Free This Week

Start your holiday shopping or take a moment for yourself

  • Location: Various Venues

From one month to another, this week brings a mix of free events that include concerts, readings, talks, and more. It’s also the start of show and sale season, so there’s tons to do. Grab your calendar and start planning.

ProArts Presents Westside Singers Choir

October 30, 2019, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free admission

Westside Singers is a 55 plus four-part choir that has continued through the years and is now going into its 32nd season, giving pleasure to both audiences and performers alike. Swing by ProArts@Noon and enjoy this free lunch hour concert in the heart of downtown Calgary.
proartssociety.ca

Pioneer Holiday Market

October 31 – November 2, 2019
The Pioneer on 8th (117 8th Ave. SW)
Free admission

The Pioneer on 8th is excited to announce its first ever holiday market with dozens of local vendors showcasing their artisan jewelry, art, food, clothing, and much more. Admission is free and there’s an opportunity to donate to the Children’s Cottage Society. Be sure to check it out.
facebook.com

Bring the Baby Art Tour & Tummy Time

November 1, 2019, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended

Start with a casual half-hour tour of our current exhibitions, followed by a half-hour of tummy time social fun for the little ones which centres around artist Yvonne Mullock’s extraordinary interactive sensory blanket.
eventbrite.ca

The Characters: Act I

November 1, 2019, 7:00pm
EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society (2005 10th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Presented by Untitled Art Society, Erdem Taşdelen’s audio installation follows the self-indulgent, occasionally frenetic, and always mordantly humorous narratives of 10 stock characters. Explore the piece at its opening reception.
uascalgary.org

Like the winter snow kills the grass, the summer sun revives it

November 1, 2019, 7:00 – 11:00pm
TRUCK Contemporary Art (2009 10th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Curated by Missy LeBlanc, this exhibition centres and celebrates Indigenous ways of knowing and language revitalization. See work from Joi T. Arcand, Richelle Bear Hat, Susan Blight, Tsēmā Igharas, Michelle Sylliboy, and Alberta Rose W at the opening reception and learn more about their practices.
truck.ca

Second Glance Art Exhibition & Sale

November 1 & 2, 2019
Edgemont Community Centre (33 Edgevalley Circle NW)
Free admission

Featuring original art work in a variety of mediums, styles, and sizes, enter to win a of door prize an original painting by one of the members. Donations for the Calgary Food Bank are gratefully accepted.
facebook.com

Happy Birthday Central Library

November 2, 2019, 10:00am – 4:30pm
Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free admission

The Central Library has almost been open for a whole year, so enjoy a birthday bash to celebrate its first year in operation. Explore everything the library has to offer with a free tour, pop-up performances, and so much more.
facebook.com

Christmas in the Country

November 2 & 3, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
Free admission

The first of two weekend events, discover over 100 talented artists and find truly unique gifts for your loved ones at this annual art sale. In fact, there’s over 2,500 pieces of fine craft and unframed artworks by local artists to shop from as this sale fills the museum and galleries of the historic Leighton home.
leightoncentre.org

Mount Pleasant Potters’ Guild Fall Pottery Market

November 3, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Triwood Community Hall (2244 Chicoutimi Dr. NW)
Free admission

Get a head-start on your Christmas shopping as the Mount Pleasant Potters’ Guild presents its annual fall pottery market. Featuring a huge selection of unique, hand-made functional, and decorative pottery at excellent prices, trust us—you won’t want to miss it!
calgarypottery.com

Mother Tongues Gathering & Exhibition Tour

November 3, 2019, 12:00 – 4:30pm
Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free admission

This exhibit brings together emerging artists from four Indigenous language groups of the Treaty 7 region, who incorporate Nakoda, Nēhiyawēwin, Nitsiipowahsiin, and Tsuut’ina into their artistic practices. Explore this stunning show at this gathering and exhibition tour.
truck.ca

Cycling with Animals

November 3, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11th St. SW)
Free admission

Cycling With Animals brings together elements of game play, intervention, and poetics to interrogate municipal bylaws that govern public spaces. Check out this open studio with Action Hero and Mia & Eric, part of Contemporary Calgary’s Collider residency and Springboard Performance’s Fluid Fest.
springboardperformance.com

The Chickadee Way

November 3, 2019, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free admission

David Peyto launches The Chickadee Way: Griffith Woods to Zoo Station, a walking guidebook this week with Shelf Life Books. The afternoon features guests Valerie Walker, author of Hedley the Hoglet of Sunbury Farms, and Ethan Cole, an award-winning playwright and songwriter.
facebook.com

Master Class

November 3, 2019, 2:00 – 5:00pm
Mamdani Opera Centre (1315 7th St. SW)
Free admission, registration required

Unlock your passion for classical singing through exclusive learning sessions from vocal coaches and experts as they work with Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artists and novice singers from the community. Everyone is welcome—students, teachers, and the general public.
calgaryopera.com

The Wind Will Carry Us

November 3, 2019, 3:00 – 5:00pm
Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free admission

Join Calgary Cinematheque and the Calgary Public Library for this free screening of Abbas Kiarostami’s The Wind Will Carry Us. The film follows journalist Behzad Dorani and a camera crew who have been sent to a remote Kurdish village where they are to wait for the death of a 100-year-old woman so that they can film a traditional funeral ceremony.
calgarycinema.org

Riverview Artists November Show & Sale

November 4 – 8, 2019, 9:00am – 4:00pm
+15 Level, Jamieson Place (308 4th Ave. SW)
Free admission

Original artwork by 12 local artists is featured in this upcoming show and sale. Paintings are varied in style and technique, reflecting the inspiration of each artist. Swing by to explore and meet the creators.
riverview-artists.com

Gotta Minute Film Festival

November 4 – 10, 2019
Throughout Calgary
Free admission

Western Canada’s first film festival for commuters, take a moment or two and watch one-minute silent films on digital screens throughout the CTrain system and at the airport. This festival proves that art can be found anywhere!
gottaminutefilmfestival.com

30th Anniversary Legacy Gift to the Community

November 5, 2019, 5:00 – 7:00pm
Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall, Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free admission, registration required

Hundreds of Calgarians have shared their immigrant story with the Centre for Newcomers over the past year. Celebrate the end of this journey with a commemorative evening and final celebration.
eventbrite.ca

Can You Hear Me Now?

November 5, 2019, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free admission

A monthly junior high and high school open mic and poetry slam event featuring Calgary poet Josie Charlene Veness, this evening is open to all-ages with a PG13 content limit. Swing by and hear these awesome young voices.
facebook.com