Summer is usually short and sweet in Edmonton. But, we’re known as a festival city for a reason – we cram our short summer season full of fun festivals featuring food, music and once-in-a-lifetime performances. These summer festivals will make you forget the long Edmonton winters. [Image credit: iStock.com/svetikd]
Taste of Edmonton is a chance to enjoy a huge variety of gourmet food from some of the best restaurants in Edmonton and beyond. Booths take over Sir Winston Churchill Square for days, bringing thousands of Edmontonians together. In 2013, the festival introduced Sip and Savour, a tent where you can enjoy food and wine, plus culinary demonstrations, workshops and a speciality food market. This year's festival takes place July 21 to 30, 2016.
K-Days kicks off with a massive parade on July 22, and runs until July 31 at Northlands. This festival is jam-packed with carnival rides, 20 different concerts on two main stages, fireworks, a talent search, Ribfest, a traditional Pow Wow, shopping, live entertainment and, of course, fair food. New, unique dishes at this year’s K-Days include rainbow grilled cheese, apple pie ice cream sandwiches, teriyaki chicken perogies, poutine corn dogs, espresso flake deep fried coffee, deep fried butter tarts and butter chicken poutine. Be sure to sample some dishes after you try out the midway rides.
Every August long weekend, Hawrelak Park fills up with booths and tents representing hundreds of different countries. Heritage Festival is a gourmet trip around the world, without ever leaving the park. Just pony up for some tickets and eat to your heart’s content. Sample crepes from the France pavilion or gelato from Italy. There’s also tons of entertainment, such as dancing and music from various cultures. It takes place July 30, 31 and August 1, 2016, so don't miss out!
For 11 days every summer, more than 1,200 performers take over multiple venues in Edmonton to bring about 1,600 Fringe shows to Edmonton. The festival, which has a different theme every year, attracts talent and audiences from around the world. The 35th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival runs August 11 to 21, 2016.
Tegan and Sara. Serene Rider. Jack White. These are just some of the awesome talent that has appeared on stage at the alternative rock festival Sonic Boom. Every year, for three days, music loud enough to split your eardrums takes over Borden Park. But it’s so good, you won’t mind. This festival will take you back to your head-banging youth. Taking place September 3 and 4, 2016, this year's acts include The Lumineers, Vance Joy, Wintersleep, Twenty One Pilots and Halsey.