This weekend is a big one for festivals!
The 25th Calgary International Film Festival kicks off this week, and I suggest you head to the Plaza this Friday and get things started with MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE, a dark comedy executive produced by none other than Travis Kelce. Check out some of our September content for a look behind the scenes and some of our recommendations for the festival; it’s a doozy this year.
Beakerhead also runs all weekend, with a “Steam” theme marking its 2024 edition. From Friday to Sunday, enjoy artist performances, unique experiences, panels, food, fun, and fire. This year’s Beakerhead is taking place entirely at Telus SPARK, both inside and out.
ActivateYYC and the Federation of Calgary Communities are partnering with the City of Calgary and the Kensington Business Improvement Area for Calgary Park(ing) Day all weekend in Kensington. Various parking stalls and roadways will become opportunities for artists, students, designers, and citizens to create a vibrant public realm experience that rejects our car-centric culture.
It’s Blackfoot Treaty Commemoration Week, and from Wednesday onwards, you can head out to Blackfoot Crossing for Elders Recognition Day, the ceremony marking the 147th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 7, a Hand Games competition and more. Check out blackfootcrossing.ca for more details.
Siksika rockers Iron Tusk are opening for Black Thunder and Fulfillment at The Ship and Anchor this Wednesday. And the best part? It’s totally free, as is the case for all concerts at The Ship. Just be sure to bring earplugs, as all three bands are headbangers.
Also, this week is the play Foo Fighter. No, Dave Grohl isn’t involved. This immersive show is about boxing, Parkinson’s Disease, and what they can teach us. You can catch the show at The Artist Lounge on Tuesday, while on Wednesday, it’s at The Attic in Inglewood at 7:30. It also has dates next week.
Artis Theatre, Calgary’s first all-Ukrainian theatre company, is also opening a show this week. The Seagull Inside You runs from Wednesday to Sunday at the new Erratics Indie Arts Club in the Beltline, run by Inside Out Theatre. The show is described as “performance therapy” by an ensemble of Ukrainian actors who have found refuge in Canada.
Head back to the Ship on Thursday for Hold On Tight Spider Monkey, a Twilight drag showcase from Satanic Cowboy Productions featuring performances from Ether Rich and hosted by El Rey Del Sol. Get there before the 8:30 start time, and bring some cash to tip the performers!
This Friday is one of your last chances to catch a Stampeders game this year, as they take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders at McMahon Stadium. And if you’re looking for something different this weekend, head to Palak StudioInk for their weekly Neon Paint Night. Tickets include all the materials you need to create glow-in-the-dark art, including neon paints, brushes, and canvases. You can get tickets at palakstudioink.com.
Wrap it all up at Sweet Loretta on Sunday. Tear up the dance floor to DJ selections on both floors from 6 p.m. till closing, spinning World, R&B, Hip-Hop & electronic music, ideally enjoyed with a cocktail; I personally love the Fresh as Fuck.
Pick up the September issue of The Scene for more events and things to do around the city.