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What is there to do in Calgary on Heritage Day? [12 Must-Try Activities!]
- What happens on Heritage Day in Calgary?
- Things to Do on Heritage Day in Calgary
- Go on a walk at Heritage Park
- Have an afternoon Heritage Day Tea
- Join the Heritage Day Festival
- Eat the best meals during Taste of Calgary
- Take a trip to The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (Fort Calgary)
- See the Lantern Peace Festival
- Take a tour of the Gasoline Alley Museum
- Watch performances at the Calgary Fringe Festival
- Scoop cool treats at the YYC Ice Cream Fest
- Cheer on the Tour de Bowness Race + Festival
- Explore the Tsuu T'ina Cultural Museum
- Go to Heritage Plaza and watch cultural performances
If there’s one thing Canadians love, it’s celebrations. C’mon, we have so many events and festivals in a year, I’m not sure how we manage to wake up in the morning! Okay, probably because of coffee!
And even though not all get a day off on Heritage Day, it’s still something Calgarians love celebrating. It’s a time to show off the rich cultural history of our country.
If you’re unsure what to do, we’ve got you covered! Here’s our carefully selected list of the best things to do in Calgary on Heritage Day!
What happens on Heritage Day in Calgary?
On Heritage Day, celebrate Canada’s rich history and architecture by watching performances, participating in events, eating local cuisine, and having fun with family and friends.
In Alberta, Heritage Day is celebrated on the first Monday of August. But some provinces don’t. Most Canadian provinces celebrate it on the third Monday in February.
Heritage Day is not a statutory holiday in Alberta, but it’s worth noting that some businesses and employees take time off to celebrate it. And even though some people don’t get a day off, there are still plenty of things to do to honour the day after work.
Things to Do on Heritage Day in Calgary
Here are some things you can do in Calgary to celebrate Heritage Day, whether you want a simple celebration or something more elaborate:
Go on a walk at Heritage Park
Media credit: heritageparkyyc
Website: https://heritagepark.ca/
Location: 1900 Heritage Dr SW
Contact: (403) 268-8500, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
Historical Village Admission:
- General (16 – 64): $34.95 + GST
- Child (3 – 15): $22.95 + GST
- Senior (65+): $26.95 + GST
What better way to celebrate Heritage Day than a visit to Heritage Park? It’s the largest living history museum in Canada, set between 1860 to 1920, covering 127 acres of land.
It’s for the history buffs and for Calgarians who want to learn more about our culture. There are over 180 exhibits and 55,000 artifacts to see that will give you a glimpse of how Western Canada used to be.
Immerse yourself as you shop for souvenirs, eat local cuisine, join the activities, and ride the wagon to explore the village. Bring the whole family to this family-friendly place because there’s something to do and learn for all ages!
Pro Tip:
If you have mobility challenges, do note that the Heritage Park Village is not fully equipped to cater to individuals with physical disabilities. To ensure you get a smooth experience, check their Accessibility Page to see which areas have improved.
Have an afternoon Heritage Day Tea
Media credit: heritageparkyyc
Website: https://heritagepark.ca/events/heritage-day-tea/
Location: Famous 5 Centre of Canadian Women, Inside Heritage Park Historical Village, 1900 Heritage Dr SW
Contact: (403) 268-8500
Event Date: August 5, 2024
- Tea Sittings: 11:30 am, 12 pm, 1:15 pm, 1:45 pm, 3 pm, 3:30 pm
Rate/s:
- Heritage Park Members (Ages 12+): $44.95 + GST
- Non-Members (Ages 12+): $49.95 + GST
- Ages 3 – 11: $29.95
Inclusive of Historical Village Admission
It’s always a good idea to have a nice cup of tea in the afternoon. At Heritage Park, you can have a lovely Heritage Day Tea to celebrate our history with your family and friends.
Enjoy scrumptious finger sandwiches, pastries, and scones from the Alberta Bakery. If you’re not a tea person, you can always have lemonade instead.
So wear your best outfit and celebrate our rich cultural tapestry inside a living history museum! It’s the perfect thing to do in Calgary that gives you a nice, relaxing day.
Pro Tip:
Do reserve your seat to secure a spot. There are limited seats, so try to get a booking early.
Join the Heritage Day Festival
Media credit: calgaryschild
Website: https://www.calgaryfolkartscouncil.ca/
Location: Olympic Plaza – 228 8 Ave SE (2024 venue)
Contact: +1 (403) 262-8499, [email protected]
Event Date: On Heritage Day
Admission: Free
The Calgary Folk Arts Council hosts the Heritage Day Festival, an annual event full of performances to celebrate the day. It’s a family-friendly affair that provides entertainment for the whole afternoon.
You can watch performances in downtown Calgary that highlight our rich culture and history, purchase artisan crafts, and taste delicious food. Since this is an outdoor event, you can enjoy the summer with your fellow Calgarians.
Pro Tip:
Wear sunscreen and bring a bottle of water because you’ll spend your time out in the sun. Also, wear comfortable clothing and shoes to make sure you enjoy the day.
Eat the best meals during Taste of Calgary
Media credit: tasteofcalgary
Website: https://tasteofcalgary.com/
Location: Lot 6, 311 8 St SW (2024 venue)
Contact: (403) 453-7424
Event Date: Around the 1st week of August
Rate/s:
- Admission: Free
- 1 Taste Ticket: $1
What celebration doesn’t include eating delicious meals? In August, Taste of Calgary starts to give everyone a chance to try out the best and most delicious food and beverages you’ll find in the city!
It’s an appetizing food festival for sure, where restaurants from all over Calgary join in to showcase global cuisine. With so many food trucks, food booths, liquor booths, and artisan shops to try, you’ll definitely find new and familiar flavours.
Bring your pets and maybe you can find something safe for them to eat. There’s a kid’s area as well, making this a family-friendly place to celebrate.
Oh, and don’t forget to check the stage to listen to live music from talented local artists!
Pro Tips:
Make sure your wallet’s ready because you’ll probably end up spending more than what you originally expected. Each dish costs around two to seven tickets, so budget around $30 per person.
But if you plan on trying out alcoholic beverages, you’ll need to up your budget a bit more than that.
Take a trip to The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (Fort Calgary)
Media credit: theconfluence_yyc
Website: https://www.fortcalgary.com/histroiccalgaryweek-heritageday
Location: 750 9 Ave SE
Contact: (587) 288-1406, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
Summer (May 22 – Nov. 1)
- Wednesday – Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
Winter (Nov. 1 – May 22)
- Friday – Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
Admission:
- General (18+): $11
- Youth (5 – 17): $6
- Seniors (65+): $8
- Children (0 – 4): Free
- Indigenous peoples: Free
A visit to the birthplace of Calgary is one of the ways you can celebrate Heritage Day. Immerse yourself in cultural history at The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, previously named Fort Calgary.
You can also volunteer at The Confluence Garden, see what’s on at Burnswest Theatre, and check out the exhibits highlighting stories of the diverse people of this city.
Pro Tips:
Take note of the summer and winter hours. The Confluence is only open five days a week.
Check their Instagram for updates. Some areas may be closed on Heritage Day.
See the Lantern Peace Festival
Media credit: calgary_floating_lanterns
Website: https://calgaryfloatinglanterns.com/past-events/
Location: Olympic Plaza, 228 8 Ave SE
Contact: Via online contact form
Event Date: August 5, 2024
Rate/s:
- Admission: Free
- Lantern Rental: $1 – $10
The annual Lantern Peace Festival is a place to visit to celebrate a peaceful society. This event commemorates the lives lost at the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
You can honour the event by watching multicultural performances from a diverse group of people. There are also kid’s activities, making this a family-friendly celebration.
The highlight is the floating lanterns adorned with handwritten peace messages drifting through the Devonian Gardens, carrying wishes for a future free from nuclear weapons.
Pro Tip:
Keep an eye out for the activities you want to join. Some offer prizes for kids, like art supplies!
Take a tour of the Gasoline Alley Museum
Media credit: heritageparkyyc
Website: https://heritagepark.ca/exhibits/gasoline-alley-museum/
Location: Heritage Park, 1900 Heritage Dr SW
Contact: (403) 268-8500, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
From May 18 – October 14
- Monday – Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
Starting October 15
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Sunday: 10 am – 4 pm
Admission:
- General (16 – 64): $34.95 + GST
- Child (3 – 15): $22.95 + GST
- Senior (65+): $26.95 + GST
Tickets already included in Heritage Park Admission
A visit to the museum is one of the most natural choices to celebrate Heritage Day. After all, museums are where history and artifacts are stored, so it’s a perfect activity to honour Canada’s rich background— it’s an educational and fun-filled experience too!
You’ll travel back in time the moment you enter the Gasoline Alley Museum. You’ll go back to the golden age of the automobile and see artifacts from the 20th century to the 1950s.
And no, this isn’t just for car enthusiasts. This three-storey museum is an impressive, family-friendly place that will have you appreciating the evolution of automobiles in Alberta.
Pro Tips:
Don’t forget to check the Gasoline Alley Museum website. They host exhibits available for a limited time.
Don’t worry about your museum ticket. It’s already included in your admission fee for Heritage Park.
Watch performances at the Calgary Fringe Festival
Media credit: calgaryfringe
Website: https://www.calgaryfringe.ca/
Location: In the Inglewood neighbourhood (2024 venue)
Contact: (403) 451-9726, [email protected]
Event Date: 1st week of August
Rate/s:
- Regular Ticket: $20
- Tip the Artist: $20 + $10
- Pay What You Want Ticket Option: $10 or put in your own price
The annual Calgary Fringe Festival is held in the first week of August, which is coincidentally the same time as Heritage Day.
Here, you and your family or friends can watch talented performers on stage perform various shows, including original shows you’ve never seen before!
You also get to support the performers, which is a good way to help the community. International and local artists will grace the festival, addressing topics, from relationships to mental health.
Since Heritage Day is all about appreciating our history and culture, watching incredible performances is the way to go! The shows will have a range of emotions, so pick your most favoured one!
Pro Tip:
The Calgary Fringe Festival is all about including everybody, so if you don’t have the budget for the ticket but want to watch, you can pay $10 instead or put in the price you can afford. Do note that this only applies to selected shows.
Scoop cool treats at the YYC Ice Cream Fest
Media credit: yyc.icecreamfest
Website: https://yycicecreamfest.com/
Location: Various ice cream shops in Calgary
Contact: (403) 243-2834 ext. 1004, [email protected]
Event Date: July 19 – August 5, 2024 (subject to change the following year)
Rate/s: Depending on the ice cream shop
YYC Ice Cream Fest is an annual event hosted by Calgary Meals on Wheels. It puts a spotlight on local shops and supports charity because for every purchase, $1 to $3 goes to Calgary Meals on Wheels.
Bring your family and friends and hop all around the city to taste the best ice cream. There are so many unique flavours of chilled treats to try, from the classic vanilla to unicorn bubblegum!
The celebration doesn’t end when you’re done scooping out all the flavours. You’ll rate the contestants and help your favourites win the most coveted YYC’s Best Scoop award!
Pro Tip:
If you want to post on Instagram and hope that YYC Ice Cream Fest will share it, consider these things: don’t rate your ice cream on the post (because it can potentially influence other people’s opinions) and don’t share minors’ faces.
Cheer on the Tour de Bowness Race + Festival
Media credit: tourdebowness
Website: https://www.tourdebowness.com/
Location: Mainstreet Bowness Business Improvement Area
Contact: (403) 265-5422, [email protected]
Event Date: August 3 – 5, 2024 (subject to change the following year)
Race Registration:
- Regular: $170
- Citizen: $110
- Youth: $85
Celebrate Heritage Day by joining or watching a race at the Tour de Bowness Race + Festival. Bring your family and cheer on the racers as they bike the Mainstreet Bowness and see who can finish it the fastest!
Even though Heritage Day isn’t a statutory holiday, you can take a break and join a race. Sure, it’s not the usual way to celebrate, but it can be a new tradition since the race brings people together.
You don’t exactly have to join the bike race. Instead, head over to the street festival and support local vendors.
Pro Tip:
The event is mainly on the road, so be aware of your surroundings and make sure you park in the designated areas. Always check and obey the traffic signs to ensure the safety of everyone.
Explore the Tsuu T’ina Cultural Museum
Media credit: togetherattaza
Website: https://tsuutinamuseum.com/
Location: 64 Old Agency Road
Contact: (403) 238-2677
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 8 am – 4 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Admission:
- Adult: $12
- Youth: $6
- Senior: $8
- Kids 4 Years Old and Under: Free
Take a drive to the Tsuu T’ina Cultural Museum and appreciate the rich history and culture of the Tsuut’ina. In this place, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in their stories and see the most interesting artifacts.
Join the guided tour for some educational content and gain a new appreciation for their history. While you’re there, you can also see the gorgeous scenery and Chief Bullhead’s homestead, which is just beside the museum.
Don’t miss out on visiting the gift shop for handcrafted goods made by the Indigenous People. There are woolen blankets, jewellery, mocassin, and smudge kits.
Pro Tip:
Before visiting, contact them just to be sure if they’re open. Sometimes, they close the museum for community events.
Go to Heritage Plaza and watch cultural performances
Media credit: heritageparkyyc
Website: https://heritagepark.ca/exhibits/heritage-plaza/
Location: Heritage Park, 1900 Heritage Dr SW
Contact: (403) 268-8500, [email protected]
Event Date: Heritage Day
Heritage Park Admission:
- General (16 – 64): $34.95 + GST
- Child (3 – 15): $22.95 + GST
- Senior (65+): $26.95 + GST
Heritage Plaza is brimming with cultural performances on Heritage Day. There’s no better place to spend the day than here, watching eye-catching performances from a diverse group of people.
Watch traditional dances and listen to traditional music that honours our rich cultural heritage. During this time, you’ll be in awe at how vibrant Canada’s history is.
Pro Tip:
Take note of the schedule. Some events may happen simultaneously at different areas in the park, so plan your schedule to watch your most-awaited performances.
