Calgary Festivals

I am a huge fan of the blog pinterest I often spend hours searching on their travel search bar. I often fall in love with getaway destinations that offer rich cultural festivals. I always have a proverbial bucket list for travel, all the things I want to do and see. I forget that I've seen a lot of amazing things, and experienced some thoughtful cultural connections in my own city: Calgary.

Im a huge fan of lists, especially if they are itemized. So here it is my suggestions for Calgary's Top 5 festivals.

1. Globalfest
Globalfest has happened for the last ten years in Calgary, every August. This a true cultural connection for calgarians. The festival consists of a firework competition nightly with competing countries from all around the world. There are community centres throughout the city that hold cultural engagements. I get particularly excited because the competition is always at the end of August, and so is my birthday I celebrate almost every year with fireworks. There is a cultural pavilion at the park where the firework shows are hosted, and every country has different performances prior to the lights in the sky.

Personal Photo: Global Fest Fireworks

2. Taste of Calgary
This summer was the first time I partook in the festivities that are The Taste of Calgary. At this festival calgarian restaurants/venues host booths with samples of their products. You can buy tickets for samples at a $1/ticket, and most samples range between $2-$5. They have a beer gardens which have creative menu options, like grapefruit beer. The event was hosted at Eau Claire Market, and the weather was perfect. This event is a perfect opportunity to try partake in the variables that are Calgary.

Personal Photo: My bestfriend sampling something delicious

3. Calgary Stampede
If you have never been to the Calgary Stampede I don't think I can do justice to how extensive of a celebration it is in just a few sentences. I'll focus on my two favourite components: Coca Cola Stage, and the Midway. This year I got to see my favourite band Our Lady Peace for the cost of admission (less than $20) at the Coca Cola stage [this is also the second time that I've seen them at the 'Coke Stage']. My second draw to the Calgary Stampede is the midway, the rides are almost the same every year but they hold a nostalgia that I cant get enough of.

Personal Photo: Mini Horse Chuckwagon on the midway.

4. Chinese Cultural Festival
In early August this year, Calgary hosted the Chinese Cultural Festival. This was a smaller festival hosted in China Town. The streets were lined with vendors, and their was a stage with musical, and martial art demonstrations. Their was a small alley that lead to an out door art exhibit (called the Back Alley Art Cafe, with varied exposures to local artists.

Personal Photo: Art in the Back Alley Cafe

5. Lilac Festival 
The Calgary Lilac Festival is Calgary's largest street festival. The main component of this festival is access to street vendors. There are city blocks, upon blocks lined with vendors. The vendors vary between Calgary shops, services, restaurants, and entertainment. This is the place to see all of what Calgary has to offer. The highlight of the Lilac Festival is the presence of the YYC food truck sensation. This festival happens in May, this year we were lucky to have sunshiny weather!