A Special Calgary/Banff Tour Just for You

Not long ago, we mentioned organizing a "Must do Canada" Calgary tour, and hundreds of you expressed interest. Many of you also mentioned that you’d like it to include Banff as well. So, we’ve been in discussions with tour companies to help potentially plan transportation, hotels, attractions, and tour guides. In addition, we’d be planning special events and joining to guide you around as well.

If we make it happen, it looks like it will be in August, taking place over four nights with one full day in Calgary, one full day in Banff, and one full day in Drumheller. The four nights would be in Calgary, and you’re welcome to extend your trip as you wish.

We’re still working with the company to develop pricing, but it looks like it will be around $2,200. This would cover hotel and breakfast, transportation, guides, and all attractions such as Studio Bell National Music Centre, Banff Gondola, a special trip to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, and more.

Read

Want to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Canada

Several major Canadian cities host vibrant Cinco de Mayo celebrations, with 2025 seeing a range of large-scale events focused on Mexican culture, food, music, and community.

Although Cinco de Mayo is May 5th, keep in mind that many of these events take place on the Friday or Saturday beforehand.

In addition, most Mexican restaurants will likely be celebrating with festivities and food specials, so make sure you check out your favourite local Mexican restaurants for more information.

Here are the biggest and most notable Cinco de Mayo events in Canada this year:

Toronto, Ontario

As one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, it’s no surprise that Toronto leads the charge on Cinco de Mayo events, such as:

• Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at La Nayarita: This event transforms Queen West into a lively Mexican street party featuring live mariachi music, dancing, $5 tequila shots, and authentic Mexican cuisine.

• Supernatural Tributo Santana LIVE: An 8-piece band performs Santana's greatest hits at Rosario’s Mexican Cuisine, complemented by Mexican food and drinks.

• Bebesota: Cinco de Mayo Edition: A high-energy Latin dance party at NEST nightclub, showcasing reggaeton, salsa, and bachata.

• PERREOLANDIA – Cinco de Mayo Edition in Waterloo: The region’s biggest Latin party, with live mariachi, DJS, surprises, and giveaways at Room 47. This event has sold out for three years running.

Vancouver, British Columbia

While Vancouver doesn't have a centralized Cinco de Mayo festival, numerous local establishments participate:

• Cinco de Mayo Fiesta 2025: The West Vancouver Legion is proud to present this great annual event with delicious Mexican food, alcohol, music, and more.

• Party in the Park in Chilliwack: Where else can you combine Mexican culture and Star Wars? This family-friendly event combines Cinco de Mayo and Star Wars themes, featuring food trucks, live entertainment, and activities for kids. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes or traditional attire.

• Street Tacos and Handmade Tortillas Cooking Class: Who doesn't love a good street taco? It's Chef Fabi's all-time favourites to make at home,e and now you'll be able to have your own taco party!

Calgary, Alberta

• Pre-Cinco de Mayo Latin Party: Mariachis, Tacos, Margaritas, Live dj's. We have got all your Cinco de Mayo party needs covered!

• Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: Held at the beautiful SharkClub North Calgary, this event features salsa, bachata, merengue, reggaeton, cumbia, and more

Ottawa, Ontario

• Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: Celebrate Mexican heritage at the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in ByWard Market! Dance to live music, savour mouthwatering cuisine, and admire vibrant folkloric art beneath dazzling “papel picado.”

Montreal, Quebec

• Santa Cruz and Cinco de Mayo workshop: At this interactive workshop led by intercultural community organization PAAL, discover the historical facts of Cinco de Mayo, a celebration often associated with stereotypes. Explore the fascinating tradition of Santa Cruz, which is on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and its link to Olmec beliefs about the cardinal directions. The workshop also includes an activity to decorate a cross with paper flowers.

• Mexican music concert: Son Jarocho Montréal is a community-based Mexican music collective that passionately shares the traditional music of Veracruz. As the band performs their vibrant and authentic century-old repertoire, enjoy the lively, festive atmosphere created by the sound of their iconic jarana, requinto and leona instruments, punctuated by the famous zapateado dance.

St. John’s, Newfoundland

• Cinco de Mayo 5K Run/Walk: A festive 5K around Quidi Vidi Lake with medals and post-race drinks at Jack Astor's. This event typically sells out.

Ad

Looking for a Unique Mother’s Day Gift?

Watch

While we don’t have a video about Cinco de Mayo, we do have one featuring some of our favourite Mexican restaurants in Calgary. We also made a video about Oaxaca, one of Mexico’s most colourful states. If you’re looking to experience the “real Mexico”, make sure Oaxaca is on your bucket list.

Beaver Bites

• People often think of Churchill or Nunavut when thinking of polar bears, but they can also be found in Northern Québec, Labrador, and Newfoundland. Just check out this big bear that wandered its way into this small town.
  
  

• Typically, when you hear updates about airlines and luggage, it’s bad news. But not this time. Air Canada is giving passengers more overhead cabin room.
  
  

• We might see clean hydrogen-powered aircraft shortly. After all, this Vancouver-based aviation group just completed the first piloted hydrogen-powered helicopter flight.
  
  

• There are a lot of beautiful and not-so-beautiful airports around the world. If you want to experience the best, here’s a list of the top 20. One of them is in Canada.
  
  

• After almost a decade, Virgin Atlantic is returning to Canada with new direct flights between London’s Heathrow and Toronto Pearson.
  
  

• It looks like British Columbia will be one of the provinces that will benefit from Canadians exploring their own country this year. Airline bookings to B.C. from other provinces are up almost 33% compared to 2024, and some operators are seeing almost double the Canadian bookings. If you want to pre-buy our BC bucket-list scratch-off cards, they will be out in July.
  
  

• If locals can’t save the world’s largest dinosaur, the 150,000 people who travel to Drumheller each year to visit Tyra, the 25-metre-tall dinosaur figure, are going to be very disappointed.

• Want to reach 65k+ Canadian travellers for your brand? Reach out (reply to this email) to sponsor an edition of Must Do Canada.