• From Calgary
  • Posts
  • one excellent bakery, 2 grizzly cubs, 20,000 runners

one excellent bakery, 2 grizzly cubs, 20,000 runners

What's worth doing in YYC this week (May 25-31)

Author

From Calgary
May 25, 2026

Good morning, Calgary! We've got a packed week-ahead edition for you. Two orphaned grizzly cubs just made their public debut at the zoo, the Calgary Marathon shattered its registration record, and downtown is gearing up for a free summer of World Cup soccer. Plus, a perfect little Cambrian Heights bakeshop for your next weekend treat. Let's get into it.

🌿 City Spotlight: The outdoor market season is officially open

After a long winter, the Farmers & Makers Market kicked off its outdoor season this past weekend, and now is the moment to make it a regular weekend ritual. The 2026 outdoor run goes every Saturday from May 23 to October 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a second weekly location opening Wednesdays 3-7 p.m. starting May 27 at Central Memorial Park in the Beltline.

You'll find 90+ local vendors: small farms, nurseries, bakers, meat and egg producers, craft brewers, artists, and live music. Both markets are Alberta Approved and family-friendly with a free Kids Arts & Culture program. Bring a tote, bring cash for the smaller stalls, and don't skip the nurseries — this is the week to grab tomato starts and herbs while the selection is fresh.

Top 3 Stories

🐻 Turner and Fitz make their public debut at the Calgary Zoo

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo unveiled its two orphaned grizzly cubs in the Wild Canada habitat last Thursday, and Calgarians have been showing up in droves to meet them. The brothers, named Turner and Fitz, were orphaned near Diamond Valley last September and spent months in quarantine before staff finished "cub-proofing" their permanent habitat. Turner is the larger of the two with a darker coat, weighing about 116 kg, while Fitz has a silver tinge and tips the scales at about 110 kg. The zoo hasn't had grizzly cubs in several decades, and this is the first time in 90 years of grizzly care they've welcomed cubs this young. Go say hi.

Instagram Post

🏃 Calgary Marathon sets a new all-time record

The 63rd Servus Calgary Marathon wrapped this past weekend with a record 20,000 registered participants across the two-day event, the highest in the marathon's history. Canada's longest-running marathon (since 1963) saw an influx of younger runners and families thanks to expanded distance options including a 5K, 10K, Kids Race, Diaper Dash, half marathon, and full 42.2 km. If you missed the in-person weekend, the virtual race window is now open — you can still complete any distance any day between May 25 and June 21.

⚽ Downtown Calgary is about to come alive with free summer programming

The City announced a packed summer of free downtown sports anchored by the SURGE CITY Hoops Summer Series, Soccer City FC (a brand-new free youth soccer program at Peace Park, June 7 to September 2), and outdoor 2026 Men's World Cup watch parties. Free public watch parties will run at Eau Claire Plaza on June 12, 18, and 24, and the final will be shown right on Stephen Avenue on July 19. More than 2,000 days of free downtown programming have been delivered since 2022, and last year 80% of families surveyed said the basketball series made the core feel more welcoming. Mark your calendar.

A quick word from today’s sponsor that helps keep the From Calgary Newsletter FREE!

💼 The membership I've quietly renewed for 12 years

I joined FoundersCard back in 2014, and it's one of the few paid memberships I've never thought twice about renewing. It's not a credit card. It's a membership that unlocks negotiated discounts, complimentary hotel and airline elite status, and preferred pricing at 500+ luxury properties and brands.

The benefits that keep paying me back: $200 annual Uber credits (for rides or Uber eats), free Hilton Gold status (free breakfast for two at most properties), IHG Platinum, complimentary Southwest A-List, Hertz President's Circle, up to 35% off United fares, and waived resort fees at Caesars properties in Vegas. On the business side, it's 20% off HubSpot, $500 in Stripe credits, up to 50% off FedEx and UPS shipping, and discounts on Dropbox, Google Workspace, Lenovo, Dell, Apple, and Office Depot.

The Elite tier is normally $995/year. Through my referral link, you can join for $295 your first year. A few Hilton stays with free breakfast, one discounted flight, or a single Vegas trip pays it back. Twelve years in and the math still works.

BTW… If you work out at Barry’s, you can get up to 20% OFF with FoundersCard.

🥐 Featured Restaurant: Ola Luna Cake & Bakeshop

Location: 1047 40 Ave NW, Calgary (Highland Park / Cambrian Heights)
Vibe: Cozy, intentional, beautifully made

This little neighbourhood bakeshop flies under the radar but the regulars who've found it can’t stop talking about it. Everything is crafted in small batches with real care, and it shows in the details: the croissants are the kind you photograph before you eat, the sourdough has serious crust and crumb, and the cakes are some of the prettiest in the city. Order the lemon blueberry cake or anything from the pastry case, grab a coffee, and tuck into the small patio. I’ve eaten a lot of choclate croissants in my lifetime and Ola Luna’s pain au chocolat is, by far, the best I’ve EVER had! The aftermath of field testing Ola Luna:

📱SAVE MONEY WITH PUBLIC MOBILE: The same cell network as Telus, for a fraction of the price. That’s the tagline that Public Mobile should use because that’s what they offer. Click here to check out Public Mobile. [#ad]

REPORT

🌤️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

MON 25

TUE 26

WED 27

THU 28

FRI 29

SAT 30

SUN 31

26° / 14°
☀️

27° / 13°
⛅

21° / 12°
⛅

20° / 12°
🌧️

26° / 12°
🌤️

17° / 9°
🌧️

18° / 6°
⛅

A warm, sunny start to the week with Monday and Tuesday hitting near 27°C, which is solid patio weather. Things cool off midweek with showers Wednesday into Thursday, then Friday warms right back up. A wet, cooler weekend rolls in for Saturday before the sun returns on Sunday. Bring layers if you're heading to the Wild FC match.

PETS: Time to meet some new friends. Romeo the Saint Bernard, Bowie the cat, and Beli the budgie are all looking for forever homes at the Calgary Humane Society.

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

Men don't have enough friends. Most of us haven't made a real one since high school or university, and it shows. F3 Calgary quietly solves that problem by getting men together four mornings a week to do something hard, then go to work. The workout is the entry point. The brotherhood is the reason guys keep coming back.

Free, outdoors, no fitness level required. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30 AM. Saturdays & Sundays, 6:30 AM. 2019 Chicoutimi Dr. NW (MAP). 

MONDAY 25th

  • CrossIron Mills – Royal Canadian Circus at 7:30 PM. The 52nd-anniversary tour brings Mongolian acrobats, flying trapeze, and the Motorcycle Stunt Team under the big top. Tickets

TUESDAY 26th

WEDNESDAY 27th

THURSDAY 28th

FRIDAY 29th

  • MacEwan Hall – Alestorm at 7:30 PM. Scottish pirate metal rolls into YYC.

  • Jack Singer Concert Hall – Calgary Philharmonic: Broadway Hits at 7:30 PM. Big numbers from Wicked, Little Shop of Horrors, and Funny Girl, full orchestra.

  • The Grand – Comedy Colosseum at 8 PM. Improvisors go head-to-head for laughs. $31.82.

  • CrossIron Mills – Royal Canadian Circus at 7:30 PM.

  • The Dorian Hotel – Le Petit Chef & Family immersive 3D projection dining experience starting at 6 PM. A four-season multi-course menu for date night or families.

SATURDAY 30th

SUNDAY 31st

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!

P.p.s. Open a New CIBC Account, Get $50.00 $75.00 Bonus (for a limited time)!

Who doesn’t like FREE money?!? Click here and set up a new CIBC account, and you can earn a $50.00 $75.00 bonus (for a limited time)! I’ve been banking with CIBC for 25+ years now, and have never had an issue. Get your $75.00 bonus here.

Select the type of account you want to open:

Copyright © 2026 FromCalgary.com. All Rights Reserved. The information presented here is for general educational purposes only. Please consult with your professional (doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc.) before doing anything new. This email is subject to our Terms of Service.

MATERIAL CONNECTION DISCLOSURE: You should assume that the sender of this email has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the persons or businesses mentioned in this message and may receive commissions from purchases you make on subsequent web sites. You should not rely solely on information contained in this email to evaluate the product or service being endorsed. Always exercise due diligence before purchasing any product or service.