Taste of Calgary is the city’s big outdoor food festival, free to enter and held over the August long weekend. Dozens of local restaurants, breweries, and food trucks serve sample-size dishes, with live music and family activities alongside.
About
WhenSpans the August long weekend, Thursday to Monday; the 2026 edition ran Jul 30 to Aug 3
WhereCowboys Park (formerly Shaw Millennium Park), 1220 9th Ave SW, Calgary, AB
First held1999
AdmissionFree admission; pay directly at booths (2026 went ticketless)
The festival is built around eating: vendors dish up sample-size plates of global cuisines so you can graze your way through the afternoon. There is also a culinary marketplace, live music, and activities for kids, making it a full-day summer outing.
It is a long-running event; the 2024 edition was billed as the 26th, which points to a first edition in 1999. The venue has moved a few times over the years, from Eau Claire Festival Plaza to a downtown parking lot and now to Cowboys Park.