21+ things to do this weekend in Calgary

Plus a new dinosaur bus and Star Wars symphony.

Author

From Calgary
May 16, 2026

Good morning, Calgary! It's the May long weekend, and the city is humming (under a blanket of snow 🤣🤦‍♂️).

A brand-new bus route to Drumheller leaves this weekend, the Sunnyside Flood Barrier is officially protecting our river communities just in time for flood season, and Calgary Wild FC is back at McMahon Stadium on Saturday for some of the best women's pro soccer in the country.

We've also got a stunning patio pick on Prince's Island Park that just landed on Canada's 100 Best list. Let's get into it.

Reply & guess what year I took this picture for your chance to win some From Calgary Stickers!

🌿 City Spotlight: Picnic Season Opened on Prince's Island Park

The lilacs are starting, the pathways are were dry, and Prince's Island Park is officially back in full summer mode (just ignore the classic May Long Weekend snowfall). If you haven't been down yet this year, plan to get there soon.

Pack a blanket, grab takeout from one of the Eau Claire spots (or order a River Café picnic basket, more on that below), and walk in over the Jaipur Bridge or the 6th Street SW causeway. The lagoon is open, the geese are loud and unbothered, and the Peace Bridge gives you one of the best photo spots in the city on the walk over.

Two pro tips: parking is tight in Eau Claire on long weekends, so consider the C-Train to 7th Street SW and walk in. And free public swims are running at select City pools all weekend if the kids need to burn off some energy after.

It's the kind of low-effort, high-payoff Calgary afternoon that reminds you why you live here.

[SIDE NOTE: I took this picture of the Peace Bridge. Reply and guess what year it was taken! The person who guesses the correct year (or the closest to it) will win some From Calgary stickers!]

Top 3 Stories

🚌 New Direct Bus from Calgary to Drumheller Launches

For the first time in years, you can hop on a bus from downtown Calgary and be at the Royal Tyrrell Museum before lunch. FlixBus officially launched its Calgary to Drumheller service, with the first full weekend of service starting yesterday. Tickets are around $22 one way, the ride is just under two hours, and pickup points include Downtown Plaza, Calgary Airport, Whitehorn LRT, and Anderson Station. Service runs Friday through Monday to start, then expands to six days a week in peak summer. A free hop-on, hop-off shuttle called ValleyConnect launches June 26 to take you between the Hoodoos, Atlas Coal Mine, and East Coulee. If a Badlands day trip has been on your list, this just got dramatically easier.

🌊 Sunnyside Flood Barrier Functional Ahead of Flood Season

The City announced this week that the long-awaited Sunnyside Flood Barrier is now operational, protecting Sunnyside and Hillhurst from a 1-in-100 year flood. The 2.4 km barrier runs along Memorial Drive from 14th Street to Centre Street and combines permanent concrete and metal walls with temporary barriers that close gaps across roadways and pathways during a flood response. It's a $50 million investment that's been in the works since the 2013 flood, and the project also includes pathway upgrades, new seating areas, and preserved memorial features like the Calgary Soldiers' Memorial and Poppy Plaza. Some restoration work continues this year, but the protection is in place for spring runoff. A big sigh of relief for inner-city Calgary.

⚽ Calgary Wild FC Hosts Montreal on Saturday

Year two of the Northern Super League is rolling, and Calgary Wild FC is back at McMahon Stadium this Saturday afternoon to take on the Roses de Montréal FC. Tickets start at $29.40, kickoff is 3 PM, and if you've never been to an NSL match, this is your easy entry point. Canada's first professional women's soccer league has been a hit with families, the gameplay is sharp, and McMahon on a sunny May afternoon is hard to beat. Bring the kids, bring some sunscreen, and pick up some local soccer culture along the way. [Make sure you sign up to earn cash back before buying tickets from Ticketmaster!]

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🍽️ Featured Restaurant: River Café

Location: 25 Prince's Island Park SW (heart of the park, walk-in only)
Vibe: Rustic-elegant lodge on an island

River Café just landed at #42 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants list for 2026, and after 35 years on Prince's Island Park, it's somehow still one of the most magical dining rooms in the city. Open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, the menu leans into sustainable Canadian ingredients (Yukon arctic char, duck breast with blueberry jus, the famous chef's tasting menu), and the patio under the trees is one of those rare spots where you genuinely forget you're downtown. Pro tip for this weekend: their seasonal picnic baskets are available for next-day pickup starting May 14, so you can grab one and post up anywhere on the island. Reservations strongly recommended for dinner, especially on a long weekend.

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REPORT

🌤️ 7-Day Weather Prediction

Heads up: this is a classic Calgary May long weekend. Friday was gorgeous, Saturday is throwing a snow curveball, then we recover into Monday. Check Calgary's forecast before you commit to anything outdoors.

PETS: Time to meet some new friends. Time to meet some new friends. Romeo the Saint Bernard, Daisy the Domestic Longhair cat, and Olivia the English Lop rabbit are all looking for forever homes.

CALGARY FLAMES

🔥 If you are interested in a ¼ or ½ season’s worth of Flames tickets next season, please call / text 403-975-5515.

HAPPENINGS

FEATURED EVENT - FREE MEN’S WORKOUTS

Here's the deal: it's free, it's outdoors, and nobody cares how fit you are. F3 is a men's workout group that meets outside 4 times per week in the early morning.

No gym membership. No registration. No judgment. You show up, you follow along, you get better. Every workout is different, every workout is led by a fellow member, and every workout will push you.

Men across Calgary are showing up in the dark, in the cold, and walking away sharper, stronger, and more connected than they've been in years. Your only barrier is your alarm clock. Set it, wake up, and show up.

Tuesday & Thursday, 5:30–6:15 AM
Saturdays & Sundays, 6:30–7:30 AM

Unlock your potential at a FREE Men’s Workout at 2019 Chicoutimi Dr. NW (MAP).

SATURDAY 16th

SUNDAY 17th

MONDAY 18th (Victoria Day)

  • McMahon Stadium – Calgary Stampeders vs Saskatchewan Roughriders, preseason kickoff at 1 PM. First chance to see the Red & White back in action.

  • Heritage Park – Victoria Day Opening Weekend. The Historical Village officially opens for the 2026 season with hands-on history, wagon rides, and the Badlands Dinosaur Dig returning.

  • Banff Sunshine Village – Slush Cup 2026. Skiers and riders try to skim a pond in costume to close out the season.

  • Granary Road – First Annual Kite Festival wraps up. Kite building, flying lessons, and a giant open field to test your build.

THANK YOU!

Thank you for reading From Calgary today. If you enjoyed this edition, found something useful, or learned something new, please share it with someone who lives in Calgary.

Chat soon,

Brent
Publisher - From Calgary

P.s. BUSINESS OWNERS: Want to advertise to smart Calgary locals? Email [email protected] (or reply to this email) and let me know!

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