Do you have plans to visit Calgary and want some suggestions? Great, in this article, you’ll find some interesting things to do in Calgary this weekend.
Photo by Ryunosuke Kikuno on Unsplash
Why visit Calgary?
Calgary is the largest city of the province of Alberta, it has many great things and is visited by many people for different reasons. It’s a unique place with a blooming economy and cultural life that still honors and balances its Indigenous and Western heritage.
All this has made it an especially welcoming and friendly city, so adventurers, artists, cowboys, businesspeople, and tourists alike find themselves in its streets. They go about their day, enjoying its many wonders and visiting all the interesting places. If you want to enjoy them too, keep reading and you will learn more about what things you can do in Calgary this weekend.
Things to do in Calgary this Weekend
Explore Heritage Park Historical Village
The Heritage Park Historical Village is the largest living history museum you’ll find in all of Canada. It’s a great experience and highly recommended for kids and families. Here you can get a unique glimpse into the city’s history and in general of all of Western Canada’s.
You’ll find several historical villages and exhibits from the 18060s to the early 20th century that show the development in the area. To fully immerse yourself in the experience, listen to the period-appropriate dressed staff and take a ride in the working steam train or the paddlewheel boat in the park.
Historical Villages you can visit in the Park:
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1860s Fur trading Fort: If you think the settlers were always at odds with the natives, then you’ll be pleased to learn about all the trading they did.
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1900s Village: See by yourself how a typical small town of the West started to grow and expand. Walk the streets and visit the bakery to try some nice fresh bread or the blacksmith shop to try your hand at this trade.
Join Calgary Public Library’s Summer Challenge
If you’re always saying that you want to read more but never find the time or the motivation, this is the best thing you can do this weekend in Calgary. A reading challenge always fills you with motivation and the Calgary Public Library’s Summer Challenge will be a great reminder of your trip once you return home. It lasts from July 1st to August 31 and you can participate both in person and virtually. The program includes many activities to join in and accepts people of all ages. You can even get prizes!
Some of the challenges you’ll find:
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Reading daily: The best way to form the habit. You’ll have to read at least a couple of pages a day, no matter the format. Even listening to an audiobook while you do other activities counts.
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Themed Weekly Challenges: This activities vary a lot. One week you’ll try your hand at writing short stories or poems and the next you might find yourself in nature doing a scavenger hunt with other fellow readers.
Photo by Mental Health America (MHA)
Enjoy the Summer Jazz Festival in Calgary
Another great thing to do on a warm summer night in Calgary. What started in 2012 as an initiative to bring more music and culture to the city has evolved into a beloved yearly tradition.
At the end of June, you can enjoy the beautiful weather with the live music of the Summer Jazz Festival. There you’ll find many artists both local and international and it’s also a great opportunity to expand your jazz culture and listen to multiple styles of jazz. From classic to contemporary passing by bebop, cooljazz, and hardbop.
Even if you’re on a budget and haven’t planned for tickets you can go to the Jazz Walk, a great outdoor concert, completely free on Jack Long Park.
Some tips to enjoy even more your visit:
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Explore the venues: Aside from the park event, the shows are held at multiple venues in the city, like Bella Concert Hall and Commonwealth Bar, so take the opportunity to see these beautiful locations.
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Look for Bundle Tickets: If you’re interested in multiple shows try the ticket packages or passes, that way it can save you some money.
Photo by Jens Thekkeveettil on Unsplash
Attend the CSI 5 Tournament at Spruce Meadows
Not in every city you can watch one of the world’s premier show jumping events. So, if you like horses and sports you’ve found one of the greatest things to do in Calgary this weekend.
During the competition, you’ll get to admire the unmatched beauty of a top athlete horse in prime condition. These equines alongside their human riders will complete difficult courses and jump obstacles of up to 1.6 meters while putting on a full show for the spectators. But there’s more than the horse competitions.
What else to do at Spruce Meadows:
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Attend Special Events: More social events are organized during the tournaments. You can attend garden parties and relax with music and good food, or participate in the Canada Day celebration in the summer. The barbecues are amazing, and it’s the perfect weather to just enjoy time outside.
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Watch the Dog Agility demonstrations: Horses are not the only animal athletes during this competition, you can also watch the lively performance of dogs running through the agility circuit.
Take Photos at the Calgary Selfie Museum
Quite the unique unique activity to do in Calgary this weekend. Whether you want to just have a good time with friends or get some really nice photos to add to your social media, the Calgary Selfie Museum is a fun place to visit.
For a small fee of 25 Canadian dollars, you can enter and enjoy the 25 unique art installations that await you inside. The Museum is so open and friendly, that you can even take your pet in it for a photo, as long as they behave accordingly.
What kind of photos can you take inside?
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Optical Illusions and Perspective shots: Get creative with friends and pose together in these visual tricks to create surreal images.
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Themed Seasonal Sets: Depending on the season you visit you can find some great backgrounds. Get a cute selfie with flowers in Spring or a spooky one for Halloween.
Discover Science at TELUS Spark Science Centre
Do you like science and interacting with educational exhibits? This is the place for you. In the TELUS Spark Science Centre in Calgary, you’ll find a welcoming space for visitors of all ages to explore and learn. There’s so much to do and see there that it’s hard to pick favorites. If you have kids younger than 8 you can go with them to the Creative Kids Museum to learn safely. For kids older, we suggest the Brainasium Outdoor Park with climbing structures and even an indigenous plant garden to learn about the local ecosystem.
Some notable exhibits at the center:
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RO5iE The Robo-Coaster: A great ride that skillfully combines robotics with the thrill of an amusement park.
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Virtual Reality Zone: Try the virtual reality sets to explore historical and futuristic landscapes alike.
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Steven’s Lab: For those who dream of becoming scientists, here you can experiment with very real scientific tools and learn about their use and purpose.
Taste Craft Beers on a Calgary Brewery Tour
If you have a free afternoon and want to enjoy a cool beer, definitely take a stroll through the city and visit one of the many local breweries. For a more in-depth experience, you can take a tour and move from one brewery to another to try different brews. In Calgary, you can find many classic varieties, as well as many beers that lean more on the creative side of the craft. During the tour, you will also have the opportunity to look more into the brewing process and even taste the beer as it goes through it.
Where to find your tour:
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Canadian Craft Tours: Includes round-trip transportation and you can opt for the Mashup tour and visit a distillery, a winery, and a cider house as well.
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Craft Beer Tours: It focuses only on the best of the Clagary’s breweries, like those from the Barley Belt and Inglewood.
Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
Some Tips for Visiting Calgary
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Visit the Heritage Park during the nights: Try visiting during the Heritage Park Night Market for the best moment to get some artisanal products and handmade crafts. It’s the perfect place to find little trinkets and souvenirs to gift to friends and family, and it’s a unique experience in general.
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Best Season to travel: In the summer you’ll have access to most of the festivals and also to many special events. The spring and autumn are the best if you’d like to explore the rest of the region and do some hiking.
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Stay Connected with Mobile Data: When visiting Calgary, it’s important to stay connected and informed. One way to easily access real-time local information and stay in touch with friends is by using a Yoho Mobile eSIM. With it, you won’t need Wi-Fi to keep up with updates and enjoy your trip to the fullest. Use the code YOHO12 at checkout for a 12% discount!
