Wordfest FAQs
Quick Answers to General Questions
Our Main Venues
Wordfest, Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor
1221 2nd Street SW, Calgary
Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall, Central Library
800 3 St SE, Calgary
DJD Dance Centre
111 12 Avenue SE, Calgary
Bella Concert Hall, Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts
4825 Mt. Royal Gate SW, Calgary
Box Office
For assistance, please contact the Wordfest office by email at boxoffice@wordfest.com.
Parking & Accessibility
Memorial Park Library
Wordfest’s primary performance space is located on the second floor of Memorial Park Library, 1221 2 Street SW. Parking is available on the surrounding streets and public parking lots. A list of City of Calgary parking locations can be found here.
Elevator access is available from the ground level via the exterior doors on the north-west corner of the building (please ring the Wordfest buzzer for assistance). There is also a drop-off location for individuals with reduced mobility accessible via a driveway to the building off 12 Avenue SW (Drop-Offs Only. No Parking).
Central Library
Central Library is located at 800 3 Street SE, directly east of City Hall. Public bike racks are located on all sides of the building, and bus routes stop on 3 Street SE and on 9 Avenue SE. The closest CTrain stop is City Hall, on both the Red and Blue lines. There is paid parking in the City Hall parkade, and Platform Parkade (Lot 62). There are also paid parking lots on the east side of the Library, and paid street parking in the East Village. Visit this link for more information on planning your visit to Central Library.
DJD Dance Centre
The DJD Dance Centre is located at 111 12 Ave SE. The DJD Dance Centre parkade offers FREE underground parking Monday to Friday after 5PM and on Saturdays and Sundays. The parkade is free to valid ticket holders and students. Please note a code is needed to enter the parkade. (you will receive a code for the parkade in your email 24 hours before the event you are attending). You can access the DJD parkade off Centre Street (at the back of the Kahanoff Centre).
Please note: There is a 6 foot maximum height restriction for DJD’s underground parking. Two large paid-public parking lots are located at the South and East sides of the building. Two-hour meter street parking is available on Centre Street SE, between 12 and 13 Avenue SE. Two disabled parking spaces are available on the south side of the building.
What to Expect at a Wordfest Show
Bar Service
Bar service is available at Memorial Park Library, 2nd Floor (for events after noon) and at DJD Dance Centre and Central Library (evening events). Drinks can be enjoyed in lobby spaces and at your seat during the event. We feature alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Nearby Coffee Shops To Memorial Park
Deville Coffee
The District
227 12th Ave SW
Alforno at First Street Market
1327 1 St SW
I Love You Coffee Shop
348b 14th Ave SW (basement)
Starbucks
156 13th Ave SW (southwest corner of Hotel Arts)
Tim Hortons
1015 4th St SW
Social Media
Please join our authors and become active members of the Wordfest community by sharing photos and posts online. Share your favourite moments with us! Use #wordfest and #Imaginairium, and tag us on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads using @wordfest.
Code of Conduct
Wordfest is dedicated to maintaining an environment that respects and supports the dignity of all artists, attendees, employees, volunteers, and community partners at its events. All participants have the right to an environment free from harassment where individual differences are welcomed and valued. Failure to comply with our Code of Conduct will result in the suspension of access to our programming.
Respect for Others
- Patrons will be treated in a consistent professional and courteous manner by Wordfest staff and volunteers.
- Patrons will treat all individuals with dignity and respect regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, or background.
- Harassment, discrimination, abusive language, or threatening behavior will not be tolerated.
- Disruptive or intoxicated behavior that interferes with the enjoyment of others may result in removal from the premises.
Harassment is any conduct that is:
- Unwelcome and ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome.
- Based on any of the prohibited grounds listed below; or
- Detrimental and affects the environment or leads to adverse consequences for the person being harassed.
The prohibited grounds of discrimination referred to above are set out and defined in the Provincial Human Rights Code/Acts, specifically, including race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical disability, mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, and age.
Examples of harassment can include, but are not limited to, the following behaviours:
- Unwelcome remarks, jokes, nicknames, slurs, innuendo or taunting related to any of the prohibited grounds;
- Unwelcome, inappropriate comments about a person’s perceived sexual attractiveness or unattractiveness;
- Unwelcome romantic or sexual advances.
Accessibility & Inclusivity
Wordfest strives to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all. Please strive with us. Embracing and encouraging diversity is an essential part of our programming and our values.
All festival venues are accessible to those with limited mobility. Courtesy seating is available upon request. Please contact boxoffice@wordfest.com with any questions or concerns.
The Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall at Central Library, DJD Dance Centre, the Bella Concert Hall at the Taylor Centre for the Performaning Arts, and Wordfest’s space at Memorial Park Library include gender neutral bathroom facilities.
Patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the box office to request an audio recording and transcript of the show. Please inquire ahead of time for a faster turnaround.
If your financial situation limits your ability to experience our festival, please contact us. We have a limited number of complimentary passes and tickets, thanks to the generosity of our individual donors. For more information, please email boxoffice@wordfest.com.