Events - Calgary | ArrivalGuides.com

EventsGuide was updated: June 24, 2025

Calgary hosts different festivals that mainly happen during the summer, but smaller events are held year-round. You'll be able to celebrate the city's heritage and history with the Calgary Stampede and its food culture during Taste of Calgary. You can also find a folk music festival, as well as a comic-con and a firework competition among the town's many events.

High Performance Rodeo (January)

High Performance Rodeo is Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts, featuring performances from Canadian and foreign artists who will entertain audiences using many different spots in the Downtown as their stage. The diversity of the performances is the main draw: you can find theatrical, dancing and musical exhibitions, but also wrestling matches, cabaret and burlesque shows.

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Block Heater (February)

Organized by the Calgary Folk Fest, Block Heater is a winter music festival taking place across several locations like the National Music Centre, King Eddy, Festival Hall, and the Central Library in Downtown Calgary. Both Canadian and international performers join this annual celebration of all genres of music, from electronic to folk.

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Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo (April)

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo comes with everything a comic fan would need: scheduled autograph and photo sessions with international authors, Q&A panels with your favorite artists, over 700 retailers with articles and gadgets on sale, as well as cosplay contests that bring fictional characters to life.

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Calgary Folk Music Festival (July)

The Calgary Folk Music Festival has been an annual staple for both Calgarians and tourists since 1980. Set in Prince's Island Park, the festival not only gives a stage to many local and international artists, both up-and-coming and well-established, but also includes a Talk Tent where comedy shows and panels take place, as well as an artisan market and a beer garden.

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Calgary Stampede (July)

A ten-day festival that takes its roots at the start of the 1900s, the Calgary Stampede starts off with a western-themed march through the town. It is mostly famous for having the world's biggest outdoor rodeo, with a range of activities including bull riding and barrel racing that take place during the afternoon. Every day ends with a chuckwagons derby, followed by a variety show featuring comedy, music and dancing, while a firework display acts as the grand finale.

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GlobalFest (August)

The GlobalFest is further split into the OneWorld Festival and the International Fireworks Festival. The first aims to showcase different cultures from around the world through onstage performances, interactive activities and food stalls, while the latter is a competition between five countries' best pyro-musical artists.

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Taste of Calgary (August)

This festival does not only allow you to taste Calgary's food and drinks from the many tents and trucks, but also to engage with local artisans and get to know their craft, while the stages host live music bands and DJs. The sampling tickets come at $1 each, and can be bought either online or on site.

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Beakerhead (September)

Beakerhead is an annual festival that celebrates the ways in which engineering and science can create art. Recurring displays include exhibitions featuring robots, street experiments and music on Stephen Avenue Walk, workshops and panels for educational purposes and nightly events with 3D projections and dance performances.

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Calgary International Film Festival (September)

Since the year 2000, Calgary has hosted the largest film festival in Alberta every year, with screenings of feature and short films of any genre, coming from not only Canada but also other countries. During these twelve days the audience is able to ask questions and engage with the filmmakers during panels, film talks and behind-the-scenes events.

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Imaginairium by Wordfest (October)

Wordfest, the third-largest Canadian literary festival, hosts Imaginarium, a 10-day long celebration of national and international writers, ranging from columnists to essayists. Readings, Q&As, and panels are staple events, but there's also the annual late-night Literary Deathmatch, where authors have seven minutes to show off their wordsmith skills to both the judges and the audience.

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Events in Calgary

High Performance Rodeo (January)

Block Heater (February)

Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo (April)

Calgary Folk Music Festival (July)

Calgary Stampede (July)

GlobalFest (August)

Taste of Calgary (August)

Beakerhead (September)

Calgary International Film Festival (September)

Imaginairium by Wordfest (October)