Photos: Asian Night and Glow lights signal vibrant return of crowds to downtown core
Performers from the Thai Cultural Council dance in front of council chambers during the Asian Night Market at City Hall on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
The second week of the Glow Downtown Winter Light Festival ramped up Friday night at Olympic Plaza, alongside the Asian Night Market that colourfully transformed City Hall.
Thousands of Calgarians were drawn to the downtown core to take in the events as part of the Chinook Blast winter festival.
“We are ecstatic the weather has held up for our opening two weekends of Chinook Blast,” said Franca Gualtieri, executive director for Chinook Blast and strategic projects at Tourism Calgary.
“Not only has it made the experience enjoyable for artists to perform outdoors on our heated stage, but also for Calgary families to come out and enjoy the celebration,” she said.
Previews for some of the Block Heater music festival performances were put on at Olympic Plaza, alongside other musical and artistic displays along Stephen Avenue. This included music from Bebe Buckskin, Shawnee Kish, and Witch Prophet, and circus arts performances from LRB Company.
Cultural groups from throughout Calgary put on their own performances just outside the City Hall council chambers at the Asian Night Market.
Among the performances were Bollywood, Bharathanatyam, Yosakai Japanese, and Thai dancing, Indonesian shadowbox storytelling, alongside songs and musical performances from a number of city groups.
“This is what Chinook Blast is all about: showcasing the best in local talent and bringing our community together to enjoy all our city has to offer during this magical, although warmer than we are used to, season,” said Gualtieri.
For more details on the Chinook Blast schedule of events for this weekend, see chinookblast.ca.
Asian Night Market photos
Asian Night Market attendees leave positive encouragemens on sticky notes at a Studio LUMA interactive display at City Hall in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYLela Sanders with Sudio LUMA leaps into the air, sending the virtual leaves of light flying across the City Hall atrium wall during the Asian Night Market at City Hall in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYSome of the many lights and lanterns on display at the Asian Night Market at City Hall in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYRed lanterns symbolizing good fortune decorate a well attended Asian Night Market at City Hall in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYHandmade hats for sale from Calgary Chinatown Leo Group were some of the many goods for sale at the Asian Night Market at City Hall in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYPerformers from the Thai Cultural Council dance in front of council chambers during the Asian Night Market at City Hall on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYSome of Ken Richardson’s life drawings on display, as his son Noah does a pose for artists during the Asian Night Market at City Hall in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYNoah Richardson of Calgary Kimono Life Drawing holds a pose for artists during the Asian Night Market at City Hall in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
Glow Downtown Winter Light Festival photos
A couple walks down the TUNNEL during the Glow Downtown Winter Light Festival Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe many color changing layers of Aurora at the Glow Downtown Winter Light Festival in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA pair of social media influencers take in the TUNNEL during the Glow Downtown Winter Light Festival in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA family takes pictures of a young child at what they called “rainbow jail,” actually Dancing Lights by the Thirdspace Design Group at the Glow Downtown Winter Light Festival in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA performer from LRB Company spins to the delight of the crowd along Stephen Avenue during the Glow Downtown Winter Light Festival in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYPerformers from LRB Company spin to the delight of the crowd along Stephen Avenue during the Glow Downtown Winter Light Festival in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYWitch Prophet plays the Olympic Plaza stage during the Glow Downtown Winter Light Festival, previewing some of the lineup for the Block Heater Festival, in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe BEACON at Enoch Park in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA view inside the BEACON at Enoch Park in Calgary on Friday, February 18, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
