Edmonton Festivals, Edmonton

The city of Edmonton is known for it's love of festivals ..... and during my visit, it is the time for the Fringe Festival! Blocks upon blocks of food and kitcshy souvenier selling booths, some art, lots of street performers, and other theater venues scattered throughout this portion of the Strathcona neighborhood.

I have to say, half the fun is actually people watching ... some in costume after performing, some in costume just for fun, some not in costume ...... but look like they are :)

Edmonton is transformed into a "festival city" in the summer time, and with mostly sunshine and lots of hot weather in late July/August, it is a great time to visit the city and take in the sights. These are my personal two favorite festivals, if you like music and theatre. The Fringe can be kind of hit and miss though depending on your tastes. It may be worth your while to ask around about certain performances, and make sure you are prepared for some less than moralistic plays - some which might be considered absolutely absurd! All in the name of artistic impression, I'm afraid... All kidding aside, it is very affordable to take in some of this Edmonton blended culture, and a good idea to do so, because in the winter YOU'LL BE SHUT IN BY THE EXTREME WEATHER FOR A FEW MONTHS!! :)

The Place to Shop if you really like to Shop.

West Edmonton Mall

At almost 500 000 square metres, West Edmonton Mall is the largest, most comprehensive indoor shopping and entertainment complex in the world as well as Alberta's #1 tourist attraction. Millions of visitors come from around the world to visit this mall which features over 800 stores and services, over 110 restaurants and kiosks, the world's largest indoor amusement park, the world's largest indoor waterpark, an NHL-size ice arena, four seaworthy submarines in the world's largest indoor man-made lake, dolphin shows, an exact replica of the Santa Maria ship, a miniature golf course, 19 movie theatres and a Las Vegas style casino. With the Fantasyland Hotel, many fine restaurants and nightlife, the mall is a vacation resort in itself. Open 365 days a year, hours vary for retail and attractions.

An absolute must if you are coming during the summer.

Edmonton is known as Festival City, for good reason. To compensate for the dreary, long and dull winter, the city comes alive with a bunch of festivals, one after another, from June to August.

The bigger ones are Children's Festival (St. Albert), Jazz City (downtown), The Works - visual works (downtown), Street Performers (downtown), Klondike Days - parade, fair, exhibition (throughout the city, mainly Northlands and downtown), Heritage Festival - multicultural celebration (Hawrelak Park), Folk Music Festival (Gallagher Hill), Fringe Festival - alternative theatre (Old Strathcona).

My personal favourites are Taste of Edmonton during K-Days, Heritage Festival, and Fringe Festival.

Located in Hawrelak park, on August long weekend (in '07 it'll be 8/4,5 & 6). Come here for amazing pavilions representing most ethnic groups. Food, sights, sounds are superb. Unique among major North American cities. This festival will bring out the travel bug in everyone. No parking allowed just take the bus it's no problem. Enjoy Edmonton's summer while it lasts!

There are so many festivals in Edmonton, no matter when you decide to visit you're sure to catch one. My personal favorites are the Edmonton folk music festival, Edmonton's Klondike Days, the Fringe theatre festival and the Street performers festival. Have fun!

If you're ever in Edmonton around mid August, make sure you head down to Whyte Ave and check out the Fringe. Hundreds of groups of performing artists hold live shows in intimate theatres all over the Old Starthcona area. You'll also see street performers from all over the world around the area doing what they do best, entertaining.

One of the biggest Fringe Festivals around taking a big block of Edmonton during the summer. The Fringe Festival for the uninitiated is a week or two long festival of short plays and street performers. Typically one is held in each of the more cultural refined(so I like to think) cities of the world.