What’s happening in Calgary this August long weekend

As we say goodbye to July and wave hello to August, it means the Heritage Day long weekend is here.

There are plenty of events going on this weekend.

Here’s a rundown:

Calgary International Blues Fest

The 21st iteration of the music festival runs until Sunday at The Confluence, formerly Fort Calgary, on 9 Avenue SE.

“It’s a whole new vista for us, a beautiful space,” said Blues Fest producer and artistic director, Cindy McLeod.

Friday’s lineup features Tone Patrol, Steve Marriner & Local Electric, Shakura S’Aida, and Lady A.

WATCH: Calgary International Bluesfest kicks off in new location

Saturday will feature Tyler Casat & One to Walk, Gaye Adegbaloloa, Marcus Trummer, Kirk Fletcher, Crystal Shawanda, and Ronnie Baker Brooks.

The event will wrap up on Sunday with Ollee Owens, Sean Mack McDonald, Secondhand Dreamcar, Roy Rogers, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Michael Kaeshammer, and Zac Harmon.

The family-friendly festival will run rain or shine, so attendees are asked to come prepared.

Kids under 12 are free and tickets can be purchased at the gate with credit, debt, cash or online at calgarybluesfest.com

Calgary Fringe Theatre Festival

The ‘Anything Goes’ open access theatre festival kicks of Friday and runs until Aug. 10.

It aims to bring together emerging and established artists to tell their stories on stage.

“We consider ourselves a boutique fringe… Edmonton is all go. Winnipeg is all go. But here you can take your time, hang out, enjoy the moment,” said festival producer, Michele Gallant.

2025 marks the 19th year of the event.

This year will feature 150 different shows across various venues in Inglewood and downtown Calgary.

Ahead of the festival Behind the current’s Andrea Montgomery took a look at some of the shows hitting the stage and chatted with the people behind them: Oh Mother! — one performer, one live painting, and a raw, funny exploration of grief, nudity, and divine pressure, Wuthering Frights — unscripted improv that drops horror into a Brontë novel, and a masterclass in playwriting that also offers interested parties a chance to dip their toes in with the 1000 Monkeys project.

There is also a mini poetry slam during ‘Fringe After Dark’ on Sunday, Aug. 3 at Festival Hall on 10 Avenue SE.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the mini box office set up at Festival Hall on 1215 10 Avenue SE. Tickets are subject to availability.

Taste of Calgary

The most taste-bud-tingling festival Calgary has to offer returns to the city this weekend.

Taste of Calgary kicked off on Thursday and runs until holiday Monday, Aug. 4.

The event, which allows attendees to discover the city’s global cuisines through a mix of restaurants and beverage companies runs 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, except for holiday Monday, where the operating hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Watch: From street eats to sweet treats: Taste of Calgary heats up the summer

Admission to the event is free and each ‘taste’ costs $1. Each dish ranges from two to seven tickets.

Pets are allowed to attend on a leash.

Taste of Calgary is being help in Lot 6 at 4 Avenue and 9 Street SW.

More information at tasteofcalgary.com

Chasing Summer Music Festival

The two-day EDM festival returns to Calgary on Saturday, Aug. 2 and Sunday, Aug. 3.

The shows play at the stages at the Max Bell festival grounds on 1001 Barlow Trail SE.

Featured artists this weekend include KX5 (Deadmau5 and Kaskade), Loud Luxury, Alan Walker, and more.

Single-day and weekend-long tickets are still available for purchase online.

More information can be found at chasingsummer.com

What’s open and closed around the city

Some businesses will be closed on the holiday Monday, and others will operate on reduced hours.

Everything you need to now about closures can be found here.