As we move into June and the summer season with the weather warming up, many of us can’t wait to get outdoors and enjoy what our neighbourhoods and wider city have to offer, whether it’s getting active or dining al fresco. It’s especially important to take advantage of these options this year at a time when many of our usual indoor activities may remain closed. Here are a range of ideas for enjoying outdoor living this June and beyond, including suggestions for quality time with Dad this Father’s Day, June 20th.
A wonderful way to get to know our city and to discover new parks around Calgary is bird spotting, or birding.
Why not take a fresh look at Bowness Park this summer through the eyes of a birder? You might see a Great Horned Owl, Mallard Ducks, and for sure lots of chickadees and nuthatches.
Pay a visit to Nose Hill Park, Confederation Park and Dale Hodges Park to see what other birds you can spot. Check out our bird photography blog for a refresher on some local birds here!
Bowness Park is also a good choice for a barbeque with friends and family like, as are Edworthy Park and Riley Park.
BBQ pits and stands are available for booking and all parks with picnic areas allow you the option to use a personal propane barbeque. Book a picnic site or BBQ site in Bowness Park, Edworthy Park and several other parks here.
Don’t need a barbeque? U/D also offers a number of park spaces perfect for a picnic from the North and South ponds to the Northwest Commons Park. All are great spaces to eat al fresco! For a wide choice of meats, veggies and buns for your BBQ, stop by Save-On-Foods.
The Bow River is renowned as one of the best freshwater trout rivers on the planet, with Calgary gaining a reputation as the Montana of the North. Get out and enjoy quality time with Dad among awe inspiring local nature.
For all your fly fishing needs, visit Iron Bow Fly Shop at 163, 5005 Dalhousie Drive NW.
A special meal at home, on your balcony or patio, or at a nearby park without any of the preparation is also an option with takeaway available from local eateries including from Sesame, Five Guys, Freshii and BarBurrito in U/D.
Offering a wide choice of healthy bowls, salads, wraps, soups and more, you can order Freshii in store, through the Freshii app, on freshii.com, or from your local 3rd party delivery apps.
Burritos, quesadillas and tacos from BarBurrito are the perfect option for family coming together. Choose from the menu and get the BarBurrito app!
The City of Calgary has invested greatly in public art in recent years. Look for the works of local Calgarian artists’ and famous artists from all over the world in NW Calgary and the wider city.
View the City of Calgary public art maps for NW Calgary and citywide here.
Watch for details on upcoming mural projects in U/D that you can be a part of! We can’t wait to add some unique touches to the community with your help.
As part of the 18th Calgary Underground Film Festival, three nights of the drive-in screenings will take place at 10pm on June 3rd to 5th at Crossroads Market at 1235 26 Ave SE, Calgary. For movie details and tickets visit here.
The Drive-In at Spark Science Center in partnership with B!G Art also takes place in June. For the new and exciting 2021 movie line-up, see here!
Fancy more driving action than a drive-in? Take a drive out of town to Calgary Farmyard where there’s pedal carts and ziplining. Enjoy the petting corral, bunnyville, pony rides, pig races, bucking bulls, the goat wall and games among its 35+ child friendly attractions.
Back by popular demand the weekly Zumba classes at the North Pond Amphitheatre are returning this year. Certified Fitness instructor Monica Lopez is excited to be back in U/D offering summer fitness. Classes will follow all safety protocols and are first come first serve. Watch for details on the return of classes once current restrictions allow them to resume. Watch our social media channels for future details!
With warmer weather arriving we have an exciting pop-up coming to U/D this summer!
Village Ice Cream
Joining the Retail Main Street in Block 23 in the near future you can get an early taste of Village Ice Cream this summer. They will be located outside the Discovery Centre on Thursdays 3 – 6 pm from June 3-September 9, 2021 for a pop-up experience. Stop by for a complimentary Little Villager single serving of Village Ice Cream. Donations are welcomed and will support local charity I Can for Kids that helps feed children and youth impacted by hunger all year long.
Watch for details about other exciting pop-ups coming to U/D soon!
Learn more about University District with a visit to our Discovery Centre! Click here to learn more!
Whatever activities you decide to pursue this June, we wish you a safe and fun time discovering the outdoors and to all the dads, a very happy Father’s Day! Share your suggestions and activities with us and the community on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The University District blog is a resource for Calgarians who want to live, work, play, visit or buy in the northwest. We will provide you with information, stories, news and a closer look at the things that matter so you can live a more inspired, active and connected life in NW Calgary at University District… Life works here.
Join the Discussion