3 years ago we went to Taste of Calgary. It was great fun for whole family. Different venders to try different cuisines and drinks. It was jam packed and took us long time to find parking. It's better to uber ride or take public transport. Long waits and lines to try the samples after paying with tickets. Plus venders are not consistent with sample size. They give plate full to some and just few bites to few. We were disappointed with the quantity they gave us for bang bang cauliflower as that batch finished, so we just got left overs, they could have told us to wait to give us full quantity. Overall a good experience. Have not been there from 3 years now, hopefully they have started managing it well. read more

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The reason for 3/5 because majority of the food we tried were about 2/5 rating in taste and quality. They were not very good for the price customers had to pay for. The portions were small and the food were not always fresh. The experience wise is 5/5. It was fun. The event was well organized. The tickets boots are easy to navigate. There were plenty of place to sit or stand while trying the food. There were outhouse washroom provided. Overall, it's a fun event to visit if you are Okay with compromising the quality and flavors of a lot of the food there. read more

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Typically is held during the first week of August from around noon to well into the evening. They're pretty busy most of the time, but the lines REALLY start forming in the evening, and things did start running out on the day we went. Location seems to vary depending on what they can arrange during that year, so you'll see that they have their location on their website and Instagram as TBD. Watch that, not Yelp. Yelp has them down at 200 Barclay Parade SW Calgary. However, when we went, it was at Lot 6 - 311 8 St SW, Calgary. But as their location changes, so do the parking. We were INCREDIBLY lucky with a parking space right across the street from them. It really was a case of the earlier the better. Entry is free, you pay for food by buying "sampling tickets" which are $1 each and can be bought beforehand online. They also had special sales and contests for free tickets and other goodies held on their Instagram during the days leading up to the event. Each individual stall will have a board up listing how many tickets each item is, which is typically 2 to 7 and we saw most items being 3 to 5. The stalls range from restaurants, bars, bakeries, and food trucks, and they're getting more popular every year. As aforementioned, a lot of the popular dishes (and you'll be able to tell which those are) ran out. If you really want something, better get it sooner than later. Once you're there, you may want a table. Be sure to look further INTO the grounds themselves. There were a lot of people crowding and waiting on the tables at the front, closest to the most obvious entrance. They completely missed the picnic tables, chairs, and tables further inside. The stalls dedicated to alcoholic drinks have their own aisle with standing tables. They also have a dedicated pamphlet that has all the available stalls and their individual menus, which were SO convenient. Definitely 10/10 on foresight because that definitely cut down on the scrambling. They were really on top of keeping their trash cans from overflowing as well. Would also advise bringing Tupperware, wet wipes and napkins, and maybe a bag. Not so much solely for just the Taste of Calgary, but these tend to be useful in general for food festivals. I can confirm that there were dishes here where you needed a wet wipe afterward. Tupperware is great for taking home what you didn't finish. A plastic baggy is useful as a personal trash bag for throwing away things when you're walking and eating, while a normal bag dedicated to just your packed leftovers is good if you are a tourist traveling to more than one place that same day (like us). On a personal note, we're from California, so our/my perspective is a bit skewed. We have lots of food festivals and events in the Bay Area, all of which tend to be VERY EXPENSIVE. This may not be 626 or Foodieland, but it was a big enough festival that we were already in awe about not being charged an entrance fee or having to wait at least half an hour in line just to get in. You would not believe the amount of adulation we made about how cheap everything was, especially considering how the conversation rates at the time. It was the most PERFECT way to start our vacation, especially since we couldn't stay in Calgary very long. So if you're also only in Calgary for a day or two (having flown in) before you're driving out somewhere else (probably Banff), this is the one event you have to go to. XD read more

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Overview: The last time I went to Taste of Calgary was 5 years ago. Compared to then, I found that this year had more vendors and food trucks and was more organized. You can purchase tickets for $1 each and trade them for food samples. Most food samples cost about 4-5 tickets so I would recommend getting 15-20 tickets per person. And yes, they do take credit cards! What we tried: 1. Chicken tikka (Africana BBQ Curries Drinks): the chicken was tender and had great flavour. Would recommend. 2. Thai coconut iced tea (Hearts Choices): I was surprised at how delicious this drink was! The coconut milk really made the drink rich and creamy. Would recommend. 3. Pad thai (Hearts Choices): I found the sauce to be more sour than expected, making the dish less tasty. Would NOT recommend. 4. Pulled pork slider with mini cornbread (Holy Smoke BBQ): the pork was tender, but I found that it lacked flavour. The cornbread, on the other hand, was very buttery and delicious. Would NOT recommend. 5. Pig rotisserie plate with mesquite corn on the cob (Pig and Duke): the pork was tender and I really liked the sauce they put on it. The portion size was big, making it well worth the 5 tickets. Would recommend. 6. Kimchi fried rice with braised pork ribs (Pure Contemporary Vietnamese Kitchen and Bar): the rice was well made and the kimchi flavour wasn't overpowering. The pork was tender and could be easily removed from the bone. Would recommend. 7. Jerk shrimp served with rice (Simply Irie Caribbean Cuisine): I liked how flavourful the sauce was, but I wasn't a fan of the rice. Would NOT recommend. 8. Playboy roll (Towa Sushi): sushi tasted great, but I probably wouldn't spend 4 tickets on 2 pieces of sushi again. Would NOT recommend. 9. Japanese wagyu steak (OMO Teppan and Kitchen): the flavour was great and the steak melted in your mouth. Would recommend. 10. Chicken tamal (Pio Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken): this was my first time trying a tamal dish so I don't have anything to compare it to. I did enjoy the corn flavour. Would recommend. 11. Ice cream churros (Yummy Churros): the dish included vanilla ice cream served with 2 pieces of churros. You could ask for different sauces such as chocolate or strawberry to be drizzled on top. It was a great way to finish off the event. Would recommend. 12. Chili lime mangoes (Que Chico Salvadorian Street Food): a whole mango is peeled, sprinkled with chili lime powder, and served on a stick. The mango itself was sweet, but I thought the powder was too sour. I would recommend getting it with less powder if you're not used to sour taste. 13. Crazy corn on the cob (Que Chico Salvadorian Street Food): I thought it had a very interesting flavour. I would recommend it if you've never tried before, but I probably wouldn't get it again. 14. Nutty waffle (WafflePops): warm waffle topped with strawberries and Nutella. Would recommend. 15. Sweet hickory ribs smoked and BBQ'd in a sweet sauce (Southern Roadhouse Grill): the ribs nicely smoked and the BBQ sauce was amazing! Would recommend. read more

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Well the event is not big. Its my first Taste of Calgary event and I have to say it was ok. Its basically a big spot where all the food trucks are in one location. It also seems that every food truck is selling the same stuff. There are some other stands like TD and Car 2 Go where you get to spin and win. Nothing too WOW. Just ok. read more

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If this is supposed to be a taste of Calgary then where is the diversity from around the city? For the most part, they take the Eau Claire food court and move it outside into tents. Sure there are a few other businesses like Pegasus, but when one of the "tastes" is Mini Melts, a large corporation, that doesn't really represent what Calgary has to offer. Now don't get me wrong, I did enjoy myself, but I just expected more from this festival. They advertise that you can get a taste for only $1, but you're going to be hard pressed to find anything for a buck. I saw one place that had a piece of bread. Everything else was at least $2 but averaged between $3-4. The best area was the beer gardens. This is truly where the festival lives up to its name. There were about a dozen different breweries and liquor vendors to sample. You could get beer, cider, mixed drinks, tequila, rum, whiskey, and more. This area is probably the only reason I would come to check out this festival again. read more

Taste of Calgary - Festivals Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Saying the event was disappointing is an understatement. Having been to many other events in the past I was dismayed at being corralled into a parking lot in the blazing sun. This is no reflection on the vendors or the entertainment. The food looked and smelled great but after waiting in a long line in the sun to get into the event I had very little appetite left. The stage was seperated from the main event by a long row of portapotties(!?) I understand they were trying to manage the crowd size but it made little difference considering the size of the parking lot we were crammed into. Taste of Calgary has always been pricey but compared to Edmonton's event the week prior it is robbery. Next year treat yourself and make the trip to Edmonton. A great big huge venue with shade and lots of space for people to line up and spaces to eat. It has a large entertainment area and the whole place has a laid back vibe. I was really looking forward to ToC this year but after today I regret going. PS. I love dogs (I even have one.) I love mine so much that I would not drag her to a FOOD Festival on a hot summer day in a blistering crowded parking lot. I have never heard so much barking and growling. Be considerate to your pet and leave it at home. (BTW, if your dog needs a muzzle then it doesn't belong at any festival.) read more

This was my first Taste of Calgary and I did enjoy it, who doesn't enjoy eating and drinking in a public park on a beautiful summer day? I thought it was kinda expensive and it was a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be. There was only a handful for restaurants to sample from and they shared similar palates e.g., African restaurant that served curry-like foods across from an Indian restaurant serving curry-like foods. If there were at least 30 restaurants participating each day from different parts of the world, then it would be a real taste of Calgary. I was expecting less known establishments to be there-- not franchises such as Brewsters and Coco Brooks, who had tents there too. So some of the positives: -great location -great human crowds (non-human crowds like wasps was not so great.) -great drinks!** -decent parking Some of the "oh nos": -not enough variety of food (but what I did taste was delicious) -kinda expensive, I spent $25 and went home hungry -the music wasn't loud enough-- and there was a great live band, so this was a major bummer. -WASPS!!! I feel like every wasp in city was at Taste of Calgary. Overall, I think I would go again but maybe just for the beverage garden! It's the best place to get your monies worth. Many of the drinks were a good size for 2-3 tickets. For rum, whiskey, long island ice tea... so most likely, you'll find me at the beverage garden next year :) read more

Taste of Calgary - Tasting this delicious wonder at Taste of Calgary. - Festivals Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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2017: This is my 3rd consecutive year going to Taste of Calgary but first year attending not as a volunteer. When I would volunteer for Taste of Calgary it would be apart of something called the "Free nTeam". This is because the Taste of Calgary event produces so much waste that the city almost shut it down. If the event did not want to be shut down then it had to make changes because one busy weekend was producing a lot of garbage. They made everything compostable from utensils, to the bowls. I love that idea. The reason that this event is only a four start though is because they have very very little seating, which for elderly people or children who may need to sit while eating- this makes it impossible so I wish they would improve their seating options. 2018: 4th year in a row and I still agree with everything I wrote last year. Some the restaurants this year included: minas, africana BBQ Curries and Drinks, Towa Sushi, China Rose, Pure Contemporary Vietnamese Kitchen and Bar, Planet Organic, Hearts Choices, Calgary Heritage Roasting Company, PZA, Foothills Creamery, La Casa Latina Restaurant, World Beer Hause, Dumpling Lab, Kingwuu, etc. read more

Actually I would give it 2.5 stars. It's a good way to get out and taste some restaurants around Calgary. But it really seemd like a repeat of last year. I felt that the booths were cramped together and they could have used a little more space giving room for people to move more freely. Tickets were $1 each, however most items were 2 or 4 tickets with the odd 3 ticket sample in there. Overall it was a nice sunny day but really I think I will hit up a different festival next year and skip this one. read more

Weak Overpriced and underwhelming. This is basically an opportunity for restaurants to cash in on mass prepped food. If taste of Calgary is supposed to be a culturally diverse eating experience they failed miserably. When you have a food truck cooking frozen pizzas and selling them by the slice you know you have missed the mark. Lets try and make this about the small guys with the authentic food next time...not places like the Canadian Brewhouse chain. read more

Fun in the sun! It always seems to be a super hot day for this festival! It is in Eau-Claire and we never have an issue finding free parking on the street. The set-up appears to be the same every year - I always know where the free pizza sample truck is! You buy tickets and then you roam around to the local food stands and pay as many tickets for whatever items that they are serving up. There is a beer garden area that also has wine and whiskey - same tickets apply bought from the same place and all tickets are $1 each. The average drinks sample is $3 and food is about $4 for a small plate to try. I had some saffron ice cream today, that was the best! There are a few clothing vendors too, an Ipad repair stand, Car To Go stand, Shaw, etc. It is crowded, I find it a tight space to go through the throngs of people, strollers and doggies but it makes for a fun time and we like to see what the local offerings are and support these businesses! After you are done roaming around, you can head over to the beautiful Prince's Island Park by the river to walk off any calories you have consumed! For 2 people with drink and some food, we paid $25 for tickets. Not bad. Free to get into the festival. read more

So I was struggling between three and four stars for this event. Part of me is frustrated by some of the ticket prices and portion sizes of some of the vendors yet the other part of me loves the variety and the excellence of the food presented. However, the latter part of me is much stronger than the former, so I ended up with a 4-star review. There are tons of options from Thai, to Indian, to Caribbean, to Greek, to Canadian, so there is something for everyone. The diversity is just amazing and it's a great chance for you to try something that you might not otherwise eat or for you to try a new restaurant all together. I now have a couple of new places on my list of places to frequent (which is already getting quite long.) A review from last year did mention that there needs to be a great spread of places. I don't have any comparison, but there did seem to be decent geographical representation this go-around. It was a little odd, though, that Jackie's Thai (which is in the food court at the Market) was also one of the vendors, but that was the only oddity I could see. The venue is in the entirety of the outdoor space of the Eau Claire market and it's really well used. There are multiple places to buy tickets which are $1 each (so try not to get caught in the one long line at the entrance.) There were about 25-30 vendors this year and then another good group that were in the beer garden area. Like I said earlier, the variety was excellent and most places also had a good sampling of their menu with an appetizer-style dish, a couple of entrees, and maybe a dessert. There were also a couple of dessert-specific booths, such as ice-cream melts. Because of the way the space is laid out, it's perfect for small/large groups, families with kids, and people with dogs. It really is a great way to spend the day and eat some great food. There are also live bands and other vendors to keep yourself occupied while you are digesting your food. The only thing that I would say was that there was a time during the afternoon that it got pretty crowded and the lines were pretty long. Also, towards the end of the afternoon, many of the vendors were selling out of their premium items. So, I would say that getting there earlier rather than later is a good idea. You also need to find a place to park downtown (or take the train) so an early arrival is good all-around. I will definitely be looking forward to this event next year, and I will arrive much earlier. read more

Year over year, this is something everyone should experience. The food, the ambiance, the fun and sun or rain, the good times. Multiple restaurants and bars, all with taster sized samples. Makes trying out a new restaurant less expensive, trying new dishes less of a commitment. I find bringing take home containers a good idea, unless you have an endless stomach. This way, if you are only able to drop by on one of the four days, you can still get all the samples you want to try. Tickets are only $1 each, samples range in price from usually two to five tickets. I always plan to spend about $30 per adult. That is unless you plan to drink. For those who like their alcohol, I suggest a designated driver or taxi and a few more dollars. Always a good time! Even in the rain!!! Good food, good friends and great memories to be made. read more

As my it was my first visit to Taste of Calgary, I was happily surprised with the festival. I have to say that I don't agree with the majority of reviews currently posted. First of all, being a festival you have to recognize that you probably won't be saving money by attending one of these events. There were also a lot of people there and you could easily find the most popular items based on lines alone. I sampled and enjoyed many of the food dishes as well as a lot of the samples available in the liquor area. Being that it was a few weeks ago now, I can remember the one thing that stood out for me and that was the watermelon juice with mango pearls from Bubblicious. I would never have known about this place as it is located so far in the North East but now I will go out of my way to travel there again some time. I had a lot of fun at the Taste of Calgary and got to enjoy many dishes that I would have otherwise avoided. I'll be back next year. read more

You came here to eat ergo spend lots of money on small samples, but if you are a foodie, you will be at home and skip the traps that a noob would fall for like paying 4 dollars for a slider thats all bun lol. Lack of bevvys aside from water or beer, would have loved more choice there. Overall was a very chill and fun walking festival. Spent 55 dollars but was decently satisfied. Props to: banana cake Hong kong shaved ice Steak bites Cabbage rolls / perogy / sausage combo : best value at $5 read more

The taste of Calgary was a great way to try a new multitude of new kinds of foods. I tried so many new kinds of food from so many different nationalities. It was a great new experience for me. I highly recommend attending next year's event. read more

Although this was a "taste" of Calgary the small portion sizes could have been justified if they were priced accordingly. Many items were overpriced for the portion size given. Organizers need to review what vendors will be serving to ensure items are fairly priced and marketed. It would be good if vendors displayed a sample/photo of the plated items being sold so you could see what you would actually be purchasing. We bought $50 worth of tickets at lunch for 2 people and were still hungry when we left. There was a bit of deception involved. For example Blackfly, a beverage vendor, displayed full bottles and cans of alcoholic drinks in front of you that were available. Seemed like a great price to try their products for $2 so you put in your order to find the vendor pull out a tiny little sample cup from behind these products. The sample cups should have been displayed in front of the canned and bottled products so you could see what you would actually be purchasing. We heard many people talk about how they felt deceived in this marketing tactic. Could have gone to the liquor store to sample drinks that size for free. For the amount of money that had to be spent at this event to try to satisfy your appetite it would be better used to go have good lunch at a nice restaurant. read more

I've been frustrated by ToC's recent history and in particular its having the exact same menus and tired list of vendors every year, but this year's event is hitting all the right notes. There are some very innovative tents like the ones from Pure Vietnamese Kitchen and one selling BBQ duck neck (I'm almost intrigued!), good coffee at last from Kaffeeklatsch, a great representation from our exploding craft beer community and a very diverse assortment of food trucks in the spot furthest to the east side of the plaza. I dropped $20 on tickets day 1 and will be back to more damage on day 2. read more

The idea is neat, you get to sample all sorts of different foods, I really like that. Not keen on buying tickets up front and then pay with these for your food, but I can understand why they do it. What disappointed me was the price of the samples. I thought it was overpriced as the samples were pretty small most of the times but the price was usually $3-$6 or more. Isn't this whole event a great advertisement for the participating restaurants? I think they should see it more like this instead of an opportunity to make money. I would have sampled more if the prices would have been a bit more reasonable. read more

This was my first experience with Taste of Calgary and it wasn't too bad. It wasn't quite as big or as busy as I expected, and the dessert selection was sorely limited, but the food I did try was excellent. I wish there had been more restaurants in attendance, as I came ready to spend! At Taste of Edmonton I always went multiple days and spent about $60-$100 on my favorite eats, but at at Taste of Calgary my boyfriend & I together only spent $30! Overall a great way to spend a few hours, but definitely needs a boost. read more

My only reservation is the price was a little high, each coupon cost one dollar and there's hardly anything available for less than five dollars. In other words five coupons. So in total my family of four spent over $50 for lunch which is a little steep... Considering we come from a suburb of Toronto where we could eat massive portions for $40 total and then have enough leftovers for dinner the next day at any of our favourite Chinese or Japanese or Cantonese or Thai restaurants in our area. But prices are high in Calgary so I guess I shouldn't complain too much. The smells were just amazing, there is nothing likeCharcoal barbeques and grilled steak to make my stomach start rumbling before we even get to the location... The crowds were not too bad and the vendors were all very friendly... My favourite was Minas Brazilian steakhouse where we ate the tastiest meat I've had in a while, sausages and steak and chicken, for five dollars per person. Also there is an incredible place they gave us for free ice cream, it was brandy flavoured with candied orange peel and chocolate sauce... I'll look up the name because they need a definite specific shout out -they were very very nice to us and my kids loved it even though they were worried that the ice cream would taste like alcohol charcoal barbeques and grilled steak to make my stomach started rumbling before we even get to the location... The crowds were not too bad and the vendors were all very friendly... My favourite was Mena's Brazilian steakhouse where we ate the tastiest meat I've had in a while, sausages and steak and chicken, for five dollars per person. Also there is an incredible place they gave us for free ice cream, it was brandy flavoured with candied orange peel and chocolate sauce... I'll look up the name because they need a definite specific shout out they were very very nice to us and my kids loved it even though they were worried that the ice cream would taste like alcohol.....it didn't :). Yum!!!!!! read more

This was my first Taste of Calgary and I was extremely disappointed. Smaller venue than expected with not a great variety of food. Most of the food samples were much smaller than I expected and way overpriced. The Restaurants involved are given a great opportunity to advertise their food but were here to make money, which is not the idea for this event. The location is good, music and drinks were good. I will not be attending again unless the Taste of Calgary reads all the reviews, takes them seriously and makes the changes. read more

Probably the worst taste of/bite of festival I have ever been to. The tickets are a stupid idea, the venue is cramped and the food is poor overall. Don't waste your money. read more

It has a long time since I attended the Taste of Calgary event and it seems that it will be a long time again before I consider taking the time and interest again. Prices for food samples were overpriced for sizes available. The beer garden was even a bigger ripoff. When I think of beer garden the picture in my mind is fair pricing on decent-sized glasses of beer as an example with proper places to sit and savour the experience.. What I experienced was receiving a little plastic cup with about three swallows of beer that barely lasted a few seconds. I felt ripped off with the price too. After spending twenty dollars for tickets unaware of what I was getting into, made me feel further cheated. It seems someone wants a big buck at the customers' expense. Thanks a whole heap for ruining an event that I so looked forward to attending. read more

I personally LOVE taking the family down to Taste of Calgary and look forward to it every year. With a 5 year old and an 18 month old, it is VERY hard to find events/places that my husband and I can take the kids to, without being bored out of our minds ourselves. Taste of Calgary is a FREE festival, and you can go down and simply watch the bands, the kids can play in the water park, or just walk around. It is not very often you find a festival with a beer garden that kids can come into as well! They have local vendors...so I can even support my shopping addiction! What I really love about Taste is we can all try things that we would normally never try (especially the kids) for a fraction of the price. In fact, through Taste of Calgary, my daughter has developed a love of foods from many various countries and ethnicities. For about $20.00/person ($100.00 for a family of 4), which I think is very well priced for a full day of activities and food, we can try Caribbean, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Greek, Thai, Italian, Persian, Indian, Irish...just to name a few. Yes, Taste of Calgary has a few 'mainstreem' restaurants, such as Mini-Melts and The Canadian Brew house, but not everyone is adventurous as me. In addition to Taste of Calgary supporting local restaurants, they are supporter's local clubs such as the Chinese Association, Boys & Girls Club and the Calgary Rugbee Association. No, Taste of Calgary is not a festival that attractions hundreds of thousands of visitors, with hundreds of restaurants to choose from...and I like it that way. I will continue to support my City through supporting amazing family fun like Taste of Calgary. read more

I have had some of the best times at this festival. It is well planned out, lots of washrooms, amazing selection of every type of food you could want. The live entertainment is second to none and the location is so beautiful. I also like that it helps out youth and promotes the 'raise a reader program'. Highly recommended for locals and tourists alike. read more

Taste of Calgary is an awesome summer event that I look forward to each year! Food, sun, live music... what's not to love? My friends and I usually go down for sweets and deserts, but you can easily enjoy lunch or dinner too. What's great is that you can get a variety of different cultural foods, and it encourages you to try foods you normal wouldn't... like ox tail! read more