Calgary 
RCMP Musical Ride at Stony Plain
Labour Day was created to celebrate the achievements of workers by giving them the day off work to reconnect with rest, leisure, and passion. If you’re in Alberta this Labour Day weekend, there is plenty to do to get you out of your regular routine and into leisure. Whether you are rejuvenated by festivals, by the quiet of the landscape, or by learning something new, there’s something on this list for you.
Labour Day Parade
Labour Day BBQ
After the Parade, drive to Calgary for the Calgary and District Labour Council’s 11th Annual Labour Day BBQ. Join for free food, live music, a bouncy castle, book give away, and more! Details
WOP May Days
Did you know that Edson and area has an important historical connection to Wilfrid ‘Wop’ May AND aviation history! Join for the annual celebration that commemorates Air Force and bush pilot Wop May landing on Edson’s streets. There will be pioneer games and crafts, old time music and entertainment, free food and lots to do! There will also a theatrical show of The Flying Detective – an amazing two act play based on historical events that brings Wop May, James Campbell and the First Police Manhunt by Air in Canada to life! Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, 2019, Edson. Details
The Pride Festival in Calgary
Pride Week in Calgary runs from August 23th to September 1st, with the parade happening on September 1st and moving across the city via 6th street and 6th Avenue. Come to the second biggest parade in Calgary (second only to the Stampede Parade), and the most colourful event of the year and experience all of the love and acceptance that this festival symbolizes. Details
The Shaw Charity Classic Golf Competition in Canyon Meadows
What better way to spend your days off than taking in the leisurely atmosphere of golf. The Shaw Charity Classic Golf Competition takes place from August 28th to September 1st. This charity event donates to Shaw Birdies for Kids which raises funds for children and youth-based charities in Alberta. Enjoy some of golf’s top players while feeling good about where your money is going at this great event. Details
Stampeders vs. Eskimos
It’s a longstanding tradition that the football rivalry between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Calgary Stampeders be re-invigorated on Labour Day. Come out for “the most anticipated game of the season” at McMahon Stadium in Calgary and enjoy the spirit of the game — there will even be a special flypast from the Royal Canadian Air Force! Details
Party In The Park
Join some of the worlds most prolific performers and songwriters for a two-day outdoor rock festival at Canada Olympic Park’s Amphitheater. Rock n’ Roll renegades STYX, GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS, Motley Crue’s VINCE NEIL performing all the Crue party anthems, TROOPER, Canadian heroes 54-40 and THE NORTHERN PIKES. As well as other local acts sprinkled through the weekend. Details
Bowden SunMaze
The Bowden Sunmaze is located in central Alberta in the Certified Organic fields of Eagle Creek Farms and is one of Canada’s few Sunflower Mazes. For those looking for a traditional or maze we have an 8 acre one of those along with our newly established Willow tree maze. With 3 acres of U-pick Flowers, 2 acres of U-pick vegetables, 3 corn mazes, a Sunflower maze and play area for children, there is something for everyone in the family. Details
Lakedell’s 43rd Annual County Fair
For an authentic county fair experience, spend some time with the people of Lakedell as they celebrate the harvest season. For 42 years this festival has been a hit, and this year the August 31 one-day event features fabulous entertainment, a trade show, a spike pounding competition, and a good old fashioned pie eating contest … and so much more! Details
Red Deer’s Pumpkin Season Kick Off
Red Deer’s annual Pumpkin Season Kick Off is happening on August 31 from 10am to 10pm and welcomes all visitors who want to help celebrate the beginning of the city’s fall festivities. With an eight acre corn maze, a playground, wagon rides, and barnyard activities of all sorts, this is one day of fun that is sure to be remembered by all who attend. Details
Calaway Park
If you haven’t had a chance to get out to Calaway Park this season, make Labour Day the time for fun and excitement at this outside-of-Calgary amusement park. With 33 rides (including the roller coaster and log flume) and 27 games with prizes to be had, this is the Labour Day trip that will have the whole family smiling. Details
Prairie Gardens Corn Festival
At Prairie Gardens Adventure Farm, an incredible Labour Day weekend is sprawled out in front of you with the rows of corn. The Corn Festival runs from 10:00am to 6:00pm through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and features a corn cannon, corn crafts, face painting, a farmer’s market, and so much more. Located 25 minutes north of Edmonton, this Corn Festival is a fun activity for the whole family. Details
Wetaskiwin’s Harvest Festival
August and September are ripe for the harvest, and Wetaskiwin’s Harvest Festival celebrates the bounty of the season! Come and spend September 1st and 2nd watching the wheat crop being harvested, playing carnival games, shopping at the farmer’s market, or even learning how to bake bread at the museum that hosts the event. This is a true celebration of the farm life that makes Alberta so special. Details
Banff International String Quartet Competition
Banff International String Quartet Competition features the world’s finest young string quartets as they descend up the Canadian Rockies as part of the 13th annual Competition. Share in a dramatic and rich journey as an audience member, that will set in motion a major performing career for the winning quartets. Over $300,000 in cash and prizes are awarded to winning quartets. The competition takes place from August 26 to September 1, 2019. Details
Canmore’s Highland Games
At the entrance to the Rocky Mountains is Canmore and their annual Highland Games. Running from September 1st to 2nd, these games feature all your celtic favourites, including a highland dance competition, heavy games, food trucks, sheep, and of course the rising sound of the bagpipes. Enjoy the spirit of Canmore at the Highland Games for your Labour Day weekend getaway. Details
Edmonton’s Milky Way Days
Head o Elk Island National Park on Sunday September 2nd for “Star Parties” that will take your breath away. To keep your Labour Nights as entertaining as your Labours Days, the Milky Way Days are here for you. Details
Fort Saskatchewan’s Sheep Leaving Parade
One of the most heartwarming and endearing celebrations in the province, Fort Saskatchewan’s Sheep Leaving Parade is taking place on September 3rd from 10am to 12pm. Come out to Legacy Park and march with the sheep to the Fort Heritage Precinct as the community bids adieu to the warm and fuzzy flock. Though the event has been described as “bittersweet”, there is nothing to worry about — the sheep will be back again next Spring! Details
Ales on Rails Beer Celebration in Mossleigh
Get a taste of Alberta and a knowledge for the local brew scene with the exciting Ales on Rails event in Mossleigh. Starting at 2:30 on August 31, head to Aspen Crossing and enjoy Origin Malting & Brewing Ltd’s “grain to glass experience”. This farm has roots dating back five generations — that’s five generations of caring about bringing you a quality beer experience. Details
Waynestock
Enjoy 4 days of music at this years festival featuring over 40 artists. Enjoy musical styles such as rock, bluegrass, country, hillbilly, blues, and more! Enjoy musical styles such as roots, rock, country, hillbilly, blues, bluegrass, and more! Camp right on site at the Last Chance Saloon. Details
The annual BUMP Festival in Calgary
Come and celebrate art in Calgary with the second annual BUMP Festival. With a lineup of artists bringing visual art to the city, you’ll get to see and appreciate a variety of murals across the Beltline. Running from August 28th to September 1st, you won’t want to miss the alley party that closes down the celebration of art. Come and interact with the artists who are making Calgary a destination not to be missed. Details
River City Rockfest
Rock out outdoors at the incredible High River Brewing Company! The festival features Terminal Human Condition, From Under The Stone, Nuclear Oath and many more! Details
The Lethbridge Farmer’s Market at Exhibition Park
The Lethbridge Farmer’s Market at Exhibition Park runs every Saturday — but what better way to spend some of your Labour Day weekend than by getting out and finding something new. With homemade baked goods, grown produce as fresh as it gets, and items that are made by artisan vendors, you’re sure to find something to inspire or fuel you. Running from 8am to 1pm, get there before the space gets busy for your long weekend treat. Details
BBQ on the Bow in Calgary
This Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned celebration of southern style BBQ is exactly as exciting as it sounds. Where better than in Alberta to grill up some local beef and listen to local musicians. Come out to Calgary’s Shouldice Park to enjoy some of the best BBQ you can find and get tips for your own cooking practices. With a beer gardens and a kidszone, this is a festival that has something for everyone. Details
Calgary’s Highland Games
Calgary’s Highland Games are one of the biggest Highland Games celebrations in Western Alberta and one of the oldest in North America. Competitors come from around the world to compete in the Scottish events and the food vendors are out in full force. Come and try some authentic food as you take in the fun of the games, the dancing, and the music on August 31. Details
Wood Buffalo National Park
Travel to northern Alberta and spend time in the largest National Park in Canada. Wood Buffalo National Park was established to protect the world’s largest herd of free roaming wood bison, but it has also become the province’s most popular spot for seeing the Northern Lights. Designated a “dark sky reserve” in 2013, this is the perfect place to escape the brightness of the cities. Details
Busk’n Bragg
Come help celebrate the end of summer with at the first annual Busking Festival. This is a Hamlet wide celebration and there will be musicians and street performers throughout the Hamlet to entertain you.August 31 at Bragg Creek. Details
Banff Upper Hot Springs
What better way to spend a Labour Day weekend than by soaking away your stress? If you think you’re going to be missing that summer heat, you’ll want to spend some times in the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Open between 9:00am and 11:00pm and with a cafe on site, the views and the heat will give you the energy you need to move into the fall. Details
Rafting on the Bow River
Rafting on the Bow River is a popular activity for Calgarians and tourists alike. The slow pace of this grand river — which comes from Rocky Mountain runoff — runs through the city and has all kinds of riverbank sights to see. Rent a raft at Lazy Day Raft Rentals and don’t forget your lifejacket, sunscreen, and rafting snacks!
Symphony Under the Sky in Edmonton
Join Edmonton Symphony Orchestra under the stars for four irresistible nights of music ranging from classical gems to Hollywood hits, led by conductor Bob Bernhardt. And Symphony Under the Sky couldn’t possibly conclude with anything other than Tchaikovsky’s majestic 1812 Overture. Details
Bow Valley Provincial Park Amphitheatre Shows
If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids, bring ‘em out to Bow Valley Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country for a fun musical theatre performance show. With “Grrrease ” — a show about two star-crossed bears falling for each other and the popular “Mountain Lion King” — a show true king of the forest, the kids will be entertained and you’ll feel refreshed by the grand views of the Rockies. Details
Lantern Tour
Visit the Cave and Basin in Banff National Park after dark with only a lantern for light! Join a small group of visitors to learn more history and tales of the discovery and days of old. Lights, sounds and a little magic from the fog machine conjures up the past including your host, the ghost of David Galletly, the first caretaker of the Cave and Basin. While the Parks Canada hosts speak of the history of the site, carefully walk through the unlit tunnel to visit the shadowy cave. Details
The Royal Tyrrell Museum
Spend a day with the dinosaurs in Drumheller’s world famous Royal Tyrell Museum. Open from 9am to 9pm all weekend, this museum features real artifacts from paleontological digs, and opportunities for you to try your hand at digging yourself! Interact with the fossils and learn about the history of palaeontology while taking in the fully mounted dino skeletons. Bring the whole family! Details
The Maligne Lake Boat Cruise in Jasper
Why not spend your time off enjoying “The best boat cruise in Canada” (according to Reader’s Digest, that is). Get out to Jasper to enjoy Maligne Lake, the glacial lake surrounded by the towering Rockies. You’ll stop by the famous Spirit Island, which can only be accessed by boat. Running between 1.5 to 2 hours, this is a trip that everyone spending time in the area should consider. Details
The Banfftastic Show in Banff
The Banfftastic Show is presented by Mountain World Heritage Interpretive Theatre, Parks Canada’s theatre troupe, and has been running every Saturday through the summer, with their final show happening on August 31. The show runs from 7pm to 8pm in Banff Central Park, so bring a picnic blanket as you take in the Banff-centric sketches, songs, and stories that will have everyone laughing and having fun. Details
Fiesta Filipino Calgary
Head to Calgary for the biggest and most colorful street party that showcases the vibrant Filipino and Asian Communities in Alberta. Experience the sights, sounds, and taste of Filipino culture and heritage. Details
Icefields Parkway
Take your car for a drive on the famous and gorgeous Ice Fields Parkway this Labour Day Weekend. The Ice Fields Parkway is the name for the stretch of road from Jasper to Lake Louise and has more than 100 glaciers, as well as waterfalls, rock formations, and lakes along the way. Pull over and stop for a picnic or a photo, then head right back out again. This drive will have your head as clear as the lakes along it. Details
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump at Fort Macleod
Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump is the museum of Blackfoot culture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that every Albertan should visit. Learn about the history of Alberta before colonialism and the hunting practices for which the site is named. With an interpretive centre and educational events happening daily, Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump is as entertaining as it is educational. Details
Fort Whoop-Up Closing Weekend
Get ready for a weekend of fun as they wrap up another successful summer season at Fort Whoop-Up! Enjoy three days of hands-on activities and fun planned for the whole family. On September 1, South Alberta Horse Artillery will help them close with a bang. Details
The Patricia Hotel and Water Hole
Every long weekend in Alberta deserves some prime Alberta beef! Come to the Patricia Hotel and Water Hole in Patricia and enjoy their famous steak pit: an eternal flame where you can cook your steak yourself, just the way you like it. The Water Hole features a dance floor, a pool table, and unique drink options. Keep in mind that Sundays are celebrated as Family Day at the Patricia Hotel. Details
Ellis Bird Farm in Lacombe
For a central Alberta adventure, come out to the Ellis Bird Farm in Lacombe, which is not only a non-for-profit organization, it is also a working farm with an extensive bluebird trail and cafe. September 2nd is their final day of the season so come out for the Golden Music Makers event between 1pm and 3pm, and enjoy the season-end raffle draw! Details
Lundbreck Falls
This waterfall of the Crowsnest River is the perfect relaxing weekend getaway. Pack up a picnic and a book, or get yourself ready for an overnight comping trip — however long you plan to spend watching this water cascade will invigorate you as you bid farewell to the summer. Walk around the falls and catch one of the incredible views of this southwestern Alberta treat. Details
Olds Botanic Gardens
The Olds College Botanic Gardens and Constructed Wetlands is a special place to visit. Free of charge and open to the public, this garden walk comes with its own online experience. Download the HisTREE app and scan the tags to learn what kinds of trees are being protected in this delightful Olds experience. Details
Sunshine Meadows
Sunshine Meadows is one of the primary attractions in Banff, and whether you’re looking to hike or you want to ride the chairlift to the top, the famous views are a sight to behold. If you want to get the most out of your weekend, book a night or two at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge at the top, or have a nice meal before you journey back to the bottom. Details
Stay at a Resort in Kananaskis Country
For the whole relaxation package, get out to Kananaskis Country and experience one of their pristine resorts. For a spa getaway, try the Solara Resort & Spa. If you’re looking for that cabin in the mountains feel, stay at the Silver Creek Lodge. The Mystic Springs Chalet & Hot Pools in Canmore is another excellent choice for your Rocky Mountain getaway with Canmore shopping at your fingertips.
Guided Programs at Castle Provincial Park
Visit Castle Provincial Park for a weekend full of activities! From medicinal and edible plants of the Castle guided hike to learning to fish, and Wilderness Survival Family Programs, there are plenty of things to do at the Park! Details
The Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash
If it’s a hot weekend and you haven’t been out to Sylvan Lake this season, you might want to take this chance to get out on the fantastic inflatable obstacle course known as Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash. With its 2018 expansions and 15 foot tower, a launch bag, a trapeze swing, and so much more, the Aqua Splash course is every adventurers’ dream come true.
The Sunset Festival at the Banff Gondola
Is there anything more beautiful than the sunset over the Rocky Mountains? What about the sunset over the Rocky Mountains with a beer in hand? At the Banff Gondola, this dream can be a reality through the summer up until September 3rd. Open every day from 7pm to 10pm, The Sunset Festival includes a solar telescope for your viewing pleasure, food and beer, and a souvenir mug. Catch this festival while it lasts! Details
Cochrane Rodeo
Running 53 years strong, kick back and enjoy all the action of a Tournament Style Rodeo, featuring many of the world’s toughest competitors. With more than 16 events unfolding daily including: ladies barrel racing, bareback, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc and bull riding to name just a few. But stick around for some of other the crowd favourites such as Wild Cow Racing, Mutton Busting and the Wild Pony Races. Details
RCMP Musical Ride
Take in a spectacular show! The Musical Ride of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police showcases the equestrian skills of the cavalry on September 1 at Heritage Park in Stony Plain. Open viewing in the stables and emergency services displays and demonstrations will also be on-site from 12 – 6 p.m. Souvenirs and collectibles will be available for purchase. Stables will be in Heritage Pavilion and open to the public. Details
Water Lantern Festival
Discover the magical festival of water lanterns with food trucks, music and an incredible night of floating lanterns on August 31 at Rundle Park in Edmonton. Details
Food Truck Frenzy in Medicine Hat
Enjoy an assortment of foods from food trucks of Medicine Hat on Sunday, 11am-3pm at the Visitor Information Centre by the Teepee. Details
George Lake Music Festival
Bring the whole family to George Lake Campground, Highway 64 and enjoy George Lake Music Festival. There are activities for the kids such as gold panning and face painting, horseshoe tournament, bird watching for the nature lover and vendors Eat Your Heart Out and Rolling Stoves if you get hungry! The George Lake Music Festival will take place on August 31 and September 1, 2019. Details
Feast at the Beach
Wrap up summer with a 2 day food, fun and music festival. Food trucks will be set up, they’ll have roving entertainment, a main stage with some of Western Canada’s finest entertainment and a beer garden. August 30 & 31, 2019 at 1st Ave, Cold Lake. Details
Fort McMurray’s Annual Duck Race
Fort Mac is excited to bring back their annual Duck Race! This is the 19th year for the Big Brothers and Sisters event, which features a free Labour Day BBQ as well as the rubber duck race. Running from 11am to 3pm on September 2nd, you won’t want to miss your chance to buy a ticket and support the great cause. Details
Some pharmacies & clinics are closed on Labour Day, but many are open and the iamsick.ca/en site and app will save you from unnecessary headaches.
Enjoy the holiday!