From festivals celebrating entire continents of culture to grandiose community block parties, there are great annual cultural and community events in Calgary.

Here are some of the big ones to mark in your calendar:

• Afrikadey! earns its exclamation mark with an exuberant celebration of African culture 
• BBQ on the Bow is a barbecue competition at Eau Claire Market
• The Calgary Dragon Boat Races see competitors stroke their way across the Glenmore Reservoir
• The Calgary Stampede, the grand poobah of Calgary festivals, is an outdoor show like no other 
• Carifest is the best Caribbean party you can find north of 49^th parallel
• The Fourth Street Lilac Festival rejoices in the arrival of Mission lilacs with a jammed street-long party
• GlobalFest is a fireworks competition and international festival in the northeast
• Marda Gras is Marda Loop’s annual community event that embraces the culture and cuisine of New Orleans
• Once Upon a Christmas is Heritage Park’s annual frontier Christmas event
• The Sun and Salsa Festival pays tribute to hot weather and hot food in Kensington
• Sunfest is Inglewood’s sweet renaissance block party
• Taste of Calgary is a one-stop sampling party of the cuisine of Calgary’s restaurants
• Winefest is all about the fermented grape – it happens every February