Downtown Summer Festivals
Sunny Days. Cool Nights. Downtown Summer Festivals and Events
The summer fun continues downtown with more than 200 festivals and events until the end of September! Break out your sunglasses and embrace the summer vibes with sunny days and cool nights. From street festivals and outdoor concerts to night markets, film screenings and comedy shows, downtown Calgary is the place to be as the sun sets and the city lights come on.
Please check the official event websites for the most up-to-date information regarding cancellations, rescheduling or other important updates.
Explore downtown with these summer festivals and events:
FEATURED EVENT
Calgary Pop-Up Care Village
When: August 21
Where: Central Memorial Park
Website: Calgary Pop-Up Care Village
The Calgary Pop-Up Care Village is a festival for anyone experiencing systemic vulnerabilities such as homelessness, addiction, mental health issues, poverty, language and cultural barriers, and more.
The festival provides equitable access to basic services such as case management, healthcare, clothing, haircuts, food, and more to the community. This is a one-day event that upholds guests' inherent human dignity, and it bridges the wider Calgarian community with the underserved population.
Photo credit: Albert Woo
Alberta on the Plate
Celebrate Alberta’s bounty with ten days of multi-course, fixed-price dining menus crafted using locally sourced ingredients at participating restaurants across Calgary.
Drummoloy
Kick off Carifest with a celebration of Caribbean percussion featuring live performances and community vibes.
Carifest
Join in the fun of Carifest, a spectacular celebration of Caribbean music, costumes, tradition, and culture. Carifest hosts a colourful parade for a festival of live reggae and steel pan music, dancing, and food.
Night Carnival
A high-energy evening party with DJs and dancing – come dressed in camouflage and ready to fete.
Country Thunder
The biggest names in country music take the stage at Country Thunder for an epic concert event each summer in Calgary. Fort Calgary hosts this outdoor music festival with two stages, up-and-coming artists, and a nightly headliner straight from the top of the country charts.
Grand Parade
A vibrant street parade showcasing Caribbean costumes, music, and dance.
Carnival in the Park
A full-day celebration with Caribbean food, art, music, and performances from international artists.
The Official After Party
Late-night Caribbean vibes with DJs and dancing to keep the energy going.
Penguin Breakfast
Start your morning with a splash at the Calgary Zoo’s Penguin Plunge! This ticketed experience includes early zoo access, a delicious buffet breakfast, and a chance to see the penguins waddle, swim, and dive before the zoo opens to the public.
Getting downtown
Plan your trip
Over the summer festivals season, the downtown core will be very busy with events, road work and more people getting around. If you're driving, give yourself extra time to find parking and expect potential delays. You can plan your trip ahead by visiting Calgary.ca/PlanYourTrip.
Park safely and responsibly
Safe and legal parking helps avoid tickets, towing and unsafe situations for people walking, wheeling or driving nearby. Please remember to read and follow the signs before parking, even if it's a spot you're familiar with. You can manage your future parking sessions effortlessly by using the Parking Planner to book your parking in advance.
Save on parking with year-round deals
Parking downtown doesn't have to be expensive. Calgary Parking offers a variety of promotions throughout the year to help you save. Whether you're staying late, heading in early or planning a full day downtown, there are deals that make parking more affordable and convenient. Check out the Deals and Promotions page to see what's available.
Submit an event
If you have an event you would like added, please email: downtownevents@calgary.ca
with the subject: Downtown Summer Festivals.
*Please note, this page is updated regularly. The festivals and events listed are either organized, supported, or in good standing with The City of Calgary.