Kelly Hofer/Flickr
Smash together art, science and engineering and you’ve got Beakerhead. The Calgary-conceived festival is geared up to celebrate its third year with a heap of new programming.
From Sept. 16 - 20, the city-wide interactive movement will bring together more than 100 collaborators to awe Calgarians with scientific and artistic delights.
Last years festival brought out over 73,000 attendees—if you’re planning on joining them this year, we’ve rounded up eight awesome attractions that are certain to pique your interest.
A Look At Beakerhead 2015
The Claw(01 of08)
Did anyone else read that in the voice of those little green guys from Toy Story? Anyway, this giant-sized arcade toy will be a part of the Sandbox of Human Ingenuity. The 30-foot-high game will require a little more skill than usual—you’ll have to collaborate if you want to win.Where: Station B, Fort CalgaryWhen: Sept. 17 - 20 (credit:Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd./Flickr)
Catharsis Catapult Competition(02 of08)
If you have a little bit of rage you need to work off, the Catharsis Catapult Comp is the place to be. Teams will design and build catapults to launch their “love-to-hate” items into the air. The team that hits the furthest target wins! If you think this sounds like fun, you can start prepping a team for next year—and prepping those items to destroy. Where: Fort CalgaryWhen: Sept. 20, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. (credit:Chris Malloy Photography/Flickr)
The Gorgeous Molecule(03 of08)
Modernist cuisine and Beakerhead go together like apple pie and cheddar cheese (weird, but good). Food and cocktails will be combined in a lab - each floor of the Barron Building will hold a different experience/experiment for your tastebuds. Where: Barron BuildingWhen: Sept. 17, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. (credit:Chris Malloy Photography/Flickr)
Backstage Tours at ATP(04 of08)
Ever wonder how those beautiful stages at Alberta Theatre Projects are brought to life? The cast has a lot to do with it, but before that, much of the magic is done behind the scenes by the crew. Journey behind the curtain and explore everything from the carpentry shop to the rafters at the Martha Cohen Theatre. Where: Alberta Theatre Projects, Arts CommonsWhen: Sept. 19, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. (credit:Kelly Hofer/Flickr)
Dog Orchestra(05 of08)
Yes, the Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA is performing at Beakerhead’s opening night, but we’re recommending another musical act. Bear with us. On Stephen Avenue, there will be a dog orchestra. No, these dogs can’t play the instruments—they are the instruments. Each time you pet these local pooches’ fur, it will complete a circuit and a note will play. Where: Stephen Avenue Walk, Between Centre and 3 St. SWWhen: Sept. 16 - 18, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. (credit:Kevin de Vlaming/Calgary is Awesome)
Temporary Gallery of Lasting Impressions(06 of08)
Calgary’s historic first skyscraper, the Barron Building (formerly home to the Uptown and Marquee Room) will be coming to life as part of A String (Theory) Of Incredible Encounters, an interwoven string of public, interactive artworks that will be on display around the city. One of the highlights at the building is Nanoleaf, an installation by Calgary-based internationally renowned artists Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett. Where: Barron BuildingWhen: Sept. 20, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (credit:Caitlind r.c. Brown/Flickr)
Girls Learning Code(07 of08)
The Girls Learning Code workshops were created to help young women see technology in a whole new light. This special edition will do that literally—with MakeFashion designer Katheryn Blair available to teach girls ages 8-13 how to make their own wearable, glowing, tech. Their creations will be debuted at Beakernight, the festival’s pinnacle free, outdoor spectacle. Where: The CommonsWhen: Sept. 19, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (credit:Chic Geek/Beakerhead Website)
Intrude(08 of08)
Journey through the looking glass with these white rabbits from Australian artist Amanda Parer. Part of A String (Theory) of Incredible Encounters, these four (maybe five?) giant illuminated bunnies are intended to draw attention to the wildlife in our midst. Where: Central Memorial Park (and one hidden rabbit somewhere in Victoria Park)When: Sept. 16 - 20 (credit:Amanda Parer/Flickr)