All About Chasing Summer Festival

Calgary, Alberta, CA

Open-air

XL – 20-50k

Electronic

$$$

Live music, International

2 Days

Chasing Summer Music Festival is the largest EDM event in western Canada. 

Amid the harsh winters of Prairie, Canada, the excruciatingly short summer season makes Canadians yearn for a bit of fun in the sun. That’s where Chasing Summer enters the stage, making every summeresque season doozie.

Chasing Summer Festival 2022’s edition dates are 30 and 31st July 2022. Go get your Chasing Summer Festival tickets on Soundclub, the social app for live music experiences covering +1,000 international festivals.

Chasing Summer Festival’s full lineup for 2022 has not been announced yet, but the released names include Excision, DJ Diesel, and Armin Van Buuren. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Chasing Summer Festival 2022.

1. Chasing Summer is the biggest EDM fest in western Canada

On perhaps the most awaited weekend of the season – nay, it’s actually of the year – Chasing Summer Festival brings electronic aficionados from Alberta and beyond together.

As soon as the temperatures start rising, EDM devotees daydream about running to the Max Bell Center Festival Grounds, which transform into a giant dancefloor during the Chasing Summer Festival days. 

Flaunting some of the most roaring names in the electronic realm, the festival is a powerhouse of American and international artists. Steve Aoki, The Chainsmokers, and Infected Mushroom are some of the illustrious names that headlined in the previous years.

2. Chasing Summer ranks among the top 10 EDM festivals in Canada

Although it could be labeled as a rookie due to its relatively fresh debut in the festival realm, Chasing Summer cemented its position among the top 10 rankers in the EDM scene in Canada.

The festival might be only a decade old, but it is a pro at delivering ineffable music experiences. 

Hobnobbing with the likes of Escapade Music Festival and Shambhala Music Festival, Chasing Summer leaves EDM fans craving for more with its two-day format.

3. Catch NBA legend Shaq at Chasing Summer

Chasing Summer is more than a fest. It’s a golden opportunity to get up close with basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal – but on a different court.

The four-time NBA champion began messing around with the turntables in his teenage years. Throughout his basketball career, Shaq dabbled in DJing by mixing sets alone or for his circle of friends. 

In the aftermath of his NBA retirement, Shaq fully ventured into the DJing world under the moniker DJ Diesel. Although he traded the court for the stage, the M.V.P’s “go big or go home” attitude still reigns supreme in everything he does – and mixing EDM tunes is no exception to that.

4. Chasing Summer is not a 24-hour festival

With the desire to relish in the much-needed sunshine, Chasing Summer is mostly a daytime festival.

Unlike most music festivals that pull out all-nighter sets, Chasing Summer fills its stages according to its early-bird character – from 1 PM to 11 PM. 

If stellar names rock the stages during the tight schedule, we don’t see a reason to complain.

5. Chasing Summer’s festival-goers are notorious for drug abuse

The vivacious festival has had its share of infamy as rampant drug use was put into the spotlight in the previous years. Back in 2015, 17 festival attendees were hospitalized for drug overdoses. Chasing Summer’s 2017 edition was harsh, too – 15 people ended up in hospital beds due to irresponsible drug use.

MDMA, marijuana, cocaine, GHB, and ketamine were the drugs of choice for the hospitalized festival-goers. At that time, authorities stated that the deathly combination of drugs with large alcohol quantities aggravated the situation.

6. And yet, the festival disallows drug overdose kits

Despite the overdosing incidents, Chasing Summer has prohibited festival-goers from carrying naloxone kits.

In their defence, festival authorities expressed their own committed efforts towards handling drug overdose situations.

Colin Mathie, director of health and safety for Chasing Summer, told Global News that the festival wanted “to ensure that only trained medical professionals administer medications to third parties.”

7. There is no camping at Chasing Summer festival

Camping lovers, put your tents aside for this EDM bad boy. Although camping is a customary feature of most festivals, Chasing Summer is a predominantly daytime festival.

Since there is no reason to spend the night on festival grounds, Chasing Summer is not pro camping.

Leave your personal vehicle at home, too. As soon as you walk on Chasing Summer’s grounds, you will realize there is no parking on-site – so the best way to get to the festival is public transport or a taxi. 

Another thing to note is that the festival does not allow re-entry upon exit within the same day. This festival sob story translates into the following scenario – if you leave the area, you can only come back the next day.

Come fully prepared so you don’t have to cut short your festival fun.

8. Chasing Summer is where you make the most of summer festival fashion

Alberta’s summer is a blink-and-you-miss-it music experience.

So, why not carpe diem your way through the festival and shine during the two days? 

Fishnets, glitter, funky prints, trippy beads…this is the festival catwalk to parade it all.

Gather your buddies and get your festival fashion game on point.

Adding some extra shine to the Canadian summer is the Chasing Summer festival, with its star-studded lineups and infallible vibes. As the go-to festival-ing destination to soak up vitamin D while losing yourself in the finest EDM beats, the only thing you’ll complain about is that it lasts for just two days.