How places, partnerships and people shape placemaking in East Village

    · 8 min read

    Every year, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) invites Calgarians to gather, connect and explore East Village through events shaped by the community’s places, partnerships and people. Creative placemaking is central to CMLC’s role as steward of the East Village master plan, and one of the ways we deliver on that mandate is through East Village Live: a dynamic, year-round series of free, family-friendly events that bring residents and visitors together to experience all the neighbourhood has to offer.

    Fall’s Puptoberfest was the fifth event of the 2026 East Village Live season, which has also included Vintage Night Market, Rock the Village, Indigenous Market, and Movie on The Rise, and will conclude with our annual Light Up the Square event in December. From live concerts in East Village’s outdoor plazas to a dog fashion show on Jack & Jean Leslie RiverWalk, CMLC leverages thoughtful placemaking and programming to support the long-term vision for East Village as a vibrant, active neighbourhood and year-round destination.

    As we look back on 2026, we reflect on the elements that help bring these events to life.

    Movie on The Rise, August 2026.

    Place designed for programming

    Well-designed spaces create the foundation for successful placemaking.

    CMLC considered placemaking in the early stages of the East Village Master Plan development, before roadways and buildings had even taken shape. Then for nearly two decades, we’ve tailored our placemaking approach to the community as it has evolved. East Village Live events leverage the public spaces envisioned in the East Village Master Plan to deliver unique opportunities and experiences shaped by place.

    At Rock the Village in April, live performances across RiverWalk Plaza, Celebration Square and 5th Street Square invited people to explore the neighbourhood’s unique plazas and gathering spaces. These places, developed with placemaking in mind, offer a variety of seating options, flexible multi-use surfaces, and design that draws people in, creating the foundation for great public events.

    In August, the nine-meter-high natural amphitheatre at St. Patrick’s Island provided a memorable setting for Movie on The Rise, a beloved, annual family-friendly outdoor movie night now in its 11th year. CMLC designed The Rise as an innovative solution to contaminated soil and an opportunity for future placemaking during the restoration of St. Patrick’s island, and since its opening, it has become a favourite gathering place for Calgarians and the backdrop of hundreds of community events.

    “Investing in great spaces is an investment in the future vitality of a community,” says Joanna Pesta, CMLC’s Senior Manager, Events & Programming. “Because they were designed with placemaking in mind, the plazas and parks throughout East Village make it possible for our team to dream up and execute events that build a more connected and vibrant community.”

    A circle dance at the Indigenous Market at Confluence Plaza on St. Patrick's Island, June 2026.

    Partnership expands possibility

    Partnerships are central to CMLC’s placemaking approach, bringing specialized knowledge, trusted relationships, distinct creative perspectives and new audiences to our events.

    “The two markets we hosted in 2026 are great examples of how partnerships make great events possible,” says Joanna. “With our market partners, we were proud to create two unique opportunities for residents and visitors to gather and discover incredible local vendors and artisans.”

    In February, CMLC’s Vintage Night Market kicked off a three-weekend long winter festival: the inaugural East End Cold Spell Winter. As part of the festival – which was delivered by The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, Calgary Folk Music Festival and Skijor Canada – CMLC worked with long-time partner Easy Days Market to curate a vintage fashion shopping experience aligned with the festival’s vintage western and 80s ski aesthetic.

    In June, a first-time partnership with Autumn Eaglespeaker of Eaglespeaker Group Inc. brought together more than 20 local makers, drummers and dancers, and an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper for a celebration of art and culture on St. Patrick’s Island. CMLC also partners with National Music Centre to select the Rock the Village lineup, which this year saw three artists recognized as part of The Canadian Folk Music Awards Folk Music - Boreal, Rachel Therrien, and Mallory Chipman.

    Partnership and collaboration across local organizations expands what we can offer and enables our team to host inclusive events that reflect the diversity of the community and draw people to East Village.

    The Engagement, Activation, Street Team (EAST) at the Vintage Night Market as part of East End Cold Spell in February 2026

    People-centered Planning

    Our placemaking approach is not complete without considering the people who live in and visit our neighbourhoods. Through conversations, surveys and research, we regularly work to better understand the people who live, work and visit East Village so we can build and activate the community they want to spend time in.

    Both the Vintage Night Market and Indigenous Markets, for example, were conceptualized through feedback received that indicated residents were interested in outdoor markets and connecting with local makers.

    Early on, we identified the important role dogs play in the lives of our community members, which has allowed us to develop the neighbourhood with dogs in mind. As residents and their dogs moved into the neighbourhood, we built the East Village Dog Park to create opportunities for connection between residents, visitors, and their dogs, and programming like Puptoberfest taps into this enthusiasm with a playful fall festival and dog fashion show.

    In December, the 2026 East Village Live season wraps up with Light Up the Square, a more intimate annual event that invites neighbours to meet and build community over hot chocolate, carols, and the lighting of the 5th Street Square tree.

    The community gathers at the annual Light Up The Square event at 5th Street Square in East Village, January 2026

    As the community has evolved, so too has our placemaking and programming strategy. With more Calgarians choosing to live, work and play in East Village, our programming approach is rooted in creating a sense of belonging, inclusion and connection to a place.

    “Understanding our community’s interests and providing a variety of events ensures there is something for everyone. High energy events like Puptoberfest draw people across Calgary and then more intimate events like Light Up the Square bring out the local crowd looking to make meaningful connections with their neighbours,” says Joanna. “Both types of events are important for building a vibrant community.”

    As East Village evolves, creative placemaking and programming will remain central to CMLC’s work in the community. Altogether, the 2026 East Village Live season demonstrates how thoughtful planning creates successful placemaking – from the early stages in the master plan development to leveraging community partners and considering the people who make up the community.

    Learn more about East Village Live and sign up for the East Village Newsletter to stay up to date on the events, programs and great places to visit throughout the community.

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