Free This Week

Live music takes the spotlight with free concerts and festivals

  • Price: Free

Need something fun to do as the dog days of summer wear on? Why not hit up these free events? This week brings more concerts, festivals, and pop-ups to take in making it easy to get the most out of the season.

Here’s what we’re checking out:

ProArts Presents Jesse Plessis

August 15, 2018, 12:10 – 12:50pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free

In its sheer scale, density of thought, and technical requirements, Beethoven’s Hammerklavier sonata presents a more severe test of a pianist’s capabilities than any other of his 32 piano sonatas and you can hear it performed by Jesse Plessis at this free lunch hour concert.
proartssociety.ca

10-Minute Plays for Jane’s Walk – Summer Edition

August 15, 2018, 3:00 – 4:00pm
Meet at the Conversion Statue (8th Ave. & 1st St. SW)
Free

After its successful turn at Jane’s Walk, these 10-minute plays return for the summer. With several performers reprising their work as well as two new performing groups, three plays are performed in succession along Stephen Avenue.
facebook.com

Music in the Plaza

August 15, 2018, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Heritage Town Square, Heritage Park Historical Village (1900 Heritage Dr. SW)
Free

Heritage Park’s free summer concert series, Music in the Plaza, returns for a seventh season of spectacular live music. Supported by the RBC Foundation, it continues this week with the Rick Climans Jazz Trio whose diverse style ranges from jazz through blues and includes a strong Latin influence.
heritagepark.ca

Sunnyside Salsa Wednesdays

August 15, 2018, 7:00 – 9:00pm
containR Art Park (1020 2nd Ave. NW)
Free

Running throughout the summer, join Free Spirit Dance and Studio Creole as they bring a tropical mix of salsa, timba, samba, and more to your midweek.
facebook.com

Music at McDougall

August 16, 2018, 11:45am – 1:00pm
West Grounds, McDougall Centre (455 6th St. SW)
Free

The forth of a seven-part summer concert series from the Government of Alberta and CKUA, head to McDougall Centre this Thursday for some noon-time jams. This week you can see Fraid Knot.
ckua.com

Poster for Music at McDougall: Summer Concert Series

Exhibition Tour: The Magic of Material

August 17, 2018, 6:00 – 7:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration recommended

Join Naomi Potter for this tour exploring the fantastic and magical worlds of Vanessa Brown and Anna Torma. Rich in symbolic imagery, both artists reclaim and activate craft traditions by challenging the historical stereotypes of certain materials or skills.
eventbrite.ca

Craft-Along Workshop

August 17, 2018, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration required

Looking at some of the ways to take craft skills to the next level of artistic expression, enjoy an exhibition tour of Anna Torma: Book of Abandoned Details then join STASH’s Veronica Murphy for a craft-along and casual discussion about pushing your crafting boundaries in your own work.
eventbrite.ca

100 Portraits: Artbybaha Show & Sale

August 18, 2018 10:00am – 1:00pm
Mamdani Opera Centre (1315 7th Ave. SW)
Free

See 100 portraits and other artworks made by Heather Baharally using a 3Dpen—you can even try your hand at it yourself while enjoying brunch bites.
facebook.com

Love Your Library Day

August 18, 2018, 10:00am – 2:00pm
At all Calgary Public Library locations
Free

A one-day event at all 20 libraries across the city, this free event is open to all, from avid library users to those curious about what the library can offer. Each location has a jam-packed schedule of activities including a city-wide storytime featuring special guests, family programming, behind-the-scenes tours, musical performances, collaborative art and story walls, scavenger hunts, and face painting.
calgarylibrary.ca

Franco Festival Calgary

August 18, 2018, 11:00am – 9:00pm
Olympic Plaza (228 8th Ave. SE)
Free admission

An initiative of Portail de l’Immigrant Association, a non-profit organization based in Calgary, join in and celebrate many  Francophone cultures (Africa, North-America, Europe, and Asia) through dance, music, food, arts, and crafts that demonstrate the magnitude and diversity of Canadian heritage.
francofestcalgary.com

Poster for the 2018 Franco Festival Calgary

10-Minute Plays for Jane’s Walk – Summer Edition

August 18, 2018, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Meet at the Conversion Statue (8th Ave. & 1st St. SW)
Free

After its successful turn at Jane’s Walk, these 10-minute plays return for the summer. With several performers reprising their work as well as two new performing groups, three plays are performed in succession along Stephen Avenue.
facebook.com

Saturdays in C-Square: Classical in the Square

August 18, 2018, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Celebration Square (Corner of 7th Ave. & 4th St. SE)
Free

Join the National Music Centre for free, family-friendly musical afternoons in the East Village as Saturdays in C-Square return. This week, the Rocky Mountain Chamber Ensemble has programmed a day of song and chamber music repertoire. Performances are weather permitting.
nmc.ca

Master Class for Families

August 19, 2018, 1:00 – 2:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration required

Join the Esker Foundation for an afternoon of family fun at the gallery and delve into new mediums with art projects that relate to the current exhibitions. Don’t miss this educational, energetic, hands-on program for kids ages five to 10 (an adult is required to stay for the duration of the workshop).
eventbrite.ca

Sunnyside Open Stage Tuesdays

August 21, 2018, 6:00 – 9:00pm
containR Art Park (1020 2nd Ave. NW)
Free

Every Tuesday throughout the summer, head to #SOSTuesdays for the Sunnyside Open Stage hosted by Eugene Saunders and guests! Swing by to support local talent or share something yourself.
facebook.com