Globalfest is back for another year at Elliston Park in Calgary. It’s a great end of summer celebration that highlights the multicultural society Canada is while ending each night with a bang of spectacular fireworks.

As with any fireworks festival in Canada, tens of thousands of people want to check out the colourful blasts each night and that can lead to traffic congestion. The communities of Red Carpet and Forest Lawn get tied up with only residents allowed in to park on the side streets. 17th Ave SE is blocked from 52nd St to 68th St and parking on the side of the road is restricted.

Wandering Globalfest at Elliston Park and checking out the exhibits and Night Market is a fun way to spend an evening, and you can get a shuttle bus from Marlborough Mall to handle your parking problems, but if you just want to watch the fireworks without buying a ticket or getting in to a traffic tie up, you just need to head about a kilometre down the road to find a great spot.

We check them out from a side road at 84th St SE and 17th Ave SE – and we’re not the only ones. About a dozen families pulled over to have a great view. Sure, you don’t hear the music, but you avoid the crowds and it’s a quick trip back to Stoney Trail to get home without muscling through traffic tie ups.

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Tags: calgary, family, festivals, fireworks