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Swerve Festival Guide 2018: May

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Spring is all about planting seeds and nurturing tender shoots. It’s only fitting, then, that festival season jumps into full swing with The Calgary International Children’s Festival (May 23-26). This year, the fun includes a Friday evening pyjama party featuring, for kids eight and older, The Bookbinder, which uses shadowplay and puppetry to tell a dark fairy tale about an apprentice bookbinder. Younger kids can wear their jammies to The Rainbow Fish, a story of co-operation and generosity from Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia.

In keeping with the seasonal imperative of new beginnings, Calaway Park and Heritage Park welcome all comers beginning May 19. Calaway Park throws the switch on 32 rides, including the new Sky Wynder, and the height requirements that go with them. Heritage Park takes advantage of the long weekend to offer three days of time travel with new (Frontier Filmmaking is described as “interactive street theatre) and long-standing attractions, although flood-mitigation work means the S.S. Moyie will not sail this year.

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In happier news, the Asparagus Festival is back at Edgar Farms west of Innisfail for the first time since the hail storms of 2014 wreaked havoc in the fields. The festival runs three consecutive Sundays beginning May 27, and features field tours, an artisan market and the freshest asparagus you’re likely to ever find.

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Similarly fresh takes can be found at the Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival (May 25 to June 2), which includes the world premiere of Outliers: Calgary’s Queer History. The documentary is a project of the Calgary Queer Arts Society, which presents the festival. –Bruce Weir

May Listings

Sowing the seeds of festival season.
Sowing the seeds of festival season. Photo by Faye Rogers /Swerve

A Night at the Festival
When: Saturdays until September
What: Featuring award-winners and audience favourites from the 2017 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival.
Where: Lux Cinema, 229 Bear St., Banff. 1-800-413-8368, banffcentre.ca.

Otafest

When: Friday, May 18 to Sunday, May 20
What: A celebration of Japanese animation and culture featuring costumes, film screenings, concerts, art displays, vendors, gaming and more.
Where: Telus Convention Centre, 120 9th Ave. S.E. otafest.com.

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Calaway Park Grand-Opening Weekend
When: Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20
What: Western Canada’s largest outdoor family amusement park opens for another season of fun.
Where: 245033 Range Rd. 33. calawaypark.com.

Heritage Park Opening Weekend
When: Saturday, May 19 to Monday, May 21
What: The historical village opens for its 54th summer season, offering horse-drawn wagon rides, the thrills of the antique midway and rides on the steam train.
Where: Heritage Park, 1900 Heritage Dr. S.W., 403-268-8500, heritagepark.ca.

Little Britches Weekend
When: Saturday, May 19 to Monday, May 21
What: Featuring the annual parade, River of Music Festival, Taste of High River, farmers’ market, fine art and handcrafted market, and rodeo.
Where: Throughout the town of High River. highriver.ca/littlebritches.

One Tribe Community Festival
When: Saturday, May 19 to Monday, May 21
What: Family-friendly community festival with workshops and DJs.
Where: Camp Chief Hector, Kananaskis. tribefestival.com.

Serbian Festival
When: Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20
What: Featuring Serbian dances, cuisine, workshops, sports and displays.
Where: 16025 243rd Ave E., DeWinton (just south of Calgary along Hwy 2A). serbianfest.ca.

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Acting Irish International Theatre Festival
When: Tuesday, May 22 to Friday, May 25
What: The Liffey Players hosts the annual festival of full-length Irish plays performed by Irish community theatre companies from Canada, U.S., and Ireland.
Where: Irish Cultural Society, 6452 35th Ave. N.W. liffeyplayers.com.

Best of Calgary Ideas Week
When: Tuesday, May 22 to Sunday, June 3
What: Interactive labs that offer an opportunity to connect with the best of our city including an Italian feast, build-your-own-terrarium workshop, behind-the-scenes tour of the Glenbow and more.
Where: Various venues in Calgary. bestofcalgary.city.

Calgary International Children’s Festival
When: Wednesday, May 23 to Saturday, May 26
What: Kids Fest celebrates its 32nd season with shows and activities for every type of kid. Try some real science with Doktor Kaboom, experience the magic of the Rainbow Fish, or sing along to the Okee Dokee brothers.
Where: In and around Arts Commons, 205 8th Ave. S.E. calgarykidsfest.ca.

Bach @ Knox
When: Thursday, May 24 to Saturday, May 26
What: Explore the many aspects of Johann Sebastian Bach with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Ivars Taurins. Featuring concerts dedicated to Bach and Telemann, Bach’s organ classics and Bach and Handel.
Where: Knox United Church, 506 4th St. S.W. 403-571-0849, calgaryphil.com.

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Scotiabank Calgary Marathon
When: Thursday, May 24 to Sunday, May 27
What: More than 10,000 participants take part in the 50K ultra, marathon, half marathon, 10K or 5K family walk and run.
Where: All races start and finish at Stampede Park. calgarymarathon.com.

Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival
When: Friday, May 25 to Saturday, June 2
What: Nine days of LGBTQA programming guaranteed to provoke, challenge and entertain. Now in its 20th season, Fairy Tales features more than 35 screenings of queer film from around the world as well as performances, parties and panels.
Where: The Plaza Theatre, 1133 Kensington Rd. N.W. calgaryqueerartssociety.com.

Hidden Gems Film Festival
When: Friday, May 25 to Sunday, May 27; Friday, June 1 to Sunday, June 3
What: Hidden gems from the nooks and crannies of India including films like Turup (Checkmate), Kaasav (Turtle), Colour of Innocence, Omerta (Code of Silence), Take Off, Song of the Scorpion and more.
Where: Stanford Perrott Lecture Theatre, Alberta College of Art + Design. hiddengemsfilmfestival.com.

The Stage One Festival of New Canadian Work
When: Friday, May 25 to Saturday, June 9
What: Presented by Lunchbox Theatre. Series of free staged readings of new works and audience members are invited to give feedback.
Where: Lunchbox Theatre, 160, 115 9th Ave. S.E. 403-265-4292, lunchboxtheatre.com.

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Taste of Waterton
When: Friday, May 25 to Sunday, June 3
What: A 10-day showcase of the finest, most delicious and unique cuisine that Waterton has to offer.
Where: Various locations in Waterton (three hours south of Calgary). mywaterton.ca.

East Town Get Down
When: Saturday, May 26
What: The new music festival presents 60 bands in eight venues on one jam-packed night.
Where: Along International Avenue (17th Avenue S.E.) 403-248-7288, easttowngetdown.ca.

Festival of Quilts
When: Saturday, May 26 to Sunday, May 27
What: Western Canada’s largest outdoor quilt show, featuring workshops, special displays, a merchants’ mall, Iron Quilt challenge and nearly 700 homemade quilts decorating Heritage Park.
Where: Heritage Park, 1900 Heritage Dr. S.W. 403-268-8500, heritagepark.ca.

Mutt Strut
When: Saturday, May 26
What: Bring your favourite canine and raise funds for the Cochrane & Area Humane Society.
Where: Mitford Park, 201 West Rock Rd., Cochrane. cochrane-tourism.ca.

Panel One Comic Creator Festival
When: Saturday, May 26
What: Celebration of local comic creators with workshops and panels.
Where: Hillhurst-Sunnyside Commmunity Centre, 1320 5th Ave. N.W., panelone.ca.

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Asparagus Festival
When: Sunday, May 27; Sunday, June 3 and Sunday, June 10.
What: After a three-year hiatus (blame the hail storms of 2014) Alberta’s largest asparagus farm once again salutes the noble vegetable with tours, tastings and fun for the kids.
Where: Edgar Farms, 10 km west of Innisfail, edgarfarms.com.

FunnyFest
When: Thursday, May 31 to Sunday, June 10
What: Eleven nights of laughter featuring 22 shows (two per night) and six headline comedians per show.
Where: Eleven venues around Calgary. 403-228-7888, funnyfest.com.

Passport to the World Film Festival
When: Thursday, May 31 to Sunday, June 1
What: Eight beautiful and fascinating features showcase eight intriguing and exotic destinations.
Where: Waterton Lakes Opera House, 309 Windflower Ave., Waterton (three hours south of Calgary). mywaterton.ca.

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