Explore Downtown YYC

Introducing: Philip Kanwischer & Tayler Schenkeveld
2026-07-18 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Edmonton) | Christine Klassen Gallery, Suite #200, Calgary, Ab
INTRODUCING is Christine Klassen Gallery’s ongoing exhibition series dedicated to presenting artists newly joining the gallery roster.
This year’s edition welcomes two additional Calgary creatives, photographer Philip Kanwischer and Métis artist Tayler Schenkeveld, two distinct voices whose practices explore our relationship with place, identity, and the natural world. While their approaches differ, both artists invite thoughtful reflection through work that is quietly powerful, deeply personal, and rooted in observation.
Presented alongside CHROMA, INTRODUCING offers collectors and visitors the opportunity to discover artists at the beginning of their relationship with the gallery, while experiencing their work in conversation with the broader summer exhibition.

NMC Tours: Greatest Hits
2026-07-18 11:00 - 2026-07-19 14:30 (America/Edmonton) | Studio Bell, 850 4 St SE, Calgary, Ab, T2G 0L8
Dive into the world of music technology and explore unique instruments from the National Music Centre’s world-renowned collection.
This is your chance to see how music is made and experience one-of-a-kind instruments in action. Step beyond the exhibits as interpreters go behind the glass to demonstrate historic artifacts, revealing the mechanics, sounds, and stories that make each instrument extraordinary.
Plus, this tour includes a sneak peek into NMC’s recording studios! For an in-depth studio experience, check out the Backstage Pass tours.
Studio Bell admission is required.
Space is limited and first-come, first-served. We recommend booking your tickets in advance.
Tours are one hour in length. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your tour.
Are you an NMC Member? Visit the front desk to book your free Greatest Hits tour!

Drop-in Art Making
2026-07-18 13:00 - 17:00 (America/Edmonton) | Contemporary Calgary, 701 11 Street Southwest, Calgary, Ab, T2P 2C4
Embrace creativity and exploration in our Saturday Drop-in Art Making program. This program is offered most Saturdays from 1-5 PM throughout the year. Materials and light instruction are provided, along with rotating themes and activities.
Our programs encourage children, youth, and families to connect with modern and contemporary art through enjoyable and interactive creative experiences.
JULY SCHEDULE

July 4: Thaumatropes
July 11: Paper Puppets (Stampede Themed)
July 18: Pipecleaner Summer Flowers
July 25: Paper Pinwheels

In addition to the above activities, there will be both a collage and drawing station available for creative free time during each session.
These are drop-in sessions running from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Come anytime — no registration is required.

CIBC Backbeat: Bow & Tell with James Watson
2026-07-18 14:00 - 16:30 (America/Edmonton) | Studio Bell, 850 4 St SE, Calgary, Ab, T2G 0L8
Join us on Saturdays in PlayLab for a hands-on violin experience designed for young explorers and future musicians alike! Presented by Jubilee Arts in partnership with the National Music Centre, and featuring live performances alongside guided instruction from professional violinists, including musicians from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, this interactive program invites children of all ages and skill levels to step into the world of music-making.
PlayLab is a hands-on sound playground where young visitors can discover how music works. With interactive stations that feature strings, wind, percussion, and electronic instruments, kids experiment with the building blocks of sound—pitch, volume, timbre, and vibration. Pluck a string, strike a drum, blow into an organ, or shape sound on a synth to hear how instruments create their unique voices. Designed for curiosity and creativity, PlayLab encourages visitors to listen closely, explore freely, and learn how musicians turn sound into music.

Little Mermaid
2026-07-18 14:00 - 23:59, 2026-07-19 14:00 - 23:59, 2026-07-20 14:00 - 23:59 (America/Edmonton) | One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre (Big Secret Theatre), 225 8 Ave Se, Calgary, T2G 0K9
FlipSide Theatre, in association with Philippine Festival Council of Alberta (PFCA) and Forte Musical Theatre, presents Little Mermaid.
Little Mermaid is a bold new musical adaptation of the beloved Hans Christian Andersen tale. Featuring a book by acclaimed playwrights Jaime del Mundo and Luna Griño-Inocian, with music by Broadway performer Lito Villareal, this reimagined production plunges audiences into a world of wonder, magic, and sacrifice beneath the sea.
At the heart of the story is Jewel, a fierce and spirited young mermaid who longs for a life beyond the ocean’s depths. On her sixteenth birthday, she encounters Christian, a human prince from a distant land, and becomes captivated by the world he represents. But when the cunning sea witch Crustacea learns of Jewel’s forbidden dream, she strikes a dangerous bargain: Jewel’s voice in exchange for human legs. With only three days to make Christian fall in love with her, Jewel must risk everything—or lose her voice forever and be banished from the sea she once called home.
Brought to life through dazzling costumes, inventive puppetry, soaring music, and performances by some of the most exciting emerging Filipino musical theatre artists today, Little Mermaid promises a theatrical experience filled with heart, spectacle, and unforgettable magic.

4th Street Night Market
2026-07-18 17:00 - 22:00 (America/Edmonton) | Central Memorial Park, 1221 2 St Sw, Calgary, T2R 0W9
The 4th Street Night Market is located in the heart of The Beltline for 2026. Visit the lively main street neighborhood of 4th Street for food, fun, local finds, & friends at this family-friendly, free, pet-friendly night market all summer long! (May 16, June 20, July 18, August 22, September 19)

Globe Cinema Presents: Night Nurse (2026)
2026-07-18 19:00 - 23:59, 2026-07-18 21:15 - 23:59, 2026-07-19 15:30 - 23:59 (America/Denver) | Globe Cinema, 617 8 Ave Sw, Calgary, T2P 0W9
Globe Cinema Presents: Night Nurse (2026)
At the start of her new job in a luxury retirement community, Eleni (Cemre Paksoy) is drawn into a series of scam calls targeting the elderly residents, a pull she can’t quite name or resist.
As the community’s strange rhythms close around her, she grows increasingly intimate with her elusive patient, Douglas (Bruce McKenzie), until the line blurs between care and desire, devotion and delusion.
Writer-director Georgia Bernstein’s debut feature examines caregiving as both vocation and compulsion, and the fine, dangerous line between them.
Genre: Thriller, Erotic Director: Georgia Bernstein Stars: Cemre Paksoy, Bruce McKenzie, Eleonore Hendricks Running time: 1 hr 35 minRating: 14A (Not Recommended for Children)
Debit, credit, and tap only for payment. No cash accepted.

Little Mermaid
2026-07-18 19:00 - 23:59, 2026-07-19 19:00 - 23:59 (America/Edmonton) | One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre (Big Secret Theatre), 225 8 Ave Se, Calgary, T2G 0K9
Looking for a memorable experience to share with your children? Join FlipSide Theatre for Little Mermaid, an original musical adaptation of the beloved fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.
Filled with enchanting music, imaginative puppetry, dazzling costumes, and heartfelt storytelling, Little Mermaid celebrates courage, family, sacrifice, and discovering your true voice. Created by Calgary’s Filipino-Canadian theatre community, this production offers a meaningful and inspiring experience for audiences of all ages.
Come laugh, dream, and dive beneath the waves with us this summer!

Alien (1979)
2026-07-18 22:00 - 23:59 (America/Edmonton) | Globe Cinema, 617 8 Ave Sw, Calgary, T2P 0W9
Globe Cinema Presents: Alien (1979)
In the distant future, the commercial spaceship “Nostromo” crew is on its way home when the crew picks up a distress call from a distant moon. The crew must investigate, and the spaceship descends on the small planetoid afterwards.
After a rough landing, three crew members leave the spaceship to explore the area on the planetoid. At the same time, the ship’s computer deciphers the message. When the crew realizes it is not alone on the spaceship, they must deal with the consequences.
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Director: Ridley ScottStars: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton Running time: 3 hr 00 min Rating: 14A (Gory Scenes)
Debit, credit, and tap only for payment. No cash accepted.

Soccer City FC - Presented by Calgary Wild FC
2026-07-19 | Peace Park, 2 Ave SW, Calgary, T2P
Free youth soccer is taking over Peace Park this summer, bringing high-energy, high-quality programming right to the heart of downtown. Whether your child or teen is trying soccer for the first time or building on their skills, these free programs offer a fun, positive, and accessible way to stay active and connected all summer long.
Delivered in partnership with The City, Cavalry FC, Calgary Wild FC, Calgary Minor Soccer Association and the Centre for Newcomers, this initiative creates meaningful opportunities for young people to learn, play, and thrive. With coaching led by Cavalry FC and Calgary Wild FC, participants get top-tier instruction at no cost, learning from the pros, building confidence, and experiencing the joy of the game in a supportive environment.

Soccer City FC – Presented by Cavalry FC & Suncor
2026-07-19 | Peace Park, 2 Ave SW, Calgary, T2P
Free youth soccer is taking over Peace Park this summer, bringing high‑energy, high‑quality programming right to the heart of downtown. Whether a child or teen is trying soccer for the first time or building on their skills, these free clinics offer a fun, positive, and accessible way to stay active and connected all summer long.
Delivered in partnership with The City of Calgary, Cavalry FC, Calgary Wild FC, Calgary Minor Soccer Association, and the Centre for Newcomers, this initiative creates meaningful opportunities for young people to learn, play, and thrive. With coaching led by Cavalry FC and Calgary Wild FC, participants receive top‑tier instruction at no cost while learning from the pros, building confidence, and experiencing the joy of the game in the heat of the city.
When: June 7 – September 20, most Sundays Who: Youth ages 8–17 Where: Peace Park (2 Avenue & 8 Street SW) Weather: Clinics may be cancelled if conditions are unsafe

Current // Process + Place
2026-07-19, 2026-07-20 | The New Gallery, 208 Centre St S, Calgary, T2G 2B6
Current is a new series of public art activations presented by The New Gallery (TNG), transforming the Bow River pathway into a flowing corridor of creativity. Connecting Calgary’s cultural landmarks and natural landscapes, these activations merge art, nature, and community through installation, performance, and interactive projects. It invites audiences to experience the city through the rhythm of the river and the energy of downtown life.
Presented by The New Gallery and supported by RISEUp Calgary, Current runs through July 6 – 30th, 2026.
Current brings together the works and creative processes of Calgary artists through installation, performance and socially engaged practice. At times ecological, social and deeply rooted in process, Current invites artists to slow down and work directly within the liminal space of the river’s edge, the histories it holds, its riparian habitat, transition to the urban environment, and the material relations both carried and deposited.
Artist participation is site-specific, and interventions are simultaneously temporary, time-based and socially engaged. Current merges an outdoor exhibition program with musical and movement-based performance, installation, sound, participatory workshops and facilitated interdisciplinary tours.

Get Ready for the Ultimate Summer Challenge!
2026-07-19, 2026-07-20 | Calgary Public Library – Central, 800 3 St Se, Calgary, T2G 2E7
The Challenge is simple — read every day this summer.
Everyone can be part of the Ultimate Summer Challenge. This shared reading adventure is a great way to connect, discover, and keep learning through the summer months.
From July 1 to August 31, read, attend programs, explore new stories, and have fun at the Library as part of the Ultimate Summer Challenge.
Registration opens June 15.

Mush Love
2026-07-19, 2026-07-20 | NVRLND. Arts Foundation, 1048 21 Avenue Southeast, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1N2
Mush Love Art Exhibition & Market Event on July 18 to 26!
Special Events:

Friday July 17 – Private Opening Event: 7 p.m. to Midnight
Sunday July 19 – Mush Market Event: Noon to 5 p.m.
Friday July 24 – Psychedelic Sound Sessions: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday July 25 – Artist-Run Workshops & Activations: Noon till 5 p.m.

Mush Love is back for our 4th annual event focused on bringing people together to celebrate the fabulous world of fungi and the magic of mushroom culture! This artist-run initiative is a creative platform that combines an inclusive, group art exhibition with a mushroom-inspired market featuring local creators, artisans, musicians, performers, growers and educators.

Sunday Safari Brunch
2026-07-19 09:00 - 23:59 (America/Denver) | Calgary Zoo, 1300 Zoo Rd Ne, Calgary, T2E 7V6
Join us for a unique Calgary brunch experience in the heart of the zoo. You can enjoy both gourmet and comfort breakfast foods, including a free-flowing chocolate fountain with fresh fruit, eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon, a Belgian waffle bar, cooked to order omelets, and much more. Get your combo brunch and admission tickets today!

Urban Beekeeping Workshop
2026-07-19 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Edmonton) | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, 750 9 Avenue Southeast, Calgary, T2G 5E1
Get your garden buzzing by learning about the basics of bees! Get decked out in beekeeping gear and join ABC Bees owner and operator Eliese Watson for a hive tour of the bees here in The Confluence Garden. This two-hour workshop will cover all of the different aspects of setting up bee hives and how to care for them in an inner city location.
Whether you’re a beginner wanting to explore beekeeping or looking to just spend more time with bees, meet us outside for an educational day with the bees!

Songsmith Sundays with Carter Felker
2026-07-19 11:30 - 23:59 (America/Denver) | The King Eddy, 438 9 Ave Se, Calgary, Ab, T2G 0R9
Every week, country-folk singer-songwriter Carter Felker presents a chill weekend set with a rotating cast of guests.
This family-friendly show is best paired with our delicious Sunday brunch!
Brunch menu: https://kingeddy.ca/menu
About Carter Felker:
Born and raised in the Prairies, Carter Felker’s eyes have seen the length of the wheat fields through many winter mornings, and the stretch of the sun through many short-lived summers. He has laboured, he has lost, and he has loved. Carter uses his own experience, and his desire to tell a story to create honest, human-made, country music.
“Carter Felker traffics in music, yes, but even more profoundly in essence: the humdrum essence of Monday morning alarms clocks coming round again during lifetimes ticking on through thoughtless dawn moments walking across the kitchen floor; the craven essence of sneaking wordlessly away from a relationship and feeling the mute screen door sag shut behind you; the essence of everyday struggles.” – MLW
—
Music starts at 11:30 amNo cover

Contemporary Kids: Creating with Chance
2026-07-19 13:00 - 14:30, 2026-07-19 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Edmonton) | Contemporary Calgary Arts Society, 701 11 St Sw, Calgary, T2P 2M1
Join us for a pattern-making workshop inspired by Ghazaleh Avarzamani’s exhibition Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return, where games become a lens for examining the systems that shape our everyday life. By rolling dice, kids will generate the rules to create their artworks, while exploring colour, composition, and ideas of control through playful chance.
What to expect: The session begins with a 25-minute guided tour of selected works from Churn, Earn, Burn, and then Return, followed by a hands-on art-making activity.
Our free onsite Contemporary Kids programs invite children to learn about modern and contemporary art through unique and engaging art activities.
For children ages 5-12. Maximum group of 25 children, with one guardian per child.
Contemporary Calgary Educational Programs are often photographed. This photography includes the participants, parents or guardians and their creations. If you wish not to be photographed, please let Contemporary Calgary education staff know upon arrival, and they will assist you.
Contemporary Kids: Creating with ChanceThe same workshop is offered in four sessions for your convenience: two sessions on July 19 and two sessions on July 26.
Choose one session that suits your schedule best.
Date: July 19, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.Date: July 19, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.Date: July 26, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.Date: July 26, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.Time: 1.5 hours

Wild After Hours: Lemurs
2026-07-19 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, 210 St. George's Drive Ne, Calgary, T2E 7V6
Step into the secret world of lemurs at this adults-only event that explores the fascinating lives of these unique and mysterious creatures. You’ll begin your evening with an exclusive, after-hours viewing of our three lemur species in the Land of Lemurs immersive habitat, then head to Safari Lodge for a delicious four-course meal. This guest-favourite event features a captivating presentation about these incredible animals, including stories, photos, and videos from the dedicated staff who care for them. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience—secure your tickets before they disappear!

Wild After Hours: Lemurs (18+)
2026-07-19 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, 210 St. George's Drive Ne, Calgary, T2E 7V6
Step into the secret world of lemurs at this adults-only event that explores the fascinating lives of these unique and mysterious creatures. You’ll begin your evening with an exclusive, after-hours viewing of our three lemur species in the Land of Lemurs immersive habitat, then head to Safari Lodge for a delicious four-course meal. This guest-favourite event features a captivating presentation about these incredible animals, including stories, photos, and videos from the dedicated staff who care for them. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience—secure your tickets before they disappear!
Where: Land of Lemurs and Safari Lodge
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Schedule:
3:00 p.m. – Guests are welcome to arrive and start their exploration of the zoo.
4:30 p.m. – The bar in Safari Lodge opens for Wild After Hours guests.
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Visit to the Land of Lemurs habitat.
6:00 p.m. – Doors open to Safari Lodge dining room where the welcome drink will be handed out.
6:30 p.m. – The dinner service and presentation portion of the evening commences.
9:00 p.m. – Evening concludes.

Paeton Cameron House Band
2026-07-20 16:30 - 18:30 (America/Edmonton) | King Eddy, 438 9 Avenue Se, Calgary, Ab, T2G 0R9
Join host Paeton Cameron on Mondays as he collaborates with some of Calgary’s finest musicians to deliver a fresh selection of hits every week, live at the legendary King Eddy from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Kick off your week with happy hour food and drink specials from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
About Paeton Cameron:Paeton Cameron is a singer-songwriter based out of Alberta. Steeped heavily in the tradition of folk, blues, and Americana, Cameron seeks to bear the torch for a whole new generation of roots music.
Please note: There will be no house band on July 6 and July 13 due to private event closures.
