Organizers of the Bow River Flow gathered along the banks on Friday afternoon to officially announce the event.
The goal of the event is to celebrate the river bank and to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Two east bound lanes along Memorial Dr. will be closed on Sunday, August 23 so Calgarians can walk, run, blade and pedal their way through the scenic area.
The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and organizers hope Calgarians will come out to interact with their neighbours and enjoy a sense of community.
There will be a pet parade and face painting and organizers are hoping to attract more than 10,000 people to the event.
"This is going to be an opportunity for people to bring their kids, dress up their pets, and promenade down Memorial Drive" said The Bow river Flow Organizer, Gerald Wheatley,
"On a day when there is going to be the least amount of traffic on the road, but there's a huge amount of traffic on the pathways, it'll be great timing."
The first annual "ride the road tour" will run in conjunction with the festival and will share the route with The Bow River Flow.
The Ride, organized by the Calgary Tour de Nuit Society, is a chance for cyclists to bond with other commuters and experience a ride on a wide open Memorial drive.
Ottawa, New York City, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis hold similar festivals for their citizens each year.
The event is a trial this year and a decision will be made at a later date as to whether the festival will become an annual event.
For more information on the event visit the Bow River Flow website.
