that explores the captivating story of one of Ireland's unsung heroes, Tom Crean who was an Antarctic explorer of the early 1900s. [$39] 

Tipi Raising at Lougheed House | Sunday | 11am-3pm

The annual tipi raising event is back at the Lougheed House and led by Blackfoot Elder Joyce Ussangahgee (Always Singing Woman) Healy where Indigenous games and stories are shared and celebrated. [Free] 

Ask a Better Question Workshop | Sunday | 12:30-2pm

This workshop taught by spiritual practitioner Fran Watson is designed for the curious mind and will teach participants a variety of insightful ways to approach tricky life problems in a supportive and playful atmosphere. [$20 at door] 

GlobalFest OneWorld Picnic | Sunday | 12-5pm

GlobalFest is back with a sneak peek of what’s to come this August with their OneWorld Picnic happening at Hotchkiss Gardens where a variety of cultural experiences and performances are available for all ages to enjoy. [Free] 

Taking place at Prairie Winds Park, this exciting multicultural Eid festival features an Islamic Bazaar, kids games, live entertainment and a barbecue for all ages to enjoy. [Free entry] 

Ongoing

Indigenous History Month Celebrations | Until June 23 | Southcentre Mall

Experience educational activities, cultural displays, and storytelling sessions that connect both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians at the fourth annual Indigenous History Month celebration in partnership with Authentically Indigenous.

Beautiful: The Carole King Story | Until June 23 | Stage West

The inspiring and beautiful true story of Carole King’s journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Come for the buffet, stay for the show!

Friends: The One with Ace Ventura | Until Aug 10 | Jubilations Dinner Theatre

Featuring the greatest hits of the Friends era performed by some of Canada’s best singers, this latest show meshes Friends with Ace Ventura in a parody dinner theatre production.

Polar Bear Breakfast | Until Aug 25 | 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.

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.

Inglewood Night Market | July 12, Aug 9, Sept 6 and 13

The Inglewood Night Market is a modern market with locally sourced and handmade vendors selling diverse goods; from handmade crafts to vintage clothing, antiques and collectibles, artisan eats and 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.

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)

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

❤️ Review of the week