Pack a bag, as there are several reasons to plan a trip in Alberta this weekend!
Danish Canadian National Museum
Summer music festivals and Alberta’s rodeos continue to entertain into August, with events in Edmonton, Sylvan Lake, Pincher Creek, and Vilna. Provincial Park camping is another getaway option, with several sites remaining at Winagami Lake, and other northern parks. This is a great time of year to travel north toward the forest and lakes as migratory bird season begins. You could see herons, trumpeter swans, eagles, and many more!
The Vikings are Coming to Spruce View
Head to the Danish Canadian National Museum for the annual Viking Days Festival. Learn about Viking history, watch a battle re-enactment, and enjoy an authentic Danish meal with the Vikings in the Viking Village.
When: August 19-21, 2022
Where: 35544 Range Rd 31, Spruce View
How much: $12/adult, $10/senior, $6/child under 12
Sylvan Lake for Jazz at the Lake Festival
This weekend, Sylvan’s Jazz at the Lake Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary! The event kicks off on Friday with evening performances and continues into the weekend with live music from sun-up to sun-down. There are a variety of venues including the Alliance Community Church, Centennial Park on Lakeshore Drive, and a few local restaurants/pubs. You can combine your getaway in Sylvan Lake this weekend with swimming, boat rentals, shopping, and plenty of dining.
When: August 19-21, 2022
Where: Sylvan Lake
How much: $20-$40
Edmonton Blues Festival
Join the Edmonton Blues Festival for their last year in Hawrelak Park until renovations are complete, anyways. The event takes place in the park’s Heritage Amphitheatre, giving you a choice between traditional concert seating, or setting up a blanket on the hill. The Festival provides plenty of space for dancing, too, including a large dancefloor front centre of the stage. It is a unique opportunity with the festival holding it’s last show at Hawrelak for three years, but also because they managed to bring back artists from their cancelled 2020 Blues Festival!
When: August 19-21, 2022
Where: Heritage Amphitheatre Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Rd. NW, Edmonton
How much: $34.16-$144 per person
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Sunflower Valley Farms
It is sunflower season across Alberta, and you can find sunflower fields near most big cities of Alberta. Sunflower Valley Farms near Lacombe is one of the biggest working sunflower farms in Central Alberta that allows the public to walk through the trails cut in the 60-acre field. The farm is open until sunset, making it a great visit especially if you are looking to take some great photographs.
When: Until Late August, closed on Mondays
Where: 25528, Township Road 410, Clive
How much: $10; Under 16 free
Vilna Boomtown Days
Help the village of Vilna celebrate its annual Boomtown Days this weekend! The 2022 Vilna Boomtown Days are a special year to attend too, as the Village, School, and Pool Hall are all celebrating their 100-year anniversaries! Stop in for a game of pool and play on authentic mid-century tables, view the collection of antiques, and take a short walk around the corner to find the Giant Mushrooms. The Bonnie Lake Campground is a short drive from Vilna, but you may also find nearby Provincial Parks with availability.
When: August 19-21, 2022
Where: 50th Ave. and 50th St., Vilna
How much: free
Pincher Creek for the Pro Rodeo
Hit Pincher Creek as early as Thursday, August 18th, to catch their Pro Rodeo and all the corresponding events around town! Events begin Thursday with a nighttime beer garden and free spectating for the team roping event. Alongside the rodeo events, you have several other ways to fill your weekend in Pincher Creek by shopping the market, watching the parade, and finding the kids-focused fun/activities.
When: August 18-21, 2022
Where: 209 Canyon Drive, Pincher Creek
How much: $20-$50
Winagami Lake
A camping trip in Winagami Lake Provincial Park gives you access to several amenities which make the stay here comfy and cozy. Take advantage of services like 15 amp power sites, shower houses with flush toilets, firewood for sale, plus all the surrounding activities. Near your campsite you and your family can enjoy the playground, horseshoes, volleyball, and hiking the shorter trails. The lake hosts its own list of recreational activities, too, like boating (of all kinds!), and therefore waterskiing, tubing, wakeboarding, or windsurfing. You’ll encounter several types of wildlife on your trip, too, from the pike and walleye to catch, to the 200+ birds, or the possible bear.
Where: 33km Northwest of High Prairie on AB-749
How much: $29-$37 per night
Riverside Stay in Cochrane
Treat your family or invite a group of friends to this luxurious home accommodation right on the Bow River! The two bed/two bathroom house includes an expansive patio where you can enjoy the views with your morning coffee, a large jacuzzi tub, a full kitchen, and has nearby access to trails.
During your stay you can hike and bike around Cochrane, take a day trip to Banff, or head east and explore Calgary.
Where: south Cochrane, exact location provided upon booking
How much: $226 per night
B&B in a Renovated Church
The unique history of this bed and breakfast in Warner comes alive when you see all the parts of the former church which have been restored by the hosts. The appearance will make you feel as though you are staying in a small castle with stone and wood finishes, and antique fixtures- which all come paired with modern amenities like a full kitchen and washrooms, and a common space with Wi-Fi. Be sure to visit the nearby attractions during your stay, like the Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur Heritage Museum, the Milk River shorelines, or all the attractions in Lethbridge.
Where: Warner, exact location provided upon booking
How much: $173 per night