Free This Week
Festival season kicks off this week with the highly anticipated Lilac Festival, a free event featuring local musicians and a massive street market. Other free options in this week’s lineup include a film hangout and secret screening courtesy of the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers, outdoor performances with the Youth Singers of Calgary, and much more!
Peter Jancewicz & Susan Hlasny
May 29, 2024, 12:10 – 1pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SE)
Free to attend
Join pianist Susan Hlasny and composer/pianist Peter Jancewicz for a beautiful program of romantic, impressionist and contemporary music including Chopin’s Barcarolle, Op. 60, Maurice Ravel’s Sonatine, Jancewicz’s latest piano composition, Mobius, and two duets by Sergei Rachmaninov from Op. 11.
proartssociety.ca
University District’s Night Market
May 29, 2024, 7 – 9pm
Central Commons Park, University District (University Ave. NW)
Free to attend
University District’s Night Market is back again for another summer night market season. Join the monthly market to check out over 35 local vendors, live music, entertainment and more!
myuniversitydistrict.ca
University District’s Night Market
May 29, 2024, 7 – 9pm
Central Commons Park, University District (University Ave. NW)
Free to attend
University District’s Night Market is back again for another summer night market season. Join the monthly market to check out over 35 local vendors, live music, entertainment and more!
myuniversitydistrict.ca
Orchestra of Exiles
May 29, 2024, 7pm
Calgary Central Library (800 3 St. SE)
Free to attend, RSVP required
Join National Music Centre and Calgary Jewish Federation for a screening of Orchestra of Exiles — a suspenseful chronicle of how one man helped save Europe’s premier Jewish musicians from obliteration by the Nazis during World War II.
studiobell.ca
Open Studio for 55+
May 31, 2024, 1 – 4pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Contemporary Calgary’s Open Studio for 55+ on Fridays in May invites participants to bring projects they are currently engaged in, or ideas and materials, for an opportunity to work with the support of peers and a facilitator with a background in visual art.
contemporarycalgary.com
Secret Cinema
May 31, 2024, 4 – 8 pm
Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (100, 1725 10 Ave. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Hosted by CSIF, this event is a chance to hang out with other members, take in a presentation on an aspect of filmmaking and hear from an established filmmaker. The event wraps up with a secret-cinema event followed by a discussion.
csif.org
Celebrating the Artistry of Robert Greenwood
May 31, 2024, 7pm
Studio Theatre, cSPACE Marda Loop (1721 29 Ave. SW)
Free to attend, RSVP required
Experience a roller-coaster of emotions as Robert Greenwood transforms before your eyes into 21 Shakespeare characters. This is a live performance recording of Robert’s final presentation of his iconic one-man show.
showpass.com
Farmers and Makers Market
June 1, 2024, 10 am – 2pm
Sunalta Community Association (1627 10 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Check out the Farmers & Makers Market on Saturdays in the Sunalta neighbourhood. Each week, you’ll find local farmers and producers, ready-to-eat food, live music and their free, drop-in kids arts & culture program.
farmersmakersmarket.ca
30 Years of Hat Magic
June 1, 2024, 11am – 5pm
Murphy’s Mid Century (1221B 9 Ave. SE)
Free to explore
Renowned milliner Maria Curcic is thrilled to announce the celebration of 30 years of exquisite hat designs with a pop-up show and sale. The pop-up show features a dazzling array of hats and fascinators, each meticulously crafted by Curcic, reflecting her signature style and vision.
mariacurcic.com
National Indigenous History Month Kick Off
June 1, 2024, 11am – 3pm
The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (750 9 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Join Calgary Public Library at The Confluence (formerly Fort Calgary) to kick off National Indigenous History Month. This family friendly event includes a round dance, tipi raising and teachings, traditional Dene and Inuit games, art activities, and a screening of Jordan River Anderson’s The Messenger.
calgarylibrary.ca
Opening Celebration of EnVision: Claudia Lorenz & Verna Vogel
June 1, 2024, 1 – 6pm
cSPACE Marda Loop (1721 29 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Claudia Lorenz and Verna Vogel welcome you as they start their month-long residency at Sparrow Artspace, which will include the creation of new works, workshops and an exhibition. They may not have works to share yet but they encourage you to drop by and say hello!
sparrowartspace.com
Youth Singers of Calgary
June 1, 2024, 11:30am, 2:30pm
Confluence Plaza & Murdoch Park (see website for details)
Free to attend
Get ready for an unforgettable day with the Youth Singers of Calgary as they wrap up the 2023 – 2024 season with two fantastic live performances. Join them to experience the joy of singing, dancing and acting. Bring your friends and family!
youthsingers.org
Wendy Toogood: Narratives — Opening Reception
June 1, 2024, 2 – 5pm
Wallace Galleries (500 5 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
The works in this exhibition by Wendy Toogood cover a 40-year time frame, from earlier works exploring the use of various fabrics without any recognizable imagery, to Mexican-inspired cloth constructions and paintings, to works documenting Toogood’s life and interests in Nakusp, BC.
wallacegalleries.com
4th Street Lilac Festival
June 2, 2024, 12 – 5pm
4 St. SW (Between 13 Ave. & Elbow Dr.)
Free to explore
Each spring, this one-day event starts up Calgary’s vibrant festival season. It encourages citizens to shake off their winter blues and reintroduce themselves to our thriving creative community. Enjoy an array of musical talent, artisans, live entertainment and more — there’s something for everyone!
lilacfestival.net
Book Launch: Jay Ritchie — Listening in Many Publics
June 4, 2024, 7 – 9pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4 St. SW)
Free to explore
Join Shelf Life Books in celebrating the launch of Jay Ritchie’s new poetry collection Listening in Many Publics. The event features readings from Jay Ritchie, Ryanne Kap and Kyle Flemmer.
shelflifebooks.ca
Antyx Youth Programming
Ongoing
Various venues
Free to participate
Antyx Community Arts invites youth ages 12 – 18 to participate in a number of their programs focused on providing safe spaces for creative expression including their mural projects, Youth Arts Action, The Film Lab and more!
antyx.ca
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
