Calgary 
Calgary has a lot to offer for a memorable date night for all four seasons.
Credit: Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert
And through May, there is even more to do in the city. May long weekend is a key time for outdoor attractions opening for the year, while the general warmer weather of may lends us more outdoor date ideas. Below are ideas for those warmer spring days, but also for the rainy days of May.
These date ideas for Calgary in May cover a variety of interests, activities, and ways to treat someone special.
Live Music or Theatre
Make the special evening about the entertainment with one of these live concerts or plays coming up in Calgary this May. These cover a wide array of musical and theatrical genres, too!
- Jubilations Dinner Theatre’s Journey to the 80s plays for the entire month with the final show on June 1.
- The Mount Royal Conservatory’s Jazz on Lincoln Park present their final show of the year on May 17th.
- The Music Man will be live courtesy of Calgary’s Storybook Theatre starting May 10.
- Help Alberta Theatre Projects celebrate 50 years of local shows! This May, the group presents The Birds and the Bees at the Martha Cohen Theatre.
- A variety of shows will play this spring at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium including Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert, and the Alberta Ballet’s in Der Wolf & The Rite of Spring in May.
Spirited May Festivals
Both of Calgary’s food and drink festivals happening this May are conveniently taking place in the same place. Stampede Park will be the home of the 2024 International Beer Festival, and Caesar Fest two weeks later.
- International Beer Festival (May 3-4) is a huge sampling event for beers, cocktails, and spirits from all around the world.
- Don’t miss Calgary’s ultimate celebration of Canada’s national cocktail. The YYC Caesar Fest (May 18-19) offers over 40 sampling opportunities, a market, and local food.
Market Shopping & Dining Dates
A few notable markets are popping up in Calgary this May. Along with the city’s regularly scheduled markets, these May market opportunities provide a number of ways to have a fun afternoon out together.
- After 30 years, Calgary’s Eau Claire Market says “goodbye!” Join them for the Eau Claire Farewell Market celebration (May 11) to make a date out of shopping, dining, or shopping for dinner later on in the night.
- Highfield Food & Beverage Market Fest (May 18-19) will give you a reason to get outside, take a walk downtown, and find unique things to do for a date plan.
- Inglewood’s Pollinator Park Market will begin for the season this May and host local vendors until October 29, 2024.
- U/D is partnering with Marketspot to bring Calgarians night markets on the last Wednesday of the month from May to September.
- Easy Days Pop-Up Markets are back in East Village starting May 25! Hosted by All Things GQ, these markets showcase local designers, artists, creators, clothing curators and more.
Check out a new Restaurant Together
These eateries in Calgary have only been open about a month or so; show the local spots some love while treating your date to something new to eat or drink.
- Hanyang Korean Restaurant have been open in Calgary for about a month and provide options for a lunch or dinner date.
- Hunny’s were a regular pop-up ice cream shop in Calgary who celebrate their grand opening for their physical store in April 2024. Treat your date to one of Hunny’s refreshing or fruity ice cream flavours for dessert.
- The Office Restaurant & Bar, in the CORE Shopping Centre, is a perfect new spot for snacks, cocktails, or shareable plates.
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Date Ideas for a Rainy Day in May
Spring, especially in Calgary, comes with unpredictable weather. Save these plans for the next rainy day in May. Any of these ideas pair perfectly with brunch, lunch, or dinner as well.
- Even on a rainy day, Calgary has a great garden location for an indoor picnic! Visit theDevonian Gardens in the CORE Shopping Centre to avoid any bad weather.
- There are several arcades in Calgary which also serve food and drink! Have a fun evening with arcade or tabletop games, cocktails, or dinner from spots likeThe Rec Room,GRETA, orThe Banquet.
- Visit one, or a few, of Calgary’s local museum and indulge in a bit of history before grabbing lunch or dinner:Hangar Flight Museum,Studio Bell National Music Centre, or Calgary’sMilitary Museums.
Hit Calgary’s Best Patios
When the sun does show itself, take full advantage of the warmth with a patio date. Most of Calgary’s restaurant, pub, brewery, and café patios open as soon as weather permits.
- Downtown Calgary and near the Bow River is a good place to find a variety of rooftop patios:The Rooftop YYC,The Wilde on 27, or Simmons Rooftop Bar, all offer dining with a view.
- Find several brewery patio options in Calgary’s Inglewood neighbourhood: find a sunny place for a beer together atHigh Line Brewing,The Dandy Brewing Company, orEvil Corporation Brewing.
- Book a more upscale patio and gourmet dining experience with Calgary’s riverside eateries:The River Café, or theBow Valley Ranche Restaurant.
Day Trip & Picnic
There are, of course, several beautiful places for a picnic within Banff National Park, which is easy to access from Calgary within a day. These picnic area ideas will keep the plans a little closer to home with smaller crowds, too.
- Quarry Lake Park in Canmore is a little over an hour drive from the city with all the nearby amenities of the town. The park offers several picnic tables, beautiful scenery, and a sandy beach.
- Bow Valley Provincial Park’s Canoe Meadows day use area (in Kananaskis) is an incredibly scenic picnic area with access to trails, washrooms, picnic tables, and shelters. The picnic area is about an hour drive from Calgary.
- Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park is on the banks of the Bow River with riverside picnic areas and trails. The nature trail along the Bow River is a great place to view or listen for the many birds of the park.
- William J. Bagnall Wilderness Park is a quiet and hidden park in Mountain View County. The park offers a historic walking trail, picnic areas, and foothill scenery.
Dates at Calgary Attractions
Heritage Park
Calgary’s open-air museum and historical village are officially open for the season May 18th. From then on, the park serves as a unique date idea for anyone interested in local history, or for anyone new to Calgary. The village is filled with actors in costume, authentic experiences, a working train, shops, and restaurants.
- During the off-season, the park’s Gasoline Alley Museum is open!
- On May 14th, the park will host a Dinner and a Movie event featuring My Fair Lady.
- Explore Western Canada’s Largest Outdoor Quilt Show on May 25 & 26! The heart of the festival is the marvellous collection of quilts displayed throughout the Park.
Fort Calgary
The upcoming events from Fort Calgary this May offer date plans for people with varying interests! The Fort begins their summer hours in May, too, for guided or self-guided tours.
- The month of May at Fort Calgary kicks off with a Star Wars Trivia Night!
- Learn together through a hands-on workshop for making tote bags or beading.
- Make it a mom date with Mother’s Day at the Fort, including activities and a meal.
- This May, the Films at the Fort Series will screen Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, and The Lego Batman Movie.
Calgary Zoo
The Calgary Zoo is open seven days a week all year-long! A date at the Zoo could include a walk around the grounds, or you could plan around the upcoming events at the Zoo. These events enhance the visit to the Zoo with extras like dining, activities, plus the regular admission.
- This May, the Calgary Zoo will host two adult-only events to create unique and memorable date plans. The Grazers Dining Series will host a dinner and wine tasting event on May 17, while the Locked Zoo Polar Pursuit offers an escape game experience (May 25).
Dates in the River Valley
The Bow River and river valley provide us with tons to do any time of year in Calgary. The city’s riverside parks offer plenty of picnic space from the NW to the SE, while each park also has its own unique features.
- Bowness Park’s boathouse and rentals will open for May long weekend. The park offers many scenic riverside areas for a picnic, the lagoon for paddle boating, and trail access.
- Enjoy a peaceful walk around the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary which is sure to be busy for the month of May with a wide array of bird species. The park’s nature centre and interpretive signage offers a ton of information about the wildlife in the park.
- Explore downtown Calgary’s River Walk trail on foot or bikes. The trail runs along a scenic downtown river view, towards the Peace Bridge, around public art displays, and connects you to several neighbourhoods or parks. Nearby are Eau Claire Park, or Prince’s Island Park. And to the south are several dining options around downtown. The River Walk is also part of Calgary’s section of the Trans Canada Trail
Enjoy a Trail Ride at a nearby Ranch
Head out on an incredible sightseeing journey together on your next date. These nearby horse and adventure operators can guide you and your date on an incredible trip through foothill and mountain scenery. The drive to each location will be almost as scenic as your horseback riding.
- Anchor D Guiding and Outfitting is an hour drive from southwest Calgary and can offer half-day rides, or two-hour rides.
- Trail rides from Moose Mountain Horseback Adventures are available starting May 1st. They can be as short as 1.5 hours, and as long as the full day.
For more ideas, see:
Things to Do this May in Calgary
