Wave the flag at these Canada Day events in Calgary
The city celebrates one special birthday this July 1, and everyone is invited. On Canada Day 2016, our beloved country will be 149 years young. The party starts bright and early, and continues well into the night – we have a lot of love to show for our homeland. Don your red and white to show your Canuck pride at one of these events. Image credit: iStock.com/franckreporter.
Heritage Park Historical Village
1900 Heritage Dr SW, Calgary, AB T2V 2X3This village-sized historical attraction offers an ideal Canada Day family getaway. Celebratory party perks include the park’s annual Dominion Day parade and licensed barbecue lunch tent, children’s crafts and games, mini chuck wagon races on the rodeo grounds and live, early 1900s-style street entertainment. Parking is available in the main-entrance lot, but attendees are urged to park at the Heritage LRT station, then take the 502 bus to the park. Hours: 9:30 am to 5 pm.
Fort Calgary
750 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 5E1At the riverside site of the city’s founding fort, Canada Day outdoor activities are fun and free for families. Kick off the celebration with a pancake breakfast, and stick around for live musical entertainment, children’s crafts, a petting zoo and an indigenous artisan fair. At 12 pm, visitors can participate in the formation of a living Canadian flag. The first 1,000 visitors will receive a red or white T-shirt just for this patriotic photo op, but it’s best to wear your own in case. Hours: 9 am to 4 pm.
City of Calgary
Pack the sunscreen and spend Canada Day in Prince’s Island Park. The City of Calgary presents a variety of kid-friendly programming including parachute games and DancePl3y. For the adults, 45-minute fitness classes run from noon to 6 pm. The daylong Aboriginal Showcase and Powwow features drumming, dancing and storytelling performed by the Iniikokaan Aboriginal Centre of Bow Valley College. As well, the Canadian Military presents interactive displays and a meet and greet with military personnel. Hours: 10 am to 6 pm.
Eau Claire Market
202-200 Barclay Parade SW, Calgary, AB T2P 4R5Nothing says Canada Day like a fleet of food trucks and free ice cream cones, the latter of which will be presented to the first 1,000 guests at Eau Claire Market’s July 1 celebrations. In its outdoor courtyard you’ll find an artisan market, live musical entertainment, beer garden and tasty truck treats. Children’s activities include a petting zoo, face painting, and temporary tattoos. Admission is free. Hours: 11 am to 9 pm; children’s activities 11 am to 4 pm.
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre Assn
197 1 St SW, Calgary, AB T2P 4M4The streets and shops of Chinatown encompass one big neighbourhood celebration on Canada Day. Free and family-friendly, the event features outdoor cultural performances as well as craft and food kiosks. Hours: 9 am to 11 pm. At 11 pm, the crowd shifts its attention to the Centre Street Bridge fireworks show. Adjacent to Chinatown, Sien Lok Park is the best viewpoint for the display, so arrive early to get a good seat in the grass.
Calgary Downtown Association
1440-150 9 Ave Sw, Calgary, AB T2P 3H9Calgary’s central downtown pedestrian promenade, Stephen Avenue Walk paints itself red and white on Canada Day, ramping up its usual bustle with street vendors, buskers and live musical performances at the #IAMDOWNTOWN stage. Seven musical acts and three local dance groups will take the stage during the day. Hours: 11 am to 8 pm.
Calaway Park Ltd
245033 Range Road 33, Calgary, AB T3Z 2E9Calling all superheroes! Calaway Park hosts Calaway Comic Fest for Kids July 1 to 3. Kids (as well as moms and dads) are encouraged to celebrate Canada Day by dressing up as their favourite superhero or villain. The amusement park’s regular rides and attractions thrill and entertain, with the addition of a superhero face painting station, out of this world photo ops and a local artisan market. Hours: 10 am to 7 pm.
City of Calgary
The City of Calgary wraps up this day of national celebration with a literal bang. The Centre Street Bridge fireworks show is accompanied by music from 101.5 Kool FM and Wild 95.3 FM, and top vantage points include the banks of the Bow River near Chinatown and in Crescent Heights. Show starts at approximately 11 pm.
Studio Bell Home of the National Music Centre
850 4 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0L8Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, hosts a much-anticipated, free opening event on July 1. Expect special Canada Day programming, including educational presentations. exhibits and musical performances throughout its five floors.
Calgary Municipal Land Corp
429 8 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0L6On July 1, artisanal arts and crafts vendors and arts displays line the lanes of the city’s East Village alongside the city’s food truck fleet for East Village Street Fair. The East Village Show & Shine is a big part of this Canada Day celebration, featuring seriously sexy collectable automobiles. Kids crafts and activities are held in the event’s “fun zone.” Hours: 9 am to 4 pm.
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