Free This Week
August arrives with an appetizing array of arts to attend
Start your August off right by getting out there and seeing what the city has to offer. Check out Free First Thursdays at Contemporary Calgary, enjoy the kick-off of this month’s BUMP Festival, or reflect and get inspired at the Floating Lantern Peace Ceremony. There’s more — read on to find out what’s free this week!
Chris Maric
August 3, 2022, 12:10 – 1:00pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (608 1st St. SE)
Free to attend
The ProArts@Noon Concert Series presents Chris Maric, a multi-instrumentalist known for his unique and energetic musical style. He is a performer, composer and producer — this piano performance showcases some of his original classical and jazz compositions, which he’s rarely performed live.
proartssociety.ca
Live Music in the Plaza — Natalie Inga
August 3, 2022, 6:00pm
Heritage Park (1900 Heritage Dr. SW)
Free to attend
Heritage Park’s free outdoor concerts provide some of the best emerging acts the local music scene has to offer every Wednesday evening this summer in Heritage Town Square. This week catch the pensive and playful, folky and fierce, Natalie Inga!
heritagepark.ca
ArtsXpeditions
August 3 – 9, 2022,
Various venues
Free to attend
ArtsXpeditions is bringing live concerts and performances to communities around Calgary all summer long. This week, catch live shows around downtown and venture over to New Brighton School for a performance of of the family-friendly play Bee Betrayal.
artscommmons.ca
cSPACE Beer Garden
August 6, 2022, 1:00 – 6:00pm
Studio Theatre & Art Yard, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Join cSPACE after their farmer’s market for a beer garden featuring live music from Daniel Pelton and James Watson, and other local favourites. All the while, buy handmade beer steins and stemless wine glasses from the Alberta Craft Council and a drink or snack from Blindman Brewing.
facebook.com
BUMP Park Party
August 6, 2022, 2:00 – 9:00pm
Central Memorial Park (1221 2nd St. SW)
Free to attend
Kick off the 2022 BUMP festival with Canadian music stars Shad and Luna Li! Celebrate the beginning of another month of creativity and expression by enjoying music, food, drink (including a new BUMP collaboration) and community — and be sure to check out some of the Beltline murals.
yycbump.ca
Floating Lantern Peace Ceremony
August 6, 2022, 6:30pm
Olympic Plaza (228 8th Ave. SW)
Free to attend
This summer family event is filled with music performances, inspirational speeches and the beauty of lanterns on the water. Rent your lanterns and enjoy watching them float on the water at Olympic Plaza while reflecting on how to create a peaceful community, society and world.
calgaryfloatinglanterns.com
World Stage Design
Begins August 6, 2022
Various venues
Select shows are free to attend, tickets required
World Stage Design showcases and celebrates performance design. This year’s exhibition hosted by the University of Calgary welcomes several hundred artists, designers, technicians and architects from around the world for a variety of performances, exhibitions and speakers, including a few that are free and open to the public.
wsd2021.ca
Story Writing With Children
August 7, 2022, 3:00pm
Stream online
Free to participate, registration required
ChatterBox Theatre Society’s teen writers invite children between the ages 5 and 12 to join them for a virtual story-building event filled with humour and creativity! In this one-hour Zoom session, the teens ask children to share their ideas and feedback on the story they are currently writing.
chatterboxtheatresociety.com
One Big JAM
August 7, 2022, 4:30 – 8:00pm
Century Gardens Park (826 8th St. SW)
Free to attend
One Big JAM is back this time for the whole family, and they’re calling all ages and all musicians from dancers, poets, and anyone who wants to witness a great, safe, family-friendly party. Let inspiration takes you to the stage. No set lists. No Sign-up sheets. No charts.
eventbrite.ca
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Until August 7, 2022
Various venues
Free to attend
This is the final week for Shakespeare On the Go! Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare by the Bow program has been on the road this summer, bringing a cast of six emerging artists to neighbourhoods around the city to present The Merry Wives of Windsor — hilarity ensues in this romantic farce about the misadventures of Falstaff.
theatrecalgary.com
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
