Isn’t August supposed to be quiet? It’s anything but quiet this year, with so many activities and events to attend that you’re most likely at a loss as to where to start. Here. Let me help.
Thursday: Have you checked out Cirque du Soleil yet? Stampede Park is the place to be to take in Cirque’s latest offering, Luzia! GlobalFest continues over at Elliston Park — go for the food, stay for the fireworks! And over at the King Eddy you can catch Spin Thursday with Morgan Cairns — it’s free!
Friday: This evening you can take in an Artist Talk with Marja Helander, a Sami photographer, filmmaker, video and visual artist discussing Indigenous rights and environmental issues in her creative practice at the Esker Foundation. Also tonight, The Grand’s Annual Alley Party! Featuring the Kate Hewko Fall 2019 Runway Show, Calgary’s top DJ lineup, special guest music and dance performances and more. Always a good time! You know what else is a good time? Improv! Head to Memorial Park for Improv in the Park with Loose Moose Theatre Company from 7 to 8 p.m. where comic scenes will be created right before your eyes! And let’s not forget, Calgary Pride Festival kicks off today and runs until Sept. 2 featuring a multitude of amazing events including Sashay Filet!, Pure Pride with some of your favourite queens from Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 11, Making Treaty 7’s Indigenous Pride programming, workshops, discussions, Country Line Dancing (yeah!), reading with Royalty and so much more I can’t even begin to scratch the surface. Check out all of the everything here at Calgary Pride.
Saturday: It’s the 3rd Annual Killarney Record Fair taking place at St. Matthew’s United Church – a wide array of music genres and styles will be available for all of you audiophiles to check out! Down at Celebration Square you can Catch Caroline Slim and La Mosca in the afternoon (C-Square is located in the East Village), and maybe you head to the Jack Singer to catch “Weird Al” Yankovic? But if you’re feeling more like a free film, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love that combo, get over to containR Park in Kensington to catch CUFF’s Field Trip #2 featuring the 1984 film Beat Street.
Monday: CUFF’s vice-like grip on your social calendar continues with their presentation of Brittany Runs a Marathon over at the Globe Cinema — it won the 2019 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award, so check it out!
Tuesday: Placeholder: An Unconventional Book Club takes place at the Esker Foundation. How can we characterize our relationship to the land we live in? Join in on an informal conversation facilitated by members of d.talks. Classical Revolution Calgary will host an open mic over at Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar as well, so maybe you do both?
Wednesday: Beltline Urban Murals Project (BUMP) Festival takes place tonight until the 31st and will feature 15 stunning new murals, the biggest alley party Calgary has seen featuring Sango, Jubilee, Lou Phelps and more, plus mural tours, artist talks, a movie in the park and a party at the Hifi. So much! Also, the Making Treaty 7 Pride Events start tonight with Talking Series Wednesday, and Rival Sons with guests will be at The Palace Theatre.
There is so much more going on in this city than you can imagine. Check out all of the listings to plan your week ahead!
(Photo of Yuhua Hamasaki, who will be co-hosting Sashay Filet, courtesy Boris KJ.)
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Kari Watson is a writer and former Listings Editor of FFWD Weekly, and continues to work within the Calgary arts & culture scene to promote the city’s numerous and varied events. Contact her at kari@theyyscene.com.
