What an amazing festival and I'm so proud it takes place in East Calgary. It's great to see marquee events that can bring the city together in this area of the city, and it's amazing to see just how much the festival has grown in the last 10 years. I especially like it because I can actually see the fireworks from my house in NE Calgary.
There's a wide variety of foods to sample here, from typical fair food to various cultural offerings. If you plan to partake, it's best to get there early so that you can beat the line ups or at least budget time for them.
I typically take the shuttle bus from Marbourough Mall, which is a $6 round-trip ticket.
My advice is that if you can afford it, get a VIP ticket to watch the fireworks. The VIP location in the park is the prime location to watch the fireworks. After sampling it this year, I can't see myself watching them from anywhere else.
Anyways, I'm a big fan and try to make it down at least once every year.