10 Best Festivals in Calgary

High Performance Rodeo is a Calgary festival of theatre, film, music, and dance. Despite the name, it doesn't have anything to do with cowboys. This annual event embraces the bold and original, with performances ranging from enthralling contemporary dance to smash hit theatre. Shows take place in unorthodox locations around Calgary, including pedestrian skyways, wrestling rings, and elevators.

Take a break from sightseeing for a free lunchtime concert or a fabulous cabaret performance. Previous shows have included an experimental 1-man theatre, an audience participation version of Hamlet, ballet-modern dance fusion, and pop-up tents filled with individual performers.

Lilac Festival celebrates local crafts, fashion, food, and music in spring, when thousands of lilacs are blooming across Calgary. Things kick off in the morning with a grand parade of performers in colourful costumes. Then, it's time to head for the stalls, where hundreds of vendors sell handmade jewellery, clothing, home decorations, crafts, and ornaments.

You can enjoy a variety of snacks and drinks at food stalls, which come from the city's best cafés and restaurants. Around 6 concert stages host music from local and regional bands, as well as dance troupes, youth choirs and martial arts displays. Street entertainers perform magic tricks or make animals out of balloons, while a bouncy castle provides hours of fun for the little ones.

The Calgary Folk Music Festival is a 4-day music event that features not just first-rate folk music, but also funk, indie and world music. Across 8 stages, 70 artists (both new voices and returning favourites) play funky, upbeat tunes. Previous acts have included Elvis Costello, k. d. lang, Emmylou Harris, and Kris Kristofferson.

A highlight of the Calgary Folk Music Festival is the jamming sessions, which involve multiple acts improvising together. There's also a craft market where you can pick up handcrafted soap and stationery, plus dozens of international food stalls. Try some interactive activities in the family area, or pop by the Talk Tent to see comedians and spoken-word artists.

The Imaginarium by Wordfest is an inspiring literary festival that hosts writers from around the world. Speakers are a mix of debut authors and iconic names, with previous guests including Margaret Atwood, E. Annie Proulx, George Saunders, and Lemony Snicket. It’s a great event to discover new authors, learn more about Canadian literature, or get your books signed by your favourite writers.

Events include interviews, panel discussions, workshops, spoken performances, book signings, and a spelling bee. Don't miss the Literary Death Match, in which a group of authors read their work aloud and are gradually eliminated by a panel of judges. If you're a dedicated literary buff, you'll also enjoy answering challenging questions at Wordfest's Trivia Night.

Beakerhead is a festival that blends science, technology, and art to create hands-on demos, art installations and innovative performances. You might find yourself riding a MondoSpider machine, playing a piano that's connected to 30-ft Tesla coils, or enjoying dinner on a sustainably powered Ferris wheel. Past guests have included astronaut Chris Hadfield, physicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell, and science educator Christopher Emdin.

You can also enjoy live music at Beakerhead. Previous performers have included American rapper GZA and CompressorHead, an animatronic robot band from Berlin. Don't miss the wrap-up party, which features circus performances, dance, and laser displays. Many events are outdoors and don't stop for rain, so come prepared for Calgary's changeable weather.

GlobalFest is a cultural festival that honours the many international influences that have shaped Calgary. Cultural pavilions serve up food from around the world, with booths dedicated to Indonesian, Caribbean, and Ukrainian cuisine, plus spots for empanadas, bubble tea and poutine. There’s also a night market offering clothes, handmade jewellery, and crafty gifts.

Local artists perform traditional dance, contemporary music, and martial arts on several stages during GlobalFest. You can also enjoy 5 nights of fireworks displays, designed by pyrotechnicians from all over the world. Glittering shows of colourful fireworks burst above the reflective lake of Elliston Park.

The Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo is a colossal pop culture party that rejoices in all things geeky. The expo is famous for reuniting the full cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but it has also hosted the actors from The Lord of the Rings, the cast of The Karate Kid, and the stars of the long-running TV show Doctor Who.

At the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, you can attend Q&A sessions with actors, artists or writers to hear about their upcoming projects, or join hands-on workshops. The autograph sessions offer a golden opportunity to meet your favourite actors. There are costume contests for kids and adults, a red carpet for cosplayers, and a thousands-strong cosplay parade through Downtown Calgary.

The Calgary International Beerfest is a massive tasting session that takes place in May. It hosts over 200 Canadian breweries offering at least 700 types of beers. Sample a caramelly pale ale from Two Pillars Brewery, a tropical IPA from Belching Beaver, or a nutty brown ale from Olds College Brewery. There's also a substantial range of artisan ciders and meads to try.

The Brew Master seminars are a great way to learn about the beer-making process, while the Cooking with Beer seminars explore all the multiple delicious uses for beer. Local pop-up restaurants serve juicy burgers, barbeque, deli sandwiches, and cakes to go with your choice of beer. You can also check out live entertainment throughout the festival.

The Calgary International Film Festival screens a diverse array of new films by mostly emerging Canadian filmmakers. The festival curates some of the most inventive new thrillers, sci-fi flicks and comedies, and even international movies. You can also watch documentaries covering topics like classical music and climate science.

The Special Presentations are the most popular screenings during the Calgary International Film Festival. Another fascinating section is Generation Next, chosen by local teenagers to reflect their perspective on the world. Visit the Behind the Screen sessions to see panels of actors and directors talking about the process behind their films.

The Circle Carnival brings breathtaking acrobatic performances to Calgary, along with good food and great music. Circus performers pull off gravity-defying feats while magicians dazzle the crowds with their magic tricks. There's a circus school where kids can burn off some energy, a miniature Legoland, and a huge ball pit for kids and adults alike.

Two stages host live music by local DJs and touring bands, starting with upbeat and folksy during the day and progressing to dance music as the sun goes down. Food trucks serve tasty goodies like pierogis and gelato while several pop-up bars offer craft beers and cocktails. Amble around the Carnival Market for jewellery, homeware, or crafts from local artisans.