• Price Free

A long weekend and a giant celebration to boot, this week offers a bunch of chances to get out and about for free. From launches to Canada Day parties, there’s so much to choose from. Here’s what we’re hitting up:

Art of Our Times

June 28, 2017, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Contemporary Calgary (117 8th Ave. SW)
Free

Held over the lunch hour, this monthly series invites Calgarians to enjoy their lunch while they listen to an intriguing talk tied to Contemporary Calgary’s ongoing exhibitions.
eventbrite.ca

ProArts@Noon Presents T. Buckley Trio

June 28, 2017, 12:10 – 12:50pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free

Roots singer, songwriter, and guitarist T. Buckley leads this tight-knit trio known for diverse stage sets including solo folk tunes, classic country ballads, and energetic roots rock often complimented with three-part harmonies. Check them out at this free lunch hour concert.
proartssociety.ca

Community Hubs Launch

June 28, 2017, 3:00 – 6:00pm
Village Square Leisure Centre (2623 56th St. NE)
Free

Join The City of Calgary, the Rotary Club of Calgary, and the United Way for the launch of Community Hubs. Six Community Hubs are being planned for in the communities of Bowness, Greater Forest Lawn, North of McKnight, Sunalta, Village Square, and Vista Heights, and you can celebrate the first one with a free barbecue, live music, interactive stations, and storytelling.
facebook.com

Steven Avenue Summer Stage

June 28, 29 & July 1, 2017
Stephen Avenue (Between Centre St. & 1st St. SE)
Free

The Steven Avenue Summer Stage returns to downtown Calgary and brings with it live, local entertainment over the lunch hour. To help celebrate Canada Day, the stage will come alive with programming from 11:00am to 5:00pm on July 1. This week’s performances include Calysto Steel Band, Mind Seed, The New Electric, and many more.
calgarydowntown.com

Why the Dalai Lama is a Socialist

June 29, 2017, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

A social justice educator, political activist, and professor of international politics, join Terry Gibbs as she presents her new book, Why the Dalai Lama is a Socialist.
facebook.com

EV Junction Pop-Up Retail Park

June 29 – July 2, 2017
EV Junction (4th St. & 8th Ave. SE)
Free

Head to the East Village every Thursday through Sunday until October 1 and hit up the food trucks, live music, performances, pop-up art, and much more. This Thursday, take in salsa night with Free Spirit Dance and Friends, part of the Creative Living Room Series, and check out Junction Jams with BassBus Friday night.
evexperience.com

I Am Western Opening Reception

June 30, 2017, 6:00 – 8:00pm
cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free

In celebration of cSPACE’s newly opened creative hub, installations from 14 contemporary artists fill the expansive hallways of the King Edward School. A postmodern interpretation of the cowboy and western genre, see pieces from Chris Cran, Adrian Stimson, Lyndal Osborne, Terrance Houle, John Freeman, Heather Benning, Kris Weinmann, Tim Moore, Mitch Kern, Sherri Chaba, Pascale Ouellet, Billie Rae Busby, Rosanna Marmont, and Kelly Johner, curated by Melissa E. Cole and organized by Off Limits Arts.
offlimitsarts.com

Canada Day

July 1, 2017
Multiple venues
Free

Canada Day in Calgary promises to be bigger and better than ever this year as we celebrate Canada 150. The City of Calgary has teamed up with Canadian Heritage and 14 partner organizations to program a vibrant, entertaining, educational, and interactive Canada Day including a Strum N Sing Along with Ian Tyson and a live performance by Tegan and Sara.
calgary.ca

Canada Day at Studio Bell and the King Eddy

July 1, 2017, 10:00 – 6:00pm
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (850 4th St. SE)
Free

Celebrate Canada Day at Studio Bell with live music that takes you on a cross-Canada journey. Courtesy of Bell, admission on July 1 is free allowing everyone to join in and commemorate Studio Bell’s first year of opening as well as Canada 150. The day includes instrument interactives, a building-wide jam session, and a King Eddy Canada Day Party with suds, pub grub, and live music at the historic hotel.
studiobell.ca

Pop-Up Art in the Park

July 1, 2017, 11:00am – 2:00pm
Millennium Bridge, Eau Claire (200 Barclay Parade SW)
Free

This Canada Day, join the Stardale Women’s Group for its pop-up exploring the Indigenous culture of the Stardale girls. Experience the first person narrative by interacting with these young urbanites who are painting their own stories. The girls’ creative processes are directed by the talented Cree-Metis artist Barbara La Pointe and First Nations artist Ken Bourassa. Stardale is excited to include the public in this interactive art event, the kick-off and prelude to an exciting series of pop-up art events throughout the this summer.
stardale.org

BassBus Canada 150 Celebration

July 1, 2017, 12:00 – 11:00pm
Eau Claire Market (200 Barclay Parade SW)
Free

MarketSpot YYC and BassBus are proud to celebrate Canada Day with a bumping block party at Eau Claire. Featuring The Gaff and a lineup of superstar local DJs, the day includes amazing vendors including local businesses, artists, and food trucks.
facebook.com

Spoken Word Open Mic

July 2, 2017, 6:30pm
Good Earth Coffeehouse 11th Street (1502 11th St. SW)
Free

Like spoken word? Come down to Good Earth 11th Street this Sunday and enjoy a glass of wine or a beer while listening to some amazing artists. You can even share your own work.
facebook.com

Glacier Skywalk

July 4, 2017, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

Head to Shelf Life Books and celebrate the launch of Glacier Skywalk, the inside story of one of the most spectacular achievements in contemporary architecture. Featuring insightful essays by Trevor Boddy, and Clea and Jeremy Sturgess, the book reveals how the ideas came together and were realized in built form, and includes detailed sketches, three-dimensional renderings, and stunning photographs by Robert Lemermeyer showing how the structures evolved from start to finish.
facebook.com