Explore Downtown YYC

River Hall YYC
2026-09-03 11:00 - 22:00, 2026-09-04 11:00 - 22:00, 2026-09-05 11:00 - 22:00, 2026-09-06 11:00 - 22:00, 2026-09-10 11:00 - 22:00 (America/Edmonton) | 311 8 Street SW, 311 8 Street Sw, Calgary
River Hall YYC

☀️ Free open air community events
along the Bow River
🎶 Entertainment •
Activities • Wellness & more!
💫
Family + Dog friendly 🐾
📍 Lot 6, 311 8 ST SW

Hours
✨ Thursdays & Fridays:
5–10 PM
✨ Saturdays & Sundays:
11 AM–10 PM

Enjoy the best of summer at River Hall with vibrant events,
local talent, vendors, and plenty of opportunities to connect, relax, and have
fun!

Whether you’re looking for a fun weekend outing, a perfect
date spot, or simply somewhere to soak up the sunshine, there’s plenty of room
to hang out and make the most of the season.

Surge City Hoops Summer Series
2026-09-03 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-10 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Edmonton) | Century Gardens Basketball Courts, 826 8 Ave Sw, Calgary, T2P 1H7
This summer, the Calgary Surge & The City of Calgary’s Downtown Strategy team have partnered to bring back Surge City Hoops, and our FREE youth basketball clinics to the heart of our city.
Join us for free basketball clinics every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from June through September, hosted at the ﻿Century Gardens Basketball Courts (826 8 Avenue SW).
Open to youth ages 8 to 17, these clinics are all about building skills, boosting confidence, and having fun on the court—whether you’re a beginner or looking to take your game to the next level. Surrounded by the downtown energy and led by experienced coaches, this is your chance to train, play, and grow in one of Calgary’s most iconic outdoor spaces.

Yvie Oddly’s ODDBALL
2026-09-04, 2026-09-05, 2026-09-06 | Dickens Pub, 1000 9 Ave, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2Y6
YVIE ODDLY’S ODDBALL
Drag & Designer Competition
Presented by The Cabaret Company
Sept 4 2026
Dickens Pub, Calgary
18+

Yvie Oddly, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11, she’s not only an incredible drag queen, but a performer, fashion designer rapper, and recording artist, and she is coming to Calgary for Pride!
In honour of the 5th special guest judge for The Cabaret Company’s annual drag competition, this year ALL competitors have been asked to create never before seen lewks — working with local designers — to win the title of Yvie’s ODDBALL of the night!
This show sells out every year and is packed! Do not delay, nab those early bird tickets now!
There will be standing room only for General Admission, a seated area for accessibility only, or choose to reserve a seat in the raised VIP section of Dickens.

Inglewood Night Market
2026-09-04 17:00 - 22:00 (America/Denver) | Inglewood Night Market, Inglewood 10th avenue and 11th Street SE, Calgary
Inglewood Night Market is a series of FREE summer night markets taking place in the heart of Inglewood. The markets have over 150 unique and local artisan vendors, food trucks, an all-ages licensed area & live music. The markets feature the best arts and culture talent Calgary has to offer. Come to shop and stay for the atmosphere!

Deadly Alberta True Crime Tour - The Confluence After Hours
2026-09-04 17:00 - 2026-09-11 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, 750 9 Avenue Southeast, Calgary, T2G 5E1
Experience The Confluence in a new light — the evening light, that is! For a limited number of evenings this summer, we’re extending the cultural centre opening hours beyond happy hour, giving you the rare chance to enjoy the site and exhibits after hours.
Take advantage of the extended hours to explore the White Box space full of limited-time travelling exhibitions, learn about Blackfoot culture in the Kípaitápiiyssinnooni (Our Way of Life) exhibit, or embark on a special guided walking tour during golden hour. These nights are the perfect opportunity to learn a new side of Calgary’s history while enjoying the warm summer evenings.
Visiting the Inglewood Night Market? Stop in before or after your shopping to make the most of your evening out in Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood (plus, we’ve got parking!)
Admission can be purchased at the door, find prices and plan your visit here. We’re also offering our Deadly Alberta True Crime Tour this evening. Guided tour tickets include After Hours cultural centre admission!

Simon Glassman
2026-09-04 20:00 - 23:59, 2026-09-05 19:00 - 23:59 (America/Edmonton) | Yuk Yuk’s Calgary-Elbow River Casino, Calgary
Simon Glassman has been performing comedy nationwide for nine years, living in Edmonton, Alberta. He’s won the Alberta-wide stand-up comedy competition at the Grindstone Comedy Festival and is appearing on ‘Just For Laughs’ original recording, ‘Prepare to Flourish’. His absurd observations and funny storytelling always leave audiences laughing, with many of his comedy videos garnering hundreds of thousands of views.

Audien
2026-09-04 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | The Palace Theatre, 219 8th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 1B7
DJ and producer Audien brings his tour to The Palace on Friday, September 4th!

Date: Friday, September 4th, 2026

Doors: 9:00 p.m.

18+ only with valid government issued ID

CIBC Backbeat: Bow & Tell with James Watson
2026-09-05 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.

Kruelty, Dead Heat, Dying Remains
2026-09-05 20:00 - 23:59 UTC | The Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club, 109 7th AVE SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0W5
Kruelty, Dead Heat, Dying Remains ft. special guests

Where: Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club
18+ with government issued identification
When: Saturday September 5, 2026
Doors: 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Admission: $25.00

NO JERK POLICY ALWAYS IN EFFECT!

Brett Forte
2026-09-05 21:30 - 23:59 (America/Edmonton) | Yuk Yuk’s Calgary-Elbow River Casino, Calgary
He’s performed on Just For Laughs, became a favourite at The Hollywood Comedy Festival, and somehow managed to get his comedy special banned from the CBC — a badge of honour he wears proudly.
Now based in Austin, TX, Brett headlines major clubs across North America including The Hollywood Improv, Phoenix House of Comedy, and Austin Sunset Strip. When he’s not onstage, he’s an undercover operative. Recently, Forte spent five months infiltrating a major scammers operation; a woman posing as Saudi Arabian royalty to con 45,000 people, and ultimately put her in jail. All of which was recorded via hidden cameras and serves as the backbone to this true, but unbelievable documentary directed by Kian Simone, The Saudi Doc

Red Panda Breakfast
2026-09-06 07:30 - 09:30 (America/Edmonton) | Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, 210 St. George's Drive Ne, Calgary, T2E 7V6
Get red-y to start your day with a hearty pancake breakfast, fresh fruit, and other buffet favourites while learning about our beloved red pandas. Your ticket includes exclusive early zoo access, a delicious breakfast, an engaging interpretive talk, and a private viewing of our red pandas in their newly redeveloped Asian Highlands habitat. Perfect for families and little ones of all ages, you’ll discover fascinating facts about red pandas, their unique adaptations, and the efforts conserving this beautiful species.

Where: Kitamba Café and Asian Highlands

Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

7:15 a.m. – Guests may begin to arrive at the North Entrance and proceed to Kitamba Café
7:30 a.m. – Red Panda Breakfast begins
8:00 a.m. – Red panda interpretive presentation from Conservation Education begins
8:30 a.m. – Guests proceed to Asian Highlands for an exclusive viewing of red pandas
8:45 a.m. – Early access to Asian Highlands with a special red panda enrichment
9:30 a.m. – Red Panda Breakfast concludes

Sunday Safari Brunch
2026-09-06 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!

Monday Rap Night by Tribe Cypher
2026-09-07 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Boise) | Werklund Centre, 205 8th Avenue SE, Calgary
Every Monday
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Werklund Centre, formerly Arts Commons, 205 8 Ave S.E.Room: Arts Learning CentreAge: 18+Cost: Free
Schedule:5:00-5:30 p.m. – Snack, Chill, Network5:30-6:00 p.m. – Smudge
6:00-6:30 p.m. – Mini Workshop
6:30-7:30 p.m. – Cypher

Tinariwen
2026-09-07 19:00 - 22:30 (America/Edmonton) | The Palace Theatre, 219 8th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 1B7
Grammy-winning Tuareg musical pioneers Tinariwen play The Palace on Monday, September 7th!

Date: Monday, September 7th, 2026

Doors: 7:00 p.m.

18+ only with valid government issued ID

Knitting & Crochet Club by Carya Village Commons
2026-09-08 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton) | Carya Village Commons, 610 8 Avenue Southeast, Calgary, Ab, T2G 5B4
A vibrant weekly club meant for both first-time fabric artists and veterans.
Bring your project and chat with out knitters and crocheters, or join us for an introductory lesson!
Who We Are
Carya is a social impact agency that has been responding to the evolving social needs of the Calgary community since 1910. Today, with over a century of expertise, we remain deeply rooted in being a place of connection and support for Calgarians when and where they need us most.Carya impacts the lives of thousands of Calgarians each year, through a range of comprehensive, low to no-cost programs and services that enhance mental well-being, strengthen families, improve living conditions, and create meaningful social connections.

Wordfest Presents Liane Moriarty
2026-09-08 19:00 - 20:15 (America/Edmonton) | Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall, Central Library, 800 3 Street Se, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 0E7
Big Little Truths is the delicious binge read we’ve been waiting for, full of Moriarty’s trademark duplicity and intrigue. The follow-up to 2014’s Big Little Lies, it follows fabulous fremenies—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie—a decade into the future as they navigate the volatile teen years. Big kids. Big problems.
Your ticket includes an on-stage conversation, hosted by Jenny Steele, a pre-signed copy of hot-off-the-presses Big Little Truths, and a post-show book signing.
Wordfest showcases the world’s most intriguing authors (in every genre!) from January through December. For more information about this show and others coming up soon to Calgary, visit wordfest.com.

Forever Young: Instrument Petting Zoo
2026-09-09 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Edmonton) | Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, 850 4 Street Southeast, Calgary, T2G 1R1
Join us for a special edition of Forever Young: Seniors’ Wednesdays at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, featuring interactive experiences for all ages that spark memories, inspire creativity, and create connections across generations.
Instrument Petting Zoo invites participants of all ages to feel like a kid again and explore a wide variety of musical instruments.
Approach instruments with curiosity and playfulness as you try strings, percussion, winds, and more. No experience required.
About Forever Young: Seniors’ WednesdaysForever Young celebrates lifelong connections to music, offering free Studio Bell admission for music lovers aged 65 and up every Wednesday. This engaging program invites seniors and their families to explore Canada’s musical heritage across five floors of exhibitions, bringing to life the stories — and soundtrack — of their generation through rare memorabilia and hands-on activities. Part of the National Music Centre’s commitment to using music as a tool for wellbeing, Forever Young creates welcoming spaces for seniors to gather and connect with music, community, and each other. Monthly drop-in programs will feature a variety of interactive experiences for all ages that spark memories, inspire creativity, and create connections across generations.
Studio Bell admission is free for seniors every Wednesday thanks to the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Beyond the History Books: Exploring Stories of the Land
2026-09-10 11:00 - 12:45 (America/Edmonton) | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, 750 9 Avenue Southeast, Calgary, Ab, T2G 5E1
Explore stories carried by the rivers, rooted in the plants, and uncovered through archaeology. Learn how Indigenous Peoples, the original stewards of the land, lived and prospered at this important gathering place, and how the arrival of the North-West Mounted Police in 1875 changed everything.
Through a guided storytelling tour, teachings with an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper and an exclusive tour of The Confluence archaeological collection, you’ll discover the complex and many histories of the site that became known to many as Fort Calgary. You’ll also gain insight into Indigenous ways of knowing and how The Confluence is working to tell a more complete story of the past, present, and future of the land.

Wordfest Presents Téa Mutonji + Imaginairium Preview
2026-09-10 18:00 - 23:59 (America/Edmonton) | Calgary Public Library – Memorial Park, 1221 2 St Sw, Calgary, T2R 1N8
Téa Mutonji’s conversation with Joshua Whitehead was one of the standouts of our 25@25 online anniversary shows in 2020. So we’re thrilled to (finally!) be presenting her in person to celebrate My Person, her debut novel, in conversation with Paula Turcotte.
This special show will be preceded at 6PM with an exclusive preview of Wordfest’s 2026 Imaginairium (Oct. 13-18), presented by Wordfest’s Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut. This is your exclusive opportunity to optimize your festival experience: get the inside scoop on the 30+ shows and stellar international lineup, ask questions, and be the first to buy festival books and the official festival tote. It’s also your last chance to secure a Festival Pass for the early bird rate of $195. (Buy now before June 30 for an additional $30 savings!)

Owl’s Nest Books will be on site with both of Téa’s books (you might remember her debut short-story collection Shut Up You’re Pretty from the 2024 Canada Reads competition), as well as a curated selection of Imaginairium books.

Iguana Death Cult, Hot Garbage, Ancient Greece, Still Depths
2026-09-10 19:00 - 23:59 UTC | The Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club, 109 7th AVE SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0W5
Iguana Death Cult (The Netherlands), Hot Garbage (Toronto), Ancient Greece (Toronto), Still Depths (Vancouver)

Where: Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club
18+ with government issued identification
When: Thursday September 10, 2026
Doors: 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $28.00
On Sale: Fri, June 19th 10:00 a.m.

NO JERK POLICY ALWAYS IN EFFECT!

Dialogues with the Piano
2026-09-10 19:00 - 23:59 (America/Edmonton) | Performance Hall, National Music Centre, 850 4 Street SE, Calgary, Ab T2g, T2G
6 p.m.
Pre-Concert Chat

Topic: Programming and curation for artists on their journey to becoming Complete Artists
Speakers: Winston Choi, Jon Kimura Parker, and Élisabeth Pion

7 p.m.
Concert

Enjoy an evening blending live piano and digital performances. Using Steinway & Sons Spirio player piano technology, Winston Choi, Jon Kimura Parker, and Carter Johnson perform live alongside their own pre-recorded performance, creating layered musical dialogues where past and present coexist and voices multiply. This showcase of artists sharing the stage with their past selves is followed by an exploration of the expansive sounds of the piano.
