Catch an outdoor music performance at the Banff Centre
When: August 1, 8, 22 and 29
On Tuesdays in August from 5 to 6 p.m., the Banff Centre is hosting free outdoor performances featuring Bow Valley musicians like Riley Hana, Liam Cowan, Todd Clarkson or Heather Jean Jordan. Pack a picnic or grab food from the Maclab Bistro and enjoy a laid-back musical happy hour break at the Shaw Amphitheatre.
107 Tunnel Mountain Dr., Banff, banffcentre.ca
Explore Crowsnest Pass during the Doors Open and Heritage Festival
When: August 3 to 7
2023 marks the 18th year of this festival where you can learn about the history and culture of Crowsnest Pass. Take in one of the Foods & Tunes events featuring local music and culinary experiences with restaurants, pubs and markets, or visit the old-fashioned country fair for fresh produce, local handicrafts, art and games in Gazebo Park on Blairemore’s Main Street.
Multiple locations, cnpheritagefest.ca
Check out the bands and artists at the Canmore Folk Music Festival
When: August 5 to 7
Spend the long weekend in Canmore chilling outdoors and listening to live music at Alberta’s longest-running folk festival, which has been a summer staple since 1978. With the mountains as a backdrop, more than 30 acts will perform on the Stan Rogers stage at Centennial Park behind Lawrence Grassi School. Serena Ryder will headline Saturday night and other acts like Allison Russel, Abigail Lapell, Richard Thompson, Suzie Vinnick and The McDades are part of the lineup.
Centennial Park and Miners’ Union Hall, Canmore, canmorefolkfestival.com
Take a stargazing tour in Waterton Lakes National Park
Now recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association as a Dark Sky Park, Waterton is the perfect place to take in the pristine night sky for some stargazing. Look up at the moon, planets, distant star clusters, constellations and the Milky Way — you may even catch some northern lights! If you’re not sure where to start, consider taking a tour with Dark Sky Guides. It’s run by four locals, the Robinson brothers, who offer a variety of guided interpretive nighttime tours and will provide telescopes and binoculars if needed.
Watch an outdoor movie in downtown Invermere
When: August 7, 14, 21 and 28
Bring your blanket or chair to Pothole Park in downtown Invermere and have an outdoor movie night with the family or some friends. Every Monday night in August, the District of Invermere hosts free movie screenings through its Movies in the Mountains series. The films will start when it gets dark and this month’s titles include Sonic the Hedgehog, Free Guy, Luca and Firehart.
Pothole Park, 639 7 Ave., invermerepanorama.com
Go shopping at the Mountain Made Market in Canmore
When: August 19
Every month, vendors take over the Canmore Civic Centre, inside and outside, to sell and display local arts and crafts, gifts, jewellery, apparel and specialty foods. Stroll the stands to find some local goodies while listening to live music at the next edition on August 19th.
Canmore Civic Centre, 902 7 Ave., Canmore, mountainmademarketsite.wordpress.com
Go berry-picking on a mountain at the Huckleberry Festival
When: August 23
Huckleberries grow in the Rocky Mountains and the best time to pick these delicious ripe berries are the last few weeks of August. Every year, Castle Mountain Resort holds its Huckleberry Festival where you can ride the chairlift 1,000 feet up to the ridge of Haig Mountain to go berry-picking. There’s also free live music, beer gardens, barbecue and food trucks, as well as kid-friendly activities like a scavenger hunt, mini games and face painting.
Castle Mountain Resort, Hwy 774, Pincher Creek, 403-627-5101, skicastle.ca