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Calgary, Canada

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

OVERVIEW

As a long-time business operator in the City of Calgary, Cowboys recognizes that we have a responsibility to manage our activities in the areas where we operate and to create a positive impact on the community and our business. Cowboys has always, and will continue to, maintain positive relationships with our Neighbours and Community Stakeholders. To support this, CMF has developed a 15-point Commitment Plan that encourages responsible leadership, open communication, careful planning, and meticulous follow-through.

CMF 2025 will be taking place at our new home, Cowboys Park located at 1220 9th Avenue S.W. from July 3-13, 2025. Our team works closely with all stakeholders including the City of Calgary, City Bylaw, Calgary Parks and Outdoor Spaces, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Calgary Fire Department (CFD), and the Calgary Police Service (CPS), and Downtown West Community Association to host a world class event, while ensuring special care and control of the entire CMF Event Site and its surrounding area.


Do you have comments, questions or feedback to provide? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with us here.

COWBOYS PARK

Formally known as Shaw Millenium Park, Cowboys Park is located in the vibrant Downtown West community. Neighbouring Contemporary Calgary and the Mewata Armoury, Cowboys Park features basketball and beach volley ball courts, climbing boulders, and is home to North America’s largest outdoor skate park with over 75,000 sqaure feet of skatable surfaces.

As part of a 10-year sponsorship agreement, upgrades will be made to utilities, electrical infrastructure, safety, accessibility, and new hardened surfaces. These upgrades will support the transformation of Cowboys Park into a modern and multi-functional event space, attracting more events, business, visitors and increased public use of the park year-round. Event organizers will be able to efficiently set up, tear down and clean after events. The hardened space will better accommodate Calgarians with mobility considerations and better facilitates activities like farmer’s and holiday markets, hard surface sport and other recreational events, food festivals, and more.

City of Calgary Website

Following this link will lead you to the Cowboys Park section of the City of Calgary website; this page has plenty of helpful information about Cowboys Park and the upcoming improvements.

COMMITMENT PLAN

Team Cowboys makes the following commitments to our Neighbours and the Downtown West Community we're grateful to be a part of:

  1. An online Community Forum has been set up for concerns from Community Members directed to CMF. All concerns will be addressed appropriately and promptly. The CMF Community Forum will be open during our set up, operation, and tear down of CMF and will be accessible 24/7.


  2. CMF has and will continue to review and update our policies and plans before the event based on the feedback received through the local authorities and comments received during the Development Permit review period.


  3. CMF is committed to meeting its extensive Sound Dispersal, Crowd Management and Egress Plans as outlined in our Operations Plan. CMF will be implementing top-of-the-line sound dispersal and mitigation technology, and will work closely with relevatn authorities to ensure egress from Cowboys Park is well managed.

  4. CMF is committed to continuing our history of working closely and diligently with relevant authorities such as the CPS, CFD, AGLC, and partners such as the Downtown West Community Association, City of Calgary Licensing and Bylaw, and Calgary Transit to create a safe experience and to lessen any adverse community impact.


  5. The top priority of CMF during setup/construction will continue to be keeping the site and surrounding area organized, clean, safe, and free of garbage so as not to become a nuisance or eyesore to our neighbours and surrounding environment. To support this, CMF will engage third-party services from Waste Management and ISCS to reduce any adverse community impact.


  6. CMF is committed to strictly abiding by all set permits, bylaws and regulations.


  7. CMF and its contractors will consistently patrol the perimeter of the premises during operational hours and egress of the event.


  8. CMF will encourage all patrons to utilize safe and available transportation to and from the Festival including public transportation, taxis and ride-share services. CMF will promote safe and available transportation options to all patrons including, but not limited to all CMF site maps, event detail emails sent to ticket holders, CMF website, and CMF social media platforms. Accessible signage will provide clear directions for exit and directed egress.


  9. To assist in the extensive CMF egress plan, CMF will align dedicated and approved pick-up and drop-off zones for public transportation (including Taxi and Ride Share) with relevant authorities. Detailed signage will be posted to support wayfinding. 


  10. CMF is committed to providing accessible customer service and legendary experiences to people with disabilities in a manner that respects their dignity, independence, and integration, and that is equitable to the broader public. Cowboys Music Festival is for everyone!


  11. CMF will continue to promote and host a diverse range of activities and events throughout our Festival. Over the past 28 years, CMF has partnered with local and international charities to continue to bring awareness and raise funds for charitable organizations and foundations important to our community. CMF commits to offer fundraising opportunities to non-profits and charitable organizations our neighbours aim to support.


  12. In continued support of Calgary’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment community, CMF will engage a minimum of two local, professional artists to develop temporary art installations for the event, in addition to hosting and operating our talent competition, The Opener, to highlight Calgary’s legendary local musicians on the CMF stages. Outside of our July Festival, CMF will offer our expertise and support to the Downtown West Community Association with the ‘The Deck’ concert series in any way we can.


  13. CMF is committed to keeping the safety of its patrons and the community its top priority. Event security will be extensive and be comprised of internal security supported with additional security provided by the Calgary Police Service (Pay Duty) and contracted security.


  14. CMF is committed to long-term community standards success. Following the event, CMF will encourage local businesses, residential tenants, and all CMF Community Forum contributors to provide feedback through our annual survey. The policies and plans outlined in this document will be updated based on the community feedback received.

  15. Team Cowboys is committed to being an active member of the Downtown West Community beyond our Festival dates, working towards common goals of beautification, safety and security, and championing increased programming and experiences offered in our corner of the City’s downtown. This active participation may include but is not limited to, supporting the Annual De-Clutter and Recycling Event and Downtown West Holiday Party.

COMMUNITY FAQ

 

WHERE IS CMF LOCATED?

CMF 2025 will take place at our new home, Cowboys Park (formerly Shaw Millennium Park), located at 1220 9th Ave SW in the Downtown West community of Calgary, Alberta.

 

HOW LONG WILL CMF BE SET UP IN MY COMMUNITY?

Site set-up will begin June 11, 2025, and the site will be returned to its pre-festival state July 31, 2025. Security will be present on site 24/7 during the set up, operation, and tear-down of CMF.

 

WILL CMF BE CLOSING THE STREETS CLOSE BY TO ALLOW FOR PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC?

All road closures are determined and facilitated by the City of Calgary.

 

HOW WILL CMF AFFECT THE AREA AROUND THE EVENT SITE?

CMF will only operate inside Cowboys Park with some overflow on the south western side of the Contemporary Calgary parking lot, and will not impose on or require use of existing sidewalks, bike lanes or streets. The priority of CMF during setup/construction will be to keep the site and surrounding area organized, clean, and free of garbage as to not become a nuisance or eyesore to our neighbours and surrounding environment, using third party services from Waste Management and ISCS to reduce any adverse community impact.

Certain elements of Cowboys Park will be fully or temporarily closed to the public during our set up, operation, and tear down. Those areas are:

  • Beginner Skate Park Bowl - Closed from June 22, 2025 - July 21, 2025; this has been adjusted from a June 21, 2025 start, to facilitate National Skateboard Day and the planned celebrations and events.

  • Intermediate Skate Park Bowl - Closed June 11, 2025 - July 30, 2025*

The Skate Park will be returned to it’s pre-Festival state July 30, 2025; any rails that have been removed from these areas have been removed and will be replaced by the City. In the event we are able to return the skate parks to their pre-Festival state and re-open them to the public, those details will be shared via signage in the area, and updated here as well.

The Beach Volleyball Courts and Climbing Boulders will remain open to the public for the duration of the set up, operation, and tear down of CMF.

Signage and maps outlining which pathways are closed and detour routes will be present on site to support park-users during our set up, operation and tear down of the Festival site.


*Subject to change

WHAT ARE CMF’S PLANS FOR SECURITY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, SPECIFICALLY?

Public safety is a priority for CMF. We will have fully trained security team members and hired City of Calgary Police officers on site to ensure safety protocols are followed within our gates. 


CMF’s BlockWatch Team will be active again this year as well. This group creates a consistent presence in the community and acts as a deterrent to potential issues, working with CMF management and relevant partners to address issues in the community surrounding Cowboys Park. The BlockWatch Team are not there to police the area. If you see or hear something concerning please call 911.

 

WHAT IS CMF DOING FOR SOUND MANAGEMENT?

In addition to abiding by all municipal regulations regarding sound control, CMF will adhere to our strict internal audio management policy which includes continually testing and measuring sound throughout the site during hours of operation. CMF continues to partner with highly reputable production companies that specialize in sound control, implementing the most advanced sound-control technologies available.

 

WHAT IS CMF DOING FOR CROWD MANAGEMENT?

The following Crowd Management measures will be taken to ensure Patron Safety:

  • Clearly defined ques to manage patron ingress around the perimeter of Cowboys Park

  • Security Personnel posted at all entrance and exit points, throughout the site, and in key locations where crowds tend to gather

  • Ample signage identifying all ingress and egress points throughout the site

  • Clear communication with patrons regarding crowd management while on site (audibly and visually)

  • Patron ingress/ egress review every 15 minutes to ensure approved capacity is maintained

Any case of patron eviction that is anticipated as possibly disruptive or irresolvable will be made directly from the premises and communicated to pay-duty Calgary Police Service (CPS) Officers. If pay-duty CPS assistance is required they will be notified directly by CMF.

 

Still have questions? Check out our General FAQ Page!

COMMUNITY FORUM

 

COMMUNITY FORUM

This online Community Forum has been set up for residents and business owners to communicate directly with Team Cowboys Management regarding any questions, community concerns, or feedback you want to share regarding our 2025 Festival.

This Forum will remain open until the CMF Site has been returned to it’s pre-Festival state and is accessible 24/7. All questions, concerns and feedback will be responded to promptly, typically no later than 48 hours, excluding holidays and weekends.

DURING CMF 2025

If a message is received during CMF hours of operation, Team Cowboys and/ or the CMF BlockWatch Team will respond with answers to your questions and/or work to resolve any issues in conjunction with the CMF Clean-Up Team as quickly as possible. If a message is received outside of CMF hours of operation you can expenct a response within 24 hours.

It’s important to us that there is an exclusive channel of communication for all residents of the Downtown West neighbourhood, so that we can address any concerns or issues quickly. To support this, we ask that you do not share access to this portal with anyone outside your Building.