It’s time to shake off those winter blues, as festival season begins this weekend, despite the first day of summer being three weeks away.
On a weekend set to be sunny and warm in Calgary, there are plenty of events to take in throughout the city.
Lilac Fest
Thousands are expected to head to 4 Street between 12 Avenue and Elbow Drive SW for the 33rd iteration of the 4th Street Lilac Festival.
Patrons can look forward to live music and art, shopping from over 500 vendors, and plenty of activities for kids.
The 4th Street Festival Society says six stages will host more than 70 performances throughout Sunday.
The fun begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m.
The festival is free to attend.
Calgary Ukrainian Festival
The 14th annual Calgary Ukrainian Festival goes Saturday and Sunday at the Acadia Recreation Complex in the southeast.
Organizers promise a celebration of the city’s vibrant Ukrainian heritage with delicious food, arts and crafts, performances, and more.
Festival vice-chair Jordan Bliss says there’s also some new additions this year.
“One of the nice things — for the first time ever this year, is we are bringing in an artist direct from Ukraine, and she will be there performing this weekend as well,” he said.
Organizers hae also been hard at work trying to ring some happiness to Ukrainian newcomer sin teh city following the events of the last two years.
“We really try and help position it so that it provides a sense of normalcy and community, and we realize it’s not home but we hope it gives them a taste of a piece of home in Calgary,” Bliss said.
The festival runs 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
There is no cost to attend.
FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival
With the first show happening Thursday, the comedy festival is back for a 24th year.
“There will be six headline comics,” says festival organizer Stu Hughes. “There’s the winner of the 2016 comedy competition Tommy Miller, the winner of the 2009 FunnyFest International comedy competition Joe King, the second-place winner Nick Matuma, a local comic, and then from Vancouver, another winner this year — co-winner, the first time there’s a ever a tie — there’s Brendan Washburn from Vancouver.”
FunnyFest runs for the next 10 nights at venues throughout the city.
For all the information, and tickets, visit funnyfest.com
Prices vary.
Sam Centre
A new exhibit at will take visitors through the history of The Calgary Stampede at its upcoming opening weekend.
Sam Centre, located at the heart of the youth campus at Stampede Park, allows patrons to experience The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth through exhibits, an immersive digital experience, artifacts, archives, and more.
Visitors to the new centre can also sit on a saddle, see themselves in the rodeo chute, end up in the middle of the Stampede Parade, or experience the midway year-round.
Sam Centre is open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Information on entry cost and ticket purchases can be found at samcentre.calgarystampede.com/
-With files from Phil Wood and Pete Curtis