Life Chronicles
Chinook Mall is evolving with a new immersive VR experience, Life Chronicles, opening June 3. Dive into the ancient world, all the way back to the Precambrian period, where life as we know it was millions of years away. PHI Studio worked with Muséum national d’Histoire France to make their simulation as historically accurate as possible. It’s one of the few opportunities you’ll have where donning a VR headset will teach you something simultaneously. Check out lifechronicles-experience.com to grab your tickets, $34.55 for adults and $24.35 for kids.
Wild After Hours: Zoo Brew
Trust me, the zoo is way more fun without kids around. And it’s even more fun with beer. Try it yourself with the Calgary Zoo’s next Wild After Hours event, Zoo Brew on June 6. Sample craft beers and other boozy brews from local favourites including Annex, Ampersand and White Peaks, all while strolling the exhibits without a screaming child in sight (or earshot). As the night wears on and the animals head off to bed, keep your night going with the Zoo Brew after party for some late-night treats and live tunes. The $99 tickets cover the drinks, food, after-party access, and a nifty keepsake tasting mug. Head over to calgaryzoo.com to secure your tickets.
THIRD ACTion Film Festival
When looking at the big film stars of today, you may hear the echo of Taylor Swift’s 2022 hit song and think “everybody is a sexy baby.” Third Action Film Festival strives to change that, with films celebrating older adults. Check out the festival June 6 to 8 at The Confluence, or on video on demand June 11 to 15. Be moved by the short films in The Dementia Care Package or have a heart-warming laugh with dramedy The Penguin Lessons. You’re bound to find something you’ll like in the season’s line-up, as long as you’re okay seeing a few wrinkles. Grab tickets at thirdactfilmfestival.ca before it’s too late.
Calgary Women Can Park It
Get disc-y with it this June 7 at the third annual CWE Calgary Women Can Park It disc golf tournament. Watch as women and gender-diverse athletes duke it out at the Currie Reservoir disc golf course. Divisions range from young kids all the way to women 80 and older, with both pros and amateurs in the mix. Celebrate the winners at the end of the day with a scoop of ‘Breakfast of Champions’ ice cream just a short walk away at Village Ice Cream. The tournament is free to attend. Be sure to keep an eye out for volunteers who can help direct you to a prime viewing spot when you arrive.
The Feast Book Launch
Take a first look at a new poetry collection from award-winning Nêhiyaw (Cree), two-spirit poet Alycia Two Bears on June 11 at Owl’s Nest Books. The collection, The Feast, explores themes of love, grief, sex, motherhood, and sexuality through the format of a traditional sweat lodge ceremony and its associated feast foods. The event runs from 7 to 8:30, and doors open at 6:30. It’s free to attend, and you can grab a copy of the book for $20.
Spruce Meadows Live and Intimate Concert Series
Tucked inside the Equi-Plex at Spruce Meadows, this concert series offers a cozy concert experience, with only 2000 tickets available per show. See country artist Dean Brody on June 7, indie-folk star City and Colour on June 14 and 15 and indie rock band Metric on June 28. As a bonus, your concert ticket also grants you access to Spruce Meadows’ Epic Weekends. Before the show in the evening, hit up the beer gardens, watch some showjumping, or (if horses aren’t your thing), cheer on some absolutely adorable corgi races. Head to sprucemeadows.com to snag your tickets while you still can.
My Friend Dave Project Art Show
On Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, creativity falls right at the top of the pyramid. But really, even if our most basic needs aren’t met, people still have stories to tell and art they want to make. See this in action at the My Friend Dave Project art show on June 14. Founded by local art therapist Jenn Seniuk, the art showcase is created by and tells the stories of Calgary men battling homelessness, addiction, incarceration and recovery. It brings these often-ignored men to the forefront and helps set them on a path to change their lives. View the inspiring art pieces at 4053, 4065 Glenpark Crescent S.W. from 12 to 4 p.m.. There’s no cost to attend, but donations are welcome.
2025 K-Pop Dance Cover Festival
K-pop fans are scary in their dedication, but man, does it result in some good dancing. See it for yourself on June 15 at the Jubilee auditorium, where 12 teams will compete for the chance to represent Canada at the K-pop dance cover finals in Seoul. Watch them dance their hearts out to win the judges’ approval, including special guests H1-Key, a K-pop girl group. Tickets are only $3.50, and you can pick them up at jubileeauditorium.com.
Rodney’s Oyster Fest
Hope you’re in the mood for seafood because you’ll find plenty of it at Rodney’s Oyster Fest on June 22. For $40, you’ll partake in mollusk madness, including a live DJ, prizes and giveaways, a silent auction and the star of the show, the oyster shucking contest. And if you consider yourself something of a bivalve bon vivant, pay a little more on your entry ticket ($65) to enter the contest yourself. There’s $1000 on the table for first place, or if you’re just interested in eating a ridiculous amount of oysters, you could win $100 for the cleanest plate. Catch tickets at rodneysoysterhouse.com. Tickets also include one food and one drink ticket.
Bow After Hours: Gettin’ Fishy With It
If feeding thousands of ravenous rainbow trout sounds like your idea of a fun night out, look no further than the Bow Habitat’s Stations Bow After Hours adults-only event. No longer just a venue for junior high field trips, on June 26, the Bow Habitat Station becomes an 18+ getaway for folks looking for some fishy fun. Bring out your inner angler by crafting your fly fishing lure and casting a line at the trout pond – no fishing license required. The night is completed with a guided nature walk, a tour of the fish hatchery and an info session on the Bow’s trout population. Catch yourself a ticket at bowhabitat.alberta.ca before they’re all gone.
Europa Super Circus
Does anything say “summer in Calgary” quite like seeing a circus tent in the parking lot of Deerfoot Mall? Take a closer look this year and attend the Europa Super Circus, running from June 26 to July 6. Enjoy aerialists and BMX riders taking to the sky, hold your breath for the tight rope act, then let it all out, laughing at the clown show. It’s child-like fun for all ages. Grab tickets at supercircus.com. Tickets start at $35 for adults and $25 for kids.
Riverdance 30
It’s the 30th anniversary of the sensational Riverdance, and it’s coming to the Jubilee from June 27 to 29 as part of Broadway Across Canada. What was once a small spectacle during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest has transformed into a full-length show that blends international and traditional Irish music and dance. This year’s cast features several Albertan performers, including 2019 World Irish Dance Champion Londyn Nachtigal from Edmonton. Tickets start at $45.90, available from jubileeauditorium.com.
