Attend a photography exhibition at Glenbow’s satellite location
When: May 27 to July 3
Glenbow at The Edison, the museum’s temporary satellite space in downtown Calgary, is launching its second exhibition in the space on May 27. Here to Tell: Faces of Holocaust Survivors is a photography exhibition that features 161 portraits of living and deceased Holocaust survivors with Calgary connections. Guests can visit the exhibition for free until July 3.
Second floor, 150 9 Ave. S.W., glenbow.org
Shop from local vendors at the Farmers and Makers’ Market
When: Saturdays starting May 28
The Farmers and Makers’ Market at cSpace King Edward is back with its roster of popular local vendors. Running on Saturdays from May 28 to October 8, the outdoor market promises plenty of great products with more than 50 vendors each week, including Broxburn Vegetables, Blindman Brewing, Culture Shocked, Groundup Eco-Ventures, Ma Pies, Next Gen Flowers and more.
cSpace King Edward, 1721 29 Ave. S.W., farmersmakersmarket.ca
Check out Crafty Mondays or Board Game Tuesdays at Cold Garden
Every week, Cold Garden Beverage Company holds cool events on Mondays and Tuesdays. On Crafty Mondays, guests are invited to try their hand at a craft activity at the brewery for $20, which covers the supplies and a pint. And on Tuesdays, guests are invited to play board games in the brewery starting at 7 p.m. Choose your activity and head on down to the brewery to join in on the fun this month.
1100 11 St. S.E., 403-764-2653, coldgarden.ca
Eat and sing karaoke at the newly opened Lily Bistro
Look for this new Asian-inspired tapas restaurant along 17 Ave. S.W. Along with plates of yakitori, fried Brussels sprouts, grilled octopus and chicken karaage, the restaurant offers a bao bar with filling options like pork belly, sake cured trout and beef tataki. Lily Bistro also has a karaoke room.
1438 17 Ave. S.W., lily-yyc.com
Check out Empathy Week with Humainologie
When: June 1 to 7
Calgary’s Humainologie is holding its seventh annual Empathy Week festival, an event that promotes “empathy, human connection, and the recognition of our shared humanity.” There are a mix of in-person and virtual events throughout the week, including a live streamed comic book artists’ panel with Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation, film screenings, an empathy mapping workshop and more.
Spruce up your outdoor space by visiting a local garden centre
Whether you have a small balcony garden or a giant backyard, a visit to a local garden centre can help you make sure your outdoor space is looking its best. Here’s a look at some of the garden centres in Calgary where you can get plants, gardening materials and more.
Read more: Garden Centres in Calgary
Watch a movie at the Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival
When: June 3 to 12
The Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival is hosting a dozen film screening events over 10 days this month. Almost all of the screenings are available to watch both in-person and online, and the film trailers are available online to help you decide which ones you want to tune in for.
Globe Cinema and online, fairytalesfilmfest.com
Go on an Indigenous walking tour with Many Chief Tours
Many Chief Tours is back for the season with two Indigenous walking tours. The Mohkinstsis Tour runs Fridays to Mondays starting on May 29, while the Siksikaitsitapi Medicine Wheel Tour returns on Thursdays and Saturday starting June 2.
Do some shopping at Lilac Fest
When: June 5
Back for the first time since COVID-19 hit, Lilac Fest is better than ever this year. The outdoor festival, which is free to attend, will feature more than 500 vendors and several local bands, singers and dance groups along 4th Street S.W. And this year, the festival is also extending down part of 17 Avenue S.W.
Between 13 Avenue and Elbow Drive S.W., lilacfestival.net
Watch a play about Black pioneers on the prairies
When: June 7 to 26
Originally staged at Lunchbox Theatre in 2001, Heaven is a play by Cheryl Foggo that looks at the history of Black pioneers on the prairies through the eyes of a schoolteacher named Charlotte in 1927. There are performances at noon from Tuesdays to Sundays, as well as ones at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Lunchbox Theatre, 160, 115 9 Ave. S.E., lunchboxtheatre.com
Check out some new exhibits at the National Music Centre
There are a few new things to check out at the National Music Centre (NMC) at Studio Bell. On May 14, the NMC launched a new temporary exhibition celebrating Deborah Cox, who was a 2022 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee. And starting May 27, guests can visit the new Music & Wellness exhibition on the third floor, which looks at how music can affect mental and physical health. Check out both new exhibitions on your next visit.
850 4 St. S.E., 403-543-5155, studiobell.ca
Look at art and grab a drink at a new restaurant inside a local art gallery
The next time you visit Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, be sure to check out The Artist Lounge, a new restaurant with cocktails and tapas that recently opened inside the art gallery. The surrounding art provides a beautiful environment to enjoy a drink or a snack.
Inside the Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, 2108 18 St. N.W., instagram.com
Attend a performance of Ragtime: A Concert Performance
When: June 10 to 11
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Theatre Calgary and Arts Commons have come together to bring a new adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical Ragtime to Calgary. The production tells the story of “three vastly different families in search of the American Dream in New York at the turn of the century.” The show is only happening for three performances, so don’t miss out.
Jack Singer Concert Hall, theatrecalgary.com
Check out amazing art at Contemporary Calgary’s Look2022 Fundraiser
When: June 11
Contemporary Calgary’s Look2022 fundraiser promises to be an exciting night filled with art, fashion and entertainment. Inspired by Studio 54 and Andy Warhol, the event features a silent auction and a live auction with pieces by artists like Harry Kiyooka, Maggie Hall, Edward Burtynsky and more. If you can’t attend the Look2022 event, you can still check out the art auction pieces in person at Contemporary Calgary until June 11.
701 11 St. S.W., 403-770-1350, contemporarycalgary.com
Enjoy an Italian dinner at Sorella Trattoria
The team behind Mercato has opened a new restaurant in Crescent Heights. Designed by Nam Dang-Mitchell Design, Sorella means “sister” and offers “traditional dishes with a twist.” There are plates of cacio e pepe cauliflower and roasted whole tomato, as well as heartier dishes like pappardelle, beef tenderloin and branzino.
1036 Centre St. N., 403-470-1425, sorellatratoria.ca
Check out one of the upcoming summer night markets in Calgary
Take advantage of the brighter and longer summer evenings by attending one of the upcoming night markets going on around the city. Here’s what you should know about each of them.
Join Avenue for the 2022 Innovation Event
When: June 16
Join Avenue for its third annual Innovation Event at Platform Calgary. There will be talks and panels throughout the day on innovation in food, the Metaverse in Calgary, the philosophy of cryptocurrency and more. The day ends with a Carbon Capture Cocktail Hour where you can chat with others, look at local products that use carbon capture technology, check out Platform and more.
407 9 Ave. S.E., showpass.com
Attend an event for National Indigenous Peoples Day
National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on June 21, and several Calgary organizations are hosting events on or around that day to mark the occasion. A few of the upcoming events include Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary running from June 20 to 25, the University of Calgary’s seventh annual Campfire Chats on June 21 and a multi-media performance of New Blood: A Story of Reconciliation at Heritage Park on June 21.
Go to concerts, comedy shows, film screenings and more at Sled Island
When: June 22 to 26
Sled Island, one of Calgary’s most popular festivals, returns with an impressive lineup this month. Along with more than 200 musical acts to see, the lineup also includes comedy shows, film screenings, art shows and events like karaoke and a drag brunch.
Multiple locations, sledisland.com
