Your JULY Guide to FREE Events in Calgary [20 Events]
- Allison Fitkowski
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
Hey Wanderers!
July in Calgary is bursting with summer fun, celebration, and unforgettable experiences for FREE! Start the month with Canada Day festivities and fireworks lighting up the sky, then dive into Stampede spirit with free pancake breakfasts all over the city. Take advantage of Kids Golf Free Week and Family Fishing Weekend to enjoy the great outdoors together, and don’t miss community events popping up in every corner of Calgary. From sun-up to sun-down, July is packed with ways to make lasting memories — without spending a dime!
From lively festivals to bustling outdoor markets, Calgary in July is a celebration of community, creativity, and summer sunshine. Stroll through local vendor stalls, dance to live music, and experience the city’s vibrant spirit at every turn. Bring your friends, your curiosity, and get ready to enjoy a month full of flavour, fun, and festival vibes!
Canada Day Fireworks
📍 Stampede grounds
📆 July 01, 2025
Calgary’s official Canada Day celebration will end with a fireworks show launched at Stampede Park at 11PM. The display will light up the sky in the downtown core and surrounding areas. Aerial Fireworks can be seen from anywhere with a view of the Stampede Grounds, Best Location: The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (formerly Fort Calgary).
East Village Street Fair
📍 East Village (8 Avenue SE between 6 St & 5 St SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 July 01, 2025
Celebrate Canada’s birthday at the East Village Street Fair. East Village is a vibrant, emerging community near Calgary’s core and is centrally located for many of Calgary’s family destinations. Visit vendors and food trucks and enjoy music and activities for all ages.
St Patrick's Island Canada Day
📍 St. Patrick’s Island
📆 July 01, 2025
Enjoy family-friendly entertainment and the beautiful St. Patrick’s Island this Canada Day. There will be performers, face painting, live music, and more. Grab your lunch at a food truck and celebrate together.
The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland Canada Day
📍 The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (750 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 July 01, 2025
Head to The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (formerly Fort Calgary) this Canada Day for an Indigenous Artisan Market and Indigenous Showcase and Powwow. You’ll also find cultural activities and the Canada Day main stage show with a lineup of musicians. Plus, it’s a great place to watch the fireworks!
Studio Bell Canada Day
📍 Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (850 4 Street SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 July 01, 2025
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (NMC), is ready to rock for Canada’s birthday! Explore Canada’s rich musical history with FREE admission on July 1, 2025, plus live music and hands-on activities. To thank the community for its support, NMC will also be offering 50% off all NMC Memberships purchased on July 1, 2025.
Heritage Park Music in the Plaza
📍 The Plaza at Heritage Park (1900 Heritage Dr SW, Calgary, AB)
📆 July 02 - 30, 2025 (every Wednesday)
As if you needed another reason to visit Heritage Park, this summer you can enjoy Music in the Plaza!
Every Wednesday from July 2 – August 27, 2025, the city’s best emerging artists bring you a series of free concerts from 6 – 8 PM. Watch from the Selkirk’s patio as you enjoy dinner, or explore the shops of the Haskayne Mercantile Block before you set up your lawn chair and enjoy the show with popcorn in hand! Performances are free of charge and take place in the Heritage Town Square.
4th Street Pancake Showdown
📍 Mission/Cliff Bungalow – Along 4th Street between Elbow Drive and 12 Ave, Calgary, AB
📆 July 03, 2025
This ain’t just any ol’ pancake eatin’ shindig. It’s a SHOWDOWN with the most creative culinary creations ever seen on a griddle! Circle the date on your calendars, ’cause on Thursday, July 3 from 9 till 11 in the mornin’, yer invited to join us for a rip-roarin’ good time on 4th Street.
Calgary Stampede Parade Day
📍 Downtown Calgary
📆 July 04, 2025
Each year the Parade showcases more than 150 western-themed entries, including 30 marching bands, 40 floats, 750 horses and 4,000 people. It’s not just a Parade marching down an avenue; it’s a march through tradition, history and local Calgary culture. While our western roots are strong, we’ve also got multicultural flair with many people travelling from all over the globe to walk and ride in our Parade.
Go straight from the Parade to the Park and receive FREE admission from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Fluor Rope Square Pancake Breakfast
📍 228 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
📆 July 05 & 07 - 12, 2025
Get your bacon-pancakes hot off the griddles from the back of the authentic Chuckwagons stoves and Fluor Smokies at Fluor Rope Square. You might even get to meet one of the Chuckwagon drivers! Fluor Rope Square serves up our famous bacon-pancakes daily from July 05 and again everyday July 07 - 12.
8:30am - 10:30am
Bowness Stampede Breakfast and Parade
📍 Bowness, Calgary, AB
📆 July 05, 2025
The Breakfast will be served from 7:00AM-11:00AM (or while supplies last) in the parking lot of the 'Bowness Mall' where Bowness Pub, 7-11 & the Bowness Animal Hospital Reside. Come enjoy some pancakes, some live music & the community spirit. This event is free of charge, however as it is made possible entirely by the generosity of donations, we encourage you to donate to the event as a whole if you are in the position to do so.
The Parade will start at 9:00am at the Shouldice/Hextall Bridge entrance into Bowness. It will continue down Bowness Road, through Mainstreet, and will turn north on 77th Street to finalize at the Bowness Community Association. Bring your lawn chairs, or sit on the curb to enjoy this traditional small town style parade.
Calgary Stampede Free Admission Days
📍 Stampede Park (1410 Stampede Trail SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 July 06, 2025 (until 11am)
Bring the whole family to the Calgary Stampede and celebrate with FREE fun for everyone. Admission is free until 11am, a FREE pancake breakfast in the GMC Stadium Courtyard from 8 -10 a.m. while quantities last, and a FREE variety show from 8-10 a.m. in GMC Stadium.
📆 July 08, 2025 (10am - 2pm)
Free admission for everyone from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | FREE admission all day long and free coffee and donuts for Seniors (65+) and Military Veterans in the BMO Plaza until 11 a.m., while quantities last.
📆 July 09, 2025 (12 & under free all day, Until 10am for everyone else)
Join us with your little ones for BMO Kids' Day at the Calgary Stampede with FREE breakfast in the GMC Stadium Courtyard from 8-10 a.m. while quantities last, and a FREE variety show from 8-10 a.m.
Take a Kid to the Golf Course Week
📍 Participating courses
📆 July 07 - 13, 2025
Get your kid golfing … for FREE!
During this week, participating golf courses will offer free golf to kids under the age of 16, when accompanied by a paying adult. In addition to free golf, some courses will offer additional programs such as junior clinics, free range balls, free junior club rentals and parent/child tournaments.
It is recommended to call the facility before you go, to check any restrictions. Be sure to let them know you are participating in the Take A Kid To The Course program!
Birding Breaks
📍Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (2425 9th Ave SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 July 08, 15, 22 & 29, 2025
Birding Breaks offers bird lovers of all ages a chance to drop into Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for a guided walk. You will learn all about birds and other wildlife in Calgary. Check it out on Tuesdays. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Family Fishing Weekends Alberta
📍 Alberta waterbodies with open fishing seasons (not in national parks)
📆 July 12 & 13, 2025
During Alberta’s twice-yearly Family Fishing Weekends, no fishing is licence required. Albertans and visitors are invited to give fishing a try on waterbodies with open fishing seasons (not in national parks). Keep in mind that fishing regulations still apply.
Fiestaval Latino Festival
📍 Eau Claire Plaza (3 St. & Riverfront Ave. S.W., Calgary, AB)
📆 July 18 - 20, 2025
Each July the weekend after the Calgary Stampede, Downtown Calgary becomes a big fiesta!!! Come and enjoy the 3 hottest days of the summer with over 25 authentic food vendors, hundreds of national and international performers, artisan market, kids area, beer gardens and lots of fun.
Let us share our beautiful culture with you and your family!
Fiestaval is a free and family-oriented, multicultural arts and entertainment festival highlighting the Latin American Culture — 3 days of fun in the sun, hundreds of performers, authentic Latin food vendors, the best Latin entertainment from western Canada, international Latin bands, international dance showcase, amazing kids area, beer gardens with our award winning Sangrias, and much more!
Lemonade Day Calgary
📍 Calgary, AB
📆 July 19, 2025
Lemonade Day is a city-wide event where youth ages 5-13 set up lemonade stands and experience the thrill of being a business owner while making a profit and giving back to their community.
Kids will learn:
Financial literacy
Math skills
Strategic thinking
Self-confidence
Creativity
Social Skills
Real-world experience
Giving back
Pet-A-Palooza Calgary
📍 The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (750 9th Ave SE, Calgary, AB)
📆 July 26 & 27, 2025
Pet-A-Palooza™ is back and bigger than ever! This FREE family friendly event is one you cannot miss. A pawty for fido is just what your summer was missing.
This year enjoy entertainment including:
A HUGE dog pool party
Amazement park
Yoga with adoptable puppies
Pet related exhibitors
and so much more!
Inglewood Sunfest
📍 Mainstreet Inglewood (9 Ave SE – From 11th St to 14th St, Calgary, AB)
📆 July 26, 2025
A feisty summer festival in the heart of Inglewood. We’re here to celebrate, engage, entertain, and delight. Seize the Sunfest!
At Sunfest, there is an activity made for all ages. This could mean a jump in the bouncer for the kids, discovering a great new band, being wowed and amazed by our cool street performers, choosing a perfect summer patio or searching for a trendy fashion; there is no shortage of things happening.
Inglewood is host to over 200 vendors that vary from artisan crafts, to imported wares, to community organizations and more!
University District Night Market
📍 Central Commons Park (4019 University Ave NW, Calgary AB)
📆 July 30, 2025
Celebrate summer with handmade goods, local food, and live entertainment at the University District open-air market. Discover art, crafts, music, and fun in the heart of the community.
Taste of Calgary
📍 Calgary Parking Lot #6 (311 8 Street S.W., Calgary, AB)
📆 July 31 - August 04, 2025
Taste of Calgary, the city’s premier international food and beverage festival, takes place for its 24th year.
Taste of Calgary is the city’s most appetizing festival, giving visitors the chance to sample the city’s food, beverages, music and other cool things. Discover Calgary’s global cuisines from a mix of unique restaurants and beverage companies. Plus get a taste of Calgary’s great musicians. And, shop at some of the most interesting marketplace vendors in the city.
July is packed with incredible free events all across Calgary, making it the perfect time to soak up summer without spending a dime!
Whether you're enjoying the wag-worthy fun at Pet-a-Palooza, catching the iconic Stampede Parade, or taking advantage of free Stampede admission days, there’s something exciting and memorable happening every week this month!
Know of any AMAZING free events we might’ve missed? Share them in the comments or send us a note at info@wanderinginyyc.ca—we’d love to include your favourites!
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