9 Fun Family Festivals in Calgary

Keep an eye out for your local neighbourhood festival. These summer fests are filled with fun, food and families, and are a great (and affordable) way to have fun with the kids while meeting the neighbours.

Why We Like It: One thing Calgary does well is celebrating our Canadian birthday in style. With so many Canada Day events to choose from, our pick this year is a double birthday blast because Heritage Park is turning 50 this year. With a free pancake breakfast for the first 2014 families, lots of old fashioned games (get out that potato sack to practice!), music, entertainment and more, be sure to RSVP for this party.

Why We Like It: Spice things up a bit in Kensington—a bag of chips equals money for charity—plus the chance to sample a range of delish salsas. Kids will love some of the wild street performances, as well as some of the activities including mural painting (good to know: dress for the mess!).

Why We Like It: Small town fests are not to be missed, especially when they include a bull riding event. With lots of fun activities for the kids including wagon and pony rides, this country festival is a great one to visit if you've got budding rodeo stars looking to get out of Dodge for a day. Be sure to visit Mackay's Ice Cream Parlour for a cool, homemade treat before heading home.

Why We Like It: Franco Fest is all about celebrating French culture, in Canada and internationally. Sample some French cuisine, indulge in creating crafts with the kids in the Children's Area, then sit back and enjoy various performances. Who needs Paris?

Why We Like It: From pie eating contests to a power fun zone, the Inglewood Sunfest offers something for everyone. Car lovers can ogle stylish rides at the Show and Shine, kids can test out ping pong or button making, and after catching some of the wild street acts, chill out in the Grassy Relaxation Zone.

Why We Like It: Another one of those great street fests, the Marda Loop festival also comes with some incredible creative vendors, colourful street performances, and of course, lots of food trucks to enjoy. Even better: free parking at the Military Museum to help avoid the long search for street spots.

Why We Like It: Who doesn't love the chance to sample some amazing treats from some of Calgary's best restaurants? With prices ranging from $1 to $5, it's a great way to expand your kids' palate (chicken and jellyfish tacos anyone?) without the restaurant dramas. Even better: bring bathing suits and towels to cool off on the splash pad afterwards, or head into Prince's Island Park to catch this year's Shakespeare By the Bow production of Comedy of Errors to celebrate its return to the park post-flood. Dinner and a show—it's a true summer treat.

Why We Like It: Aside from fresh produce, what we love about Kingsland Market is that they get into the summer celebration as well. The Calgary Corn Festival always comes with bouncy castles, fun competitions, lots of kids' activities and of course… 20 different ways to enjoy corn.

Why We Like It: Fire up their enthusiasm at this exciting annual festival where you can cheer on over 1000 teams as they compete in this colourful traditional race. The festival also includes a Kids' Play Zone, lots of food trucks, live bands, performances and a beer garden. We're getting on this boat.