Street festivals return in Calgary with family-friendly Marda Gras 'lite' on Aug. 8
The Marda Gras Street Festival is back this year, marking the return of street festivals in Calgary.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8 in Marda Loop — at 33 Avenue and 22 Street S.W. — and is free to attend.
Marda Gras is returning with a 'lite' version of the festival after event organizers discussed crowd comfort levels and restrictions this summer.
Due to these organizational challenged, the festival had to change some of the traditional Marda Gras festivities.
The street festival offers visitors a chance to shop locally, reconnect with their community, and stretch their legs at this family-friendly event.
This year’s festival puts an emphasis on outdoor fun. There will be four, street performer corners attendees can walk to and from to take in music, magic and dance groups.
The smaller performances featured this year will replace the usual, larger-scale performances and organizers say the large, elevated stages will return to the Marda Gras Street Festival in 2022.
In order to address crowd comfort levels, there will be no kid’s zone this year — but it will also return in 2022 — and kids can instead pick up a free Marda Loop-themed colouring book.
The event will be pet friendly as well. Guests are also encouraged to bring their pet by the free pet photo booth for a fun Marda Gras-themed picture.
Local vendors and businesses will be set up on the street for people to do some outdoor shopping and browsing.
There will also be prizes given out at the festival, including special offers with a few of the local vendors set up at the festival.
Organizers say the festival is still subject to change, depending on public health restrictions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.