It’s nearly that time! Another month is just around the corner and it’s going to be action-packed. Not sure what’s up and coming. Here are 34 things to do in Calgary this September. From pumpkins to Pride, markets and food festivals, you’re in for a good one! Enjoy!
EVENTS FOOD AND DRINK
Sink your teeth into the Le Burger Festival
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New month, new festival! Get ready, friends, because Canada’s tastiest festival, Le Burger Week, is back! From local bars to cafes Calgary is in 14 days of wildly tasty creations and we couldn’t be more excited. Bon Appetit, friends!
When: Friday, September 1st – 14th, 2023
Cost: Prices vary
Check out Alberta Day Celebrations
Get ready to party! The second annual Alberta Day is just around the corner! This year, the celebrations will be totally FREE to attend, are family-friendly and will feature performers and vendors – all of which we’ll keep you updated on ahead of the big event.
When: Friday September 1st – 3rd, 2023
Sponsored pick: Visit Naramata during vineyard season
Did you know that fall is one of the best times to visit a vineyard? Sandy Beach Lodge is a picturesque getaway right beside Okanagan Lake and smack in the heart of wine country. The resort is steps away from fantastic restaurants, artisan distilleries, craft breweries, and – of course – wineries. Leave room in the trunk, you’ll need it for the boxes of vintage you’ll be bringing home.
Catch the Labour Day Parade
Floats, performers and more! This Labour Day check head over to Cochrane for their annual Parade, which kicks off at 10 am sharp. Bring your fold-out chairs, your families and a smile and enjoy a colourful morning in the streets!
When: Monday, September 4th, 2023
Where: See the route here
Time: Pre-parade 9 am | Main event 10 am
Cost: FREE
Be YOU at Calgary Pride
The Calgary Pride Festival is easily one of the most vibrant occasions of the entire year and it’s back! From a parade to inspirational speakers, parties, and more, there are a ton of incredible events happening in and around Calgary in celebration of the LGBTQIA2S+ community!
When: Until September 4th, 2023
Where: Various locations
Cost: FREE+
Watch a movie in Sunalta
Brought to us by the Sunalta and Scarboro Community Associations, Movie In The Park is a joy year after year. Not only is this event a ton of fun (no matter what they’re showing) it’s also FREE to attend so keep checking back for more info!
When: Friday, September 8th, 2023
Where: 1747 14th Ave SW Calgary
Time: 8 pm
Cost: FREE
Check out Fiesta Filipino
The first-ever cultural festival representing the Filipino community in all of Alberta Calgary’s Fiesta Filipino will showcase food, vendors, performers and more. You won’t want to miss it especially because it’s actually FREE to attend!
When: Friday, September 1st – 3rd, 2023
Where: Olympic Plaza – 228 8 Ave SE, Calgary
Cost: Free
Hit Heritage Park after dark
Last chance, Calgary! Every Saturday until September 2nd, spend an evening under the stars filling their bags with artisan goods and their stomachs with food and drinks from one of the attraction’s tasty eateries. From clothing to art, Heritage Park’s Night Market will practically have it all, making it what we can only describe as a ‘one-size-fits-all event,’ and it’s totally FREE!
When: Every Saturday until September 2nd, 2023
Where: 1900 Heritage Dr. S.W., Calgary
Time: 3 pm – 9 pm
Cost: FREE Admission
Grab a bite during the YYC Pizza Fest
No matter the day or the occasion – we’re always in the mood for carby deliciousness covered in cheese and sauce. If you’re like us and just can’t get enough of the good stuff, unhinge your jaws because YYC Pizza Fest is coming, and with it, a spotlight on some of the city’s best thin crust, deep dish, topping-heavy restaurants, and their most inventive slices!
When: Friday, September 15th – October 1st, 2023
Have a stinking good time at Garlic Festival
With a clove in every colour, sink your teeth into everything from garlic bread to garlic pizza at this deliciously potent food festival! No, it’s probably not the BEST first-date destination, but it will be pretty interesting, especially if you like to cook.
When: Saturday, September 16th-17th, 2023
Where: 226066 112 Street W, Foothills No. 31, AB
Cost: $15.95
Stroll the 4th Street Market
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Looking to shop local and have some fun? On September 16th, guests from all over the city will be able to head over to the community of Mission to shop, eat, drink and explore at the 4th Street Market.
When: Saturday, September 16th, 2023
Where: 4th Street at Elbow Drive SW
Time: 5 pm – 10 pm
Cost: FREE
Attend Alberta Culture Days in Chinatown
Featuring food trucks, vendors, special workshops and performers Calgarians are encouraged to celebrate the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival this September. The very best part? It’s totally FREE to attend.
When: Sunday, September 10th, 17th and 24th, 2023
Where: 197 1 St SW, Calgary, AB
Cost: FREE
Fly high at the Heritage Inn Balloon Festival
Hot Air balloons are incredibly cool and probably on almost everyone’s bucket lists, regardless of the season. This month “oooh and ahh” while giant inflatables float peacefully overhead and get up close and personal with the pilots at The Heritage Inn Balloon Festival.
When: Wednesday, September 27th – October 1st, 2023
Where: MacLeod Tr SW, High River
Cost: FREE
Eat Apple everything at Granary Road
This month, slip on a pair of boots then head over to one of Calgary’s favourite fun farms for Applefest, a pie-heavy day of ooey-gooey goodness, cinnamon and excitement. Featuring wild apple-based foods, jams, ciders and more this sweet festival, will not be one to miss. It’s going to be delish!
When: Saturday, September 30th – October 1st, 2023
Where: 226066 112 St W, Foothills County, AB
ARTS, CONCERTS & SPORTS
See KOOZA
This month, see high-flying acrobatics and incredible performances! Cirque du Soleil has returned to Calgary with Kooza, a show that features chills, thrills and explores everything from fear and identity to recognition and power.
When: Friday, August 25th – October 8th, 2023
Where: 50 25 Ave SE, Calgary
See The Chicks
Known for songs like Goodbye Earl and Cowboy Take Me Away, The Chicks will take Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome this September. For more information and tickets, check out the link above.
When: Thursday, September 7th, 2023
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise SE, Calgary
Time: 7:30 pm
Cost: $72+
Cheer on the Stamps
We love a good ol’ football date! This September, grab a beer, your partner’s hand and cheer the Calgary Stampeders to victory at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium! For more information or to snag some tickets, head over to the link above!
When: Tuesday, September 4th and 23rd, 2023
Where: 1817 Crowchild Trail NW
Or see 50 Cent live
You read that right! 50 Cent will be in Calgary this month on his ‘The Final Lap’ tour Interested? Check out the link above for tickets and enjoy!
When: Sunday, September 10th, 2023
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise SE, Calgary
Time: 7:30 pm
Cost: $73+
Wander an after-dark pumpkin display
It’s back! Halloween is just over a month away and this season Calgary is kicking things off with Pumpkins After Dark – a one-of-a-kind event featuring more gourds that you could bake, carve or bash in an entire lifetime.
When: Friday, September 22nd – October 31st, 2023
Where: 88 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary
Time: See times above
Cost: $18+
Explore the Barbie exhibit at TELUS Spark
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Hi Barbie! With interviews, vintage dolls and photo ops, Spark’s nostalgic exhibit will examine how pop culture and fashion trends shaped the international phenomenon in the 64 years since Mattel launched the brand. Don’t miss it!
When: Until September 10th, 2023
Where: 220 Saint George’s Drive Northeast, Calgary
Cost: $26
Check out Beakerhead
A celebration of art, science and engineering. Beakerhead is back and admission is FREE. This will be the event’s 10th anniversary so you know it’s going to be bigger than ever. Don’t miss it!
When: Thursday, September 14th – 17th, 2023
Where: Contemporary Calgary, Millennium Park, and TELUS Spark.
Cost: FREE+
Shake it off at the Zen Garden Music Festival
With two immersive stages located on Calgary’s Bow River Waterfront, Zen Fest is described as an “end-of-summer gathering” with a dancefloor, a licensed cantina serving beer, wine, and spirits, art installations, and some of your favourite food trucks. Hit the link above for this year’s lineup!
When: Saturday, September 9th, 2023
Where: Waterfront Park – 5225 101 St NW, Calgary
Time: 2 pm – 11 pm
Cost: $78+
Pop some corn at CIFF
This month, pop some corn, settle in and check out a flick or two that aren’t on your favourite streaming service. The Calgary International Film Festival is nearly here and this year’s lineup is just as impressive as you’d expect. Check it out at the link above!
When: Thursday, September 21st to October 1st, 2023
Time: See times above
Cost: $17+
OUTDOORS AND IN THE MOUNTAINS
Explore an Alberta Sunflower field
Alberta is spoiled for choice when it comes to sunflower fields. This September, why not explore a few of them? From Calgary to Edmonton, we’ve put together a list of some of the best so all you have to do is pick one and enjoy! Have fun, and thank us later.
Play a round of Haunted Mini Golf
Things are about to get scary competitive! This month, ghouls and goblins alike are encouraged to check out this adorable 18-hole course of frights and fun. Good luck and enjoy.
When: Thursday, September 21st – October 31st, 2023
Where: 168 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary
Cost: $15+
Float Discover Canyon
Located in Red Deer Alberta, this unique tube park is another perfect-for-summer destination. Rent or bring your own inflatable donut, hop on in and sail the lazy river, lounge about on their “beach” or go golfing on their course. There’s an entire day’s worth of fun stuff to do – for less.
Where: 3800 River Bend Drive Red Deer County, Alberta
Cost: FREE + $6 tube rentals
Float the Bow
It’s going to be a long hot month and the best way to cool off? By floating the Bow, of course! This September, grab your pals, a dingy, and some snacks then hit the city’s winding river. Kick back and enjoy the warmth on your face and the water on your toes on an obligatory Calgary adventure.
Cost: FREE+
Stroll through a pumpkin patch
What’s more quintessentially fall than a pumpkin patch?! This month, toss on your autumn best, grab a hot chocolate, pick the perfect gourd and go home and make a pie or something. It doesn’t get any better (or cheaper) than that! Check the link above for our favourite spots in and around the city limits!
Take a hike
Stretch your legs and get some fresh air. This September, why not treat yourself to a stunning hike in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains? Check the link above for our favourites and enjoy!
See the WildScapes at the Calgary Zoo
Last call! From 21-foot-tall giraffes and snakes made entirely of plants, Wildscapes at the Calgary Zoo is a topiary event that features large living sculptures that have been hand-crafted to look like familiar creatures. Get tickets at the link above!
When: Until mid-September 2023.
Where: 210 St. George’s Drive NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6
Cost: $29.95
Rent a glowing kayak
With a single launch bay at the Waterfront Park, those looking to explore, lounge, and experience something new can do so to the soundtrack of their choosing, from behind the paddle of a glowing boat. Gear up and head down for the magical glowing kayak experience.
Where: Waterfront Park – 5225 101 St NW, Calgary
Cost: $35+ / hour
Celebrate the Halloweekend at Calaway
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Looking to do something a little more fast-paced or spooky to end the summer? Adrenaline junkies prepare yourselves because Calaway Park has announced the return of Halloweekend, a series of ‘terrifying’ events for you and the whole family. Mask up and head out for a full day of sun, fun, parades, witchy meet and greets and of course, cheap and delicious carnival food.
When: Weekends from September 9th to October 9th, 2023
Where: 245033 Range Road 33, Calgary
Cost: $33.95+
Go fall glamping
Need a break from reality? Why not go totally off the grid and spend a few nights under the stars? This September, check out one of the many incredible glampsites in and around Alberta. It’s high time we all get some fresh air, don’t you think?
Rent a scooter and cruise Banff
Can’t afford Italy, but long for Euro-type travel, scenic views, and historic streets? This season, rev a two-wheeler and cruise Alberta’s favourite national park on a unique scooter tour of the area. It doesn’t get more romantic than that!
Where: 327 Railway Avenue, Banff, AB
Cost: $105+
And there you have it, friends. 34 things to do in Calgary this September. What will you check out first? Let us know and remember to stay safe and have fun. We’ll see you out there!
