In date order:
- Calgary Stampede, Stampede Park (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-269-9822, toll-free: +1-800-661-1767. (July, 10 days). During Stampede Week, the whole city goes western! During "the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", there are events all around the city, but the highlights are the rodeo and chuckwagon races which boast the world's richest prizes, as well as a performance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride. Over the years concerns have been raised about the treatment of animals at the event.
- 1 High Performance Rodeo (in City Centre). (January, 3 weeks) This unconventional international festival of theatre, dance, music, comedy, visual art, and more has been gracing Calgary venues of all sorts for over 25 years.
- Calgary International Salsa Congress, Hyatt Regency Calgary, 700 Centre St SE (in City Centre), info@calgarysalsacongress.com. (March, 2 days) Weekend of all-night salsa parties and Latin dance performances featuring both world-class and local talent. Includes qualifiers for the World Latin Dance Cup. $50-80.
- Calgary Spoken Word Festival (various locations). (April, 2 weeks) Canada's largest spoken word festival takes place in bars, pubs, bookshops, and an intimate theatre setting. Poetry slams, workshops, and the Golden Beret Award.
- Calgary Expo (Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo), Stampede Park (in City Centre), info@calgaryexpo.com. (April, 3 days) Pop culture festival featuring fantasy, sci-fi, horror, gaming, comics, anime and manga.
- FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival (various locations), ☏ +1 403-228-7888, tickets@funnyfest.com. (Late May, early June; 11 days) A festival of comedy in halls, clubs, pubs, and bars across Calgary. Free to $25.
- Lilac Festival, 4 Street SW; between 13 Ave SW and Elbow Drive) (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-453-7424. (June, 1 day) Annual street festival features over 500 vendors such as entertainment stages, street dancing, musical talent, artisan vendors, food, and other business stalls.
- Sled Island Festival (various locations), ☏ +1 403-229-2901, info@sledisland.com. (June, 4 days) Independent music and visual arts festival, which takes place at over 30 venues.
- Carifest, Shaw Millennium Park (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-774-1300, admin@carifestcalgary.com. (June, 1 day) Calgary's annual festival celebrating the city's large West Indian population starts with a parade downtown to Shaw Millennium Park for the day's festivities. Free.
- Calgary Folk Music Festival, Prince's Island Park (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-233-0904, info@calgaryfolkfest.com. (July, 4 days) An extremely broad definition of "folk music" is used for this well-established festival. In addition to seven different stages with dozens of international performers, there is an area with performances & activities for kids, a market, food, and lots more.
- Shakespeare by the Bow, Prince's Island Park (in City Centre). (July & August, 4 weeks) Shakespeare presented in an outdoor setting, an annual co-production of Mount Royal University and Theatre Calgary. Donations welcomed.
- Historic Calgary Week (various locations), ☏ +1 403-261-4667. (Late July & early August, 10 days) Learn about local history through talks, behind the scenes tours, and walks. Free, donations welcome.
- Calgary International Bluesfest (various locations). (late July & early August, 4 days) Calgary's got the blues! Many performers at a variety of venues.
- Calgary Fringe Festival (various locations), ☏ +1 403-451-9726, Info@calgaryfringe.ca. (August, 10 days) Calgary's festival of uncensored & unjuried theatre takes place at a variety of traditional and unconventional venues.
- GlobalFest, Elliston Park - 1827 68 St SE (in Southeast), ☏ +1 403-569-9679, contactus@globalfest.ca. 6-11:30PM. (August, 5 days) Fireworks competition and multi-cultural festival at Elliston Park. There is no parking at Elliston Park, but there is a shuttle bus from Marlborough Mall for $6. $20 per night, or $75 for 5 nights (early bird pricing also available).
- Taste of Calgary, Eau Claire Festival Plaza, 200 Barclay Parade SW (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-293-2888, taste@tasteofcalgary.com. 11AM-9PM. (August, 4 days) Enjoy a wide variety of foods at Calgary's outdoor dining festival. Music at the Taste Stage. $1 per sampling ticket; each sample requires 2-5 tickets.
- Dragon Boat Race and Festival, North Glenmore Park (in Southwest; catch shuttle bus from Mount Royal University). (August, 2 days) Dozens of 20-person dragon boat crews race to the beat of their drummers on Glenmore Reservoir. Kids' activities, food, and entertainment are all available in the park. Free.
- Beakerhead (various locations), ☏ +1 587-351-7787, connect@beakerhead.com. (September, 5 days) Combines the arts/culture sectors with the science/technology sectors to encourage collaboration, innovation, and science education through interactive art exhibits, engineered installations, entertainment, and workshops.
- WordFest (various locations). (October, 7 days) Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival includes readings, panel discussions, performances, interviews. Festival des mots in French, some programming in Spanish.
- Marda Loop Justice Film Festival. (November).
