Calgary is finally getting a festival dedicated to tea. The inaugural Calgary Tea Festival runs Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Parkdale United Church in the city's northwest, and it packs a surprising amount into a single day.

The floor will be lined with vendors selling teas from around the world, and sampling is central to the experience — attendees can taste their way through different varieties, ask questions of the people behind the blends, and pick up leaves and teaware to take home. Specialty baked goods will be on hand too, because tea and something sweet go together for a reason.

Beyond the shopping and sipping, there's a learning component. Presentations and demonstrations run throughout the day for anyone curious about where tea comes from or how it's made. For a deeper dive, separately ticketed workshops cover hands-on skills like brewing a proper cup, plus guided tastings of oolong and raw pu-erh — two styles that reward a little expert guidance if you're new to them.

If you want something a bit different, the festival is also offering tea leaf readings: the old fortune-telling tradition where a reader interprets the shapes left by loose leaves clinging to the inside of your cup. Book early if that appeals — VIP ticket holders get first crack at the sign-up sheet.

Tickets come in two flavours. General admission is $15 and gets you in at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. depending on which ticket you buy, along with a festival tasting cup and a branded shopping bag to fill. VIP is $20 and buys you early entry at 10 a.m. for a private shopping hour, tea samples from participating vendors, and priority booking for the leaf readings. Leave it to the door and you'll pay $20 whatever time you arrive, so buying ahead saves money either way.

The timing works out nicely. Late October in Calgary means cold snaps are already settling in, and there are worse ways to spend a Saturday than browsing, tasting, and stocking up on warming blends for the months ahead. It's a low-key, indoor event that suits anyone from casual tea drinkers to serious collectors, and the $15 entry keeps it an easy impulse outing. Pair it with a wander around Parkdale or nearby Kensington for coffee, bookshops, and lunch, and you've got a tidy fall day out without needing a car or a big budget.