Dawgs, comedy, superheroes and Lilac Fest: What's on this weekend in Calgary
Curate your wild west experience at the Calgary Polo Club
It's just about June, which, around Calgary, is usually when summer festival season kicks off. If you're looking for a roadmap to the weekend, Homestretch director Tracy Fuller has a few tips for where to go when you head out for the weekend, which she shared Thursday with host Doug Dirks.
Funnyfest
If you missed the John Cleese/Doug Dirks show at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on Wednesday, but you're in the mood for some comedy, Calgary's 19th annual FunnyFest started Thursday and runs through June 9. Many of the shows are happening at the Clarion Hotel, but there are also quite a few pub shows on the schedule, with a variety of themed nights at the Joyce on 4th, the Dog and Duck, Stonegate Pub, Richmond's and more.
Sadly, for Calgary fans of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, John Cleese will not be among the performers at Funnyfest. But Kevin Farley — Chris's brother — and Kelly Taylor will be.
Lilac Festival
Hidden underneath the wildfire smoke — which (hopefully) will have been washed away by rain come Sunday — is the spring-like scent of the 2019 Lilac Festival, which takes over Fourth Street S.W. and most of Mission. It's totally free, and there will be six stages, hosting dozens of musicians, bands, dancers — not to mention all the crafts, clothing, jewlery and food vendors. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. Sunday, starting at 25th Avenue S.W. and finishing at 13th Avenue.
Calgary Ukrainian Festival
It's time to break out your red dancing boots. That's because The Calgary Ukranian Festival celebrates 10 years this weekend. With groups in from Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and elsewhere, there figures to be some epic Ukrainian dancing, as well as a kids' Ukrainian string orchestra performing.
Saturday night, it's the Zabava, the after party, from 9 p.m to 1:30 a.m., where there will be more dancing and delicious food, like kielbasa (Ukrainian sausage) and Ukrainian pork belly, too, as well as lots of Ukrainian beers, vodka and more. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday at the Recreation Complex.
Calgary Library Superhero Day
Saturday mornings used to be so fun. Well, you're in luck this Saturday, if you've got a miniature superhero-in-training in your household, someone who dragged you to Avengers: Endgame on opening night. On Saturday, the Calgary Public Library is hosting its first Superhero Day at five locations: Crowfoot, Country Hills, Central, Quarry Park and Village Square. A menace threatens the safety of Calgary, and superheroes must save the day. That's all we're saying.
Some other real heroes who might make an appearance include members of the Calgary Fire Department and the Calgary Police Service, Captain Marvel, Captain America and Wonder Woman.
It's totally free and runs from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., depending on the location.
Ghost Opera
The new show from the Old Trout Puppet Workshop is Ghost Opera, a collaboration between the Trouts, Calgary Opera, composer Veronika Krausas and Giller Prize winner Andre Alexis. It's a contemporary adaptation of an ancient Greek ghost story that had its world premiere last Friday in Banff, and is now on at the Grand Theatre through June 8.
Way Out West Festival
Also happening this weekend: Inglewood's Way Out West Festival is on. The event digs into western history — with leather-working workshops, photography workshops, a rope-throwing and tricks workshop at Smithbilt Hats on 11th Street S.E. ... and so much more. A lot of it happens Saturday at the Calgary Polo Club, where there will be 40 vendors, live music, wagon rides, food, drink and much, much more.
Okotoks Dawgs
Finally, The Okotoks Dawgs are hosting their season-opener Friday night against the Edmonton Prospects — good luck finding tickets to game. But on Saturday and Sunday, the Fort McMurray Giants are in town and there are still a few seats left for those games.
Scorched
And finally, in a classic case of ripped straight from the headlines, Scorched, a unique choral presentation by Mount Royal's youth choir, Artio, will be presented twice on Saturday, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. at MRU's Nickel Theatre.
The piece was inspired by the changing weather: "Dry conditions have led not only to a shortage of water but to wildfires that rage and burn out of control leaving epic devastation and destruction in their wake."
Directed by Jean-Louis Bleau and choreographed by Mark Ikeda, Scorched is a choral theatre journey that explores what happens to humanity and the world when the anticipation of a few drops of rain turns into a frantic plea.
With files from The Homestretch.