A hands-on painting experience is taking over a Calgary garden this season

Watercolour in the Garden is a guided painting experience hosted by The Confluence, coming to Calgary this weekend. So if you’ve ever wanted to try out painting but don’t know where to start, this is a great way to ease into it.

Over the 90-minute session, you’ll be walked through simple, step-by-step guidance while still having space to just do your own thing and see what you create.

Taking place outdoors in a garden setting, it’s a great way to let your creativity flow while soaking up the sunshine.

A slow morning in the garden

For $25, participants have the opportunity to take part in a guided watercolour painting session. According to The Confluence, it’s completely beginner-friendly, and everything will be ready for you the moment you arrive, including brushes, paint, and step-by-step instructions.

The session is led by Claire Oliphant, a passionate artist who has helped design and run art programming at The Confluence. During the experience, she’ll walk everyone through some super-easy techniques, so you’re not just sitting there wondering what to do. It’s a great intro to watercolour painting if you’ve never had the opportunity to do it before.

What makes the experience stand out is the setting. Instead of being in a typical art studio, the whole workshop takes place in a garden space at The Confluence, surrounded by greenery and fresh air.

What to know before you go

The workshop runs on Saturday, June 20, 2026, and lasts 90 minutes, making it the perfect mid-morning activity. It starts at 11 a.m. and wraps up at 12:30 p.m., so you’ll still have the rest of the weekend ahead of you. It’s important to note that the event is open to ages 12 and up, so if you’ve got older kids, it’s a great option if you’re looking for something different to do together.

Because this isn’t your usual indoor painting class and takes place in a garden, tickets are in high demand and are expected to go quickly. So if this is an event that you’re interested in, it’s worth booking sooner rather than later.

And who knows, maybe this is your chance to discover you’re a hidden artistic genius… or at least walk away with something fridge-worthy. Either way, it’s a great way to spend a relaxing morning outside in Calgary.

When: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: The Confluence – 750 9th Ave. SE, Calgary, Alta.
Cost: $25 (includes all materials)

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Kaiya Williams

Kaiya is a Calgary-based writer and content creator with a background in marketing and digital storytelling. She has a passion for community-driven stories and covering local experiences that connect people.

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