Free This Week
Ring in summer with these free events
Summer is officially here and there are a number of ways to kick it off including browsing a market, catching some live music or attending a pow wow. Get the primer on all of the free happenings with this week’s roundup!
Good Story
June 21, 2023, 12:10 – 1pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free to attend
When you get the gift of a good story, you don’t waste it, you share it. Good Story is a new Indigenous opera by Robert Hunter. Catch excerpts at this song salon featuring the talents of pianist and organist Ethan Hill, and soprano Lauren Woods.
facebook.com
Crescent Heights Night Market Fest
June 21, 2023, 4:30 – 9:30pm
(Centre St. N & 16th Ave. NE)
Free to explore
There’s a new and exciting market coming to Crescent Heights. Head over on alternating Wednesday evenings and find your new favourites and support local small businesses. Free admission for all ages.
eventbrite.ca
Artist in Residency Exhibit
June 21, 2023, 4:30 – 9:30pm
Fuse33 Makerspace (1720 Radisson Dr. SE)
Free to attend
Celebrate the closing of IAACC’s Spring Artist in Residency Art Exhibit! Join them for an evening of art, refreshments and interaction. The artists will chat about their experience and their masterpieces, and tours of Fuse33 Makerspace are available.
facebook.com
Farmers & Makers Markets: Beltline & Sunalta
June 21 & 24, 2023
Central Memorial Park & Sunalta Community Association
Free to explore
Check out the Farmers & Makers Market at two locations this summer — on Wednesdays at Central Memorial Park and Saturdays in the inner-city neighbourhood of Sunalta. Each week, you’ll find dozens of local farms and producers, ready-to-eat food, live music and their free, drop-in kids arts & culture program.
farmersmakersmarket.ca
Bridgeland-Riverside Farmers Market
June 22, 2023, 3:30 – 7:30pm
Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association (917 Centre Ave. NE)
Free to attend, RSVP required
Check out this weekly outdoor farmers market featuring over 30 vendors, food trucks, live music and kids activities. This year they are also launching the Locally Grown Concert Series featuring awesome local bands.
brcacalgary.org
The Blackfoot Chief, the Movie Cowboy & the Making of The Calgary Stampede
June 22, 2023, 6:30pm
Taylor Digital Library, University of Calgary (410 University Ct. NW)
Free to attend, RSVP required
UCalgary Libraries and Cultural Resources invites you to a screening of The Calgary Stampede with a pre-movie talk by Mary Graham, author of A Stunning Backdrop: Alberta in the Movies, 1917-1960.
eventbrite.ca
Tour! Indigenous Art in the TFDL with Kaia MacLeod
June 23, 2023, 11am
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (435 Campus Lane NW)
Free to attend, registration required
Join librarian Kaia MacLeod for an intimate tour of the recently acquired collection of art by Treaty 7 artists installed on each floor of UCalgary’s Taylor Family Digital Library.
nickle.ucalgary.ca
Bring the Baby Art Tour
June 23, 2023, 12 – 1pm
Esker Foundation (4th floor, 1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to attend, registration required
Parents, caregivers and their babies are invited to join Esker Foundation for this gentle baby-led conversational tour of its current exhibitions followed by tummy time on artist Yvonne Mullock’s extraordinary interactive sensory blankets, created especially for babies to explore and enjoy.
eventbrite.ca
Indigenous Artisan Market
June 23 & 24, 2023, 10am – 8pm
Southcentre Mall (100 Anderson Rd. SE)
Free to attend
Visit this Indigenous Artisan Market, organized by Authentically Indigenous in celebration of Indigenous culture while supporting local businesses. The two-day event showcases 12 unique vendors, including Southcentre’s Manitobah.
southcentremall.com
F is for Fem
June 23 – 25, 2023
Alberta Hotel Building (808 1st St. SW)
Free to explore
F is for Fem features the work of Fem Assembly’s artists created over a six-month period during which the artists gathered for monthly critiques that helped develop a cohesive body of work. Check out their opening reception and zine launch!
facebook.com
Family Day & Pow Wow
June 24, 2023, 9am – 5pm
Enmax Park, Stampede Grounds (Elbow River Pathway & MacDonald Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Don’t miss the annual Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary’s Family Day and Pow Wow! Join in a fun-filled day featuring a pancake breakfast, children’s corner, Indigenous arts and crafts, exhibitions and, of course, a traditional pow-wow!
facebook.com
First Sound, Last Sound
June 24, 2023, 2 – 2:30pm
Esker Foundation (4th floor, 1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to attend
At the centre of the exhibition Pulse of the Planet by Mel O’Callaghan is a performance, First Sound, Last Sound, featuring two large-scale tuning forks. Performers and audience members are called into awareness of their own somatic rhythms.
eskerfoundation.com
Night Markets at Heritage Park
June 24, 2023, 3 – 9pm
Heritage Park Historical Village (1900 Heritage Dr. SW)
Free to explore
On Saturdays this summer, Heritage Plaza and promenade in the front parking lots will be taken over by vendors. Shop their local vendors, explore the shops in the Plaza, grab a bite to eat and be entertained!
heritagepark.ca
GlobalFest Groves
June 25, 2023, 9am – 5pm
Trico LivingWell Park (Suite #100, 7711 Macleod Tr. SW)
Free to attend
GlobalFest is thrilled to return with the GlobalFest Groves pop-up event with partners Trico Homes and Kingsland Community Association. It promises to be a memorable summer experience featuring performers from Pakistan, India and more.
globalfest.ca
Summer On 17th
Ongoing
Tomkins Park (17th Ave. SW & 8th St. SW)
Free to attend
Summer On 17th is back along with all of your favourite events! From movies in the park to live bands, theatrical performances and fitness classes, the 17th Ave Business Improvement Area is pulling out all the stops to ensure this summer is epic. Visit the website for details.
17thave.ca
Summer Songs on Stephen Ave
Ongoing
Stephen Ave (8th Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Support live local music on Stephen Ave this summer, supported by the Calgary Downtown Association. Check out the Stagehand website for the full schedule as well as other free concerts around the city!
stagehand.app
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.