Alberta Culture Days began in 2008 as a one day event to promote Alberta’s arts and culture communities. Six years later it has grown to a three-day event running from September 27 to 29 with the same goal in mind. There are myriad of events happening in Calgary and the surrounding area, many of which are free of charge. Here are 10 to checkout.
Kick-off event
What better way to kick-off Alberta Culture Days than a free celebration complete with live performances by Sidney York (5:30 p.m.), Bitterweed Draw (6:30 p.m.), Makeshift Innocence (7:30 p.m.) and Cadence Weapon (8:45 p.m.). In addition to concerts there will be interactive demonstrations, inflatable balloon sculptures by Max Streicher and food trucks.
Friday, Sept. 27 at Olympic Plaza, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Water Works
The Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers and the WATERSHED+ program run by the City of Calgary are teaming up to bring outdoor film screenings to the Bow River. The Water Works event includes showings of experimental films about water.
Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28 along the Bow River Pathway at the southwest foot of the Peace Bridge between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
The Alberta Theatre Projects & Theatre Calgary Spectacular Costume Sale
Have you ever gone to a play and found yourself wanting to wear the cool threads that the main character is rocking? Now is your chance to dig through old Alberta Theatre Projects and Theatre Calgary costumes and make them your own with the latest edition of their spectacular costume sale. This could also be a great place to find a Halloween costume.
Saturday, Sept. 28 at Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts from 11 a.m. to 6:20 p.m.
Doors Open YYC
Doors Open gives Calgarians a chance to look behind the scenes at some of the city’s most historic, essential and culturally important facilities including Calgary Fire Department fire training academy, the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts, the Calgary Tower and Calgary Transit’s Oliver Bowen Maintenance Facility.
Friday, Sept. 27 to Sunday, Sept. 29 at various locations. The tours are free, but some locations require advance registration.
Not Exactly Your Grandmothers Baking…
Sylvia Johnston, chef and owner of Cornerstone Music Caf, will teach you how to make her best family recipes for kuchen and fruit pie. Both are gluten free.
Sunday, Sept. 29 at Cookbook Co. Cooks, 722 11th Avenue SW, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Live at Festival Hall
The Calgary Folk Music Festival is showcasing great Alberta music at Festival Hall. The Faebles and the Polyjesters will be performing on Friday. Saturday afternoon covers of songs written by Albertans will be performed by 12 Calgary musicians including Bob Keelaghan, Aaron Booth, Chantal Vitalis, Jocelyn & Lisa, Ramblin’ Ambassadors, SaVK, Hello wMoth and Matt Masters.
Friday, Sept. 27 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 28 from noon to 3 p.m. at Festival Hall, 1215 10 Ave. S.E.
Public Art Buses
City of Calgary Public Art is arranging two bus tours that will give Calgarians a chance to see selected public art in Calgary. Bus A focuses on the East Village and south Calgary and Bus B looks at Downtown and the north of Calgary. Advanced registration is required as space is limited.
Saturday, Sept. 28 from 12:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. It starts at the Simmons Building, 618 Confluence Way S.E.
Sunday, Sept. 29 from 12:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. It starts at the base of the Bow, 500 Centre St. S.E.
DJD Celebrates Alberta Culture Days
Get out your jazz hands for an open rehearsal by Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. Beginning with a half-hour performance including material from their upcoming show “Better Get Hit in Your Soul”. Afterwards will be a one-hour free dance class.
Friday, Sept. 27 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at DJD, 1514 4 St. S.W.
Historical Walking Tour (Banff)
Banff is a beautiful place but can be hard to get to know beyond the expensive designer stores and souvenir shops selling identical novelty toques. This tour by local naturalist and interpreter Pam Manning offers a look at the town’s past with visits to some of Banff’s most historic buildings and sites including the Luxton Home.
Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tours start at Banff Avenue Square, 224 Banff Ave.
Ink & Flow (Banff)
The Walter Phillips Gallery and Rachel Duckhouse will be offering a workshop on combining an assortment of drawing and printmaking techniques as a way of exploring our relationship with the natural world. Duckhouse was an artist in residence with the City of Calgary’s WATERSHED+ program.
Saturday, Sept. 28 from noon until 4 p.m. at Bison Courtyard, 211 Bear St.
For more information on these and other Alberta Culture Days events visit culture.alberta.ca/culturedays/ or download the Alberta Culture Events Calendar app.