If you are on a tight budget, like to save money, or just enjoy having some fun, Calgary is the place to be. There are so many free activities both for adults and children. Next time you hear, “Mommm, I’m bored,” or you feel the imminent need to get out of the house, take time to look over this list. Free? Yes, all free!
Mobile adventure playground – A drop-in playground moves to various parks throughout Calgary to offer a different way to play. Onsite play ambassadors are there to inspire play and keep the playground safe. Parents stay with their children and watch their children play.
Skateparks enthusiasts have opportunities for participation through the City’s seven permanent skate parks and skate spots.
Music in the park – Pack a picnic, bring a blanket or lawn chair, sit back, relax and enjoy live music in a beautiful outdoor park setting. Featuring different artists from a variety of musical genres. Check out the website for the 2019 summer line-up.
Pure cycle outdoor – In partnership with Apple Fitness, free pop up outdoor pure cycle fitness classes are offered this summer. Each class is 55 minutes. Reserve a spot online and location at liveandplay.calgary.ca.
Park n’ Play / Stay n’ Play – High quality programs for children aged 3 – 12. These programs offer many different activities including crafts, games and active play in various communities in the city. See additional family activities and events at the bottom of Calgary.ca/free page.
Youth leadership programs – Drop-in and registered youth leadership programs at locations across the city.
Lawn chair theatre – Bring your lawn chair, snacks and watch live entertainment for the whole family. Free, no registration required, and at various locations in the city.
Discover Nose Hill Park – Free registered program will focus on everything Nose Hill Park has to offer. Learn about the history through guided walks, nature education and engaging activities. The program is for children ages 6-12 years old.
Calgary spray parks – Canmore Park, Eau Claire Plaza, Prairie Winds Park, Rotary Park, South Glenmore Park, Valleyview Park.
Calgary wading pools – Bowness park, Eau Clair Plaza, Prairie Winds Park, Riley Park.
You can view details of the activities noted above at calgary.ca/free or call 3-1-1. You can even build and save your own personal program guide.
Glenbow Free First Thursday Nights – Free admission 5pm-9pm.
Calgary Police Museum – 50 hands-on exhibits for adults and families, such as fingerprint experiments, kids on patrol, forensics lab. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to keep a major city safe, here’s your chance to find out. Free admission with a suggested $5 donation.
New Central Library – Explore this 4 level architecturally stunning library.
Have a picnic with the geese at Prince’s Island Park.
TD Devonian Gardens – Visit the world’s largest indoor botanical garden, complete with 20,000 species of plants, a small pond, a stream, and a school of coy.
The City currently has 22 parks with permanent outdoor fitness equipment. These locations can be found by searching calgary.ca – or Google ‘The City of Calgary – Parks with fitness equipment’.
Festivals (some costs may apply):
Taste of Calgary – August 8-11, 2019 11am – 10pm
Inglewood Night Market – August 9, 2019 5pm-11pm
Marda Gras – August 11, 2019 10 am – 5 pm
Movies at the Meadows – Outdoor drive-in movie @ Spruce Meadows August 15, 2019 7:30pm-11:30pm – $20/carload
GlobalFest – Aug 15-24, 2019 – Simply amazing! Kids under 5 are free. This is unlike any other festival, world-class pyrotechnicians will blow your socks off (not literally).
Chinatown Street Festival – August 17, 2019 11am-7pm
Sunflower Festival – August 24, 2019 11 am-5pm.
Get out there, do something, get moving, enjoy our city. If the best things in life are free, we have a very good thing going here in Calgary.
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