Summer in the City

Summer in the City

Edmonton is a vibrant source of diverse opportunities for culture and entertainment for all sectors of the population. There is much to celebrate from the arts both performing, vocal and visual, to keep residents and visitors to Edmonton both inspired, energized and enthralled.

Art

The Timms Centre for the Arts hosts the Vocal Arts Festival with emerging artists from around Canada sharing their talents and gifts. Edmonton is also host to the 30-year Edmonton International Jazz Festival  – one of the longest standing jazz festivals in Canada. Visit Old Strathcona and other locations around Edmonton. From early June and for 11 days the Nextfest 2014 features over 500 artists, “daring theatre, bold dance, audacious music, empowering visual art, venturous film and keen collaboration.” Collaboration is the word. The platform for the next generation is a powerful way for music and creativity to be encouraged and expressed in a way that is unique and moving. Connectivity in motion!

Theatre at the Heritage Amphitheatre includes the Freewill Shakespeare Festival celebrating A Midsummer’s Night Dream and King Lear. If you are looking for more light-hearted entertainment you could attend the Improvaganza International Improv Festival for comedy, music and other entertainment.

Sir Winston Churchill Square is host to the Arts and Design Festival. All ages are encouraged and invited to appreciate art and design displayed and performed by artists and designers. Other locations in and around Edmonton also host this event.

K-Days at Northlands Park is fun for the whole family, and features live bands, entertainment for the family, rides and games, cultural exhibits and fireworks displays.

Sport

Sports activities are numerous – from Corporate Challenges engaging corporations to compete against each other in multi-sports activities, to the Bikeology Festivals that celebrate the biking culture. More information can be found on their website  for events such as You Can Ride Two: Children with Special Needs Learn to Bike, Midnight Moonlight Mystery Ride, BikeWriter’s Night, Kidical Mass, Mocktails on the Bridge, Backbeat Block Party and Paint your Bike Day. You have to admit – these are creative names for fun, exciting biking events.

For sports fans other activities include watching the Edmonton Eskimos, or the Edmonton Rush – one of National Lacrosse Leagues top teams; Castrol Raceway, professional soccer, horseracing, playing golf, and of course there is the Edmonton Paintball Centre.

Food

If you are a food lover, why not try A Taste of Edmonton – at Sir Winston Churchill Square. A large variety of unique international cuisine is available with tickets to sample at $1 each.

Fun & Entertainment

If you are interested in the impact you can have on the environment; reducing your carbon footprint, you might visit the various locations hosting Environment Week.

Children can learn much and have fun touring Fort Edmonton Park – travelling back in time on a steam train, buggy or streetcar, and experience life back in the mid 1800’s up to 1920.

The Royal Alberta Museum has many wonderful exhibits, as does the Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture – with history of First Nations’ spanning 11,000 years. The Alberta Aviation Museum exhibits encompass flying’s pathway of technology.

Children will also love to visit Jurassic Forest, just outside of Edmonton, to experience the life size dinosaurs from prehistoric times, and exploring old-growth forest. Other places of adventure for children include: Telus World of Science, Launchpad Trampoline Park, Laser Quest, Edmonton Valley Zoo, and the Prairie Gardens Adventure Farm.

Nature

And of course the North Saskatchewan River Valley, known for its natural beauty, provides opportunities both summer, fall, winter and spring whatever your sport preference. Wildlife tours are also offered to the Elk Island National Park. After all this dad might want to go fishing and head up on North Saskatchewan River for some quiet downtime.

It’s going to be a full summer. Visit Edmonton for Visitors and plan your weeks and weekends with your family so everyone is doing something they love to do, or you are all attending an activity you all love to participate in. Whatever is in your sites, summer is for getting outdoors and enjoying the sunshine, water, fresh air, and interesting events and places with other Edmonton residents and visitors.

Summer in the City