Photos: Asian Night and Glow lights signal vibrant return of crowds to downtown core

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.