Searching for Family Fun in and around Edmonton OR things to do for a day out with friends?
With internationally renowned festivals, concerts, nature activities, and long summer days, Edmonton is the place to be in summer.
Whether you want to gather your pals and camp out under the starry sky, explore Edmonton’s nature or rock the night out during the many festivals – there is no shortage of things to do in Edmonton.
Contents
- What is new
- Summer Carnivals & Multicultural Festivals
- Live Performances – Music & Theatre Festivals
- Food festivals and more!
- Nature & Outdoor Fun
- Rediscover Edmonton
- Explore Alberta Capital Region/Day Trips
I. What is New
- Summer Tubing: This Neveplast summer tubing installation at Rabbit Hill Snow Resort is the first of its kind in the Edmonton area, offering a unique and exciting attraction for groups and families. The tubing lanes consist of four lanes, including two longer lanes (approximately 400 feet) and two shorter lanes (approximately 200 feet). To access the top of the longer lanes, visitors can ride the carpet lift partway and then walk up a gradual switch-back gravel trail, where their tubes will be waiting. For the shorter lanes, visitors can take their tubes up the carpet lift and start the lanes from the side.
- Muttart Brick by Brick: Get ready to be awestruck at Muttart Brick by Brick! Created by the Northern Alberta Lego Users Group, this exhibit will showcase amazing LEGO® models, including a massive High Level Bridge and a replica of the Muttart Conservatory. Prepare to geek out with historical Edmonton buildings, space wonders, and iconic pop culture characters. Don’t miss this LEGO-tastic adventure!
- Where Dark Things Dwell: New and refreshed summer weekend programming returns to Fort Edmonton Park this summer. In addition to special summer-themed programming, Edmonton’s historic park will feature an outdoor escape room – Where Dark Things Dwell. Uncover secrets, find the relic, and save the town before dawn. Will you be brave enough?
- Summer at IceDistrict: Edmonton’s ICE District will feature exciting new events with the Summer SolstICE Event Series at Fan Park! Celebrate Canada Day with free activities for all ages, including sports, food vendors, photo booths, kids’ games, and live performances. Plus, enjoy sporting events like the Volleyball World BPT, FIBA 3×3 BASKETBALL World Tour, Unified MMA fights, and the Pride Cup Ball Hockey Championship. And for a romantic night out, don’t miss the free outdoor movie nights at the ICE District Plaza, complete with themed decorations and food options.
- New River Valley Park – In late summer, head to northeast Edmonton to explore the new 190-acre public park (pictured at the top). The park offers a variety of amenities including picturesque bridges, a scenic lake, an events centre, trails, a playground, and public facilities, enhancing outdoor experiences in the city, while providing opportunities for walking, cycling, picnicking, and birdwatching.
- Summer Concerts: Famous artists heading to Edmonton this summer include Amanda Marshall, blink-182, Darlene Olson, Bret Michaels, Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat, Billy Currington, Gary Allan, MacKenzie Porter, Honeymoon Suite, Volbeat, Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Animals As Leaders, Lyle Lovett, Brit Floyd, Avenged Sevenfold, Alexisonfire, Gujarati Cultural Festival, Rod Stewart, Cheap Trick, Carly Pearce, SB19, Blue Rodeo, Milky Chance, NF, Jully Black, The Chicks, 50 Cent and many more.
- New Festival: Head to Grindstone Theatre for the inaugural STREET SPIRIT FESTIVAL by Dram Fine Podcast, a whisky celebration for all levels of enthusiasts. Explore a wide range of whiskies and other spirits, while enjoying live podcasts, brand presentations, lounge areas, and lively entertainment including drag acts and DJs. It’s a fun and inclusive event for whisky lovers and those curious about spirits.
- New Double Slide: Head to West Edmonton Mall with a friend and check out the new slide at the World Waterpark. The heart-pumping waterslide will allow visitors to enjoy the thrill of sliding with a friend by using a double tube, adding a whole new level of excitement to the experience.
II. Summer Carnivals & Cultural Festivals
40+ Festivals to Spice Up Your Summer Days in Edmonton and Alberta Capital Region
- Celebrate Canada Day with fireworks and other fun activities.
- Edmonton International Street Performers Festival: Be part of the crowd and take in an incredible circle show, actively engage with an installation or let the roving performers bring the show to you. A whirlwind of acts, a tempest of entertainment, a deluge of fun – all on street level. July 7 to 16, 2023
- Whyte Avenue Art Walk: Over 450 visual artists will bring their art supplies and art works out into the streets. Together they create an outdoor studio and gallery spanning several blocks. July 7 to 9, 2023
- K-Days: Join for Edmonton’s extravaganza of rides, games, music, food and adventure. Watch as fireworks light up the night sky and cheer for the band onstage. July 21 – 30, 2023.
- Sherwood Park Highland Gathering: The FREE two-day Gathering event features piping, drumming, Highland Dance competitions, Scottish heavy games, Celtic market, food trucks, and more. July 22 to 23, 2023
- Animethon: Canada’s longest running anime festival featuring cosplay, concerts, gaming, and a large vendor hall. Come meet fans and make friends in the community! July 14 to 16, 2023
- Edmonton Carnaval: Find the best of Latin culture, art, music, food. July 22 to 23, 2023
- Cariwest Festival: Enjoy one of Edmonton’s most colorful and vibrant festivals! The parade is also back this year! August 11 to 13, 2023
- Edmonton Heritage Festival: With more than 60 outdoor pavilions, visitors can sample food, enjoy performances, and experience the diverse cultures of 100 countries. August 5 to 7, 2023
- Edmonton Pride Festival returns to Churchill Square with family-friendly entertainment, an LGBTQ2S+ market, Rainbow Road, and a licensed beer garden. Additionally, there will be an indigenous 2-Spirit Powwow and a 90’s themed dance party featuring PROZZAK.
- River Cree Night Market: The third annual Night Market at the River Cree, presented by Enoch Cree Nation will showcase First Nation & local artisans, vendors, food trucks, & much more! August 24 to 27, 2023
- Strathearn Art Walk is a free, family-friendly event that celebrates art and music in the community. Set against the backdrop of the river valley and city skyline, the festival showcases emerging and professional artists and musicians.
You may like: FREE Family Activities for Every Day This Summer in Edmonton
II. Live Performances, Music & Theatre Festivals
- TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival: The TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival has sounds to suit every taste as it features over 5 days of jazz, and features more than 50 events across eight venues. June 28 – July 2, 2023
- Grindstone Comedy Festival: Laugh out loud with Edmonton’s Grindstone Theatre which brings both national performers and rising local talent together under the Edmonton spotlight. July 5 to 9, 2023
- The FOUND Festival: Found Festival is a unique and innovative showcase of dance, theatre, visual art, music, creative writing and many other disciplines that transforms unconventional places into unique arts spaces. July 6 to 9, 2023
- The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival: This is all about good times and incredible comedy. Theo Von, and Bill Burr. July 14 to 16, 2023
- Muttstock is an outdoor music festival that brings together dog lovers for a day of fun. It offers family and dog-friendly activities, vendors, demonstrations, and information. July 8, 2023
- C’mon Festival: Enjoy some serious classical music fun this summer. You can expect a unique musical experience: adventurous, surprising and genre-blurring. July 14 to 17, 2023
- Thousand Faces Festival: Experience multicultural mythos, intimate storytelling, and free food. Enjoy interactive mythic quests, South Asian classical dance, and free ice cream. Don’t miss the readings of new mythic plays by Alberta playwrights at the Carrot Cafe. July 14 to 16, 2023
- Freewill Shakespeare Festival: You can catch one or both of the Shakespeare plays — Twelfth Night and Romeo & Juliet — performed live during the annual theatre festival.
- Disco In The Park: A weekend of all day dancing in a beautiful park in the centre of the city. Fully licensed, food available, surrounded by trees, lots of room to spread out, and unreal DJ sets and live performances all day from local talents and headlining guests from across Canada. August 4 to 6, 2023
- Blueberry Music Festival is a family-friendly bluegrass festival with three stages, offering a weekend filled with music, workshops, and family activities. With food trucks, market vendors, and a welcoming atmosphere, Blueberry promises a weekend of bluegrass hospitality and fun. August 4 to 6, 2023
- Edmonton Folk Music Festival : Set in the lush river valley with the city skyline as its backdrop, the festival is an annual gathering that has come to epitomize Edmonton as a “festival city.” August 10 to 13, 2023
- Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival: With 20+ venues and more than 160 shows featuring artists from around the world, the festival is North America’s largest, longest-running Fringe Theatre Festival. August 17 to 27, 2023
- Edmonton Blues Festival: The annual Edmonton Blues Festival continues to bring you the best in blues. Grammy winners, Juno winners, Maple Blues Award Winners, Blues Music Award winners, IBC winners, the best up and coming acts in the blues and bona fide legends all make their way to Edmonton each summer to create “Blues Heaven” in the sonically superior and party friendly Heritage Amphitheatre. August 25 to 27, 2023
- Purple City Music Festival: Purple City is a cutting-edge music festival showcasing the newest sounds from the global underground. This multi-day, multi-venue event offers a diverse range of genres, from hardcore punk to darkwave and beyond, creating a unique and forward-thinking music experience for all ages.
- Symphony at Snow Valley: Edmonton Symphony Orchestra will perform two programs of sensational music during the annual event held at Snow Vally this year. August 23 to 26, 2023
Headliner Concert Tours In Edmonton
III. Food festivals and more!
- Edmonton Jerk Festival: Edmonton Jerk Festival will bring the people authentic Jamaican Jerk spice straight out of Boston, Jamaica – the original place of all things Jerk. Saturday, July 8, 2023
- Taste of Edmonton: This event brings together the city’s unique food and drinks to the downtown core of Edmonton. With dozens of restaurants and food trucks, Taste of Edmonton exemplifies the spirit of summer with a fun and engaging event for all. July 20 to 30, 2023
- Rotary Grove Fest: Bring the whole family to enjoy three days packed with good eats, local talents, contests and more!
Enjoy world-class BBQ from the best in the business. July 14 to 16, 2023 - Common Street Car Cask Party: What could be a more Edmonton Experience than sitting on the Street Car on the top of the High-Level Bridge and having a glass of cask beer while you watch the sunset over the river valley?
- Alberta on the Plate: For ten delicious days, show your support by visiting one of the participating restaurants to experience their festival menus that highlight local farms, producers, breweries and more! August 11 to 20, 2023
- Zoobrew: A Beer Festival: Wander the zoo with a drink in hand at this twilight event. The Valley Zoo transforms into a peaceful escape on a summer night, perfect for photographers, a night out with your friends, or a fun date night with your significant otter. July 22, August 19, 2023
- If you are looking for incredible food and frothy goodness, visit these exceptional brewers that craft locally-grown grain.
- Cool off this summer with local ice cream and frozen treats!
- Enjoy a traditional English high tea. Finger sandwiches, sweets, pastries, scones, strawberry preserve, and bottomless pits of Earl Grey tea…all that’s missing is you.
- Support local and eat local! With food trucks and snacks on-site, these markets can easily help you spend an entire morning or afternoon. Browse the booths of homemade goods and discover some of the best manufacturers and creators our region has to offer.
- Have a burger.
- Enjoy a beautiful summer day at an Edmonton patio. Summer Patio Guide Edmonton
- Travel around the world through international cuisines right here in Edmonton.
- Have a picnic outdoors this summer. Whether you want to plan your own, order a take out or have a luxury service, there are plenty of options in Edmonton.
IV. Sports, Nature & Outdoor Fun
- Fish for free on Alberta’s free fishing days!
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Canoeing and boating provide a great opportunity to explore Edmonton. Edmonton City straddles North Saskatchewan River, and offer unique ways to become one with the nature. Beyond boat tours and boat rentals, there are also more unique water adventures to watch for like jet skiing, water skiing, or overnight excursions.
- Monster Jam, the most action-packed motorsports experience for families in the world returns to Edmonton for a high-octane day. , Jul 22 & 23, 2023
- Visit Churchill Square for an incredible outdoor movie experience! Bring your family and friends, grab a lawn chair, and enjoy pre-movie entertainment. Sit back and watch a blockbuster hit on a massive 3-storey inflatable screen.
- Edmonton Horticultural Society Garden Tour is an exciting opportunity to tour some of the best gardens in Edmonton! Chat with gardeners, take in the beautiful plants and flowers, and get ideas for your own garden.
- Enjoy the sights of downtown Edmonton on a calming cruise across the North Saskatchewan River on Edmonton Riverboat – a 339-passenger paddle-wheeler.
- Alberta International Airshow returns in 2023 and promises to be an entertainment spectacle that celebrates both the rich history and the modern evolution of aviation, particularly in Edmonton.
- If you’re a pinball enthusiast, collector, or simply enjoy playing classic arcade games, Yegpin! Edmonton Pinball & Arcade Expo is the event for you. Experience the nostalgia of your favorite childhood games or introduce your family to the world of pinball and arcade.
- Visit nearby farms during Alberta Open Farm Days. Alberta Open Farm Days is about farmers and ranchers inviting their urban and rural neighbours to stop in for a visit to share stories, see demonstrations, and learn more about the farmers who grow their food.
- Go camping in and around Edmonton. Whether you want to glamp or roughen it out, there are plenty of options, right in Edmonton and Alberta Capital Region.
- Time to antler up Edmonton! The green and gold CFL team is playing their regular season at commonwealth Stadium this year.
- Take the kids out to a ball game. Edmonton Riverhawks plays at RE/MAX Field. Edmonton Prospects plays their annual season at Sherwood Park and Spruce Grove this year.
- Explore Larch Sanctuary tucked away in the middle of the city. Find it on the south side of 23rd Avenue in the Whitemud creek ravine. It’s an important wildlife corridor for animals moving in and around the city.
- Walk Whyte Ave. From award-winning restaurants to unique shopping opportunities, there is plenty to do and see.
- The inaugural annual mountain bike festival is coming to Edmonton from September 8 to 10, 2023 highlighting the groups riders, local businesses, trail networks and community behind mountain biking in the area.
- Hike to a scenic lookout.
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Have fun at Snow Valley Aerial Park built on the theme of Edmonton’s River Valley. Elements include a ski bridge, snowboard balance bridge, picnic table, bicycle, plus a few surprises.
- Experience Alberta’s capital city with a view unlike any other by booking a hot air balloon ride with Sundance Balloons.
- Cool off at Edmonton spray parks.
- Experience the scenery of Alberta’s Edmonton River Valley on a Segway, an electric, self-balancing scooter. Learn how to maneuver the vehicle from a certified Segway trainer before venturing out into the valley, listening to your guide’s commentary as you travel.
- Explore 4th Street Promenade! Don’t miss the Neon Museum.
- Bird watching, also called birding, is an activity that can be shared by young and old. You can find plenty of places to spot your feathered friends within the city or not far outside of Edmonton, and all it takes is a good eye and a little bit of patience.
- Chase some food trucks. Have Mexican from Calle Mexico, Spanish churros from Churro King, gourmet donuts from Jackie O’s Street Treats, cold treats from Mishmash Parfait, or BBQ food from Smokehouse BBQ.
- Nurture your inner Katniss at Combat Archery.
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Edmonton and area has over 75 spray parks and outdoor pools to help you cool off. Edmonton also boasts of Canada’s first public, man-made, natural swimming pool – Borden Natural Swimming Pool.
- Go indoor go-karting at SPEEDERS Indoor Prokarts or Fast Track Indoor Karting.
- Lining 124 Street is a unique group of businesses and stores that create a shopping community you won’t want to miss. Visit coffee shops, boutiques, art galleries, and shops that make this area an exciting neighbourhood to explore and discover what makes it oh-so-Edmonton.
- Get a workout at the many staircases of Edmonton.
- Drag race legally.
V. Rediscover Edmonton
- Fort Edmonton Park is the largest living history museum in Canada. Experience life in the Edmonton area all the way back to the 1700s. Immerse yourself in the narratives of the Indigenous people and walk through the days of the fur trade, the settlement era, the municipal era and the metropolitan era.
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See and explore a collection of railway equipment/locomotives and buildings. Go on train rides or motor car rides.
- Frolic in West Edmonton Mall. From the World Water Park to Galaxyland – North America’s largest indoor amusement park, to Drive North America’s only indoor multi-level race track, there are many fantastic ways to spend a day or more at the mall!
- Life is better with animals! Edmonton and area have several different petting zoos and farms that let you get hands-on with a variety of different creatures, from barnyard friends to more exotic critters. The whole family will be talking about their new animal friends for a long time to come.
- Inclement weather? Edmonton has plenty of indoor attractions, from world-class museums like Telus World of Science to fun amusement centres.
- Go shopping at a thrift store. You never know what you’ll come across when you shop at a consignment store – and that’s half the fun! Whether you’re looking for an outfit or a home décor that’s new to you, Edmonton has lots of unique shops to check out for second-hand treasures.
- Visit Alberta’s premier art gallery.
- Explore Royal Alberta Museum — Western Canada’s largest museum, bringing you more than 82,000 square feet of exhibition space, and housing a large and wide-ranging collection of artifacts to foster wonder, inquiry and understanding about Alberta.
- See animals at Edmonton Valley Zoo.
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Go on a self-guided walking tour of Alberta Legislature grounds.
- Visit John Walter Museum which tells the story of a rugged Scot from the Orkney Islands, join for hands-on experience with a different historic activities, and children can play with the toys of yesterday.
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Ride the historic street car from the Strathcona Streetcar Barn to Museum Jasper Plaza and delight in the scenic views of the Saskatchewan valley.
- There are so many activities in and around Edmonton you can do as a family. Check out this list for a fun-filled summer.
VI. Explore Alberta Capital Region
Summer Fun in St. Albert, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County, Leduc County, Parkland County, Lac Ste. Anne and Drayton Valley.
- Visit Alberta Beach on the banks of Lac St. Anne and spend the day basking in the sun, paddling in the water, or stopping into local eateries for a delicious lunch. 10 Beach Day Trips From Edmonton
- There are several farms that surround the Edmonton area and that provide the chance to pick your own fruits and vegetables! The u-pick farms and orchards in the central Alberta prairie setting offer a plethora of berries!
- Go tubing at the North Saskatchewan River or Pembina River.
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Have fun getting lost at the creatively designed maze and create unforgettable memories. Ride the grain train, pet the farm animals, test your muscle power through the pedal car race and have an aMAZEing summer at Edmonton Corn Maze.
- Enjoy a beach day at Alberta Beach, Ma-Me-O Beach – Pigeon Lake, Seba Beach – Wabamun Lake, Sylvan Lake Beach, and Aspen Beach – Gull Lake.
- Experience the beauty of native plants and enjoy a day at the garden delighting in the arrays of roses, lilacs, daylilies, Asiatic lilies, peonies, and lilacs at St. Albert Botanic Park.
- Visit U of A Botanic Garden. Have an idyllic time in the Kurimoto Japanese garden and Native Peoples garden. See the fluttering butterflies in the tropical green house, and take a relaxing walk along the meandering paths lined with rose, peony, lilac and lily collections. Or join for the themed Twilight Picnic Experience.
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Go flower picking at Birchwood Meadows. Featuring over 35 varieties of flowers and greens, a visit to Birchwood Meadows U-Pick flower garden is full of joy and discovery.
- Or head to Blooms on 7 U-PICK in Sherwood Park. Their gardens feature a curated collection of over 250 varieties of specialty cut flowers and foliage. They also will be hosting a range of events including wine tasting and u-pick and more!
- The 194 sq. km Elk Island National Park is a nature enthusiast’s paradise, and is one of the best spots in Alberta for wildlife watching. The trails ranging from 300 m to 16 km offer something for every member of the family. Camp for the night with kids and find the Great Bear in the sky at Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve.
- Discovering public art in the city is the perfect physical distancing activity for the summer. Checkout Crawford Block Mural to the controversial Talus Dome, and award-winning architecture.
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Take a trip back in time and discover the world of dinosaurs. Dig for fossils, ride a triceratops and learn about the land before time at Jurassic Forest.
- Explore the living Ukrainian history museum that depicts life in Canada’s oldest Ukrainian settlements. Learn how life was once and tour historical buildings including a sod house and three churches of Eastern Byzantine Rite at Ukrainian Cultural Village.
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Go on a guided trail ride or a date night ride at Putting Horse Ranch in Spruce Grove.
- Walk from the 71 feet high clock tower built in 1995 in the honour of Fleuri Perron (1866– 1931) to Father Lacombe Chapel in Mission Hill, following the cultural history of St. Albert.
- Visit the beautiful man-made Broadmoor Lake Park complete with a walking bridge, boardwalk, fountains and playground.
- Visit Elk Island National Park located just 35 minutes east of Edmonton. Hiking, canoeing or kayaking, picnicking, stargazing in the dark sky preserve, and more… There’s no shortage of outdoor activities – and animals to watch for.
- Explore Reynolds-Alberta Museum, an award-winning museum that is all about celebrating machines.
- Explore the Healing Garden in St. Albert, a place of reflection, peace, understanding and learning: a place of truth and reconciliation. it is located in the centre of our community, in this natural setting where earth, sky, water and air meet and where the spiritual plants and medicines of the First Nations and Métis people can thrive.
- Experience what rural pioneer life was like in the 1900’s. Strathcona County Museum and Archives features exhibits set up to resemble a “Village Square” including an old school, post office, and general store.
- Go on a day trip. Within 2 hours from the city, there are plenty of places you can discover.
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- 25 Summer Day Trips With Kids From Edmonton
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- Scenic Road Trip Alberta: Calgary to Edmonton Via The Badlands
- Visit Sangudo Sundial
- Go Guided Whitewater Rafting in Alberta
- Things to Do Along Iron Horse Trail
- Wineries and Meaderies to Visit in Alberta
- 10 of the Best Things to Do in Whitecourt
- 10 Things to Do on Your Trip to St. Paul
- Giants of the Prairies.
sadly out of date and offered no information for the upcoming season
Why you written about beaches if they not working. Sandy beach is close, lake are overgrow grass, No bbq …:(