Calgarians of all ages gathered at Tomkins Park on 17th Avenue for A Carnival of Curiosities — a weekend-long Halloween festival running until Oct. 26.
The free all-ages event featured fire breathers, DJ’s playing spooky Halloween remixes, circus acts and much more.
Tulene Steiestol, the executive director of 17th Avenue’s business improvement area, hopes events like this will encourage Calgarians to visit 17th Avenue and support the many businesses within it.
“What makes us really special is that the local businesses are fully supportive of this,” Steiestol says.
“We have a two hour Halloween trick-or-treating component and we’ve got 60 businesses that are opening their doors and letting all the costumed kids come through and grabbing candies.”
A DJ and a dancing robot kick off the Carnival of Curiosities in Calgary’s Tomkins Park with live music on Friday, October 24, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
Attendees get their fortune told at Tomkins Park in downtown Calgary during the Carnival of Curiosities on Friday, October 24, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
A member of Cirque de la Nuit passes attendees on stilts in Tomkins Park in Calgary for the Carnival of Curiosities event on Friday, October 24, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
Two young spectators watch the performance from dancers and magicians during the Carnival of Curiosities in Calgary’s Tomkins Park on Friday, October 24, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
A dancer performs a hula hoop routine during the Carnival of Curiosities Halloween event in Tomkins Park in downtown Calgary on Friday, October 24, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
An attendee in a panda mask dances to the music at the Carnival of Curiosities in downtown Calgary on Friday, October 24, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
A festival performer dances with a hula hoop in front of a large crowd at Tomkins Park in Calgary for the Carnival of Curiosities on Friday, October 24, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER
Many attendees were dressed up for the event, including dogs for a pet costume contest. Interactive art installations were also present, with some being portals to other dimensions.
Overall, the event was designed to celebrate the many people and businesses of 17th Avenue, and served as a fun way for families to spend their weekend in the heart of the city.
A canine costume contestant dressed as a true wiener dog in Tomkins Park for the Halloween event on Saturday, October 25, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
A small pup in pumpkin attire at the Carnival of Curiosities in Tomkins Park in Calgary on Saturday, October 25, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
Another dog costume contestant this Halloween at Tomkins Park in Calgary on Saturday, October 25, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
A dog dressed as a chicken for the Carnival of Curiosities dog costume contest at Calgary’s Tomkins Park on Saturday, October 25, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER 
There’s a new sheriff in Tomkins Park and he’s ready to compete in the Carnival of Curiosities costume contest in Calgary on Saturday, October 25, 2025. PHOTO: GREG DERER
