Season guide · Calgary · Canada
Calgary in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Cszmurlo assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Long, sunny days, festivals and the Stampede; June thunderstorms, and possible wildfire smoke in August. Expect highs up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 34 rainy days across June–August. June–August are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 8°C (46°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 34
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 20°C (68°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 14 | 16.5 h | 3/5 |
| July | 23°C (73°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 11 | 16.1 h | 5/5 |
| August | 23°C (73°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 9 | 14.5 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 22°C (72°F) against a yearly 11°C (52°F), and 34 of the year's roughly 100 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Lilac Festival — street festival on 4th Street SW (usually early June)
- July: Calgary Stampede (ten days, usually early-to-mid July)
- July: Calgary Folk Music Festival on Prince's Island (usually late July)
- August: GlobalFest — international fireworks festival (usually mid-to-late August)
Good choices for summer
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Museum · Northeast Calgary
TELUS Spark Science Centre
Combine with the zoo, a short drive away, for a full family day.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Garden · Downtown
Devonian Gardens
An indoor botanical garden on the top level of the CORE Shopping Centre, under a long glass roof, with tropical plants, a living wall, fish ponds and a children's play area.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Beltline and 17th Avenue
Lougheed House
The formal gardens are a quiet spot for a break between 17th Avenue cafés.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Museum · East Village
Studio Bell, National Music Centre
This curved, terracotta-clad building houses Canada's National Music Centre, with a large collection of instruments and recording gear, including the Rolling Stones' mobile studio and the TONTO synthesizer.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
- Art
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Architecture · East Village
Calgary Central Library
Stand under the cedar-lined entrance arch for the best photo, then take the stairs up through the atrium.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Photo spot
Day trips in summer
- Canmore (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Canmore sits just outside Banff National Park below the Three Sisters peaks, with hiking trails, the Canmore Nordic Centre from the 1988 Olympics and a walkable main street of cafés and restaurants.
- Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (About 2 hours by car) — The turquoise glacial lakes beneath Victoria Glacier and the Valley of the Ten Peaks are the most photographed places in the Rockies.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Calgary?
Yes: June–August are among the best months. Long, sunny days, festivals and the Stampede; June thunderstorms, and possible wildfire smoke in August.
+What is the weather like in Calgary in summer?
Highs of up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 34 rainy days over the season.