Festival Notes

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Summer is the best time to be a Calgarian. Hot sun, long days and an explosion of outdoor festivals make ‘staycationing’ easy and fun. Family-friendly outdoor music concerts take centre stage throughout the summer and we’ve got a round-up of our top three favourite picks.

Calgary Folk Music Festival
July 22–25
The granddaddy of music festivals, the Folk Fest is a weekend event running Thursday and Friday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday. In our experience, there is enough variety to satisfy almost any taste. Plan to spend your time wandering around checking out the kids’ entertainment area (bouncers, playground, face painting), the fantastic selection of locally produced food and the local musicians on various side stages—then plant yourself on a tarp in front of the mainstage. Die-hard folk fans line up early morning to stake down a mainstage tarp (and will be rewarded with close-up views of performers). We like to get there when we can, but keep in mind the earlier you arrive, the better your view (and the better your parking spot at Eau Claire if possible). The entire festival costs $135 for a four-day adult pass and individual day tickets are in the $50 range. Children under 12 are free (when accompanied by an adult).

Canmore Folk Music Festival
July 31–August 2
The Canmore Folk Music Festival is sort of like a little sister to the Calgary festival with some artist crossover year to year. The Rocky Mountain backdrop is spectacular and worth the extra effort required to get there and organize accommodation. There’s a strict ‘no alcohol’ policy on-site and a dedicated family area on the grounds at Centennial Park, making it particularly kid-friendly. Attend the Kids’ Concert (it’s a must-do) from 1–2 pm on July 31 featuring Te Vaka, a drum and dance troupe from New Zealand (tickets $2, kids free). Tickets are $75 for the entire festival or approximately $25 per day at the door with nominal ticket fees for kids.

ShineFest
August 28
Finally, an outdoor music festival for kids! This one-day festival takes place at Canada Olympic Park and features a raft of children’s entertainers. Younger audiences are invited to the mainstage between 10:30 am and 2 pm to take in performances by the Doodlebops and Fred Penner. School-aged kids will be entertained by a number of tween pop bands from 2 to 8 pm. There are other kids’ activities, such as the climbing wall or cookie decorating on-site and COP is open to the public for kids that would like to try the zip-line or play mini-golf. Tickets cost $87.09 for a family of four.

Influence their music selection while you still can. Take a trip to one of the city’s many outdoor music festivals to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of summer.

Tested by Heather J., Calgary