As the summer goes on, the festivals and events seem to get more and more plentiful. Each year, there’s a new fun summer date idea to add to the city, and we can’t wait for a whole new month to find more fun around Calgary!
Some see August as the beginning of the end of summer, but we see it as the sunniest, hottest month that, if you plan just enough fun dates, feels like it lasts forever! This month is stacked with a ton of awesome festivals for you to check out. Everything from food festivals, to live music and performances, cultural events and more.
Chasing Summer Festival
The premiere outdoor dance music event in Western Canada returns to Calgary for its seventh anniversary with a new bigger and better than ever experience!
The festival’s headliners include Tiesto, Zedd, Gryffin, Seven Lions, James Hype, Jauz and more!
When: Friday & Saturday, August 5 & 6, 2023. Gates open at 2 PM, and event runs until 11 PM, each day.
Where: Max Bell Centre Grounds, 1001 Barlow Trail SE, Calgary
Calgary International Blues Fest
The 19th annual Calgary International Blues Festival celebrates the best in blues with a full week of workshops, concerts and special events, culminating in four days & nights of non-stop music on MainStage followed by the nightly Twilight Blues dance parties.
You can also enjoy an arts market, beer tent, food trucks, festival souvenirs and more!
The Blues Fest is starring: Grammy nominated Soul Blues giant Sugaray Rayford, Texas songstress Diunna Greenleaf, “The People’s Queen of the Blues,” Canadian guitar wizard and documentary filmmaker Rita Chiarelli, award-winning Nashville guitarist & songwriter Kirk Fletcher, JUNO award winning multi-instrumentalist Angelique Francis, a collective of harmonica greats from across Canada including Steve Marriner, Big Dave McLean, Dave Mowat, Shawn Hall and Raoul Bhaneja, and a host of others.
When: August 3 – 6th, 2023
Where: Shaw Millennium Park, 1220 9 Ave SW, Calgary
Taste of Calgary
The city’s most appetizing festival! Taste of Calgary offers visitors the chance to sample some of the city’s best food, beverages, music and more! Admission to the festival is free and you can now pre-order your Taste Pass either online or at the festival – $1 per digital Taste Ticket you load onto your pass.
When: August 3 – 7th 2023, 11am to 10pm daily
Where: The corner of 4th Avenue and 9th Street – Lot 6, 311 8 St SW
Calgary Fringe Festival
Calgary’s annual celebration of non-mainstream theatre is happening throughout the beginning of the month. The Calgary Fringe Festival features local, national, and international productions for a total of over 150+ performances over nine days.
Check out the schedule to see all the performance, times, and locations. Watch in person or stream it live!
When: August 4 – 12th, 2023
Where: Multiple venues around the city
Annual Heritage Day Festival
This free family-friendly event includes a day of multicultural performances, ethnic foods, and unique handicrafts.
Explore the artisan booths, get face painted into a lion, frolic in the water, try a new dish, or simply soak up the sun in front of the stage and enjoy the folk performances.
When: August 7th from 12 pm -6 pm
Where: Olympic Plaza, 228 8 Ave SE, Calgary
Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival
The Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival draws over 1850 competitors, 4000+ spectators and an abundance of excitement to the city for this exhilarating day on the water.
Get out there with your date and watch the dragon boats glide across the water. Admission is free and you can explore the food trucks, family friendly beer garden, kids play areas for the little ones, local vendors, and cultural entertainment!
The Dragon Marketplace on August 12 and 13th will have 50 vendors and 15 food trucks, plus a whole line up of activities throughout the weekend.
When: August 11 – 13th, 2023, 7am-6pm
Where: North Glenmore Park, Calgary
Calgary Korean Day Festival
Korean Day Festival is open for anyone to broaden their understanding of the unique Korean culture, while promoting a joyful sense of multiculturalism and diverse community in Calgary.
In this Korean festival, where various sights and foods are prepared, various sports events including Taekwondo demonstration, various folk games such as raised kick, throw throw, group rope jumping, airplay, and face painting and play areas. Gilnori, Samulnori and various colorful and colorful multi-ethnic performances including various traditional Korean folk performances.
When: Saturday, August 12, 2023, from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM & Sunday, August 13, 2023, from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Where: Lot 6, 311 8 St SW, Calgary
Marda Gras Street Festival
Marda Gras Street Festival is a pedestrian-friendly event and enjoys discovering new sounds, tastes and wares during this New Orleans themed festival. Walk the street and reconnect with the community.
There will be four “street performer corners” with a full lineup of music, dance and magic shows. Local businesses and artisans will be there to promote and sell a variety of products and services.
For kids of all ages there will be an exclusive colouring sheet of the Marda Loop neighbourhood, handed out at the Marda Loop BIA tent.
When: August 13, 2023
Where: Marda Loop, 33rd Ave SW, Calgary
Shaw Charity Classic
Experience golf like never before! The Shaw Charity Classic, presented by Rogers, has become a staple summer event, promising a world-class experience for golf fans and non-golf fans alike this August 16-20th.
As a three-time recipient of the President’s Award as the top event on the PGA TOUR Champions, the Shaw Charity Classic is an event for a cause where golf stars will compete for $2.4 million in a three-round, 54-hole stroke-play tournament.
The tournament has raised more than $93 million for over 270 children and youth charities across the province.
When: August 16-20, 2023
Where: Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club at 12501 14 St SW, Calgary
GlobalFest: International Fireworks Festival
GlobalFest is an annual celebration of Calgary’s multi-cultural communities, featuring pavilions, performances, and international fireworks.
Illuminating the sky with a colliding orchestra of light and sound, the 2023 event showcases presentations produced by world-class pyro musical artists hailing from India, Austria, France, and Germany, plus a Canadian-produced finale.
When: August 17 – 26th, 2023
Where: Elliston Park, 1827 68 St SE, Calgary
Country Thunder Music Festival
This camping and music festival blend is the true country party of the year! You can choose between single day, weekend passes, or experiencing the festival from the Bud Light Lounge.
If you’re heading there for the day, single-day general admission tickets include entry and access to all stages and all performances during that day in a lawn-style seating – bring your own chair or blanket!
The line up includes country favourites like John Pardi, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Kip Moore, Carly Pearce, Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, and so many more!
When: August 18-20th, 2023
Where: Fort Calgary at 750 9 Ave SE
Expo Latino Festival
The hottest festival in the city! Expo Latino is an annual three-day celebration of people, music and dance. This is Western Canada’s largest Latin festival featuring world-class performers, sizzling dancing, exotic foods, arts, crafts and so much more.
When: August 18 – 20th, 2023
Where: Prince’s Island Park, Calgary
Carifest
Calgary, get ready for another spectacular Caribbean celebration of music, costumes, tradition and culture! Enjoy some sweet steel pan and reggae music and bask in the sounds of the Caribbean.
- PAN & REGGAE IN THE PARK
Featuring Pan orchestra’s from all over Alberta as well as Steele & The Hardcore Band from Toronto! - THE CARIFEST PARADE
Come watch the masquerades dance along 8th ave from Olympic Plaza to Shaw Millennium park! - THE FESTIVAL
We are also excited to bring back our many food vendors that offer the best of the best in Caribbean cuisine, a beer garden, the kid zone and more!
When: August 18 – 20th, 2023
Where: Shaw Millenium Park, Calgary
Great Outdoors Comedy Festival
If you’re looking to laugh all weekend, get your tickets to Great Outdoors Comedy Festival – a full weekend festival coming up this month of August with a stacked lineup taking the stage. This August 25-27, The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is bringing the top names to Prince’s Island Park with an epic line up of comedians like Andrew Schulz, Nick Offerman, Jonathan Van Ness, Monét X Change, and more.
When: August 25-27, 2023
Where: Prince’s Island Park, Calgary
Brewery & the Beast Calgary
Brewery & the Beast is coming back to Calgary this August! The event is a food and drink festival that celebrates local chefs and brewers. This year’s festival will have live entertainment for an ultimately unforgettable experience.
Tickets provide unlimited access to the chefs, restaurants and non-alcoholic beverages, plus you can get tickets to enjoy full size pours of craft beer, cocktails, cider, wine, Hard Seltzers and Tea’s. There is no extra purchasing required, it is all included! Just bring your appetite, sunscreen and good vibes to Calgary’s best food & beverage event of the summer!
When: August 27, 2023
Where: Fort Calgary at 750 9 Ave SE
Calgary Pride Week
Coming at the end of the August and welcoming September is Calgary Pride’s Week and Festival, back and bigger than ever!
This vibrant and inclusive celebration of diversity and love brings together people from all walks of life to support and embrace the LGBTQ+ community. Calgary Pride is hosting dozens of exciting events that celebrate and uplift.
When: Calgary Pride is hosting events from August 18th – September 3rd, 2023.
The Pride Festival will be held September 2 & 3 (18+ Pride Cabaret Soiree taking place on Saturday, September 2nd: 2 PM – 6 PM and the all-ages festival day taking place on Sunday, September 3rd: 12 PM – 10 PM)
The Parade will be on Sunday, September 3 starting at 11 AM
Where: Festival at Prince’s Island Park, Calgary and the Parade will begin at 9th Ave and 4th ST, and marching its way SE, ending at Fort Calgary.
