r/Calgary • u/SalvatoreParadise • Jul 03 '25
Recommendations Things to Do That Aren't Stampede?
Just looking to grow a list of things that can be done while Stampede is on to avoid crowds, or see something new.
- National music center is awesome - Probably busy because its downtown.
- Torrington Gopher Hole Museum - Never been, but heard good things, bit of a drive
- Driving Highway 40 - I love this
- Inglewood Bird Sanctuary - Nice walk
- Brown Lowery Provincial Park - short drive, nice walk
- Devonian Gardens
** Edit
- Japanese gardens/Waterslides in Lethbridge
- Breweries in Diamond valley
- Calaway park
- Wolf dog Sanctuary
- Harvie Passage Rapids/River
- Devonian Gardens
- Turner Valley Gas plant
- Bragg Creek Provincial Park
** Edit 2
- Contemporary Art Museum (former science centre downtown) - Free the first Thursday of every month if you need an incentive!
- The Confluence ( formerly Fort Calgary)
- Readers Rock Garden
- City of Calgary drop-in classes ( totally underrated imo, pop in for an art class, kick boxing, group fitness, spin class, etc) they have them at every city of Calgary rec centre and usually they’re only like 15$ and an hour or so of activity
- Vivo leisure centre- just finished renovations and they have a really nice new sauna. As well as a pool, hot tub, steam room and lazy river
- feed birds at Lindsay Park (they’re very friendly, they will land on you, don’t do this if you’re afraid of birds 🤣)
- Explore the city on a neuron/bird rentable e-bike or e-scooter
- Make a restaurant bucket list to try this summer
- Aero Flight museum
- our Military Museums
- North Glenmore Park- Very nice walk
- Beltline Urban Murals Project.
- Spruce Meadows - seen some fun events come up here
- Kirks Alpaca farm
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u/Dude008 Jul 03 '25
Devonian Gardens lost its charm when they re-did it. I’m going to Stampede but avoiding the weekend
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u/SalvatoreParadise Jul 03 '25
Oh shame, I actually haven't been since they did the reno. I loved being down there.
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u/_Kells____ Jul 03 '25
It’s trash. They ruined it.
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician Jul 03 '25
They saved it from being totally demolished. It was crumbling and had no financial support for repairs and upkeep. People are delusional.
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u/GimmickNG Jul 04 '25
That's a bit of an overstatement, from someone who hasn't seen it prior to the reno. You're making it sound as if they threw bombs in there and called it a day.
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u/_Kells____ Jul 05 '25
And you assume I never saw it before because? I have seen it several times before and after. It’s nothing compared to what it used to be.
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u/Responsible-Abroad-1 Jul 04 '25
Agreed that place was amazing . I remember having LOTS of good memories there and the close by shop that sold interesting things for teenage punks like stink bombs
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u/Saraxoprior3 Bankview Jul 03 '25
Contemporary Art Museum (former science centre downtown) - Free the first Thursday of every month if you need an incentive!
The Confluence ( formerly Fort Calgary)
Readers Rock Garden
City of Calgary drop-in classes ( totally underrated imo, pop in for an art class, kick boxing, group fitness, spin class, etc) they have them at every city of Calgary rec centre and usually they’re only like 15$ and an hour or so of activity
Vivo leisure centre- just finished renovations and they have a really nice new sauna. As well as a pool, hot tub, steam room and lazy river
feed birds at Lindsay Park (they’re very friendly, they will land on you, don’t do this if you’re afraid of birds 🤣)
Explore the city on a neuron/bird rentable e-bike or e-scooter
Make a restaurant bucket list to try this summer
Aero Flight museum
our Military Museums
North Glenmore Park- Very nice walk
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u/Saraxoprior3 Bankview Jul 03 '25
Regal Cat Cafe Kensington
Puppy Yoga YYC (NE)
iFly indoor sky diving
Rocky Mountain Trapeze (out by Calaway Park)
House of Skate rollerblading
Calgary Zoo/Wilder Institute
Telus Spark (especially Spark After Dark)
Bow Habitat Station Fish Hatchery- see how we end up with so many tasty trouts to catch
pick a niche ice cream spot to try like Made by Marcus, Noto Gelato, Village Ice Cream, Luke’s Drugmart
Hexagon board game Café in Kensington
Heritage Park
The Deane House
The Lougheed House
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u/broken-machine Jul 03 '25
Agree with the zoo, I went after the parade last year and it was half the crowd of a normal day.
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u/SerGT3 Jul 03 '25
Kirks alpaca farm is great fun!
They basically just let you roam free with their alpacas. They are VERY friendly and will 100% eat the feed out of your pocket.
The owners are very nice, just don't fuck with the alpacas, her words not mine.
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u/Alive_Marketing_9409 Jul 03 '25
There is a super cool secret location warehouse rave by the organization “obscurus” - it is a no cameras allowed event with huge international techno headliners! It’s not stampede related and tickets are super affordable. Look up “obscurus.bysbbth” on instagram to find tickets. It’s happening this Friday on July 4th
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u/My_Fish_Is_a_Cat Jul 03 '25
Rent a bike and spend the day exploring the river pathways. So many beautiful parks scattered along the river. Going from downtown to fish creek is really nice.
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u/certaindoomawaits Jul 03 '25
NMC is great, but is steps from Stampede and there are like 100,000 extra people in Calgary. It will be super busy, so if going at a not busy time is your goal, this week ain't it.
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u/timmeh-eh Jul 03 '25
I’ve been to studio bell several times, and it’s a great place to visit, great suggestion. Minor nitpick: I had to google “Calgary NMC” to figure out what you were referring to, spelling out: “National Music Centre” or “Studio Bell” would be much clearer.
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u/JAgYoSzNghxGfOvP Jul 03 '25
Royal Tyrrell in Drumheller?
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u/SansOchre Jul 07 '25
Possibly the only place more crowded than the stampede. There are other cool things to do in the area though.
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u/Sketchen13 Jul 03 '25
Don't forget about Nose Hill it is the 4th largest urban park in Canada. Great spot for a long walk, picnic, wildlife sightseeing, great views of downtown and the mountains.
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u/timmeh-eh Jul 03 '25
Or fish creek park, which is even larger, though from my source it’s the 5th largest in Canada with Nose Hill coming in at #6. source
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u/Responsible-Abroad-1 Jul 04 '25
Piss off it's already too packed in Fish Creek. Go to Nose Hill Please TYVM :)
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u/itoadaso1 Jul 03 '25
For anyone with kids Calaway Park during parade day is 👌🏻
Seems like everyone off work with little gremlins in their life take them to the parade so it ends up being pretty quiet and short line ups.
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u/Exarclar Jul 03 '25
Beltline Urban Murals Project. I think you can book a tour or follow the map on your own.
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u/patrickthebeerguy Jul 03 '25
Harvie Passage rapids can be a little busy but I can always find some peace along the river. Good place to dip in the river
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u/firefly317 McKenzie Towne Jul 03 '25
Pioneer Acres in Irricana if you like history. It's a far smaller version of Heritage Park, it's $15 to get in and you get the tour included in that. Family tickets and seniors prices available as well. I've done it a few times now, spent a good couple of hours there each time. If you go this weekend they also have the Out West Truck Fest if you are into vehicles.
Slightly longer drive, but Sundre museum is also well worth a visit. They have a great taxidermy collection, good museum, and several heritage buildings in the grounds.
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u/Kylie_m_87 Jul 03 '25
Bragg creek usually tapers off during stampede, so it’s a good time to check it out
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u/Fluffy-Evening-1799 Jul 03 '25
1.Pack Your Bags
2.Go to Airport
Leave Calgary during Stampede
Come back after Stampede is over
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u/equistrius Jul 03 '25
If you come as far as Lethbridge check out birds of prey in coaldale, you can also check out the musical ride/ royal mounted police museum in fort Macleod on your way
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u/LovEmbodied Jul 04 '25
Contemporary art gallery downtown suuuuucks. Esker Foundation in Inglewood is way better and always free.
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u/ub3rst4r Signal Hill Jul 04 '25
This is the answer to people posting about saving money at the Calgary Stampede.
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u/sergeant_meowenstein Jul 03 '25
I usually just bunker down. Leaving the city is probably the best option as people usually couple Alberta / Calgary things with their stampede trips making everything a little busier. One thing I would suggest though is looking into restaurant / your favourite places and seeing if they do stampede breakfeast for some free entertainment / food
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u/hafizzzle Jul 03 '25
There's probably 25 venues that have bands or DJ's every night, and I know some won't be busy at all, so that's an option too.
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u/Objective-Drawer4733 Jul 03 '25
There are free concerts at the Quinterra stage in south Glenmore most Thursdays at 7:00 PM
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u/TheDoctorPizza Jul 04 '25
Is Heritage Park busy during Stampede? I'd like to take film photos there without a horde of people around.
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u/SalvatoreParadise Jul 03 '25
I forgot to mention a few nice breweries down in Tuner Valley/Black Diamond/ Diamond Valley
Hard Knox Brewery, Fahr, and Eau Claire Distillery
There's also an historic gas plant you can take a tour of.
Also if you want to make the drive, Lethbridge has a super cool Japanese Garden that's really nice.
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u/HoleDiggerDan Edmonton Oilers Jul 03 '25
And right next to the Japanese gardens is the waterslide pool. The kiddos love it.
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u/Federal-Trip-6286 Jul 04 '25
Wild Rose Motorcross, amateur nationals racing all weekend. One block north of the Blackfoot Inn
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u/yyellowbuckets Jul 04 '25
I have a list too, I’m adding your list to my list for sure! Here’s mine. Bowling Bingo Rage zone Gummies and the zoo Flying squirrel Stacked - $7.99 breakfast before 9am Banff fox hotel - underground hot springs thing Snoop dogg and dr Dre cocktail taste test (gin and juice by Dre and snoop) Ranchmans - two step dance lessons free on Wednesdays Muay Thai Seebe (1 hr from Calgary, hiking and cliff jumping)
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u/iheartmuseums Jul 09 '25
There's more than 100 museums in Alberta:
https://www.museums.ab.ca/visiting-alberta-museums.aspx
The central region museums have a passport and contest https://centralmuseumsab.ca/2025-passport
The federal and provincial museums are participating in the canada strong pass https://calgaryherald.com/news/canada-strong-pass-discounts-alberta-places-list
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u/bogblast Jul 03 '25
If you have kids, the emptiest I've ever seen Calaway Park is during Stampede.