Fall Family Fun in Calgary This September

Summer may be winding down for another year, but that doesn’t mean that it’s time to head indoors just yet! There’s tons of family fun in Calgary this September, both inside and out. Cultural celebrations, fantastic festivals, mouth-watering food, and one-of-a-kind market finds are just a few things to look forward to in September in YYC – we can hardly wait!
Fall Family Fun in Calgary in September

Railway Days at Heritage Park | heritagepark.ca
Saturday September 14 & Sunday September 15
Do you have a locomotive enthusiast in the family? If so, be sure to add Railway Days at Heritage Park to your calendar! The day is filled with train-themed exhibits and activities including demonstrations of a double-headed steam engine, caboose rides (at an extra cost), a turntable demonstration, handcar rides, model train displays, and more. Regular park admission is your ticket to this event.

Photo Credit: Benjamin Laird
Calgary Pride Parade | calgarypride.ca
Saturday August 31 & Sunday September 1
Get your brightest colours and rainbow flags ready for a spectacular pride celebration! Calgary Pride Week takes place until September 3rd in celebration of the 2SLGBTQ+ Community. The annual parade kicks off at 11 am on Sunday, September 1, starting at 11 AM, making its way along 9 Ave in downtown Calgary, from The Confluence to 5 St. SW.

Spruce Meadows Masters | sprucemeadows.com
Wednesday September 4 – Sunday September 8
Join top riders and horses at Spruce Meadows for a variety of live events including horse jumping at the CP International and BMO Nations’ Cup. In addition, make sure you check out the fireworks, live music, and market featuring over 70 shops. Check the Spruce Meadows website for the daily competition schedules!

Calgary Rib Fest | Calgary Rib Fest
Friday September 6 – Sunday September 8
The Western Canada Rib Fest Tour is back by popular demand! Tell your family, friends, neighbours, co-workers, even a stranger. Serving up award-winning ribs (and other food trucks) and family fun in Calgary at McMahon Stadium. With entertainment, raffles, cold drinks, and more.

Photo Credit: Michael Grondin
Calgary International Film Festival | ciffcalgary.ca
Thursday September 19 – Sunday September 29
The Calgary International Film Festival returns for its 25th year. The 11-day showcase of over 200 multi-genre feature and short films from Canada and around the world also hosts an Industry Week that allows filmmakers from Alberta and around the world meet, network, and learn. Calgary International Film Festival is the largest film festival in Alberta and among the largest in Canada

Photo Credit: Denise Kitagawa
Beakerhead | beakerhead.com/
Friday September 20 – Sunday September 22
Beakerhead is back for 2024, and this is its 11th year! This year is packed with special programming: the return of Beakerbar, speakers, installations, and more – plus three daytime experiences sure to please families. Beakerhead will be completely at TELUS Spark Science Centre so the event can fit in every bit of STEAM possible! With unforgettable art installations and science that will blow your mind, this is an experience that you won’t want to miss!

Photo credit Kirk Davis
2023 Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival | heritageinninternationalballoonfestival.com
Wednesday September 25 – Sunday September 29
Whether they’re in the sky or on the ground, there are few things quite as magical as a hot air balloon. The Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival brings the best of both worlds, with opportunities to see balloons take flight from September 25 – 29, and a chance to get up close and personal with inflated balloons at the Balloon Glow on Friday, September 27. The Balloon Glow is a free event that takes place in the evening, where the balloons are inflated using their burners without ever leaving the ground. If you’re hoping to catch a ride in a balloon, a limited number of tickets are available to purchase for $395 per person for folks 12 years and older. If you’d prefer to admire the balloons from the ground, check here for flight times (and watch for cancellations, as weather conditions need to be perfect for the balloons to launch).
What activities and events are you looking forward to this September in Calgary? We’d love to hear them in the comments!