Explore Downtown YYC

NMC Tours: Greatest Hits
2026-07-05 11:00 - 14:30, 2026-07-04 11:00 - 14:30 (America/Edmonton) | Studio Bell, 850 4 St SE, Calgary, Ab, T2G 0L8
Dive into the world of music technology and explore unique instruments from the National Music Centre’s world-renowned collection.
This is your chance to see how music is made and experience one-of-a-kind instruments in action. Step beyond the exhibits as interpreters go behind the glass to demonstrate historic artifacts, revealing the mechanics, sounds, and stories that make each instrument extraordinary.
Plus, this tour includes a sneak peek into NMC’s recording studios! For an in-depth studio experience, check out the Backstage Pass tours.
Studio Bell admission is required.
Space is limited and first-come, first-served. We recommend booking your tickets in advance.
Tours are one hour in length. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your tour.
Are you an NMC Member? Visit the front desk to book your free Greatest Hits tour!

Sunday Safari Brunch
2026-07-05 09:00 - 23:59, 2026-06-28 09:00 - 23:59 (America/Denver) | Calgary Zoo, 1300 Zoo Rd Ne, Calgary, T2E 7V6
Join us for a unique Calgary brunch experience in the heart of the zoo. You can enjoy both gourmet and comfort breakfast foods, including a free-flowing chocolate fountain with fresh fruit, eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon, a Belgian waffle bar, cooked to order omelets, and much more. Get your combo brunch and admission tickets today!

Get Ready for the Ultimate Summer Challenge!
2026-07-05, 2026-07-04, 2026-07-03, 2026-07-02, 2026-07-01 | Calgary Public Library – Central, 800 3 St Se, Calgary, T2G 2E7
The Challenge is simple — read every day this summer.
Everyone can be part of the Ultimate Summer Challenge. This shared reading adventure is a great way to connect, discover, and keep learning through the summer months.
From July 1 to August 31, read, attend programs, explore new stories, and have fun at the Library as part of the Ultimate Summer Challenge.
Registration opens June 15.

Soccer City FC – Presented by Cavalry FC & Suncor
2026-07-05 | Peace Park, 2 Ave SW, Calgary, T2P
Free youth soccer is taking over Peace Park this summer, bringing high‑energy, high‑quality programming right to the heart of downtown. Whether a child or teen is trying soccer for the first time or building on their skills, these free clinics offer a fun, positive, and accessible way to stay active and connected all summer long.
Delivered in partnership with The City of Calgary, Cavalry FC, Calgary Wild FC, Calgary Minor Soccer Association, and the Centre for Newcomers, this initiative creates meaningful opportunities for young people to learn, play, and thrive. With coaching led by Cavalry FC and Calgary Wild FC, participants receive top‑tier instruction at no cost while learning from the pros, building confidence, and experiencing the joy of the game in the heat of the city.
When: June 7 – September 20, most Sundays Who: Youth ages 8–17 Where: Peace Park (2 Avenue & 8 Street SW) Weather: Clinics may be cancelled if conditions are unsafe

Soccer City FC - Presented by Calgary Wild FC
2026-07-05 | Peace Park, 2 Ave SW, Calgary, T2P
Free youth soccer is taking over Peace Park this summer, bringing high-energy, high-quality programming right to the heart of downtown. Whether your child or teen is trying soccer for the first time or building on their skills, these free programs offer a fun, positive, and accessible way to stay active and connected all summer long.
Delivered in partnership with The City, Cavalry FC, Calgary Wild FC, Calgary Minor Soccer Association and the Centre for Newcomers, this initiative creates meaningful opportunities for young people to learn, play, and thrive. With coaching led by Cavalry FC and Calgary Wild FC, participants get top-tier instruction at no cost, learning from the pros, building confidence, and experiencing the joy of the game in a supportive environment.

CIBC Backbeat: Bow & Tell with James Watson
2026-07-04 14:00 - 16:30 (America/Edmonton) | Studio Bell, 850 4 St SE, Calgary, Ab, T2G 0L8
Join us on Saturdays in PlayLab for a hands-on violin experience designed for young explorers and future musicians alike! Presented by Jubilee Arts in partnership with the National Music Centre, and featuring live performances alongside guided instruction from professional violinists, including musicians from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, this interactive program invites children of all ages and skill levels to step into the world of music-making.
PlayLab is a hands-on sound playground where young visitors can discover how music works. With interactive stations that feature strings, wind, percussion, and electronic instruments, kids experiment with the building blocks of sound—pitch, volume, timbre, and vibration. Pluck a string, strike a drum, blow into an organ, or shape sound on a synth to hear how instruments create their unique voices. Designed for curiosity and creativity, PlayLab encourages visitors to listen closely, explore freely, and learn how musicians turn sound into music.

PlayLab: Feet to the Beat
2026-07-04 13:00 - 23:59, 2026-07-04 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique, 850 - 4 Street SE, Calgary
Turn up the music and shake it out! Join us in PlayLab where we’ll be moving and grooving to a new style of dance each session.
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11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Free admission on Level 1
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About Kym Butler:
Kym has been a dance educator/movement instructor for almost 40 years. If it involves moving the body, then she has facilitated the body moving. She has worked with figure skaters, gymnasts, models, musicians and, of course, dancers. Kym has choreographed for music videos, television commercials, award ceremonies, concert dance, drag pageants, parades and flash mobs. There is no age or skill limit in Kym’s classes, she can teach any beginner and refine the seasoned artist. Her sessions are welcoming, inclusive and most importantly, fun!
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About PlayLab:
PlayLab is a hands-on sound playground where young visitors can discover how music works. With interactive stations that feature strings, wind, percussion, and electronic instruments, kids experiment with the building blocks of sound—pitch, volume, timbre, and vibration. Pluck a string, strike a drum, blow into an organ, or shape sound on a synth to hear how instruments create their unique voices. Designed for curiosity and creativity, PlayLab encourages visitors to listen closely, explore freely, and learn how musicians turn sound into music.
PlayLab is open to the public with free admission on Level 1 of Studio Bell every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Learn more at studiobell.ca/exhibitions/playlab.
PlayLab is made possible with support from the Alberta Museums Association and the Radomski Foundation.

Drop-in Art Making
2026-07-04 13:00 - 17:00 (America/Edmonton) | Contemporary Calgary, 701 11 Street Southwest, Calgary, Ab, T2P 2C4
Embrace creativity and exploration in our Saturday Drop-in Art Making program. This program is offered most Saturdays from 1-5 PM throughout the year. Materials and light instruction are provided, along with rotating themes and activities.
Our programs encourage children, youth, and families to connect with modern and contemporary art through enjoyable and interactive creative experiences.
JULY SCHEDULE

July 4: Thaumatropes
July 11: Paper Puppets (Stampede Themed)
July 18: Pipecleaner Summer Flowers
July 25: Paper Pinwheels

In addition to the above activities, there will be both a collage and drawing station available for creative free time during each session.
These are drop-in sessions running from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Come anytime — no registration is required.

G'ddy Up!
2026-07-04 12:00 - 2026-07-14 16:00, 2026-07-03 10:30 - 17:00, 2026-07-02 10:30 - 17:00 (America/Edmonton) | Newzones Gallery Of Contemporary Art, 730 11 Ave Sw, Calgary, T2R 0E4
Newzones is pleased to present G’ddy Up!, our annual summer group exhibition celebrating Calgary’s western spirit through a contemporary artistic lens.
Presented in conjunction with the Calgary Stampede, G’ddy Up! brings together works by Kevin Sonmor, Dianne Bos, Evelyne Brader-Frank, Casey McGlynn, and other gallery artists whose work reflects the landscapes, traditions, and visual culture that have shaped the West. Through painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media, the exhibition explores how artists continue to reinterpret western subjects and imagery in fresh and unexpected ways.
At once playful, reflective, and distinctly contemporary, G’ddy Up! offers a fresh perspective on the imagery and traditions that continue to define Stampede season and life in the modern West.

Somatic Sessions at Yoga Passage
2026-07-02 19:30 - 23:59 (America/Denver) | Yoga Passage, 524 11 Ave Sw, Calgary, T2R 0C8
Join Lindsay for a 5-week somatic immersion blending nervous system literacy, somatic movement, breathwork, inquiry and embodied practices designed to deepen awareness, release stored tension and build emotional resilience.
Each week explores how your body communicates through sensation, movement, and pattern. You’ll learn to track your nervous system states, respond to activation with practical regulation tools, and build a balanced baseline for daily life.
Bring clothes to move in, a water bottle, journal, and pen. Workbook also provided.
Week 1 – Safety In Presence: Nervous System Literacy & The Felt Sense
Week 2 – Your Window Of Tolerance: The Cycle Of Stress & The FFFF Responses
Week 3 – Inner Parts Work: Awareness Of The Shadow & Inner Child
Week 4 – The Body As A Healer: Fascia, Flow & Vagal Resilience
Week 5 – SOMAMVMNT: Integration, Expression & Embodied Empowerment
Facilitator: Lindsay Hainstock
When: Thursdays July 2 – July 30, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Investment: $133 for 5 weeks

SURGE CITY Hoops Summer Series
2026-07-02 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-30 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Edmonton) | Century Gardens Basketball Courts, 826 8 Ave Sw, Calgary, T2P 1H7
This summer, the Calgary Surge & The City of Calgary’s Downtown Strategy team have partnered to bring back Surge City Hoops, and our FREE youth basketball clinics to the heart of our city.
Join us for free basketball clinics every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from June through September, hosted at the ﻿Century Gardens Basketball Courts (826 8 Avenue SW).
Open to youth ages 8 to 17, these clinics are all about building skills, boosting confidence, and having fun on the court—whether you’re a beginner or looking to take your game to the next level. Surrounded by the downtown energy and led by experienced coaches, this is your chance to train, play, and grow in one of Calgary’s most iconic outdoor spaces.

East Village Public Art Experience
2026-07-01 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Edmonton) | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, 750 9 Avenue Southeast, Calgary, Ab, T2G 5E1
Discover the artistic gems of the East Village through a guided walking experience that brings public art to life. Explore a curated selection of vibrant works while uncovering the stories, meaning, and local context behind each piece. The experience concludes with a hands-on opportunity to create your own public art on The Confluence’s free graffiti wall, with all supplies provided.
The walking tour covers approximately 3 to 4 km and takes 1.5 hours. Please wear comfortable, closed-toe footwear. Following the walk, guests will have the opportunity to contribute to public art.

CAKE: Long Form Improv Comedy at The Blox
2026-06-30 19:00 - 2026-07-20 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | BLOX Arts Centre, 834 11 Ave Sw, Calgary, T2R 0E5
CAKE is a long form improv duo consisting of Anton Matyushin and Aaron Ranger.
Inspired by longer form theatrical improv formats, CAKE aims to create worlds that are real, characters that are raw, and narratives that satisfy, one layer at a time. The improv takes its time, and the comedy is earned.

The Market on Stephen Avenue
2026-06-30 11:00 - 18:00 (America/Denver) | 8th Street 8th Avenue, Calgary, Calgary, Ab
✨ A Downtown Favourite Returns in 2026! ✨
The Market on Stephen Avenue is officially returning for the 2026 season — and vendor applications are now OPEN!Set in the heart of downtown Calgary, this vibrant daytime market offers exceptional exposure for small businesses, makers, artists, and creative brands looking to connect with locals and visitors alike.
🗓 Market on Stephen Avenue📅 Select Tuesdays | June 23 – September 22, 2026🕚 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
📩 IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ CAREFULLYTo protect our vendor community from scams, all vendor applications are issued by email only.👉 events@dmeinc.ca👉 info@dmeinc.ca
⚠️ We do NOT accept applications via:❌ Instagram or Facebook DMs❌ PayPal❌ Third-party links or payment requests
✨ Full market details, pricing, and next steps will be shared once we receive your email inquiry.We can’t wait to welcome you back to Stephen Avenue and continue supporting local businesses throughout the 2026 season!Delisle Marketing & Events Inc. & The Downtown Markets

Songsmith Sundays with Carter Felker
2026-06-28 11:30 - 23:59 (America/Denver) | The King Eddy, 438 9 Ave Se, Calgary, Ab, T2G 0R9
Every week, country-folk singer-songwriter Carter Felker presents a chill weekend set with a rotating cast of guests.
This family-friendly show is best paired with our delicious Sunday brunch!
Brunch menu: https://kingeddy.ca/menu
About Carter Felker:
Born and raised in the Prairies, Carter Felker’s eyes have seen the length of the wheat fields through many winter mornings, and the stretch of the sun through many short-lived summers. He has laboured, he has lost, and he has loved. Carter uses his own experience, and his desire to tell a story to create honest, human-made, country music.
“Carter Felker traffics in music, yes, but even more profoundly in essence: the humdrum essence of Monday morning alarms clocks coming round again during lifetimes ticking on through thoughtless dawn moments walking across the kitchen floor; the craven essence of sneaking wordlessly away from a relationship and feeling the mute screen door sag shut behind you; the essence of everyday struggles.” – MLW
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Music starts at 11:30 amNo cover
