What's up this week, Calgary?

Our weekly event roundup

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We've got activities for the whole family all over the city...

(and sneak peek early-release links to our new spring editions - see below!)


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calendar of events

weekend fun

May 3, 1 to 9pm; Calgary Rock and Mineral Show. The 62nd Annual CRLC Rock & Mineral Show will be held at Genesis Centre and will feature more than 50 vendors, door prizes, a silent auction, and more. Learn more at crlc.ca.


May 3, 4:30 to 6pm; Free Soccer Fridays. Free Soccer Fridays invites kids to a free, unstructured, drop-in soccer opportunity at Calgary West Soccer Centre. This is a chance for youth of all ages and abilities to play and enjoy the sport. Learn more at calgaryminorsoccer.com.


May 3, 5 to 9pm; Wild After Hours: Polar Bears (Adults Only). Connect with the zoo’s largest Arctic icons and hear from those closest to them at this one-of-a-kind event. Guests will start their big evening off with an exclusive viewing of polar bears, ‘Baffin’ and ‘Siku’, accompanied by presentations from the Animal Care, Health & Welfare specialists who know them best. Then the excitement will continue with a four-course dinner from our award-winning culinary team. It is sure to be a paw-sitively unforgettable experience! Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.


May 3 to 4, 7:30pm; Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Presents: The Broadway/Hollywood Songbook. Be transported to the bright lights of the Great White Way and the glamor of Hollywood as the Calgary Phil celebrates the biggest musicals from stage and screen at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.


May 3 to 5, Jane’s Walk Calgary. Your city. Your stories. Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, community-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs. Explore your city, share stories about your community and connect with your neighbours. Learn more at janeswalk.calgarycommunities.com.


May 3 to 5; Western Canadian Reason Conference 2024. This event will feature provocative and thoughtful speakers and entertainers. Join with like-minded thinkers to share ideas and build community. WeCanReason is a conference dedicated to free thinkers skeptics and humanists who want to discuss and understand issues in society and work towards solving them at University of Calgary Downtown Campus. Learn more at wecanreason.com.


May 3 to 5, 2 to 4pm; YMCA Calgary Arts Presents: Calgary Young People’s Theatre in Sasquatch Sally. Combining folklore, familial drama and just a tiny sprinkle of summer camp shenanigans, this theatrical tale is as unique as a sasquatch! Summer is the best time of year, and for sisters Sally and Ali, summertime means Summer Camp. An escape from schoolwork, bullies, and a chance to make new friends. Some kids choose to stick close to family, others craft new memories with their cabin roommates, while some find themselves making friends with the impossible at Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.


May 3 to 5; Calgary Artists Studio Tour. The tour has expanded to over 80 local artists participating across our beautiful city and surrounding areas. This is a self-guided tour where you get to meet each artist in their home or shared studio space, and you can plan your visit at your own pace. The Calgary Artists Studio Tour is a unique, informal, connected art experience for both the public and the artists. You are invited into artists’ studios to see beyond their finished work; to have an opportunity to learn more about their creative processes, inspirations, and personal stories. Learn more at calgaryartistsstudiotour.com.


May 3 to June 16; Violins of Hope exhibition at Studio Bell. Violins of Hope is a poignant collection of string instruments dating from before and during the Holocaust. These meticulously restored instruments once belonged to Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Today these instruments stand as enduring symbols, serving to educate and memorialize those affected by one of history’s darkest chapters through concerts, exhibitions, and other commemorative projects. darkest moments. Learn more at studiobell.ca.


Until May 4; Pumphouse Theatre Presents: The Gondoliers (Morpheus Theatre). This 12th collaborative operetta by the beloved pair is set in Venice and is rife with nobility, mistaken identities, royalty, young lovers married to the wrong people, commoners, wit, patter, a Cachucha and of course, Rapture! Learn more at pumphousetheatre.ca.


May 4; Free Comic Book Day. Participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give you a comic book for free! Learn more about Calgary’s locations at freecomicbookday.com.


May 4, 8am to 5pm; Calgary Bike Swap. Looking to buy, sell or swap your bike? Do it safely at the Calgary Bike Swap at Max Bell Centre. Learn more at albertabikeswap.ca.


May 4, 9am to 3pm; Little Modern Market. Check out Little Modern Market at FAC Deerfoot Campus. Entry is free with a donation to Made by Momma. Shop the vendors, take a workshop, or drop your kids off at the two-storey FAC treehouse for an hour and a half of fun. Learn more at littlemodernmarket.com.


May 4, 10am; Arts ReED – Teen + Family Jewelry and Beading. This free family workshop will ignite imagination and curiosity, build artistic skills and knowledge, and have you making joyful memories together at Arts Learning Centre. Join the Arts Commons Education team and the workshop teaching artists to make, discover and explore. Learn more at artscommons.ca.


May 4, 6:30 to 8pm; Star Wars Trivia Night at Fort Calgary. Are you a Jedi Master when it comes to anything Star Wars? Think you know the movies better than anyone else? Gather your Jedi Order of friends, family or colleagues and put your knowledge to the test at Star Wars trivia night. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.


May 4, 6:45pm; Land’s End Chamber Music Society Presents Strategies Against Architecture. As part of their residency, Land’s End Ensemble is excited to present a concert of new works that brings together musicians and students of the MRC program. Land’s End Ensemble will feature works that explore a vast range of sonic experiences that defy categorizations at Bella Concert Hall. Learn more at taylorcentre.ca.


May 4 to 5; Day Out With Thomas at Heritage Park. ‘Pop’ on board a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine! Day Out With Thomas: Bubble Tour is rolling into the station with loads of bubble-themed games and activities! Enjoy live entertainment, photo ops, the exclusive gift shop, lawn games and so much more. Take a real train ride with Thomas and spend the day creating memories for the whole family. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.


May 4 to 5; Maker Faire Calgary 2024. A gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, and projects at the Red & White Club. Learn more at calgary.makerfaire.com.


May 4 to 5; Circo Festival Canada. Check out this Western Canadian Competition for aerials, acrobatics, dance, and a variety of circus acts at The GRAND. Learn more at thegrandyyc.ca.


May 4 to 12; World Para Hockey Championship. Watch the best para ice hockey athletes compete in the World Para Hockey Championship at WinSport Event Centre. Learn more at hockeycanada.ca.


May 4 to June 8; Stage West for Kids Presents: Snow White. A traveling troupe of performers ventured out to perform all over the world. They had planned for every story they knew… or at least they thought so. When Lasso chooses Snow White as the story she would like to perform, it becomes very clear, very quickly that no one else knows the tale. A whirlwind adventure begins with a princess, an evil queen, a poisoned apple, a magic mirror, seven small helpers and a prince ready to break a sleeping spell. How hard could it be for four performers to take on a story they’ve never heard of? Learn more at stagewestcalgary.com.


Until May 5; Da Vinci The Exhibition at TELUS Spark. Da Vinci The Exhibition is a hands-on exploration of Leonardo da Vinci's life, research, and art, developed by Aurea Exhibitions and produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. Guests can go beyond the canvas, exploring over 65 life-size inventions, more than 20 fine art studies, and captivating displays. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.


Until May 5; The Ballad of Georges Boivin. At 77, Georges Boivin decides to “give the dice a roll.” Georges just lost his wife, the “centre of his universe.” But there is life after 70, and it must continue even after great loss. With his three friends, all older than he, he sets out on a cross-country road trip from Québec to Vancouver, in search of his first love who he hasn’t seen in 50 years. Learn more at lunchboxtheatre.com.


Until May 5; Loose Moose Theatre Presents: Young King Arthur. The Loose Moose Theatre For Kids is a truly magical experience for children four to ten years old, as well as fun and entertaining for parents. Learn more at loosemoose.com.


May 5, 9am to 12:30pm; Hike for Hospice Calgary. Hike for Hospice Calgary is a fundraising walk for all ages and abilities. Join us at Fish Creek Park to celebrate and honour our clients and families, hear from a client ambassador, meet the Calgary Stampeders, enjoy music, face painting, prizes, and a free lunch. Learn more at hospicecalgary.ca/events/hike.


May 5, 10am to 2:30pm; Spring Bliss Mini-Mental Wellness Festival. It’s a celebration of the brain, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week and Mental Health Awareness Month. The City of Calgary funded event will include performances that celebrate community and wellbeing, displays to show how our brain works and elders to share wisdom on the Medicine Wheel at Carya's Village Commons. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.


May 5, 10am to 4pm; Mount Pleasant Potters’ Guild Spring Pottery Sale. Mount Pleasant Potters’ Guild (MPPG) is a group of talented local artists with a passion for mucking about in clay. Delicate, fine, brutal, whimsical and everything in between describes the range of wares you’ll find at this awesome pottery sale at Triwood Community Hall. Learn more at calgarypottery.com.


May 5, 11am to 12pm; Granary Road Open Weekend Book Reading & Goats! Join Granary Road and local author Christina Hatton-Fearnley for a live book reading of Kevin The Pack Goat Friendship Fumble and meet our super-cute Goats for a special Play Time afterwards! This event is free with paid admission to Granary Road's Park. We also have a Farmer's Market & Garden Centre. Learn more at granaryroad.com.


May 5, 2 to 4pm; Michaels’ Sunday MakeBreak: Yayoi Kusama Inspired Painting. Join in-store to create a painting inspired by Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, celebrating AAPI Month. Learn more at canada.michaels.com.


May 5, 3pm; Luminous Voices and The Next Generation. Calgary is fortunate to have a strong and growing high school and youth choral scene. The spring concert will be the culmination of a weekend workshop with several local high school choirs and individual singers from high schools across the city at Bella Concert Hall. Learn more at taylorcentre.ca.


May 5, 3 to 4pm; Symphony Sundays for Kids: Saint-Georges’ Sword + Bow. Hoping to become the next great pop sensation, a young girl discovers her music teacher was the biggest star in 18th-century France. In this time-bending musical adventure, Giselle learns about life’s triumphs and tragedies from the most accomplished man in Europe, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. A captivating story of passion, dreams, legacy, and hope at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Learn more at calgaryphil.com.


May 8, 6:30 to 8pm; Try It Free - Orienteering. Do you know what orienteering is? The sport involves moving through terrain while map reading to help you choose the best route. The object is to run, walk, ski or bike to a series of points shown on the map, choosing routes that will help you find all the required points and get back to the finish in the shortest amount of time. Want to try it out? Do so with Foothills Orienteering for free at Bowness Park. Learn more at orienteeringcalgary.ca.


May 8, 6:30 to 8:30pm; Canvas Tote Bag Workshop at Fort Calgary. Join local artist Krystelle Creations in this two-hour workshop as she guides you through mindfulness techniques, reflection, and direction on painting a unique tote bag for you to take home. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.

springtime fun

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good stuff

  • MRU CAMPS offers extraordinary kids extraordinary camp opportunities with more than 30 unique programs and themes focused on STEM, creative arts, as well as sports and outdoor activities.
  • STRATHCONA-TWEEDSMUIR (STS). The Art of Chocolate, hosted by Chocolate Lab: Combine design, 3-D printing, and a love of chocolate! Check out this and many more amazing camps for kids ages four to 17 at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School!
  • MAD SCIENCE CAMPS! Fun-filled, hands-on, inquiry-based STEM camps led by experienced instructors. 4 camps/week. North & South locations.
  • VIVO SUMMER CAMPS: keep your kids active, healthy, and happy! With before, lunch and after care available, spots are going fast! Play. Connect. Explore.
  • CPO PRESENTS SAINT-GEORGES' SWORD & BOW - Symphony Sundays for Kids, May 5, 3pm.
  • FOSTER PARENTS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED - reach out today, info@fostercalgary.com
  • ARTS COMMONS presents Dinosaur World LIVE! May 25, 2pm. Bring the whole family 25% off code DINOWORLDCC
  • BANFF MOUNT NORQUAY - Early Bird 24/25 Season Pass Sale. Discounts up to 50% off, ends June 2.
  • CALGARY BOOK SALE - in support of RESET Society of Calgary, May 2 to 5 & 10 to12
  • DAY OUT WITH THOMAS at Heritage Park - ‘Pop’ on board a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine! May 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12.
  • CALAWAY PARK - Season's Passes! Save 52% off until May 21, 2024
  • YWCALGARY- Free Summer Day Programs - kids 8 to 12.

Cooking with kids: The recipe for fun and essential life skills

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by Marnie Fudge, Chef Instructor, Cuisine et Château


For many busy parents, sometimes it seems it’s easier to ‘just do it yourself’ when it comes to cooking for the family. When you’re in charge, you can control the nutritional value, measure how long it takes before it's on the table, and sometimes, most importantly, minimize the mess in the kitchen.


With all that in mind, children that develop culinary skills at an early age can have some significant advantages as they mature into adulthood.


Need some convincing? Here’s why kids should be encouraged to step into the kitchen to cook:

read it here
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Vote Now for Our 2025 Parents' Choice Awards!


What's the best festival in Calgary? What about the best place for a haircut? Vote now for your favorites, and you could WIN a Family Weekend Getaway at The Sheraton Cavalier Calgary! Enjoy a two night stay in a suite with breakfast in Colors Bistro and unlimited use of the Oasis Waterpark. (Subject to suite availability at time of booking, not redeemable on New Years' Eve.)

Celebrate Mom this May!

May 4, 10am to 2pm; Cornerstone Music Cafe's Mother's Day Market. Let's make every mother feel special with live music, kids’ crafts, and unique finds from local vendors. Be one of the first 100 moms to receive a special gift! Come for the fun, stay for the memories. Learn more at cornerstonemusic.ca.


May 4, 10am to 4pm; CKE Spring Artisan Market. CKE Artisan Market is just in time for Mother’s Day with some of your favorite past vendors and many new ones at CKE Community Hall. Learn more at ckecommunity.com.


May 10, 7 to 10pm; Stars on Ice. Stars on Ice will be back in Calgary this spring, for a chance to watch some of the world’s most talented and accomplished skaters in a celebration of athleticism and artistry. Even if you don’t follow figure skating, the opportunity to watch high-level sport and art meet, as athletes perform in both individual and ensemble routines at the Saddledome, is unmatched. Learn more at starsonice.ca.


May 10 to 12; 2 to 4pm; YMCA Calgary Arts Presents: Calgary Young People’s Theatre in Sasquatch Sally. Combining folklore, familial drama and just a tiny sprinkle of summer camp shenanigans, this theatrical tale is as unique as a sasquatch! Summer is the best time of year, and for sisters Sally and Ali, summertime means Summer Camp. An escape from school work, bullies, and a chance to make new friends. Some kids choose to stick close to family, others craft new memories with their cabin roommates, while some find themselves making friends with the impossible at Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton, Evan Hazel Theatre. Learn more at eventbrite.ca.


May 10 to 12; Day Out with Thomas at Heritage Park. ‘Pop’ on board a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine! Day Out With Thomas: Bubble Tour is rolling into the station with loads of bubble-themed games and activities! Enjoy live entertainment, photo ops, the exclusive gift shop, lawn games and so much more. Take a real train ride with Thomas and spend the day creating memories for the whole family. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.


May 10 to 12; RESET Society of Calgary Book Sale. The Calgary Book Sale is back for its 20th year for two weekends. Shop the selection of more than100,000 books at Crossroads Market. Learn more at resetcalgary.ca.


May 10 to 20; Calgary Reads Big Book Sale. At the 20th Calgary Reads Big Book Sale, discover more than 175,000 gently used books of every genre imaginable – and help more children experience the life-changing joy of reading at Calgary Curling Club. Learn more at bigbooksale.ca.


May 11, 10am to 12pm; Michaels’ Kids Club: Kangaroo Mother's Day Card. Join for Kids Club this week as they make moms the perfect Mother’s Day Card. Learn more at canada.michaels.com.


May 11, 10am to 12pm; Home Depot Kids’ Workshop: Build a Blooming Picture Frame. If you are looking for a fun activity to do with the family, Home Depot has a great workshop for kids that will teach them about building. Kids can learn how to build their very own Blooming Picture Frame. Learn more at homedepot.ca.


May 11, 10am to 3pm; Bearspaw Mother’s Day Pop Up. Over 70 vendors with unique products that will make the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Enjoy tea and cookies with mom at the Bearspaw Lifestyle Centre. Learn more at bearspawlc.org.


May 11, 10am to 3pm; Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea at Lougheed House. Join for Mother’s Day Weekend Afternoon Tea in one of Downtown Calgary’s most beautiful historic homes. Featuring our afternoon tea savories and sweets along with a full tea and beverage offering. Learn more at lougheedhouse.com.

May 11; Aspen Crossing Mother’s Day Train. She has always done so much for you! Spoil the mom in your life and gather the family for either supper or brunch on a train excursion designed with those special ladies in mind. Learn more at aspencrossing.com.


May 11 to 12; Mother's Day Planters at Greengate Garden Centres. Celebrate Mother's Day with a gift that blooms from the heart! Kids (and kids at heart) are invited to craft a special Mother's Day planter for just $5 at Greengate Garden Centres. It's a hands-on way to create a blossoming tribute to the special moms in our lives. All proceeds are donated to the Calgary Homeless Foundation. Learn more at greengate.ca.


May 11 to 12; Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo Mother’s Day Brunch. Celebrate Mother’s Day in a wild and enchanting way with a special brunch at the zoo. Immerse yourself in the unique charm of nature while treating the most important woman in your life to a memorable experience. To make the day even more special, there will be Mother’s Day themed menu, crafts for children to make a gift, fresh flowers for mom, and more. Learn more at calgaryzoo.com.


May 11 to June 1; Storybook Theatre Presents: The Music Man. The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band that he vows to organize – this, despite the fact that he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall. Learn more at storybooktheatre.org.


Saturdays and Sundays until May 12, 11am to 3pm; Bloom & Brunch Festival in Banff. Banff Gondola and Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen are hosting the Bloom & Brunch Festival, a delectable event. Enjoy a buffet brunch, mimosa bar, live entertainment, floral photo opportunities and more. It’s a festive way to enjoy the season and your favorite weekend meal. Learn more at banfflakelouise.com.


May 12, 9am to 2pm; Mother’s Day Brunch at TELUS Spark. Who says only mammals make great mamas? Daddy long legs spiders carry their spiderlings on their backs, and certain earwig moms sacrifice themselves for their offspring – now that's love! This Mother's Day show mom the love at Spark. Learn more at sparkscience.ca.


May 12, 9am to 7pm; Mother’s Day Brunch at Heritage Park. Get ready to spoil the most amazing woman in your life with brunch that’s going to make her feel oh-so-loved. Join for a delicious spread of traditional buttermilk pancakes, eggs benedict, crispy double smoked maple bacon and so much more! Learn more at heritagepark.ca.


May 12, 9:30am; Mother’s Day Brunch at Granary Road. Treat mom to a delightful brunch buffet at Granary Road’s special Mother's Day event. Don't miss out on this memorable celebration. Learn more at granaryroad.com.


May 12, 10am to 4pm; Hangar Flight Museum Mother’s Day. Celebrate mom at The Hangar Flight Museum with pancakes, puppets and planes. Moms get in free when accompanying a paid admission and you can all enjoy breakfast with Calgary Stampede’s Batter Boys for only $2/person from 10am to 12pm. Enjoy activities for the whole family, like puppet shows and workshops throughout the day from WP Puppet Theatre. And don’t forget the planes! Learn more at thehangarmuseum.ca.


May 12, 10:10am to 3pm; Mother's Day at Fort Calgary. Treat mom to a day of history, food and fun this Mother’s Day at Fort Calgary! Celebrate the motherly figures in your life with a indoor picnic lunch in the Barracks, an outdoor walking tour around the parkland and fun activities for the whole family. Learn more at fortcalgary.com.



Until June 1; Jubilations Dinner Theatre: Journey to the 80s. Every decade has certain trends that develop… the 60’s had its hippie counter culture, the 70’s had bell bottoms and disco… but no other decade had the sheer explosion of pop culture like the 80’s. And so much of this cavalcade of wild styles and crazy quirks was a direct reflection of the music of the time. Learn more at jubilations.ca.

click here for even more events!

They're here! Not one, but two new spring editions

Calgary's Child - your resource hub for parenting in Calgary

2024 Spring Edition

As spring blooms, so does our collection of ideas to celebrate the season's arrival! Discover a range of activities once the snow starts melting. Plus, we recognize that one size doesn’t fit all, especially in a child’s learning journey. Check out our Alternative Learning Directory, a valuable resource presenting tailored schooling, academic support, and a variety of enriching extracurricular classes and resources.


Our new editions will be available next week in print on stands all across the city and online now here!

2024 Summer Camp & Program - Special Edition

Explore Calgary's leading Summer Camp & Program Guide — an unparalleled resource for families. Recognized as the city's largest and most trusted, our 29th annual Summer Camp Guide special edition pull-out opens doors to exciting possibilities for your children. From enriching programs to awesome camps, discover it all in one comprehensive source.


Our Summer Camp & Program Special Edition will be available next week in print on stands all across the city and online now here!

Family gardening: Growing together in Calgary

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by Bloom Culture


Springtime in Calgary offers the perfect opportunity for families to delve into the joys of gardening, nurturing a love for nature that can last a lifetime. Whether you have a spacious backyard or a cozy apartment, gardening can be a delightful activity that brings the whole family together. In this article, we will touch on a number of flowers and herbs that can easily be started inside before finding their home outdoors in the summer months.

Read more...

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