Fantastic Family Friendly Activities in Calgary in May
Spring has officially sprung in Calgary, and with the arrival of the sunny season comes plenty of ways for your family to have fun! Whether you’re a group of outdoor enthusiasts or are looking for things to do indoors, there is no shortage of festivals, events and activities taking place in Calgary in May.
Family Events & Activities in Calgary in May
Low Sensory Hour At Vortex Action Sports | vortexyyc.com
When: Last Sunday of Every Month
Where: 11358 Barlow Trail NE, #140
Cost: $20 per child; 1 support person can enter for free
Vortex Action Sports has the perfect solution for kids 8 and up who love to bounce, run, and climb, but aren’t fans of the bright lights and noise that often come along with indoor play spaces. Head to Vortex on the last Sunday of every month from 10:30 – 11:30 am for a special low sensory hour-long session in the trampoline and parkour area. Spaces are limited, so register and pay online in advance to secure your spot. One family member or aide can enter for free to support their neurodiverse child.
Day Out with Thomas | heritagepark.ca
When: Saturdays & Sundays May 6-7, 12-14
Where: Heritage Park
Cost: Admission including train ride (Ages one and up): $29.95 + GST. Children under one are free.
Everyone’s favourite Tank Engine is making his return to Heritage Park this May! Kids and parents alike will have a blast taking a ride on the really useful engine, visiting with characters like Sir Topham Hatt, exploring the Colour Corner, playing a variety of lawn games, enjoying live entertainment, and checking out the exclusive pop-up gift shop. Your ticket purchase will let you know what time you’ll be able to board for your train ride, which lasts about 20 minutes. Be sure to arrive at Midnapore station approximately 30 minutes prior to departure to make sure you don’t miss your one of a kind adventure!
Calgary Reads Big Book Sale | bigbooksale.ca
When: May 12-22
Where: Calgary Curling Club – 720 3rd Street NW
Cost: Free – $5 (Depending on the day!)
Calgary bookworms won’t want to miss their chance to browse through over 150,000 gently used books of every genre imaginable at the 19th CalgaryReads Big Book Sale! There are three ways to shop: on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 by appointment ($5 event fee), on Sunday, From Sunday, May 14 to Thursday, May 18 with no appointment ($3 event fee), or on “special days” from May 19 to 22nd. Enjoy BOGO days on May 19 and 20th ($3 event fee), Fill-A-Box for $20 on May 21 ($3 event fee), or the final, Free Book Day on May 22nd (no event fee). The Big Book Sale accepts cash, debit and credit cards and proceeds fuel important early literacy work in our community. There’s plenty of free parking at the Curling Club, and if it’s a busy day, Lot 59 is just east of the Club off of Memorial Drive with a connecting walkway.
Stars on Ice | starsonice.ca
When: Sunday May 14
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome
Cost: Tickets start at $74
Stars on Ice is a breathtaking display of skills of some of the world’s most renowned figure skaters like Patrick Chan and Elvis Stojko. This edition will be the final opportunity to see four-time World and Canadian Champion Kurt Browning perform with Stars on Ice. For an extra special experience, purchase a Meet and Greet ticket to have an opportunity to get to know your favourite skaters off the ice!
Marvel Studios Presents Black Panther in Concert | calgaryphil.com
When: Thursday May 18 & Friday May 19
Where: Jubilee Auditorium
Cost: $24 – $89
If you loved seeing Black Panther on the big screen, you’ve gotta check out the concert experience that truly brings the film to life. As T’Challa becomes king and battles Killmonger in Marvel Studios’ global sensation Black Panther, The Calgary Philharmonic will perform Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar®-winning score live to picture.
Otafest | otafest.com
When: Friday May 19 – Sunday May 21
Where: TELUS Convention Centre
Cost: Adult Day Passes – $43.45; Adult Weekend Passes $64.77. Youth Weekend Pass $11.62. Kids 5 and under are free!
Do you live Japanese anime? What about the world of cosplay or live musical performances? If so, grab your tickets to Otafest before May 17th! Otafest is Calgary’s volunteer-run, non-profit, all-ages Japanese anime and pop culture festival featuring anime screenings, an exhibitor hall, community panels, cosplay contests, voice actors, dance parties, concerts, a masquerade ball, arcade games, competitions and more!
Korean Cultural Heritage Festival | calgarykoreanwomen.com
When: Sunday May 21
Where: Bella Concert Hall, Mount Royal University
Cost: $10
The Korean Cultural Heritage Festival brings Sourth Korean artists and performers together on stage for a spectacular evening. Learn about traditional Korean traditions and activities through K-Pop Dance, Chan Lee Taekwondo, Korean Traditional Dance, and other performances at the Bella Concert Hall.
Royal Canadian International Circus Calgary | royalcanadiancircus.ca
When: May 26 – June 4
Where: CrossIron Mills
Cost: General admission starts at $35
The all-new Royal Canadian International Circus features classic circus entertainment like high-flying acrobatics, breathtaking, death-defying feats, incredible feats of strength, and teetering towers of balanced bodies. Contortionists, trapeze artists, aerialists, motorbike tricks, high-wire balancing and more will keep you on the edge of your seat for the duration of the performance. Best of all, the Royal Canadian International Circus contains no animal performers.
Servus Calgary Marathon | calgarymarathon.com
When: Sunday May 28
Where: Starting line is Stampede Trail
Cost: Varies by event
Whether you’re joining as a spectator or a participant, the 59th running of the Calgary Marathon will be packed with energy from start to finish. Runners from around the world will be racing along the Bow River in this Boston qualifier. If you choose to participate, you can join in the in-person event on Sunday May 28, 2023 or the virtual race experience from May 28th to June 25th. Choose your distance and run, walk or wheel 5KM, 10KM, 21.1KM, 42.2KM, or for the last time ever participate in the 50KM Ultra. All participants can fundraise for any of our 80+ charities through the Charity Challenge.
Made in Alberta Market | madeinalbertaawards.ca
When: Thursday May 18 and Friday May 19
Where: Bow Valley Square
Cost: Free
The Made in Alberta Market takes place on May 18 and 19 and brings incredible goodies from local vendors like The Fort Distillery, StumpCraft Puzzles, Plainsbreaker Apparel, and Quinspired Ceramics. Check out the full list of vendors on each market day at their website.
WinSport | winsport.ca
When: Starting on Sunday May 21
Where: WinSport
Cost: Varies by activity
Warm weather fun is just around the corner at WinSport! Starting on Sunday May 21, several of the spring/summer attractions return, including downhill karting, mini golf, the Monster Zipline, and summer bobsleigh.
University District Night Market | myuniversitydistrict.ca
When: Thursday May 25 from 5 to 9 pm
Where: University District
Cost: No cover charge
Calgary’s University District and MarketSpot have created a new night market to shop from local vendors. The first market takes place on Thursday May 25 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the University District, and takes place every month until September.
Calgary Black Film Festival | calgaryblackfilm.com
When: Friday May 26 to Monday May 29
Where: Virtual
Cost: All-access online passes are available now for $55.
The Calgary Black Film Festival has a mission to share their message of discovery and Inclusion with folks across the globe by showcasing the most relevant Black films from Canada and abroad while creating a space to debate major cultural, social and socio-economic issues. The Calgary Black Film Festival returns at the end of the month with new films from around the world that you can watch online. Check their website soon for the festival lineup.
What activities are you and your family excited to attend in Calgary this May? Did we miss any great ones? Let us know in the comments!
