The Calgary Public Library is launching LitCon this week, a literary arts festival for students in grades K–9. It provides exposure to literary artists and fosters creativity, social connections, and skill development through virtual sessions designed to inspire students to explore creative processes in writing, drawing, poetry, music, comics, oral storytelling, and more. If you’re a teacher or have some book-worm kids, this event is the perfect way to get them engaged all month long. LitCon is presented in partnership with Wordfest and Alexandra Writer’s Centre, and more information on the sessions can be found at calgarylibrary.ca.
Ever been to a live poetry slam? Head to Dickens this Monday and watch these wordsmiths duke it out. Each poet has to perform with no props or accompaniment, and afterwards, gets scored by three different judges. It’s a tradition that goes back to 2006 here in Calgary, and the fun begins at 6:30 pm.
Then, on Tuesday, cruise over to the Ship & Anchor for another tradition, though one much louder. Punk rock bingo is the best low-cost way to get a Tuesday going, with prizes to be won, PBR’s to be crushed, and loud tunes to be heard courtesy DJ DJ RO-B1. The mayhem starts at 7, but get in early to grab a seat and the best dabbers; I’m superstitious, and always try to get a green one.
On Wednesday, the National Music Centre opens a temporary exhibition celebrating the 2025 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees: Dan Hill, Ginette Reno, Glass Tiger, and Loreena McKennitt. The exhibit showcases photos, storytelling, and memorabilia from the four inductees, like stage outfits from Glass Tiger, a Montreal Canadiens jersey worn by Ginette Reno during multiple national anthem performances, Loreena McKennitt’s harp, and much more. The exhibit runs at Studio Bell until February, so you’ve got tons of time, but why not be one of the first to see it all?
Chris Webby brings his mixtape-driven rap sound to MacEwan Ballroom this Thursday (moved from the recently shuttered Back Alley), with support from Ekoh, Grieves, Whitney Peyton, and Rook Director. It’s the ‘last wednesday’ tour, named after his most recent mixtape released back in December. Grab tickets at backalleycalgary.com.
Embark on a multimedia journey through time and space this weekend with Baroque Odyssey, featuring live music performed by the local string ensemble, String Theory Music Collective. These free, family-friendly concerts explore connections between history, music, art and science, and explore the life of the astronomer and mathematician, Johannes Kepler. The Friday show is at the Calgary Central Library; Saturday is at the Evan Hazell Theatre in the Seton YMCA; and Sunday’s show is at the BMO Theatre at the Rocky Ridge YMCA.
Vertigo Theatre opens its production of The Da Vinci Code this Saturday. Based on the infamous Dan Brown novel, this show follows a historically thrilling hunt for the Holy Grail, with lots of twists and turns along the way. Plus, you gotta see how it stacks up against the movies, right? Grab tickets today at vertigotheatre.com and consider taking mom out.
Speaking of which, wrap the weekend up with a Mother’s Day High Tea at The Prairie Emporium in Manchester. Enjoy classic tea, food offerings, and a live pianist all afternoon, with seating available at 12 and 2:30 pm. And keep an eye out for a venue profile of the Emporium in the back of the Scene’s may issue, where you can learn more about this funky events space inside a motorcycle shop.
For more events and things to do around the city, grab our May issue of The Scene hitting stands this week, and visit us online at thescenecalgary.com
