Edmonton 
June in Edmonton can be a tricky time for planning anything. The weather is especially unpredictable, and many are already focused on summer plans.
Credit: Edmonton RiverBoat
However, there is still a lot to do in the city during the month of June. And much of these events or opportunities can make the perfect date idea for spring in Edmonton. Even with iffy weather Edmonton in June can still give us warm days for being on the water out in nature or out enjoying city attractions.
Art History and Lunch Downtown
Edmonton’s downtown core is home to numerous smaller art galleries and the Art Gallery of Alberta in Sir Winston Churchill Square. Plus, downtown is also home to the Royal Alberta Museum. Travel downtown with your date to enjoy the city’s best art, history and culture.
- The Royal Alberta Museum recently extended their DRIVE: Reimagine the Ride exhibit to June 4 th. Beyond this date, you can spend a day viewing the natural and cultural history exhibits.
- You can visit the Art Gallery of Alberta on the last Thursday of every month to enjoy free admission. But if you can’t make it for June 29th, plan an afternoon around a chosen exhibit. There is a long list for the spring and summer of 2023.
- Check out the Edmonton Downtown Business Association for lunch or dinner date ideas around the museum and galleries.
Plan a Father’s Day Date
Edmonton’s moms and dads may be looking to the Father’s Day festivities for treating their partners to date. Fortunately for those couples, there are some amazing brunch events happening this Father’s Day on June 18th.
- Book a table in the Ice District’s Banquet for their Father’s Day BBQ Towers. The meal will include a chance to win a barbecue smoker.
- The Sawmill South is hosting its annual Father’s Day Brunch Buffet on Saturday and Sunday.
A Patio Date
Rather than list some of Edmonton’s best patios, we’ll give you some date ideas for the many types of patios you’ll find open in June. Browse the restaurants according to the type of date vibe you’re after for the evening.
- If you’re looking for date drinks, you can stop by the patio of Edmonton’s many local breweries. You can find a great selection along 99th Street NW south of Whyte: a.k.a. “Happy Beer Street.”
- Find a restaurant near Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River Valley for patios with great views. You’ll be able to find places on both sides of the river.
- Head up to Edmonton’s rooftop patios for your June day or night out together. Some ideas include Fox Burger Spotlight Cabaret and several of the Canadian Brewhouse locations around the city.
Three June Weekends Four Music Festivals
Edmonton is busy leading up to the summer festival season with a few exciting June music festivals. Each festival offers a completely different experience from the other one, and each caters to a variety of fanbases.
- The Soundtrack Music Festival (June 16-17, Kinsmen Park) covers a variety of musical genres with famous hip-hop, rock alt and rap acts.
- Rock the District will bring the performances of various classic rock acts to Fan Park (June 16-18).
- Bomfest is an electronic music and arts festival that will bring some notable headlining DJs to Fan Park (June 23-24) in the Ice District: Kaskade Timmy Trumpet and Black Tiger Sex Machine are among some of those names.
- The TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival runs from June 28-July 2 and will showcase talent from around the city and around the world.
Hop on a Bike Food Tour
The Edmonton Food Tours are starting up operations for the end of May. This is just in time for some spring date plans! They offer a variety of tours too. The tours available for June include a Food Bike Tour, an E-bike Food Tour, a Farmers’ Market Tour, a Donut Tour and even more for July-September.
When: June 2-September 21
Where: various starting locations
How much: $64-$139 per person
Get out on the Water
Water sports rentals are now open and available for the season. This is an excellent chance to book a romantic afternoon of slow paddling, a picnic and watching for wildlife. And there are numerous places near the outskirts of Edmonton which make a great setting for this type of date.
- SUP rentals are available from the River Valley Adventure Company.
- Totem Outfitters in south Edmonton has a variety of outdoor summer rentals now available: kayaks, SUPs, canoes and accessories.
Where to go:
- Elk Island National Park’s Astotin Lake is a fun and large lake to explore and is dotted with several islands that have private picnic areas. Elk Island is a short distance for those in east/northeast Edmonton.
- Pigeon Lake is a short drive for those in west/southwest Edmonton and has trails to explore the large lake and nearby places to eat. There are two boat launches in the PP Campground.
A Walk in the Garden
The U of A Botanic Garden is now open for the 2023 season. And in addition to being a beautiful place for a long walk, the garden is also a great place for a meal for you and your date. The Gardens provide a Twilight Picnic experience or options at the Patio Café. During your date, you’ll have 80 acres of walkable garden space to explore.
- Edmonton Area Gardens to Visit For a Beautiful Summer Stroll
- 12 of the Best Gardens & Conservatories to Visit in Alberta
When: open daily
Where: 5 km north of Devon on Hwy 60 Parkland County
How much: $19.75 per adult, $5.25 per child, $44.75 per family
Ride the Iconic Edmonton Riverboat
The Edmonton Riverboat is back in operation for 2023! The boat is open for public rides on the weekend with discounts on Thursdays. You can book a simple ride on the riverboat or a dining event. The boat will have weekend dinner and brunch buffet cruises.
When: weekends until September
Where: 9734 98 Ave NW
How much: brunch and dinner $34.95 – $71.95. general admission is $19.95 – $41.95.
Outdoor Yoga Events
If there is anything more peaceful to enjoy together than yoga, it is yoga outside. Edmonton’s yoga professionals and studios understand this and can offer some special outdoor sessions for June.
- The local Prana Yoga Studio has a full schedule of their annual Yoga in the Park Series. You can both enjoy a peaceful flow at Glastonbury Park on either June 17th or the 24 th .
- Begin your day with some sunrise yoga before heading out for a breakfast date. Iava Wellness will host a sunrise yoga session on June 7th in the studio’s private courtyard.
Get Creative Together
There are numerous creatives in Edmonton who are willing to share and teach their own skills. If you’re looking for a totally unique date idea in the city you can find a few ideas through the creative classes and workshops available. Most of the workshops or classes require a little more commitment than an afternoon of your time. And in that time you can make something to gift one another to take home or you can both leave with some fresh knowledge.
- Paint Nights can be great as a couple’s date or even a group date. Paint Nights are led by professional artists who can help you create something of your own on canvas. Snacks and drinks are usually involved too!
- Cooking classes are perfect for couples who need new ideas for dinner plans. The classes act as your dinner plans and can help with future dates as you pick up new cooking skills.
- Read more here about 20 different creative workshops and class ideas in Edmonton.