Edmonton Summer Festivals!
InfoLink - Fri Jul 13, 2012Edmonton is known as “Festival City” particularly in the summer when Edmonton becomes an amazing cultural hub of entertainment, festivals, events, and other attractions! Now, some of them you try out and they are a giant flop (because it seems like there is a festival for everything) but there are some really great and really fun festivals that you should attend if you are looking for a relatively cheap weekend out. Here are a few popular events that are coming up … and yes, I have included some of my favorites!
July 6, 2012 the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival kicks off in Churchill Square downtown. This is a fun filled week of evening performances by some amazing street performers. There are food trucks all over the square for you to enjoy dinner and a show. If you don’t want to spend to much money then just head down to take in the different and sometimes amazing performances. This festival runs until July 15.
If you are already downtown for that why not take the LRT back to the U and walk down Whyte Ave that weekend! July 13th-15th Whyte Ave will be full (including the side streets!) with local artists for the Whyte Avenue Art Walk. You can enjoy some local while strolling outdoors and while you’re there you can take in some of our local shops too!
Lots of our festivals overlap in Edmonton, so you can literally find something to do every night of the week in July it seems! Some festivals you may even want to visit again like A Taste of Edmonton. Last year was my first time at this festival and I think we will be back for more this year. Back in Churchill Square, you will find that the area has been taken over by food trucks from local restaurants around Edmonton. Have you always wanted to try out that chocolate buffet in the Sutton Place Hotel, Padmanadi's vegetarian food that looks like meat, or any other random restaurant that might not have a review online? Well, chances are the ones that don’t have reviews online won’t have a food truck and they are probably not in business anymore, but the lovely other eateries of Edmonton who have made a substantial name for themselves will be there, even if you’ve never heard of them! Stroll around downtown for an entire ten days and taste all that Edmonton’s best has to offer. This is a ticket based system so once you’ve bought your over zealous 50 pack of tickets, you can go at it for those full ten days. My best advice, do a walk around or grab a map first! There is nothing like running out of those 50 tickets on the first night only to find out that there are bacon wrapped scallops on the other side that you never got to try. (Insert buying 20 more tickets here just to try them.) Also, take a look at what other people got. Sometimes the bang isn’t worth the buck and a spring roll for 5 tickets probably isn’t worth it. Check out the portion sizes, decide what you want to start and end with or try for sure, then swoop in for some super yummy food!
Another favorite for you ride lovers, thrill seekers, or trade show goers like myself is Captial Ex. It kicks off with a fun for all parade downtown on Jasper July 19th and then you can head over to Northlands on July 20th for all the carney fun!
Did you know that throughout the entirety of July there is a Shakespeare festival in Hawrelak Park! Not a 24 hour thing of course, but they play shows nightly (except Mondays) for their two plays this year: The Tempest and Julius Ceaser. So if you are looking for a little outdoor culture this summer, head over to Tix on the Square for a night out with Shakespeare. Best perk of this festival: FREE STUDENT SUNDAYS! Who knows it may even help your English essays next year.
That pretty much brings us into August! Stay tuned for another update on some of the festivals I got the chance to take in this summer and what August will bring! If you just can’t wait for my next festival post then you should check out the 100 things to do in Edmonton list. And remember, if you are wandering around and don’t really know what to do, don’t hesitate to pick up that Vue Summer Guide, there are at least 5 events or things to do every single day of the summer. Who said Edmonton wasn’t a thrilling city!
