Posted on Monday, June 29 2026
While thousands of visitors arrive for the famous Calgary Stampede or drive straight through to Banff, Calgary itself is quietly having an incredible summer. The patios are lively, the rivers are warm, and the festival calendar is packed.
If you are staying in a Premiere Suites property, you have a real advantage. You are already living like a local, not just passing through. Calgary perfectly balances outdoor adventure with vibrant city life, and these are some of our top recommendations to experience the best of Calgary this summer.
This is Calgary’s quintessential summer experience. On warm weekends, locals bring inflatable rafts, inner tubes, and the occasional air mattress to the Bow River and float downstream through the heart of the city. It costs almost nothing, requires almost no planning, and somehow feels like the best afternoon you've had in years.
The stretch runs from Bowness Park to Edworthy Park, taking roughly two to three hours at a gentle drift. If you don't have your own gear, The Paddle Station and Lazy Day Raft Rentals both offer tube and raft hire.
Cost: $20–30 for rentals (or free with your own gear)
Local tips: Bring sunscreen, a dry bag for your phone, and something cold to drink. Leave the schedule at home.
One of the best ways to experience local flavours and treats is with a visit to the Farmers’ Market. The Calgary Farmers' Market has two permanent indoor locations with fresh Alberta produce, artisan cheeses, baked goods, and ready-to-eat food that inspirers everyone’s inner chef.
For something more immersive, drive 20 minutes south to Granary Road - an outdoor market paired with an active learning park that has become a genuine weekend ritual for Calgary families. The building is beautiful, the vendors are excellent, and the homemade pies deserve their own paragraph.
Cost: Free to enter; budget what you like
Inglewood is Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood and part of the city’s Arts and Industrial District. Beyond being a stroll-worthy hub of local art and vintage finds, there’s a few blocks along 9th Avenue SE with an incredible concentration of delicious food. It’s the kind of neighbourhood where you can arrive without a plan and let the food and atmosphere lead the way.
Popular local spots (to name a few):
• The Eden – Brunch, steak tartare, bone marrow carbonara – it’s all *chef’s kiss*
• The Nash – Their famous potato bread is a must try.
• SOT - Upscale Korean fusion with seasonal ingredients.
• Inglewood Drive In – Considered to be one of Calgary’s best burger joints!
If you've never watched Canadian Premier League soccer, you’re missing out. A Cavalry FC home game at ATCO Field in Spruce Meadows is a wonderful way to spend a nice summer evening. The atmosphere is passionate and tickets are affordable.
The soccer pitch is inside the grounds of one of the world's premier equestrian facilities, which is unlike anything else in the country.
You can check out the home schedule and purchase your tickets here.
Cost: Tickets from $25
Local tips: If you’re attending with kids, arrive a little early. Soccer balls and nets are often set up, giving them a chance to practise before the match.
Calgary is home to over 40 craft breweries, with a cluster of them in the southeast of the city known as ‘Barley Belt’. They’re all within walking distance, making a brewery crawl genuinely feasible.
Popular local spots include:
• Establishment Brewing Company – Known for wild sours and one of the best patios in the city!
• Prairie Dog Brewing – Beers + BBQ = the perfect duo.
• Annex Ale Project – Famous for their ales and house-made root beer.
Summer is the perfect time to pack a picnic and relax on the lawn at Prince's Island Park, a stunning 20-hectare green space sitting right on the Bow River just north of downtown.
With three pedestrian bridges connecting the island to the mainland — the Jaipur Bridge from Eau Claire, the Peace Bridge from downtown, and the Memorial Drive footbridge from the north — it's easy to reach on foot or by bike from almost any direction.
Local tips: In summer, the park also hosts a variety of festivals like the Calgary Folk Music Festival or Shakespeare in the Park, so there's a good chance you'll stumble into something worth staying for.
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in East Village, is one of the most thoughtfully designed spaces in the country. The building alone is an experience in itself with nine interlocking towers covered in terracotta, designed to evoke the sound waves it houses inside. The exhibits trace the full arc of Canadian music, with a world-famous musical instrument collection and archives that music lovers will lose hours in. There's a working recording studio, a radio station, and a live music venue that hosts performances year-round.
Cost: $24.40 for adults, $16.50 for youth (ages 4-12)
Local tips: Access 20% off admission with the Calgary Recreation pass. You can find a link to the pass, along with additional pricing and offers HERE. They also hold a variety of concerts and events, from Candlelight Concerts to interactive PlayLab experiences, so there is something for the whole family.
You know we couldn’t make this list without mentioning the iconic Calgary Stampede. While thousands of visitors from across the country, and world, make their way to Alberta for this long-admired event, the heart of the stampede lies with the locals.
From live music and next-level performances and attractions to incredible food and vendors, the stampede is nothing short of a good time, and something that should be on everyone’s summer to-do list.
Dates: July 3-12, 2026
Cost: General admission to Stampede Park is $28 for adults and $17 for children ages 7–12. Additional tickets are available for select events and shows, depending on what you’d like to attend.
Local tips: Avoid driving to Stampede Park – it’s expensive, and traffic is a nightmare. Calgary Transit runs the CTrain 24 hours a day during Stampede, so getting to Stampede Park via transit is very streamlined.
Some places are best experienced beyond a weekend getaway, and Calgary is one of them. With more time to settle in, you'll discover the neighbourhood cafés, scenic pathways and local favourites that make the city such a wonderful place to live.
Whether you're relocating, travelling for work, or enjoying an extended stay, Premiere Suites offers fully furnished accommodations for stays of 30 days or longer in Calgary and surrounding communities. With all the comforts of home and locations that put you close to everything, you'll have the perfect home base to experience Calgary like a local.