Downtown Summer Festivals
Downtown Summer Festivals & Events Summer Starts Here!
Break out your sunglasses and embrace the summer vibes – because Summer Starts Here, in downtown Calgary! With over 200 festivals and events happening downtown this summer, the heart of our city will be bursting with energy, entertainment and community pride as we kick off a summer packed with fun, local talent and memory-making events.
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
Canada Day
When: July 1
Where: The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (formerly Fort Calgary), St. Patrick’s Island, Municipal Building
Website: calgary.ca/CanadaDay
Celebrate Canada Day with a full day of fun, connection and culture for all ages. Enjoy an Indigenous spotlight and powwow, live music, cultural interactive activities, food trucks, face painting and more! Be sure to catch the all-Canadian Main Stage show at The Confluence starting at 3:20 p.m., featuring Lu Kala, Big Sugar, Aysanabee and headliner Sam Roberts Band. Cap off the day with fireworks above Stampede Park just after 11 p.m.
Lantern Peace Festival 2025
Experience the breathtaking beauty of lanterns floating in the pool. This is an annual summer peace event shares a wish for a peaceful society and a world free from violence.
Calgary Arab Festival
The Calgary Arab Festival highlights regional and cultural distinctions in Arab countries celebrating clothing, cuisine, dance, and art, providing attendees with a deeper appreciation of the cultural diversity within the Arabic world. Come support local artists by providing them with an opportunity to showcase their work.
Korean Day Festival
Experience Korea's vibrant culture and unique heritage at the Korean Day Festival, including exciting traditional dance performances, K-pop Contest, delicious Korean food, and a lively parade.
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.
Expo Latino Festivals
Expo Latino Festivals is Western Canada's largest Latino festival and welcomes visitors for a vibrant weekend of food, artisans, dancing, music, and entertainment for over 35 years.
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.
Chinatown Street Festival
Chinatown Street Festival is an annual event in the heart of Calgary’s Chinatown featuring cultural and food exhibitors, activities, and live performances, including dance, singing, martial arts.
90s Throwback
Stop, collaborate and join in as 17th Ave throws it back to the 90s.
Great Outdoors Comedy Festival
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival features some of the best comedy legends in live shows that promise great laughs, good times, and a celebration of all forms of performance comedy.
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.