Lots for Calgarians to do Labour Day Weekend
Choose from Garth Brooks, Pride Parade, Highland Games and the battle of Alberta
Often considered the unofficial end of summer, the Labour Day long weekend is offering Calgarians a number of ways to celebrate in style. Postmedia’s Bill Kaufmann shares some of the highlights.
1. Country music hyperstar Garth Brooks begins a run of seven soldout shows in Calgary this weekend.
Brooks first takes to the Scotiabank Saddledome stage Friday at 7 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. the following day.
The much-loved artist and philanthropist broke a ticket sales speed record for Calgary for the concerts, moving 57,000 in 37 minutes.
His shows have been described as marathon in length and energy, running through a reliable set list of between 26 and 32 songs.
2. The Labour Day Classic on Monday at McMahon Stadium between the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos will hash out first place bragging rights in the CFL’s Western Conference.
The first-place, 7-1-1 Stamps are coming off five straight wins, while the injury-riddled 7-2 Eskimos, who were fast out of the gate, have given up two straight losses.
First in the league defensively, the Stampeders’ offensive numbers are the CFL’s second-best going into the Labour Day tilt.
Calgary has won 14 games in a row at McMahon where the game kicks off at 1 p.m. Monday, which is forecast to have partly sunny skies and a high of 21 C.
The two teams meet for the traditional rematch the following weekend.
3. You don’t need Scottish blood to take a whirl at the Calgary Highland Games on Saturday.
The tartan-flavoured fun gets underway at 9 a.m. at Springbank Park for All Seasons at 32224A Springbank Road south of Calaway Park.
Highland dancing and piping, strength competitions, food and ceremonial events will all be on tap at the games that date back to 1913.
Participants hail from across North America and will face off in heavy lifting events like the sheaf, caber and open stone.
There’s some parking at the site but shuttle service will also be available from the 69th Street S.W. LRT Station, Elbow Valley elementary school and Westlife Church.
4. Calgary is showing its love of diversity Sunday with the annual Pride Parade that marches downtown along its new route of 6th Avenue and 6th Street S.W.
About 60,000 spectators are expected to line the parade route celebrating the city’s LGBTQ community.
The parade, with more than 150 entries, kicks off at noon and is a companion to Pride in the Park, a festival at its new home of Prince’s Island Park.
The party runs from noon to 6 p.m. and will include live music, kids’ activities, a beer garden and marketplace.
The parade is the signature event of Calgary Pride’s 27th annual festival, which runs from Aug. 25 to Sept. 4.
5. One of Calgary’s premier philanthropic events goes down swinging on the Labour Day long weekend.
The Shaw Charity Classic, which teed off Thursday at the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club continues through Sunday.
Among those competing at the tournament are Spanish golf notables Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Benefiting from the millions of dollars the tournament raises are a host of charitable causes, from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary, to Kids Help Phone and Kids Cancer Care.
Tickets for the event are available at shawcharityclassic.com.