ARTIFACT FILM FESTIVAL
April 2 to 4 | multiple venues | artifactfilmfestival.com
April isn’t just for the Underground Film Festival. Calgary also hosts the Artifact Film Festival, formerly known as the $100 Film Festival, the city’s oldest of its kind. The original challenge was to shoot a short film on just four rolls of Super 8 film for around $100. Today, the festival continues to celebrate its analog roots, showcasing small-format works shot on Super 8, 16mm, and 35mm. Some films are poetic, some experimental, others feel like personal diaries, a reminder of the tactile charm of film in an increasingly digital world.
MAPPING HISTORY: THE CALGARY ATLAS PROJECT
April 2 to May 16 | Lougheed House | lougheedhouse.com
In 2019, the Calgary Atlas Project launched to recover important stories about Calgary through maps exploring the city’s history and culture. This month, Lougheed House hosts a series of events with the artists behind the maps, where visitors can explore the art of mapmaking, join a walking tour, or take part in a workshop. Throughout the month, a lineup of talks will cover topics like Calgary architecture in 40 buildings, the literary scene of the 1920s, and the history of transportation in the city. All lectures are free and led by historians. Whether you’re new to the city or a longtime local looking to see it through fresh eyes, dive into Calgary’s past.
A DOLL’S HOUSE
April 7 to May 3 | Max Bell Theatre | theatrecalgary.com
As Leo Tolstoy famously wrote, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” That observation still rings true today, as the complexities of marriage remain an enduring theme in literature, cinema, and on stage. Written by Henrik Ibsen and newly adapted by Amy Herzog, A Doll’s House makes its Canadian premiere, exploring the unravelling of a seemingly perfect marriage and the secret that threatens it.
THE CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC AWARDS
April 9 to 12 | multiple venues | folkawards.ca
If you’re craving folk music and can’t wait for the summer festival season, the Canadian Folk Music Awards return to celebrate the city’s vibrant folk community. The program features four bilingual concerts exploring storytelling, contemporary folk, traditional roots music, and family-friendly performances. Alongside the music, award presentations recognize creativity, diversity, and cultural impact within Canada’s folk scene.
SPARK AFTER DARK CALGARY: SCIENCE OF SPORTS NIGHT
April 10 | Telus Spark Science Centre | sparkscience.ca | 18+
Who says sports and parties don’t mix? Science of Sport Night puts that theory to the test with an evening that blends athletic performance and nightlife energy. Try axe throwing, explore the science of adrenaline and focus, get practical fueling tips from Taylor Nutrition, and much more. The best part? A retro dress code! Neon tracksuits, leg warmers, and flashy ski goggles are all encouraged. Maybe you’ll pull out some treasures from your family’s attic.
WESTERN CANADIAN REPTILE EXPO
April 18 to 19 | Acadia Recreation Centre | wcre.ca
Chances are you know someone fascinated by reptiles: a colleague obsessed with biology, a friend who never quite got over the Ninja Turtles phase, or maybe it’s your kid who begs for a pet gecko. A reptile expo offers the chance to see a wide range of species up close, interact with them and take fun pictures. Vendors will also be on site with supplies and expert advice. Beyond snakes and lizards, the event features some other animals, including sloths, wallabies and kangaroos.
FEAST ON FOURTH
April 22 to 26 | 4th Street | 4streetcalgary.com
Food festivals have become a regular fixture in Calgary, with nearly every month offering something new. It’s no surprise, given the city’s culinary range: from French macarons and Spanish tapas to Korean street food and British pub fare. Already hungry? You know the drill: $10 per dish, as you taste your way around the world.
RON JAMES: THE NOISE BETWEEN OUR EARS
April 23 | Jack Singer Concert Hall | werklundcentre.ca
Sometimes humour is the only way to make sense of the world today. One of Canada’s top comedians, Ron James, stops by Calgary to tackle the topics that worry many: U.S. politics, aging Baby Boomers, ADHD, and many other everyday struggles we face. While the show isn’t strictly 18+, it does have an adult feel.
MATTERS OF RHYTHM & HARMONY
April 23 to May 10 | DJD Dance Centre | decidedlyjazz.com
Sabrina Naz Comănesc presents a new double feature dance performance, directed by Kimberley Cooper and Vicki Adams Willis, with live music by the Carsten Rubeling Quintet.
View this post on Instagram
The first act draws inspiration from life’s transitions, natural crossroads, and the cultural bridges between the northern and southern Caribbean. Act two is an intimate set, featuring shorter pieces, improvisation, and artistic conversations. The run of shows includes a post-show talkback with the artists and a relaxed performance designed to create a more inclusive audience experience.
PETFEST
April 24 | Spruce Meadows | sprucemeadows.com
Get ready for endless “aww” moments as adorable pets take the stage in a variety of shows, including fan-favourite corgi races and dachshund dashes, horse show jumping, sheepherding demonstrations, and more. Explore a mini-animal petting zoo and browse 60+ vendors offering pet-inspired products, food, and treats (for humans too).
CANADIAN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY
April 25 | multiple venues | cibabooks.ca
Celebrate independent bookstores, the heart of Canada’s reading community. Over 300 shops nationwide are joining in with giveaways, discounts, exclusive products, author events, and more. Local favourites include Owl’s Nest Books, Shelf Life Books, and The Next Page. Pick up a few reads and show them your love.
THE STARLING EFFECT
April 30 to May 9 | Vertigo Studio Theatre | verbtheatre.com | 16+
Known for unconventional stories, Verb Theatre, together with Reckless Daughter Creative, presents a mind-bending sci-fi thriller. The Starling Effect, written by Lara Schmitz, unravels a double murder, a daring rescue, and a journey through a maze of haunting memories. In stories like this, you never know what comes next — and that’s what makes it exciting.
