Calgary 
With August upon us, now is the time to fit in as much travel as possible before the end of the summer.
Credit: Sunny Spot
Kids and adults alike will soon go back to school, and the weather will start to get colder. So take advantage with these August day trips from Calgary. Included are several ideas, inspirations, and ways to get out of the city without paying for accommodations.
The summer festivals and celebrations continue to pop up all around Calgary, and the weather remains warm enough for enjoying the great outdoors.
A Corn Maze, or a Sunflower Maze
Don’t let the winding down of summer get you down. Take advantage of the late summer blooms with a trip to these nearby farms. You’ll find a corn maze to take on, and a massive field of sunflowers for the best August family photos.
- Experience an adventure in the T-Rex-shaped corn maze, situated beside The Sunny Spot restaurant, a charming seasonal outdoor eatery in the scenic Canadian Badlands. Explore the 5-acre maze and afterward, savour a delicious meal at the picnic tables with breathtaking views of the iconic valley. The venue is also home to a professionally designed 18 hole miniature golf course.
- The Bowden Sunmaze contains over one million sunflowers in a field open to the public for walks, photo shoots, and flower u-ick.
- Sunflower Valley Farms in Lacombe invites the public to experience their breathtaking sunflower fields during the bloom season. Visitors can stroll through three different trails of varying lengths, enjoying the beauty of towering sunflowers in vibrant yellows and soft golds. Trails are suitable for all levels, offering a relaxing and picturesque experience lasting between 10 to 30 minutes.
Lazy Floating Trips Near Calgary
August is an excellent time to take advantage of lazy river floating trips. First, the weather is likely to be nice and warm. Second, the rivers have generally slowed a bit since the spring melt and run-off season. You may even spend the day floating through the city of Calgary on the Elbow or Bow Rivers.
- The Red Deer River offers two route options for a lazy river float through the city of Red Deer: Fort Normandeau to Bower Ponds (6.4km); or, Bower Ponds to the McKenzie Bridge (4.8km).
- Float the Bow River and start right after the Rockies near the Ghost Reservoir. This route will take you to a bridge and parking area in Cochrane.
Birding and Nature Photography
A great deal of Alberta’s migratory bird populations will begin to gather for their migration to the south. While the migrations may not start until later in August, or even later in September, the groups are easier to spot in August. Around Calgary, you have a good chance in August at spotting loons, meadowlarks, falcons, eagles, owls, and herons, to name a few.
- Big Hills Springs Provincial Park, northwest of Calgary, could be a nice and quiet place to spot larger foothill birds like eagles, falcons, or owls.
- Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, southeast of Calgary, is on Lake Newell, and may reveal pelicans, great blue herons, ducks, bitterns, and more.
- Frank Lake is a Ducks Unlimited Canada site with a boardwalk trail, interpretive panels, and viewing platforms.
Visit a local farm for Alberta Open Farm Days
Alberta Open Farm Days will take place on August 19 and 20 with an aim to educate the public on local farming. The event will see dozens of farms across the province open their doors to the public with activities, workshops, and other experiences.
- Your Local Ranch near Airdrie offer a chance to learn more about their ranch business and meat shop on August 19th.
- The Farm & Lazy U Ranch will participate in both days with samples of products, also on display and for sale, and meet and greets with their horses.
- The Cherry Farm near Innisfail will host orchard tours, and demonstrations and will have real fruit ice cream for sale.
Celebrate Heritage Day in Alberta
The Heritage Day long weekend is coming up soon, and there are a few different ways to take in some history on your August day trip from Calgary. Your trip could include farming history, natural disasters, and geology, too!
- The Frank Slide Interpretive Centre will take you on a scenic drive about 2-hours south of Calgary. And to celebrate Heritage Day, the Centre will host activities from August 3 – August 7, 2023.
- The Okotoks Erratic, or ‘big rock,’ is an outdoor attraction worth a visit on any day trip south of Calgary. The site offers a massive look into Alberta’s geological heritage and history.
- The Stephansson House and Historic Markerville Creamery Museum are located near one another in the quiet Alberta countryside north of Calgary. The Stephansson House hosts “Weekends at Steph’s House” all summer with additional programming, while the Museum offers a chance at learning about the dairy farming in the area.
Find an Outdoor Movie near Calgary
Warm summer nights are best spent at the drive-in! And even if you don’t have a vehicle, there is an outdoor movie event you coming up in August of which you can still take advantage.
- The town of Sylvan Lake has a unique experience this August for an outdoor movie night through the JAWS at the Lake event. The event will screen The Shallows, on a large inflatable screen, and you’ll get to view from your floaties in the water. Additional activities will pop up on Lakeshore Drive.
- The High River Sunset Drive In will have showings for each weekend in August. This is an authentic drive-in movie experience, and the films include classics like The Wizard of Oz, Twister, Willy Wonka, 101 Dalmatians as well as many other newer movies.
Festivals Near Calgary this August
Celebrate the final days of summer with some more rodeo and midway fun, or new music. This August, there are two festivals coming up which easily work as a day trip from Calgary. Turn it into a date, a quick family getaway, or your next road trip with friends.
- Day passes are available for the Southern Alberta Music Festival (August 11-12, 2023). This event is held at the Aspen Crossing Train Station & Campground in Mossleigh.
- Take your travels about 2-hours to south to Lethbridge this August for Whoop-Up Days (August 22-26) and the city’s Pro Rodeo (August 24-26).
- Celebrate this local crop with the town of Taber during the annual Cornfest. This family-friendly event includes a midway with fair rides and fair food, fireworks, live music and entertainment. (August 24-26)
Take a Small Town Food Tour
Get to know different towns and small cities around Calgary through the local food scene. A day trip may require a few meals, so plan around some of the local shops for picnic food, or local cafes, bakeries, and restaurants, for dine-in experiences.
- Okotoks ChiliFest & BB Showdown is sure to tantalize your taste buds at Downtown Okotoks.
- Enjoy delicious food & drinks crafted by local vendors, a beer garden showcasing some of the local favourites, along with live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and a marketplace during Cochrane Food Fest!
- You’ll find many local eateries along either side of Highway 2A in High River. This is all also near the George Lane Memorial Park and Campground where you’ll find several picnic areas.
- Travel north to Sundre to try a variety of local restaurants, many of which are on the town’s Main Ave. W (or the Cowboy Trail).
- Drumheller is an excellent day trip destination for many reasons, including the local food scene. Explore the city’s Riverside Drive to find places to picnic and dine.
Take an Evening Stargazing Trip
August will be an excellent month for stargazing trips. You’ll have the Perseid Meteor Shower to follow during the middle of the month, and a full moon on August 30.
- Relax under the dark skies next to the U of C’s Observatory. They hold regular public events, with the next on August 11, 2023.
- The Big Sky Observatory is about halfway between Calgary and Lethbridge and close to High River. They are hosting a stargazing event for the Perseid Meteor Shower on August 15.
Farmer’s Markets near Calgary
Later August will be an excellent time to check out the goodies at Alberta’s farmers’ markets as we approach the harvest season.
- Annual Priddis and Millarville Fair (August 19 & 20) draws over 500 exhibitors with 4000 bench entries. The event offers free activities and attractions, including pie auctions, pie-eating contests, hayrides, petting small animals, and more. The fair emphasizes friendly competition, live animals, hands-on activities, and diverse topics like agriculture, arts, handicrafts, and equestrian events. Visitors can enjoy the renowned Millarville Farmers’ Market and artisan markets, participate in various races and tug-of-war, and explore educational exhibits on farm life and wildlife.
- The Banff Farmer’s Market is every Wednesday, making it an excellent way to break up a week with a day trip. Browse the local mountain goodies at Central Park in town.
- Spend a Friday in Okotoks with the Farmers’ Market on the west side of Highway 2A, open every Friday.
- The Cochrane Farmers’ Market makes a convenient choice for Saturday day trip plans.
