This year’s Canada Day is jam packed with live music, performances, and things to do across Calgary.
LiveWire Calgary has curated some of the biggest and most affordable Canada Day activities across the city.
Fireworks
This year’s Canada Day fireworks will be launched from Calgary Stampede park at 11 p.m. The fireworks will be best viewed from Scotsman’s Hill or other surrounding downtown overlook locations, as there is no on park viewing locations this year.
Attendees are asked to plan ahead, as road limitations will be placed on Crescent Road leading to Scotman’s Hill.
Cost: Free
Fort Calgary and St. Patrick’s Island
Fort Calgary mainstage
Join the Canada Day mainstage at Fort Calgary for an evening of music by some of Canada’s top artists.
- 4:30 p.m.: Opening blessing by Elder Clarence Wolfleg, followed by a grizzly bear dance by Laura Grizzlypaws and the national anthem by Dilayna Blackhorse
- 5:00 p.m.: Dear Rouge
- 6:00 p.m.: Josh Sahunta
- 7:00 p.m.: Justine Tyrell
- 8:00 p.m.: William Prince
- 9:00 p.m.: Joanna Magik
- 10:00 p.m.: The Funk Hunters
Cost: Free
Fort Calgary Powwow, cultural booths, and entertainment
Take in cultural booths and entertainment from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the grounds of Fort Calgary. This includes:
- Indigenous vendors, who will be selling arts and crafts along with sharing Indigenous culture and stories.
- Teaching Tipis and Trappers Tent with six topics of discussion throughout the day.
- Members of the Sikh community who will be teaching Calgarians how to tie a turban.
- Take an indoor tour of Fort Calgary’s newest exhibit Culture and Kin, which explores the history of the Chinese-Calgarian community.
- Take part in Asian games, fashion shows, and martial arts at the Asian Heritage Foundation cultural booth from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fort Calgary will also be hosting a Powwow, which begins at 11 a.m., with a Grand Entry at 1:20 p.m.
- 11:00 a.m.: Opening prayer from Elder Clarence Wolfleg
- 11:00 a.m.: Tipis open
- 11:30 a.m.: Metis Jigger Bev Lambert
- 12:30 p.m.: Jason Gordon, Missing Rose
- 1:00 p.m.: Line-up for Grand Entry
- 1:20 p.m.: Grand Entry for Powwow
- 5:00 p.m.: Resting of the flags
Cost: Free
Walking tours of Fort Calgary and area
Take a walking tour of Fort Calgary and the surrounding park areas to learn about local flora and fauna, and the natural history of the Bow River. Tours start each hour, on the hour, at the Fort Calgary Gazebo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
St. Patrick’s Island Park music
There will be three stages at St. Patrick’s Island this year with music, food trucks, face painting, and other fun outdoor activities.
Confluence Plaza Stage
- 11:00 a.m.: Craig First Rider
- 11:15 a.m.: Anders Hunter
- 12:00 p.m.: Tyler Allen
- 1:00 p.m.: Premanition
- 2:00 p.m.: Jay Bowcott
- 3:00 p.m.: Michela Sheedy
- 4:00 p.m.: KTheChosen
The Rise Stage
- 11:00 a.m.: Shine Choir
- 12:00 p.m.: Marcus Trummer Band
- 1:00 p.m.: Red Hot Hayseeds
- 2:00 p.m.: Moose Caroll Band
- 3:00 p.m.: Bebe Bucksin
- 4:00 p.m.: Delirium Street Party Brass Band
Trout Beach Stage
- 11:00 a.m.: Emét
- 12:00 p.m.: Nadi Downz
- 1:00 p.m.: Heather Blush
- 2:00 p.m.: Duke Domino
- 3:00 p.m.: Justine Vandergrift
- 4:00 p.m.: Ashley Ghostkeeper
Cost: Free
Calgary Fire Department rescue demonstrations at St. Patrick’s Island
Join the Calgary Fire Department on Prince’s Island Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to learn about water safety, and to see the CFD Aquatic Rescue Team in action as they show off their rescue boat on the Bow River.
Cost: Free
Canada D-Eh at the Calgary Zoo
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo will be holding a day of conservation and Canadian inspired activities, with food, biofact stations, maple leaf temporary tattoos, and a photo opportunity with a larger than life beaver.
Cost: Included with admission
Downtown Calgary
Olympic Plaza
Take in music, art, children’s activities and more at Olympic Plaza from 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arts Commons will be holding six concerts on the Olympic Plaza stage, starting at 11 a.m.
- 10:45 a.m.: Indigenous Elder blessing and performance by Chantal Strongstorm-Chagnon
- 11:00 a.m.: Rattle & Strum
- 12:00 p.m.: The Dust Collectors
- 1:00 p.m.: Notorious Cree
- 2:00 p.m.: KTheChosen
- 3:00 p.m.: Zenon+
- 4:00 p.m.: Miesha and the Spanks
Cost: Free
Calgary City Hall
The Calgary City Hall Plaza and Municipal Complex Atrium will be hosting a variety of cultural performances throughout Canada Day.
- 11:00 a.m.: Lion dances (City Hall Plaza)
- 11:00 a.m.: Sings Many Songs Women – Women’s hand drums & songs (Municipal Complex Atrium)
- 11:30 a.m.: Poetry from Francine Cunningham, Henry Heavyshield, Rehgan Crop Eared Wolf, and Sarah Broadfoot (Municipal Complex Atrium)
- 12:15 p.m.: Performances by Small Eyes Camp (Municipal Complex Atrium)
- 12:30 p.m.: Tai Chi and martial arts (City Hall Plaza)
- 1:00 p.m.: Puppetry by DerRic Starlight (Municipal Complex Atrium)
- 1:45 p.m.: Hoop dancing by world champion Quentin Pipestem (Municipal Complex Atrium)
- 2:15 p.m.: Singing and fiddling by Billy Joseph (Municipal Complex Atrium)
Cost: Free
East Village
The East Village Neighbourhood Association will be holding its annual East Village Street Fair from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beer gardens open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. With over 50 vendors, food trucks, children’s activities and more, there is something for everyone this Canada Day.
Cost: Free to attend
The King Eddy will be celebrating it’s fifth anniversary on Canada Day, with an afternoon and evening of music starting at 1 p.m. to close.
- 1:00 p.m.: Amy Nelson
- 2:00 p.m.: Post Script
- 3:00 p.m.: Bennett Mitchell
- 4:00 p.m.: Cold Little Crow
- 5:00 p.m.: Mariya Stokes
- 6:00 p.m.: Robert Adam
- 7:30 p.m.: The Rural Routes
- 8:30 p.m.: Tom Philips
Cost: No cover charge
The National Music Centre will be offering free admission all Canada Day, with performances throughout the day at the venue’s music halls from Iryna Kalinovich, Stardale Women’s Group, and Mbira Renaissance Band.
Cost: Free
Central Library
Canada Day will be celebrated at the Calgary Public Library Central Library with special storytimes, Metis music, film presentations, and more starting at 12 p.m. and running to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
No Canada Without Me, a light and sound show that commemorates the century of the Chinese Exclusion Act, will be projected onto the side of the Central Library at 10 p.m. The half-hour show features 150 years of Asian heritage and culture building, highlighting the essential roles that Asian-Canadians have had in building Canada.
Cost: Free
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre
The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre is holding an afternoon of Lion Dance performances, cultural performances, market vendors, games, and children’s activities from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Eau Claire Market
Take in the final Canada Day ever to be celebrated at Eau Claire Market, before it is demolished next year. The Canada Day celebration features food vendors, live music, face painting, balloon twisting, starting at 10 a.m. and running until 11 p.m.
Cost: Free
South Calgary
Heritage Park
Heritage Park will be holding a full day of Canada Day activities, including a citizenship ceremony, performances from GlobalFest, Chinook Country Line Dancers, Calgary Police Service Pipe Band, and Rhythm of the Rockies choir, and a show and shine from Nifty Fifty’s Ford Club.
The park will also be holding an outdoor BBQ with family friendly crafts and games.
Cost: Included with price of admission
Visitors looking for a refined Canada Day experience can also book a table at the Heritage Park Canada Day Tea, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Famous 5 Centre of Canadian Women.
Cost: $45.95 for 12 and up, $28.95 for ages 3-11
Spruce Meadows
The Pan American Tournament will continue on Canada Day at Spruce Meadows, with family friendly events all day in addition to incredible displays of equestrian athletics.
- 11:30 a.m.: Gates open and Canada Day activities begin, including a petting zoo, bouncy castle, and kid’s zone activities
- 11:35 a.m.: Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs show
- 12:00 p.m.: Pony rides start for the day
- 12:15 p.m.: Lord Strathcona’s Horse musical ride
- 12:30 p.m.: BBQ for the first 2,000 guests
- 1:00 p.m.: Pan American Cup
Cost: $21.59 per person, $5.40 for children 8-12 and seniors (65+)
North Calgary
BownessFest
Come celebrate Canada Day in the community of Bowness with the annual BownessFest from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with live music, food, vendors and more. BownessFest is being held on the grounds of Our Lady of Assumption School.
Cost: Free
