Calgary

Uncommon Drip.

Part coffee bar, part social lounge, Uncommon Drip offers a lively twist on café culture. Weekend DJ sets bring music into the mix, turning the space into a relaxed gathering spot that blends daytime coffee culture with evening nightlife.

Cluck N Cleaver.

Run by sisters Nicole and Francine Gomez, Cluck N Cleaver is a local favourite for fried and rotisserie chicken. Chef Nicole Gomez has appeared on shows such as Top Chef Canada and Beat Bobby Flay, among numerous others, bringing national attention to this family-run spot.

High Park.

Atop the City Centre Parkade, High Park is a creative example of urban reuse. The two-acre rooftop space features basketball courts, murals and open lounge areas, often hosting community events and outdoor movie nights.

All-season outdoor activities.

The Bow and Elbow Rivers influence Calgary’s outdoor lifestyle. Residents walk, run and cycle along these scenic routes year-round, connecting neighbourhood parks and green spaces across the city. Calgary offers four seasons of urban outdoor adventure.

Summer in Calgary is filled with activities like paddleboarding on the Bow River, picnics at Prince’s Island Park and basketball at The Bounce Games Park in East Village. Popular activities include cycling along Calgary's pathway, visiting splash parks and wading pools, exploring the Calgary Zoo gardens, playing beach volleyball at local recreation areas and enjoying outdoor concerts and festivals such as the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

Fall transforms Calgary’s river valley with golden foliage and crisp air, making it perfect for hikes in the foothills, sunset views from Nose Hill Park, photography walks, community farmers’ markets and cycling routes through the scenic Glenmore Reservoir Loop.

Winter brings even more outdoor adventures in Calgary, cross-country skiing at North Glenmore Park, skating at neighbourhood rinks and skiing or bobsledding at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park. Join the winter sports community with snowshoeing in Fish Creek Provincial Park, winter walks along the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway and outdoor fire pits in parks.

Spring signals summer’s return and the migration of birds back to places like the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, while cyclists and pedestrians once again fill Calgary’s network of pathways. Residents enjoy strolling through Weaselhead Flats, exploring the 347 hectares of South Glenmore Park and visiting spring babies at Butterfield Acres.

Calgary’s cultural scene features prominent arts centres and festivals that celebrate diverse communities. Venues such as the Weklund Centre, The Blues Can, The Palace Theatre, Studio Bell, Gravity Coffee Roaster, Scotiabank Saddledome and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium host concerts, theatre and other events throughout the year. Performances across the city include indie theatre, spoken-word at live music venues and annual events. Calgary is a city of festivals year-round. Festivals LIKE the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), Jazzyyc Summer Festival, Sled Island Music & Arts Festival, Cowboys Music Festival and The Calgary Expo.

Art centers like the National Music Centre at Studio Bell, art exhibits at the Calgary public library, Contemporary Calgary and the Ruberto Ostberg Gallery highlight Calgary's artists and the role of art in Calgary’s history. Art installations throughout the city create inviting spaces for walking, exploring, gathering, or even sitting, like Day Pajarillo’s art titled the kaleidoscope at the Whitehorn bus station and the world's tallest mural.

Everyday objects become canvases for creativity, featuring painted utility boxes, artist-designed bike racks, decorated bus transit shelters and artwork on city buses. Vibrant murals by artists like Christian Moeller, Jill Stanton, Rawry and Pohly, Michel de Broin, Alex Kwong and more line the sidewalks, paths and public spaces throughout the city.

Regardless of where you find yourself in Calgary, you find yourself surrounded by art, culture and rich history.