They don’t call Edmonton Festival City for nothing. After some cancelled or dialed down festivals for the past couple years, you will want to get out there and enjoy what makes Edmonton summers so wonderful. Here is a list of the family friendly festivals in our city this summer!
Freewill Shakespeare Festival
June 14-July 10
Hawrelak Park
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival is more than just great Shakespeare in the Park. It’s a summer outdoor experience featuring food, music, puppet shows, and more. Sit thy bum on thy blanket and enjoy Shakespeare al fresco.
This season, they are bringing back the audience favourite A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and for the very first time will present Measure for Measure.
Whyte Avenue Art Walk
July 8-10
Streets of Old Strathcona
Imagine a 4 km walk through the hearts and minds of artists. Cultural explorers are invited to see art making in action on the streets of Old Strathcona, a vibrant art district in the historic centre of Edmonton, Alberta. Over 500 visual artists bring their art supplies and artworks out into the streets. Together they create an outdoor studio and gallery spanning several blocks. The Whyte Avenue Art Walk reveals Alberta’s hidden talent and provides an opportunity for patrons to curate their own art collection from many undiscovered masters
Edmonton’s International Street Performers Festival
July 8-17
Sir Winston Churchill Square
Street Performance Circle Shows
Shows are scheduled all day, every day during Festival hours until 10 PM, when everyone moves over to the all-ages licensed patio for Troupe du Jour, the daily variety show that’s new every night!
Kids’ World
Games, activities and shows geared towards the youngest of our Festival goers! Kids’ World hours are 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM daily.
Busker Academy
Earn your BSc (Busker Skills and Circus). Daily workshops and community building games and activities. Busker Academy hours are 11:30 Am to 5:30 PM
The Works of Art & Design Festival
July 8-17
Sir Winston Churchill Square
THE WORKS ART & DESIGN FESTIVAL AND EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL STREET PERFORMERS FESTIVAL COLLABORATE ON SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL SQUARE
The Works Art & Design Festival is a celebration of visual art & design in Edmonton’s Downtown Core! The Works attracts artists, designers, and patrons from around the world, and boosts the city’s vibrancy and imagination at the start of each summer through exhibits, large scale Installations, multi-disciplinary performances, demonstrations, and workshops. The Works is North America’s largest free outdoor festival dedicated to visual art. It is a time and place for anyone to experience, discover, and explore creativity through art & design.
Taste of Edmonton
July 21-31
Sir Winston Churchill Square
Welcome to the Taste of Edmonton, where the vibrant and lively Churchill Square serves as the backdrop to one of the country’s most talked about food festivals. The eleven day event boasts live performances of all genres, daily entertainment, and of course, features the best of Edmonton’s culinary scene. Taste of Edmonton is proud to be a non-profit organization that runs with the help of volunteerism and community involvement.
K-Days
July 22-31
Edmonton Expo Centre & Exhibition Grounds
Edmonton’s extravaganza of rides, games, music, food and adventure. The rides and games alone will leave you breathless and wanting more. Watch as fireworks light up the night sky and cheer for the band onstage. Savour the tangy smokiness of a perfectly barbecued rib, taste the warm sugary bliss of freshly fried donuts and bite into the gooey crispness of a candy apple.
Take the kids to Kids Town where they can see some of North America’s top entertainers for children. Discover the Indigenous Hall with authentic food, shopping and entertainment. Head to the Mainstage for a killer lineup of concerts. Then there’s Klondike Park, the Agriculture Hall, or the Maker Faire… and that’s just the beginning. There’s something for everyone at Edmonton’s incredible K-Days!
Edmonton Heritage Festival
July 30-Aug 1
Hawrelak Park
Heritagefest is a collection of Alberta Based cultural groups that come together, annually, to share their history, song, dance and food with the world. They supply all the songs, dance, crafts and music.
Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Aug 4-7
Gallagher Park
Beginning in 1980 with one staff and 300 volunteers, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival has grown and matured to become one of the leading folk festivals in the world. Now boasting a volunteer force of over 2700, the festival is a charitable not-for-profit society dedicated to bringing in the best of folk music from Edmonton, Canada, and around the world.
Cariwest Carribean Arts Festival
Aug 5-7
Sir Winston Churchill Square
Cariwest is one of Edmonton’s most colorful and vibrant festivals! Introduced more than 35 years ago in Edmonton , by the Western Carnival Development Association (WCDA). The festival provides a platform through which to share popular Caribbean music, cuisine and Caribbean carnival culture with Western Canada.
Edmonton Fringe Festival
Aug 11-21
Old Strathcona
With 27 venues and more than 160 shows featuring artists from around the world, we are North America’s largest, longest-running Fringe Theatre Festival and we are so excited to make our mindful return this summer.
We’re bringing back all your Fringe favourites including live theatre featuring artists from around the world, outdoor performances, ice-cold beer, green onion cakes, our ATB Golden Ticket contest, unpredictable Albertan summer weather, and so much more!
Alberta International Airshow
Aug 13-14
Villeneuve Airport
The North Central Alberta region has an exciting relationship with aviation. Throughout history, our pilots have defied gravity and pushed boundaries. During the Cold War, our city was a strategic location. Now it’s home to a sky-high festival that brings families and neighbouring communities together.
We are so excited to bring you the Snowbirds, the Skyhawks, and SO. MANY. MORE!
