Although Stampede festivities have come to an end, festival season in Calgary is still going strong. From cultural and artistic celebrations, to boat races, to the continuation of country music events, you can keep enjoying summertime celebrations at these five festivals in August.
Taste of Calgary Festival
When: August 4 to 7, 2022
Dubbed Calgary’s “most appetizing festival,” Taste of Calgary gives guests a chance to experience some of the city’s best foods, beverages, music and more. Sampling tickets are one dollar each, which makes it pretty easy for attendees to try a variety of the dishes and drinks on offer. This year’s menu includes options from Blowers & Grafton, Good Fillin’, Confluence Distilling and more. Admission to the festival (live performances included) is free.
CPA Lot 6, 311 8 St. S.W., tasteofcalgary.com
Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival
When: August 5 to 7, 2022
Every summer, the Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival attracts more than 1,850 competitors and 4,000 spectators to North Glenmore Park. Organized by the Calgary Dragon Boat Society, the event showcases the exciting sport of dragon boat racing as teams — made up of 20 paddlers and a steer person — vie for the win. Admission for spectators is free, and there are food trucks, beer gardens, live music, cultural performances and a kids’ zone on-site.
North Glenmore Park, calgarydragonboatsociety.com
CariFest
When: August 12 to 13, 2022
CariFest is a celebration of Caribbean music, culture, tradition, costumes and more. Inspired by a desire to educate attendees about everything to do with Caribbean culture, CariFest has grown each year and is now one of Calgary’s most popular festivals. The two-day event takes place at Shaw Millennium Park and features live music, vendors, a parade and much more.
Shaw Millennium Park, carifestcalgary.com
GlobalFest
When: August 18 to 27, 2022
Featuring awe-inspiring “pyromusicals,” as well as cultural pavilions, GlobalFest was first introduced to the city’s festival scene in 2003 and, in that initial year, had nearly 100,000 attendees. Known as Calgary’s most explosive festival, GlobalFest comprises the International Fireworks Festival and OneWorld Festival, displaying cultural diversity and artistry while putting on a fantastic fireworks show. There’s also a night market on-site, as well as international food options and plenty of live music
1827 68 St. S.E. globalfest.ca
Country Thunder
When: August 19 to 21, 2022
After a two-year hiatus (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Country Thunder has made its return to Calgary’s summer festival scene. Known for its always-impressive lineup, this three-day-long event showcases up-and-coming artists alongside some of the biggest names in country music. Since its inception in 2016, the festival has been held at Prairie Winds Park in northeast Calgary. This year, however, it takes place at Fort Calgary — an appropriate venue, considering its proximity to the National Music Centre. Headliners include Morgan Wallen, Florida Georgia Line and Lee Brice.
Fort Calgary, 750 9 Ave S.E., countrythunder.com/ab