The museum throws the city's Heritage Day party on the Monday and it does not cost anything to walk into. Around it: a national baseball championship at Great Chief Park, a tennis tournament that has been running since 1906, and two after-dark nature programs that are among the better cheap outings of the summer. Seven things worth leaving the house for. For what is open and closed on the holiday, we have a full guide here.
Heritage Day Hootenanny
Festival
Seven hours of free programming at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery: a haberdashery of local makers and artisans, food trucks, drop-in art making in the studio, gallery tours, a merch stamping station and Lil' Buckaroos Hollow, a dedicated kids' activity zone. It is free because of a raffle rather than a gate, so bring cash if you want to chip in. Parking around 47A Avenue goes early, and the museum sits right by Central Spray and Play if you need to burn off small children afterward.
When: Monday, August 3, noon to 7 p.m.
Where: Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery, 4525 47A Avenue
Cost: Free
Instagram: @reddeermag
National Oldtimers Baseball Federation Championship
Sports
The Canadian championship for players 33 and up runs at Great Chief Park from Friday straight through the weekend, and admission is free. It is the best-value sport in the city this weekend: bring a chair, pick a diamond, and you can stay as long or as little as you want without a ticket.
When: Friday, July 31 through Tuesday, August 4
Where: Great Chief Park, Red Deer
Cost: Free
Alberta Open Tennis Tournament
Sports
One of Alberta's oldest sporting events, running in some form since 1906, takes over the Red Deer Tennis Club for the long weekend. Open-level play means the standard is high and the finals are usually the Monday, so that is the day to turn up if you are only going once.
When: Friday to Monday, July 31 to August 3
Where: Red Deer Tennis Club, 4501 47A Avenue
Cost: Free to watch
Purple Martin Condo Tours at Ellis Nature Centre
Nature
An hour inside the purple martin nesting colonies with someone who knows what they are looking at, out at the old Ellis Bird Farm site in Lacombe County. It is first come, first served, so turn up early. The grounds themselves are free with donations welcome, so you can walk the trails and the gardens for nothing and pay only for the tour.
When: Sunday, August 2, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Ellis Nature Centre, 39502 Range Road 260, Lacombe County
Cost: $8 for the tour; site entry by donation
Alberta Bats Walk and Talk
Nature
A two-hour evening walk with bat researcher Cory Olson at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, five dollars a head. It runs past dark on purpose, which is the whole point, so bring a light, long sleeves and something warm. Space on these fills fast every summer.
When: Saturday, August 1, 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Where: Kerry Wood Nature Centre, 6300 45 Avenue
Cost: $5
Slow Down Saturdays at the MAG
Free
The museum takes its programming outdoors to Central Spray and Play on Saturday afternoons, free, no registration. Bring towels and a change of clothes, because the spray park is right there and nobody stays dry.
When: Saturday, August 1, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Central Spray and Play, 47A Avenue and 48 Street
Cost: Free
Asooahum J.A.M. and Back to School BBQ
Community
A free afternoon barbecue and community gathering down at Asooahum Crossing on Riverside Drive, timed for the back-to-school stretch. It sits right on the river trail system, so it is easy to fold into a walk or a bike ride rather than making a separate trip of it.
When: Saturday, August 1, noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Asooahum Crossing, 4609 Riverside Drive
Cost: Free
Editor's Pick
The Hootenanny. It is the only thing on this list built specifically for Heritage Day, it runs seven hours, it costs nothing, and the makers' market plus the kids' zone plus the open studio means you can bring anyone from a toddler to a grandparent and they will all find something. If it rains, the galleries are right there.
Know an event we missed? Tag us @culturealberta or email hello@culturealberta.com.
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