Get those plans in for the final days of summer! We may only be halfway through summer in Edmonton, but this month tends to go by quickly.
River Lifestyle Co
Luckily, there is still plenty of summer fun around central Alberta to fill your day trip plans. Two Alberta events/holidays fall, both of which will offer some additional activities and celebrations.
Otherwise, the day trip may be more about recreation in the sun, or sightseeing like a true local tourist.
U-Pick Flowers
Edmonton Area offers delightful u-pick flower farm experiences, showcasing a variety of colourful florals native to the region. Visit these farms to make your own bouquet.
- Birchwood Meadows in Sturgeon County allows private picking and hosts special photography sessions.
- Blooms on 7 Gardens in Sherwood Park features 250 specialty cut flowers and foliage varieties for visitors to harvest and create their arrangements.
- Farm Fresh Florals, located at Sunnybrook in Leduc County, provides a large garden with unique flower varieties and offers assistance in arranging bouquets.
Celebrate Heritage Day in Alberta
Heritage Day in Alberta is August 7, 2023. Take the long weekend or extra time to explore the heritage or historic sites around the city. There are many from which to choose, and the ones listed below could all be combined into one day trip east of the city.
- The Victoria Settlement, east of Edmonton and near Smoky Lake, is a scenic, historic site on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. Guided tours, picnic sites, and trails are open to the public. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop in the historic church for a collection of souvenirs and gifts.
- Metis Crossing, also near Smoky Lake and the riverbanks, offer several experiences aimed at educating the public on Metis culture, traditions, and practices.
- The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village includes numerous ways to learn about the culture and history of Alberta’s Ukrainian settlers. The village is an open-air museum with costumed interpreters adding to the experience.
Lazy Floating near Edmonton
Take advantage of the rivers around Edmonton while they are a bit calmer and while the weather is hot.
- River Lifestyle Co in Devon offers a family-friendly river tubing experience on the North Saskatchewan River. They provide rentals, including tubes, life jackets, and paddles. Two float options are available, with one ending at Devon Lions Campground and the other starting at a private property location and finishing at Devon Lions Campground or Voyageur Park. The age requirement is 6 and up, and transportation is provided to and from the starting points.
- The Red Deer River flows directly through the same city. And Red Deer is within day trip distance of Edmonton, meaning you have time to create a lazy float route through the city of Red Deer. Park one car at Fort Normandeau and launch from here, with the pickup car parked at either Bower Ponds, or further downstream at the McKenzie Bridge. But remember that this trip will require two cars.
Take an Evening Stargazing Trip
August is the month of the Perseids meteor shower. The days are starting to get a little shorter, making a stargazing trip a little easier in August. East of Edmonton is the Beaverhills Dark Sky Preserve which covers a National Park, and two Provincial areas. At each of these three areas, you’ll find ample parking, picnic sites, picnic shelters, washrooms, and cook stoves or fire pits.
- Elk Island National Park is a popular destination for stargazing near Edmonton. The park has several areas where you can park and take in the skies.
- Miquelon Lake Provincial Park’s day use areas offer parking for stargazers with the lake adding to the backdrop. This is also the location of the U of A’s Hesje Observatory who are open to the public each Friday night this August.
- The Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA is also under the preserve and has picnic areas at each of the main staging areas.
Visit a local farm for Alberta Open Farm Days
The 2023 Alberta Open Farm Days take place August 19-20. The mission of the event is to help everyone across Alberta get open access to the farms which supply their food. Open Farm Days offers a chance to visit one or several of the farms around the Edmonton area to learn, meet with animals, and to see how the farming works.
- Farm / 16 Hands™ Stables Ltd. in Parkland County will offer a few fun ways to get to know their farm. These include a market of local goods, a horse show, and self-guided tours.
- At the Woods is a “platform for Indigenous culture and events,” located about halfway between Entwistle and Mayerthorpe. For AOFD, the centre will host tours, medicine walks, Cree language lessons, and a petting zoo. More is available at an extra cost.
- The Beau Bella Winery will offer winery and orchard tours to celebrate AOFD. You’ll also have access to tastings at an additional cost, or the patio and tapas menu.
Essential Guide to Summer Day Trips From Edmonton: 100+ Day Trip Ideas
Find an Outdoor Movie
These movie nights will keep your day trip plans fairly close to Edmonton. So, before the movies start, explore each area to find a place for dinner or some pre-drive-in snacks. These outdoor movie events will also have food and drink sales on site.
- The Century Track Casino are hosting outdoor movies all summer, with the next showing on August 9, 2023.
- Catch DC’s League of Super Pets in Stony Plain on August 17 in the town’s Heritage Park.
- Fort Saskatchewan will host its Movie Under the Stars night on August `18 with a showing of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
The Corn Mazes are Opening
If you’re ready for fall, and all the activities that come with the season, these nearby farms can add to the excitement. The corn mazes near Edmonton
- The Edmonton Corn Maze opens for the season by late July, giving you all of August to visit the 150 Years of RCMP Corn Maze, sunflower fields, and market.
- The K3 Corn Maze & Family Farm begin their season in July & August, with features like the maze, areas to rent for picnics, and a large playground.
Festivals Near Edmonton
Get out, get up, and get dancing on your day trip! The last month of summer is busy around Edmonton in terms of music festivals. You’ll find one south, north, and west of the city- all of which sell day passes.
- Stony Plain’s Blueberry Festival (August 4-6, 2023) includes live music, workshops, jamming circles, food trucks, and a market.
- Pigeon Lake Music Festival (August 4-6, 2023) takes your music festival experience close to the beach, and close to Edmonton!
- Rock’n August in St. Albert (August 8-12, 2023) is a fundraising event for diabetes research, and will create a fun way to spend the day as a date or as a family.
Alberta Summer Music Festivals
Birding and Nature Photography
August is one of the Edmonton area’s hottest months, so wildlife and nature photography near the city are a perfect way to end a day of hiking or start a day. Dusk and dawn are the best opportunities for seeing deer, moose, and other large mammals. But you may also travel to any of these areas for excellent August birdwatching. You’ll encounter the largest of Alberta’s birds like eagles, falcons, swans, or pelicans, to the smaller yet adorable birds.
- You can get to Cross Lake Provincial Park, north of Edmonton, in just under two hours. This is an excellent place to spot the great blue heron, osprey, or crossbills. You can also swim in the lake or boat on the lake.
- Enjoy an afternoon of birdwatching at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park from the multiple trails and shoreline areas.
- The John E. Pool Wetlands and Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park are beside one another on the northwest side of the city near St. Albert. Along with a nature walk, you’ll be able to find places to picnic.
Farmers’ Markets near Edmonton
There are a number of reasons which may prompt a farmers’ market trip outside of Edmonton. First, this is a fun way to check out Alberta’s local goods with food, clothing, décor, art, housewares, and more for sale. A second reason could be for filling a picnic basket. The food trucks and farmers alike at these markets will have all you need for a country picnic.
- The Bentley Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from 2pm-4pm, and offers a chance to take your day trip towards Gull Lake and Aspen Beach PP.
- The Rose City Farmers Market takes place in Camrose, southeast of Edmonton, each Thursday at the Duggan Mall. Additionally, you can visit the Downtown Camrose Farmers’ Market on the same day.
- Also southeast of Edmonton are the Bashaw and Miquelon Lake Farmers’ Markets. Both are open for your Friday day trip plans.
Take a Small-Town Food Tour
Follow your tastebuds on your August day trip from Edmonton, and end up at local family restaurants, adorable cafes and bakeries, steakhouses, and more. Seeing a new town or small city through the local food scene can also take you past the shops or local attractions and parks.
- Lacombe’s Museum offer the perfect reason to take your food tour to their town: the Servus Credit Union Harvest Dinners. Before dinner, walk the pretty historic downtown area of Lacombe to find the local snacks.
- Travel to Barrhead and find all the local food, plus the unique attractions. Much of the restaurants are on the Grizzly Trail, as is the World’s Largest Blue Heron, surrounded by a small but lush garden.
- Stettler is a short drive off of Highway 2 and east of Red Deer. The town offers many choices on a walking or biking food tour with family restaurants, ice cream, fried chicken, pizza, and more.