Festival Notes
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).
