You don’t have to spend a cent to enjoy summer in Calgary. These are just a few fun, free activities you can enjoy in the city this summer.
Take a free outdoor tour
Calgary Walking Tour is a guided tour through several central neighbourhoods. As an expert guide takes you through Calgary’s history, you’ll see the former homes of Titanic survivors, Ghostbusters filming locations, and more. Tours meet at the corner of 3 Street S.W. and Roxboro Road on Saturdays and typically last 90 minutes.
Learn more and book a tour at calgarywalkingtour.com
Wild Rose Adventures Self-Guided Cycling Adventures are a fun and unique way to take in Calgary’s scenic bike trails. Download the RideWithGps app, find BikeBikeYYC, browse the routes, download the rides, and follow along with GPS on your bike! With options that explore the Bow River, Fish Creek, and more, this is a great way to be a tourist in your city.
Learn more at ridewithgps.com
BUMP Festival offers guided tours of Calgary’s 20+ open-air street art galleries, offering insights into the artists and the stories behind each piece of art while enjoying the warm Calgary sun.
Book a tour at yycbump.ca
Hang out at The Slabs
Follow the Elbow River in Stanley Park, and you’ll eventually find The Slabs, an iconic Calgary hotspot for sunbathing, swimming and river hangs under the sun. Taking its name from the concrete slabs on the river’s shore, this popular spot is a must-visit whenever the heat waves hit. Grab a swimsuit, pack a picnic basket and meet at The Slabs!
Explore an art gallery
This past spring, the Calgary Public Library and Contemporary Calgary partnered to create the Art Pass, an accessible way for Calgarians to explore Contemporary Calgary. All you do is visit a library branch, borrow the pass the same way you would a book, and use it for free entry at Contemporary Calgary. You can also draw in the pass book and there are prompts to fill it out and have fun.
Head over to Inglewood, to explore the Esker Foundation galleries for free. The showroom is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and until 5 p.m. over the weekend. Go to eskerfoundation.com to find out what’s on currently.
The Glenbow also offers a free art gallery on the Edison building’s second floor (+15 level) across from the Fairmont Palliser Hotel. In just a few years, the JR Centre for Arts & Culture will also open its doors free of charge.
Enjoy a Punk Rock Sing-A-Long
Hosted by Rob Gruszecki and Eric Andrews of local folk-punk band Ghost Factory, the Ship and Anchor’s Punk Rock Sing-A-Long is a little-known Calgary tradition. Starting mid-July, the two musicians take over the Ship’s patio and lead attendees in high-spirited acoustic renditions of punk songs with lots of high-fives and hugs. Grabbing a pint might cost you a bit, but screaming your lungs out to a Ramones song with friends is literally priceless.
Go bird-watching
The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is open until sundown every day of the week, and admission is always free. Grab a set of binoculars and discover over 270 species of birds, 21 mammals, and 347 species of plants. Pro tip: bring a journal to keep track of your findings!
Have a picnic in a park
Calgary has beautiful outdoor parks, walking trails, greenery, and many good times. Pack a picnic basket and head to Prince’s Island Park, St. Patrick’s Island, or Fish Creek Provincial Park for a guaranteed good time. And drinking alcohol is now permitted at some neighbourhood picnic tables, select large picnic sites, a few open areas within City of Calgary parks, and some fire pits. Just make sure not to litter: these spaces are for everyone!
Check calgary.ca to book a picnic site and get your drink on.
Experience a free festival
The Calgary Folk Music Festival is one of the highlights of Calgary’s summer festival season. And it is not free. But since 2019, the kind folkies have included a free stage just outside of the bike lockup area so that their cheapskate fans no longer need to skulk around the periphery of Prince’s Island to overhear the outdoor festival. Also, kids 12 and under get in to Folk Fest for free, and there are kids areas and activities galore. Read more about Folk Fest on page 16.
Alberta Open Farm Days is a chance to interact with Alberta farmers, learn more about agriculture, and see some barnyard animals. Who doesn’t love cows?
Alberta Open Farm Days takes place on August 17 and 18. Learn more at albertaopenfarmdays.ca
BUMP Festival is a chance to explore Calgary street art, attend local music events, and see live graffiti jams. The alley party features live DJs and street art workshops.
Explore the BUMP Festival from August 3 to 18. Check out the calendar of events at yycbump.ca.
Calgary Pride celebrates the 2SLGBTQ+ community with vibrant events through August, culminating in a two-day extravaganza on August 31 and the much-anticipated annual parade on September 1st.
Learn more about Pride’s programming at calgarypride.ca
Tour de Bowness is a fun way to celebrate one of Calgary’s oldest communities. Based around an annual bike race, this street festival ignites the main street of Bowness with food trucks, local restaurants, artisan vendors, local businesses, street performers, and live music.
Learn more about Tour de Bowness, which takes place on August 5, at mainstreetbowness.com
Summer doesn’t end in August. Beakerhead turns up in late September, transforming downtown Calgary into interactive and immersive exhibits centered on science, creativity, and fun. The dance party at Millenium Park is not to be missed!
Beakerhead returns to Calgary from September 20 to 22. Explore beakerhead.com to learn more.
