Free This Week
From lanterns to line dancing, Calgary is brimming with culture and connection this week. Attend a talk on how architecture shapes culture, shop and eat under the lights at the Chinatown Lantern Festival, check out projection-mapped artworks by Indigenous youth — and lots more!
Framing Home: Culture, Place and Design
September 11, 2025, 7pm
Lougheed House (707 13 Ave. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Join Lougheed House for an evening exploring how domestic architecture shapes culture, identity and community. Architect Wanda Dalla Costa and historian Rebecca Wingo share perspectives on Indigenous design, cultural belonging and resistance.
lougheedhouse.com
Celebrating Canadian art on the world stage
September 11, 2025, 6:30pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
The National Gallery of Canada, the National Gallery of Canada Foundation and Contemporary Calgary invite you to a special program in honour of Abbas Akhavan’s selection as Canada’s representative at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2026.
contemporarycalgary.com
Ranchman’s Roundup
September 11, 2025, 5 – 7:30pm
Ranchman’s (9615 Macleod Tr. S)
Free to attend
Kick up your heels with an evening of modern square dancing and line dancing at Ranchman’s. With Glenn Watts calling and Murielle Clements leading, this is your chance to try out some classic steps surrounded by Calgary’s country spirit.
squaredancecalgary.com
Easy Days Pop Up Market
September 12, 2025, 5 – 10pm
River Hall (311 8 St. SW)
Free to explore
Spend your Friday evening browsing and shopping at 10 local vendors alongside some great food, local brews and a live comedy show to top it all off!
instagram.com
Chinatown Lantern Festival
September 12, 2025, 4 – 11pm
2 Ave. SW & Daqing Square
Free to explore
Join Calgary’s Chinatown for an unforgettable evening in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, featuring stunning lantern displays, vibrant local vendors and delicious eats from the best food trucks around.
calgarychinatown.com
Inglewood Night Market
September 12, 2025, 5 – 10pm
Inglewood (10 Ave. & 10 St. SE)
Free to explore
The Inglewood Night Market is a modern market featuring curated local artisans, makers and small businesses selling handmade crafts, vintage clothing, antiques & collectibles and artisanal eats, alongside live music, food trucks and more.
inglewoodnightmarket.com
Artist Talk & Reception with Mohammad Tabesh
September 12, 2025, 6:30 – 9pm
In-person at A/P Main Gallery and online (460 42 St. SE)
Free to attend
Alberta Printmakers presents a closing reception for The Book of Fading Memories by Mohammad Tabesh, with Tabesh joining via Zoom livestream for an Artist Talk. This artist’s powerful hand-printed book weaves poetry and imagery to reflect on childhood memories of war, censorship and resilience.
albertaprintmakers.com
Cinema on 17th
September 12 – 14, 2025 (see website for schedule)
Tomkins Park (17 Ave. & 8 St. SW)
Free to attend
Experience movies like never before at Cinema on 17th, where blockbuster films collide with live theatre and circus performances. This all-ages outdoor event transforms Tomkins Park into an immersive celebration for Calgary Culture Days. Bring your blanket and lawn chair!
17thave.ca
Fall Faire
September 13, 2025, 11am – 3pm
Calgary Unitarians (1703 1 St. NW)
Free to explore, non-perishable food donations accepted
Discover local talent at this artisan market featuring handmade goods, live music, tarot readings, food vendors and community organizations. Drop by to enjoy the vibes and support local vendors!
instagram.com
Saturday the 13th Fall Market
September 13, 2025, 11am – 5pm
Westgate Community Association (4943 8 Ave. SW)
Free to attend, RSVPs encouraged
Check out a fun-filled day of shopping and exploring local vendors! Treat yourself to some unique finds — from handmade crafts to delicious treats, there’s something for everyone.
davesoilpainting.com
Mahogany Culturefest
September 13, 2025, 12 – 3pm
Mahogany (29 Masters Park SE)
Free to attend
Mahogany Culturefest is back — celebrating the people, stories and traditions that make the community unique. Join in for a day of connection, culture and community pride!
facebook.com
Something Wonderous
September 13, 2025, 12 – 5pm
TAZA Marketing Centre (230, 5894 Tsuut’ina Parkway)
Free to attend
Something Wondrous is a celebration of music, culture, food and community, featuring performances that span hip-hop, folk, drumming and a special set by Samantha Whitney and 4 Daughters.
taza.ca
Fresh Frames
September 13, 2025, 2 – 4pm
Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall, Central Library (800 3 St. SE)
Free to attend, tickets required
Enjoy an afternoon of wildly imaginative animation with Quickdraw Animation Society, featuring colourful films created by youth in QAS classes, workshops and camps. The screening also includes kid-friendly shorts from local and international animators.
eventbrite.ca
Discothèque Nuit
September 13, 2025, 5 – 10pm
River Hall (311 8 St. SW)
Free to attend
Dance the night away as DJ Yung Nino spins a vibrant mix of French touch, disco, nu-disco, future funk, R&B and new wave. With pop-ups, vendors, and local eats and drinks on site, don’t miss the high-energy vibes!
eventbrite.ca
Twilight Celebrations
September 13, 2025, 7:30pm
Sunalta Community Garden (1310 16 St. SW)
Free to attend, tickets required
Twilight Celebrations transforms the Sunalta Community Garden with projection-mapped artworks by Indigenous youth inspired by Elder Adrian Wolfleg. This evening blends light, story and tradition in a unique celebration of Indigenous creativity.
showpass.com
Movie in the Park(ing) Lot — Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
September 13, 2025, 8pm
Spolumbo’s Parking Lot ( 1308 9 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Catch a most triumphant outdoor screening of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Bring your lawn chairs, snacks and good vibes for a fun night under the stars!
instagram.com
Wayfinding Together
September 13, 2025, 1 – 3pm
Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association (1320 5 Ave. NW)
Free to attend
Join in a special in-depth look at Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association’s completed multi-year mural project with opening and closing remarks by Siksika Elder Adrian Wolfleg, artist talk with daniel j kirk, Director & Founder of Blank Page Studio, and more.
hsca.ca
Passport to the Arts
September 14, 2025, 10am – 4pm
Naested Studio and Gardens (1124 15 St. NW)
Free to attend, tickets required
Check out a day of art, music, poetry and local authors at this vibrant community event. Enjoy live music by The Fragments, browse works by 20-plus local artists and shop books for all ages.
passporttothearts.ca
El Grito Mexican Independence Day Celebration
September 14, 2025, 12 – 8pm
cSPACE Marda Loop (1721 29 Ave. SW)
Free to attend, tickets required
Join Casa Mexico for the most patriotic celebration of the year! Enjoy an unforgettable day filled with Mexican live music and performances, delicious Mexican food, family-friendly entertainment and lots more!
casamexico.ca
Read & Play Day
September 14, 2025, 12 – 3pm
River Hall (311 8 St. SW)
Free to attend
Discover the joy of reading with cozy book nooks, family storytimes and a special visit from Allen the Alpaca. Plus local pop-ups and mobile adventure playgrounds — all part of a fun, family-friendly afternoon.
eventbrite.ca
Opening Night: Katie Ohe Public Art Exhibition
September 16, 2025, 4 – 7pm
Devonian Gardens (4th floor, 317 7 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Celebrate the opening of a rare exhibition honouring Katie Ohe, one of Alberta’s most beloved sculptors. The evening highlights her artworks alongside the preservation of her iconic Day and Night, offering a unique chance to experience her legacy up close.
eventbrite.com
Calgary @ 50: A City Smitten with Romance
September 16, 2025, 7 – 8:30pm
Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall, Central Library (800 3 St. SE)
Free to attend, tickets required
In 1925, Calgary’s 50th Jubilee year, residents and others saw this place as a “city of romance.” Literary historian Shaun Hunter explores what romance meant a century ago, how it influenced the city’s sense of itself and how it lives on in the DNA of today’s Calgary.
eventbrite.ca
ProArts@Noon: Tim Williams
September 17, 2025, 12 – 1pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SE)
Free to explore
American born, long-time Canadian blues and roots artist Tim Williams began his career in the coffee houses of Southern California as a teenager, coming to the notice of Epic Records for whom he recorded his first LP in 1968.
proartssociety.ca
Stage Two Festival of New Canadian Work — Rupert’s Land
September 17, 2025, 4pm
Lunchbox Theatre (115 9 Ave. SW)
Free to explore
Check out audience favourite Rupert’s Land by James Hart from the Stage One readings, along with a brand-new script, presented as a workshop production with added design elements.
lunchboxtheatre.com
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
