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Central Library

Plan Your Visit

There’s plenty to do and see in the downtown core and East Village.

background image: A photograph of St. Patrick's Island. The photo shows rows of rocks at the front with people sitting on them. In the background, you can see little kids playing and see a visual of downtown Calgary.

Explore downtown’s backyard.

St. Patrick’s Island is just across the George C. King Bridge and offers Calgarians activities for all seasons. Enjoy some fishing or outdoor programming in the summer, or bring your toboggan in the winter to slide down The Rise.

background image: A photograph of the Jack and Jean Leslie RiverWalk. In the picture, you can see people riding their bikes and a dad holding his son's hand and walking.

Relax along the river.

Pedestrians and cyclists move along the Jack and Jean Leslie RiverWalk, beside the Bow and Elbow rivers. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful spot to enjoy a book or want to take part in some outdoor programming, RiverWalk is a cultural hub, recreational pathway, and peaceful destination.

background image: This picture is of the Simmons Building, which is close to the RiverWalk. In front of the building, people are walking, and three people are sitting down chatting and enjoying lunch.

Fuel up for adventure.

Steps from the RiverWalk is the Simmons building, with tenants sure to tempt any appetite. Other historic buildings are also nearby, each restored to enjoy a new lease on life. Don’t pass up a stop at Crossroads — with a playground, community garden, and public art installation, there’s lots to see and do in this space.

background image: A beautiful shot of the bridge over the Bow and Elbow river, which is known as Moh’kinsstis to the Blackfoot — a gathering place for Indigenous peoples for thousands of years.

Stand where stories come together.

The gathering place where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet is known as Moh’kinsstis to the Blackfoot — a gathering place for Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Today, The ⁠Confluence, formerly known as Fort Calgary, is a destination for locals to connect to the land they live on, and where tourists can learn the stories and cultures of this special place.

background image: A photograph of Studio Bell which is one of the anchor points on Calgary's Music Mile.

Take a stroll down Music Mile.

One of the anchor points on Calgary’s Music Mile, Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, is comprised of five floors of exhibitions that tell the story of music in Canada and celebrate Canadian music icons.

background image: A photo of the Calgary Municipal Building, which is next to Historic City Hall. The statue of the horse is visible in the image, as is the statue of the lion at the entrance of the building.

Catch a glimpse of governance.

Calgary’s City Council meets in the Municipal Building, next to Historic City Hall. There are frequently exhibits on display inside the building, and groups of 10 or more can register for a tour of the City of Calgary’s Civic Complex with a volunteer guide.

background image: A photo of Olympic Plaza. In the photo, the Famous Five statues and the wading pool in the background in the summer are visible.

People-watch at Olympic Plaza.

Built to celebrate the ’88 Olympics, this plaza is a prime spot for festivals, and for cooling off in the wading pool in the summer and skating in the winter, all under the watch of the nearby Calgary Tower.

background image: This is a photograph of the "Globe Cinema" at night. It is a picture of the sign, and underneath it showcases film times for that evening.

Take in a show.

Just across the way from Olympic Plaza is Arts Commons, a multi-venue arts centre featuring music, theatre, dance, and everything in between. About a 15-minute walk farther up Stephen Avenue is the Globe Cinema, a classic movie house that hosts many of the film festivals in Calgary.

background image: In this photography, a little girl is holding up her hand and pointing at one of the art pieces at the Glenbow Museum. In the background, a bunch of patrons are standing around enjoying the art.

Find out what’s going on at the Glenbow.

There is always something new to see at the Glenbow Museum pop-up with its frequent rotation of exhibitions from the collection and visiting installations of national and international art and culture.