Heritage Day long weekend: What's going on in Calgary
Calgarians looking to take full advantage of the Heritage Day long weekend have no shortage of options when it comes to events going on throughout the city.
Here's a look at what's happening in Calgary from Aug. 4-7, 2023:
Heritage Day Festival
This family-friendly event runs from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday at Olympic Plaza.
It is free to attend and will feature multicultural performances, ethnic foods, artisan booths, face painting and live music.
Tour de Bowness Race and Street Festival
This all-ages event is back for its 20th anniversary.
The racing events kick off on Saturday with a 22km road race on Horse Creek Road, just outside Cochrane, Alta.
Racers will take on the gruelling one-kilometre Montgomery hill climb on Sunday.
The 141-foot ascent will be lined with cheering spectators, leading to a picturesque view of the city at the top of the hill.
Capping off the racing events on Monday is the Cory Meza Memorial Criterium.
This fast-paced, short-circuit race will see racers reach top speeds of around 70 km/h as they make their way through Bowness.
The street festival runs Monday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
More information can be found here.
Taste of Calgary
A section of Eau Claire has been transformed into Flavourtown for the long weekend, offering tasty treats from nearly 90 vendors.
This year marks the event's 26th anniversary, and it has grown exponentially since its inception.
Taste of Calgary runs from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. through Monday in Calgary Parking Lot #6 on 8 Street S.W.
Admission to the event is free, but attendees will need to purchase digital 'taste tickets' to try food.
Tickets cost $1 each, and each dish at the event ranges from two to seven tickets.
Alberta Kennel Club Summer Classic
Spruce Meadows isn’t just for horses this August long weekend – it’s for dogs, too.
On Aug. 4-7 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., nearly 2,000 canines and their human companions will compete in several dog sports.
The event features agility, obedience trials, rally obedience trials, 35 associated specialties and the coveted Best in Show prize.
Calgary Fringe Festival
Held at multiple venues across the city, the Calgary Fringe Theatre Festival runs from Friday, Aug. 4 to Saturday, Aug. 12.
Alberta is home to the largest fringe festival in North America in Edmonton, but Calgary’s festival is always a favourite summer event.
Calgary International Blues Festival
The 19th annual Calgary International Blues Festival features a huge lineup of workshops, concerts and special events at Shaw Millenium Park.
The event will host non-stop music on the mainstage Aug. 4-6.
Lantern Peace Festival
The annual Calgary event dedicated to building a peaceful society free from violence will be held at Olympic Plaza from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Aug 5.
Lanterns will be launched between 8 and 9 p.m. and are available for purchase for five dollars each or three for $10.
Incredible India Fest
The Westin Calgary Airport is the venue for the year’s Incredible India Fest on Aug. 7 from noon to 6 p.m., featuring cultural performances, traditional Indian cuisines from food vendors and live music.
The inaugural event is entirely free to enter and will also include a wide range of activities for kids, traditional singing and dancing.
Chasing Summer Music Festival
The festival produced by Live Nation runs for two days on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 at the Max Bell Centre Ground in Calgary.
Headlined by Tiesto and Zedd, the 2023 lineup also features Gryffin, Seven Lions, James Hype, Jauz, ARMNHMR, Cheyene Giles, CID, Dr. Fresch, Eprom, Eptic, Gem & Tauri, Habstrakt, Hairitage, Kaleena Zanders, Luis Torres, Noizu, Peekaboo, REMK, Simon Doty, Sippy and more.
Days of Yore
Central Alberta’s largest living history festival will be held at Rosebud Park, 301 Secondary Highway 582 in Didsbury, Alta., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6.
The event is a mix of entertainment and education with the goal of teaching people about cultural traditions, lifestyles and activities of bygone eras.
Message from Alberta RCMP
For anyone planning to hit the road for the long weekend, the Alberta RCMP reminds drivers to be extra cautious.
Mounties will closely monitor the roads to ensure drivers obey the law.
Last year, the Alberta RCMP issued more than 2,000 tickets over the Heritage Day long weekend.
The Alberta RCMP issued the following release Thursday morning:
Remove all distractions: Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of collisions. Before you start your trip, set up your electronics, adjust your mirrors and seats and ensure children are comfortable and everyone is wearing their seatbelts.
Always drive at a safe speed: The posted speed limit is the maximum speed in ideal conditions. Always make sure you are staying within the speed limit and slowing down if conditions are not ideal.
Be mindful of recreational vehicles: Smaller vehicles like ATVs and motorcycles can be harder to notice when driving. With the removal of bans on ATVs and off-highway recreational vehicles, their drivers will want to take advantage of the season. Always check your mirror and blind spots while driving.
Never drive while under the influence: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is never safe. Always make sure you have a designated driver or a place to stay until it's safe to drive.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi found dead at helicopter crash site, state media says
Iranian president, the country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after a search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest.
The push to Parliament's summer hiatus is about to begin, here's what you need to know
When MPs file back in to the House of Commons on Tuesday, it will be for the final five-week parliamentary push before hitting the barbecue circuit. Looking ahead to what could be a raucous rush to the summer hiatus, CTVNews.ca spoke with top House representatives to get a sense of what's atop their priority list.
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with their actions during the seven-month war.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Michael Cohen to face more grilling as Trump's hush money trial enters its final stretch
Donald Trump's hush money trial is heading into the final stretch, with prosecutors' last and star witness back on the stand Monday for more grilling before the former president's lawyers get their chance to put on a case.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.