Calgary Events: October 10-16

Wine and food festival, authors hit Calgary, tattoo fest, and opera season launches

Author

Krista Sylvester
October 10, 2023

Happy Tuesday, friends. Welcome to this week’s edition of TWIC.

Even though it’s fall now, there’s still so much to do and we love being your personal tour guide for fun events. We would love to know what you think of the newsletter in our poll at the bottom. Enjoy!

P.S. If you haven’t already, take 30 seconds and tell us a bit about you so we can make this newsletter even better!

On our radar

🎸 The Doobie Brothers: The classic rock band has extended its 50th Anniversary Tour and will be making a stop at Scotiabank Saddledome on Oct 25.

🎤 This Is Me: Calgary’s Sherry Kennedy celebrates a life of song at Marda Loop’s Space on Nov 10. Enjoy Kennedy’s sparkling voice and dynamic energy.

🎭 Hadestown: This Broadway Across Canada winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards is coming to the city Nov 21-26. Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.

🤖 The Robot Restaurant Show: Calgarians will get to experience a culture-filled night similar to the world-renowned Japanese Robot Restaurant this November.

🥁 Drake Milligan concert: Country artist Drake Milligan is celebrating his return to Canada later this year with a stop at Calgary’s Ranchman’s on Dec 8.

🎙️ An evening with David Spade: The Owen Hart Foundation presents the night on Nov 4. Tickets available now.*

*sponsored listing

Happening this week and weekend

Wednesday to Sunday | Various times | Various locations

Attendees will have the chance to meet more than 50 best-selling authors at 40 events over five days in Victoria Park and the Beltline. Guests include Mary Trump, Susan Casey, Brett Butt, and more.

Friday and Saturday | Various times | BMO Centre at Stampede Park

Enjoy food and drink samples from over 25 restaurants and more than 225 wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries. Bring your appetite!

Sunday | 7:30pm | Jubilee Auditorium

Kicking off Calgary Opera’s 51st season is The Marriage of Figaro, an operatic whirlwind of mistaken identities, awkward situations, and comedic antics. Themes of love, passion, and forgiveness round out this story.

Free Walking Tour of Calgary | Tuesday | 10am-1pm

Discover Calgary and all things Canadian at this three-hour free walking tour that will show you all the top attractions in the city. [Free but tips encouraged]

Wizards, half-bloods, and muggles unite! It is time to assemble to celebrate, and show off your knowledge of all things Harry Potter! [$17]

Calgary Flames season opener | Wednesday | 8pm

The Flames hit the ice led by a new captain and a new coach and a fresh set of expectations. Check out the home opener against the Winnipeg Jets. [Various prices]

Spruce Meadows Oktoberfest | Wednesday to Sunday | Various times

The Oktoberfest Tournament welcomes horses and riders to the Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex. This event is free to watch so bring your friends and family. [Free]

ZZ Top concert | Thursday | 8pm

That “Little Ol’ Band From Texas” is bringing its all ages show to the Grey Eagle Event Centre and you just know they’re going to play their hit “Legs.” [Various prices]

Enjoy great food with hymn singing and special music by Karen Peck & New River, Gaither Vocal Band, Redeemed Quartet, and Collingsworth Family at Cochrane Alliance Church. [$15]

Calgary Arts and Tattoo Festival | Friday to Sunday | Various times

This year the festival turns 20 and is the biggest in the event’s history with more than 650 local and international artists and exhibits over 175,000 square feet of space at the BMO Centre. [$32]

Partial Solar Eclipse Party | Saturday | 9:30am-11:45am

Get ready to witness a mesmerizing partial eclipse event with an exciting observatory. Expert astronomers, powerful telescopes, and specialized viewing glasses will be on hand. [Free]

Granary Road’s Pumpkin Fest | Saturday and Sunday | 10am-5pm

Bring your family to Granary Road for some good old-fashioned fall fun at this Pumpkin Harvest filled with fun for everyone! [Free]

Calgary Reptile Expo | Saturday and Sunday | 9am-5pm, 10am-4pm

This is your opportunity to find your favourite local reptile, amphibian invertebrate and plant enthusiasts under one roof. [$7+]

Haunted House at CrossIron Mills | Saturday and Sunday | Various times

This Calgary haunted attraction has been terrifying guests since its inception and this weekend offers a variety of fright levels. [$25+]

Gluten-Free Market Fall Edition | Sunday | 10am-3pm

A day for everything gluten-free, live music, seating, and baked goods at the Marda Loop Community Association. [$4.50]

Bring your kids and their OG dolls to Toys “R” Us for a beauty bar session: they’ll step into a special in-store salon for an "appointment" with a professional hair stylist who will style their hair!

Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre is excited to explore the intricacies and contradictions of fashion with its new show Clothing at Good Thrift. ($20)

Ongoing

Canstruction structure display | Until Oct 19 | Check times

Thousands of cans of food were used to build Halloween-themed structures for the Calgary Food Bank’s popular Canstruction fundraiser, now on display at Eau Claire Tower until Oct. 19. (Free, but bring food donations!)

Crocodile Rock: The Legend of Elton John | Until Oct 21 | Various times

He’s one of the all-time great rock legends, with hit after hit worldwide and now the story of the Rocketman is getting the Jubilations Dinner Theatre twist! [Various prices]

The Dark Lady at Lunchbox Theatre | Until Oct 29 | Various times

The Dark Lady is a witty and sensual duet that reclaims the story of a fascinating woman who was almost lost to history—Emilia Bassano. [Various prices]

Southcentre Mall’s Magical Wishing Tree | Until Oct 31 | Various times 

The larger-than-life Magical Wishing Tree in the mall’s Centre Court features a variety of enchanting family fun all in the name of helping Make-A-Wish Canada grant 165 wishes to local families.

Haunted Mini Golf at Winsport | Thursdays to Sundays until Oct 31 | Various times

Dress up for family fun and play some mini golf with spooktacular haunted mini golf. [$10+]

Stage West’s An Evening With Groucho | Until Nov 12 | Various times

Award-winning actor and director Frank Ferrante brings his acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx to Stage West in this fast-paced production. Enjoy the buffet before the show! [Various prices]

That’s it!

Thanks for checking in this week. Hope you found something good to add to your calendar. If not, reply back and let us know what you’re looking for. Consider us your concierge to good times.

See you next week? Same time, same place.

✌️ TWIC (from the Calgary Citizen team)

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