The 2024 Imaginairium Schedule:
30+ Life-Affirming Shows featuring 50+ Writers in Calgary

We know it’s going to be hard choosing between all this wordy goodness. But we know you’re ready to squeeze every bit of joy out of this special week in October. Our insider tip? Treat Wordfest’s fall festival as a menu of life-affirming ideas. Savour your favourite returning authors. Sample breakout stars. Devour the intimate, inspired pairings. Relish the variety and talk shows, storytelling and poetry events, and the return of Literary Death Match! Add your book-related dreams to the mix in our interactive How To’s.

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Who We Are: Inspired by the Words & Wisdom of Murray Sinclair

Patti LaBoucane-Benson, David A. Robertson & Niigaan Sinclair. Hosted by Shelagh Rogers
Oct. 15 @ 5:30 PM  $25
DJD Dance Centre NEW VENUE

Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Created the Illusion of Success

Starring Susanne Craig. Hosted by Zain Velji
Oct. 15 @ 7:30 PM  $25
DJD Dance Centre NEW VENUE

<< See full details for this day

Wednesday, Oct. 16

What a Pair!

Starring David A. Robertson & Niigaan Sinclair
Oct. 16 @ 5:30 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

The Kris Demeanor & Deborah Willis Variety Show

Starring Carleigh Baker, Sig Burwash, Leah Hennel & Clem Martini
Oct. 16 @ 7:30 PM  $25
DJD Dance Centre

An Evening with Lev Grossman & David A. Robertson

Hosted by Alice Kuipers
Oct. 16 @ 7:30 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

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Thursday, Oct. 17

Le Matin AVEC FANNY BRITT & SUSAN OURIOU

Oct. 17 @ 9 AM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

Turtle Island Reads (New Show)

Starring Carleigh Baker, Shashi Bhat, Fanny Britt, Sig Burwash, Anne Fleming, Richard Kelly Kemick & Conor Kerr. Hosted by Paula Turcotte
Oct. 17 @ 7:30 PM  $25
DJD Dance Centre

An Evening WITH Alice Winn

Hosted by Shelley Youngblut
Oct. 17 @ 7:30 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

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Friday

A Morning with Beverley McLachlin
[SOLD OUT]

Hosted by Leah Sarich
Oct. 18 @ 9 AM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

WordFeast

Diana Beresford-Kroeger, Shashi Bhat, Holly Gramazio, Catherine Hernandez, Robyn Harding, Beverley McLachlin, Nita Prose, Marissa Stapley & Ann VanderMeer
Oct. 18 @ 12 PM  $95
The District Lounge

Power Editors Power Hour

Anne Collins & Ann VanderMeer. Hosted by Shelley (Ann) Youngblut
Oct. 18 @ 4:30 PM  FREE
Alexander Calhoun Salon, Memorial Park Library, Main Floor

The FUTURE IS WILD

Starring Madeline Ashby & Jeff VanderMeer
Hosted by Peter Hemminger

Oct. 18 @ 5:30 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

Literary Death Match
[SOLD OUT]

Hosted by Adrian Todd Zuniga
Starring Shashi Bhat, JD Derbyshire, Roddy Doyle, Catherine Hernandez, Alice Kuipers, Heather O’Neill, Nita Prose & Alice Winn

Oct. 18 @ 7:30 PM  $25
DJD Dance Centre

Poetry Cabaret

Starring Conor Kerr, Michael Lista, Benjamin Hertwig & Canisia Lubrin. Featuring Timothonisu & Jane Madeleine
Hosted by Paula Turcotte

Oct. 18 @ 7:30 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

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Saturday, Oct. 19

The Morning Yap

(Formerly Gals & Good Times)
Starring Madeline Ashby, Holly Gramazio, Robyn Harding & Marissa Stapley
Hosted by Ali Bryan

Oct. 19 @ 10 AM  $25
DJD Dance Centre

Get Out of Here!

Starring Kate Harris & Tessa Hulls
Hosted by Christina Frangou
Oct. 19 @ 10 AM  $25

Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

How to… Write About War

With Benjamin Hertwig & Alice Winn
Hosted by Deborah Willis

Oct. 19 @ 10 AM  FREE
Alexander Calhoun Salon, Memorial Park Library, Main Floor

Rocking the Boat

Starring Catherine Hernandez, Michael Lista & Danny Ramadan
Hosted by Zain Velji

Oct. 19 @ 1 PM  $25
DJD Dance Centre

Our Green Hearts

Starring Diana Beresford-Kroeger & Kate Neville
Hosted Rosemary Griebel

Oct. 19 @ 1 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

How to… Conquer YA

With Sarah Everett & Alice Kuipers
Oct. 19 @ 1 PM  FREE
Alexander Calhoun Salon, Memorial Park Library, Main Floor

A Celebration of Heather O’Neill

Hosted by Shelley Youngblut
Oct. 19 @ 3:30 PM  $25
DJD Dance Centre

What a Pair!

Starring Catherine Hernandez & Sarah Leavitt
Oct. 19 @ 3:30 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

How to… “Get” MAD

With JD Derbyshire & Guests
Oct. 19 @ 3:30 PM  FREE
Alexander Calhoun Salon, Memorial Park Library, Main Floor

The Way We… Wear

Starring Anne Enright, Holly Gramazio, Jenny Heijun Wills, Richard Kelly Kemick, Sarah Leavitt, Canisia Lubrin & Marissa Stapley
Hosted by Pam Rocker

Oct. 19 @ 7:30 PM  $25
DJD Dance Centre

An Evening with Stephen Graham Jones & Jeff VanderMeer

Hosted by Eric Volmers
Oct. 19 @ 7:30 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

<< See full details for this day

Sunday, Oct. 20

Top of the Morning
[SOLD OUT]

Starring Roddy Doyle & Anne Enright
Hosted by Marina Endicott

Oct. 20 @ 10 AM  $25
DJD Dance Centre

What a Trio!

Starring Jenny Heijun Wills, Tessa Hulls & Teresa Wong
Hosted by Pam Rocker
Oct. 20 @ 10 AM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

How to… Book StorE

With Benjamin Hertwig, Shannon MacNaughton & Ryan Smith
Oct. 20 @ 10 AM  FREE
Alexander Calhoun Salon, Memorial Park Library, Main Floor

What a Pair!

Starring Canisia Lubrin & Tanya Talaga
Oct. 20 @ 1 PM  $25
DJD Dance Centre

The Slow Show

Starring Jeremy Klaszus & Kate Neville
Oct. 20 @ 1 PM  $20
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

How to… Glow Up a Book

With Holly Gramazio & Jenny Heijun Wills
Oct. 20 @ 1 PM  FREE
Alexander Calhoun Salon, Memorial Park Library, Main Floor

Tegan & Sara Crush Book Launch
[SOLD OUT]

Hosted by Sonia Clement
Oct. 20 @ 3:30 PM  $25
Patricia A. Whelan Theatre, Central Library

Culture Slash

Starring Stephen Graham Jones & David A. Robertson
Oct. 20 @ 3:30 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

How to… Investigate

With Christina Frangou & Michael Lista
Oct. 20 @ 3:30 PM  FREE
Alexander Calhoun Salon, Memorial Park Library, Main Floor

Tzavta Salon: Roddy Doyle
[SOLD OUT]

Hosted by Denise Clarke
Oct. 20 @ 5:30 PM  $95
Park By Sidewalk Citizen

An Evening with Jeanne Beker & Nita Prose

Hosted by Shelley Youngblut
Oct. 20 @ 7 PM  $25
Patricia A. Whelan Theatre, Central Library

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Monday, Oct. 21

An Evening with Rachel Kushner
[SOLD OUT]

Hosted by Eric Volmers
Oct. 21 @ 7:30 PM  $25
Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor

<< See full details for this day