Divas for Dollars
May 6 | Sweet Loretta Bar | gofreddie.com/rsvp
A drag show is always fun, but it’s even better when you’re raising money for a good cause. Divas for Dollars is in its fifth year of raising money for the Centre for Sexuality, and they’ve got one incredible lineup. Headlining the show is Mirage, who you may recognize from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16, and Miss Fiercalicious, from Canada’s Drag Race season 3 and the first season of Canada’s The Traitors. The show is hosted by local legend Karla Marx and includes burlesque performances from Bitch Sassidy and Bree Vybes. If the lineup didn’t already have you sold, the event has an open bar from the time the doors open at 6 until 7:30 p.m. Bring along some cash for tips and donations, and a water bottle. Tickets are $25 or $30 for a meet-and-greet with Mirage and Miss Fiercalicious.
Calgary Reads Big Book Sale
May 8 to 17 | Calgary Curling Club | bigbooksale.ca
Readers rejoice! It’s Calgary’s biggest book event of the year this month. The Calgary Reads Big Book Sale fills the Calgary Curling Club with over 200,000 gently used books for you to peruse. If you want first dibs, be sure to reserve a spot on the first three days of the sale. There are buy-one-get-one deals for two days towards the end of the sale, and on the final day, customers can fill a banker’s box to the brim with as many books as will fit for $20. If your to-be-read list is looking a little thin, the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale is the way to fix it.
CRLC Rock and Mineral Show
May 8 to 10 | Vivo | crlc.ca
There was a truth we all understood as children that eventually got lost to time: rocks are cool. Reconnect with that childlike whimsy at the CRLC Rock and Mineral Show, where you’ll see gems, crystals, handmade jewellery and even fossils! Along with the vendor hall, you can get your hands on some stones through door prizes and a silent auction, or skip that altogether in favour of demonstrations covering topics like beading, geology, and identification. Admission is $8 per day, or pay $15 for the whole weekend. Kids 12 and under get in free.
The Verdict
May 9 to June 7 | Vertigo Theatre | vertigotheatre.com
Vertigo Theatre’s final show of the season kicks off this month, and it’s a change of pace for Calgary’s go-to theatre for mystery shows. The Verdict is a courtroom drama, the first of its kind for Vertigo. Based on a novel by Barry Reed that was later adapted into a film starring Paul Newman, The Verdict follows a washed-up lawyer who takes on one last case in an attempt to redeem himself. Catch a preview performance from May 9 to 13 and pay only $50 for a ticket, a deal compared to the standard ticket price of $56.
OtaFest
May 15 to 17 | Telus Convention Centre & Downtown Marriott Hotel | otafest.com
What started in ‘99 as a single-day festival organized by anime fans from the University of Calgary has blossomed into a multi-day extravaganza celebrating all things anime, cosplay and fandom. Shop the artist hall for one-of-a-kind fandom merch, put together a cosplay and take pictures at a photo op location, and meet some of your favourite voice actors, cosplay artists, and more. At its heart, OtaFest is about connection, creating a place where you’ll find like-minded weebs who will happily gush about Jujutsu Kaisen fight scenes with you. Snag a weekend pass for $70, or pay $55 for single-day tickets. And don’t miss out on the unhinged karaoke events.
4th Street Night Market
May 16 (and more dates through the summer) | Central Memorial Park | @4thstreetnightmarket
It’s the sixth year of the 4th Street Night Market, when Central Memorial Park gets absolutely packed with local vendors, food trucks, activities for kids, and a live performance stage. Shop for unique trinkets and handmade goods, enjoy some food in the designated seating area, or try to track down the caricature artist for a wonderfully kitsch keepsake. Kids and pets are welcome, so bring the whole family along for the fun.
Mamma Mia!
May 19 to 24 | Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium | calgary.broadway.com
Here we go again! If you’ve seen the movie starring Amanda Seyfried and Meryl Streep, you already know all the lyrics to the ABBA songs that make up the show’s soundtrack. Broadway Across Canada brings this wild romp of a show to the Calgary stage. Experience all the Greek island paradise drama and daddy-issue-centric adventures live, right before your eyes.
Royal Canadian Circus
May 22 to 31 | CrossIron Mills | royalcanadiancircus.ca
There’s nothing that gets blood rushing like watching somebody narrowly avoid death, and those thrills are exactly what the Royal Canadian Circus brings to town. The show is filled with everything you expect out of a circus: flying trapeze, high wire, and the infamous “motorcycle globe.” Check it out for yourself, or bring friends and family along. General admission is $35, and children under three get in free.
InglewooDIY
May 22 to 31 | Multiple venues | inglewoodyyc.ca
Get crafty this month in East Calgary with the InglewooDIY crafting festival. Shops around Inglewood host a variety of crafting workshops so you can take home something entirely handmade. Craft a pottery trinket dish at the YW Hub, cross-stitch an adorable bee at STASH, make a terrarium at Plant, and so much more.
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Come From Away
May 26 to June 21 | Max Bell Theatre | theatrecalgary.com
If you missed Come From Away when it came to Calgary back in 2024, you’ve got another chance to catch this show. With the music you know and love from the hit musical paired with all-new choreography, it’s a perfect show for both first-timers and folks who already love the story. Follow the little Newfoundland town of Gander as they take in hundreds of airplane passengers stranded after 9/11. It’s funny, it’s touching, and it’s oh-so-very Canadian. $25 rush tickets are available for purchase the same day as the performance, while regular level one pricing is $55.
26th Annual FunnyFest Comedy Festival
May 28 to June 7 | Multiple Venues | funnyfest.com
For 11 nights, catch veteran comics and newbies on various stages around Calgary, flexing their comedy chops. Each show features up to six comedians and runs for up to two hours. Your money doesn’t just buy you laughs, either; you’ll also get the chance to take home a prize. Grab your tickets before May 17 for early-bird pricing: $20 instead of the usual $25.
