Edmonton 
Have you ever wondered about Edmonton’s earliest days? There was a time when the banks of the North Saskatchewan River were large expanses of parklands and hills. It might be hard to imagine Edmonton’s River scenery without the downtown skyline to the north, or the U of A skyline to the south.
Credit: Explore Edmonton
Visiting Fort Edmonton Park is the easiest way to imagine Edmonton in its younger days. Fort Edmonton will be open for regular summer admission by May Long Weekend. The park can transport you to several moments in Edmonton’s history with historic architecture, actors, exhibits, and immersive experiences.
Fort Edmonton Park started as a Centennial project in 1967 with the reconstruction of the old wood fort. Over time, Fort Edmonton Park grew into one of Edmonton’s top tourist destinations.
The park continues to grow, with more and more added each year for exhibits, events, and programming.
Fort Edmonton is also an ideal location for anyone wanting to explore more of Edmonton’s River Valley. The nearby trails can lead you east or west along North Saskatchewan or across the river at the Fort Edmonton Footbridge.
Exploring Fort Edmonton
The general admission pass for Fort Edmonton gets you access to the entire park, which can take a full day to explore and enjoy.
At the entrance, you will find the first train station in the park, where you can hop aboard and take a ride back in time to the train’s first stop: The Indigenous People’s Experience. The exhibit offers a glimpse into life before the fur trade arrived in North Saskatchewan in Edmonton.
Take a walk through authentic Metis and Cree camps or catch a performance. The Indigenous People’s Experience connects you to the next section with nature trails.
The park continues through the major eras of Edmonton’s development with 1885 Street, 1905 Street, and 1920 Street. Each of these replica streets contain historic buildings you can explore, live actors to enhance the experience, and operational businesses like restaurants, cafes, and shops.
The wooden fort and all of the buildings you see around the park are authentic replicas based on original photos, paintings, or drawings!
As you explore the park and its living history, each area has feature attractions you won’t want to miss.
The first few attractions to watch out for are the different ways to travel around Fort Edmonton Park. Do so through the 1919 Steam Engine, a turn-of-the-century streetcar, or by horse and wagon.
The biggest is saved for last on 1920 Street. Here, you’ll find an authentic 1920s carnival and midway, complete with a Ferris wheel, carnival games, and treats.
The Capitol Theatre is another major feature of 1920 Street and is where you can view the TELUS Story Hive Series all summer.
Dining Experiences around Fort Edmonton
Your trip to the Fort will bring about many unique and authentic dining experiences. These include general stores, confectioneries, a saloon, a café, and more.
Johnson’s Cafe in Hotel Selkirk is bringing back Weekend Brunch this year. Reserve your table in advance and enjoy a leisurely brunch that the culinary team has curated. Available Saturdays and Sundays all summer, the tickets include classic brunch favourites and include free admission to the Park!.
You can also enhance your afternoon by the river with an off-site picnic. Fort Edmonton is surrounded by city picnic sites, including Whitemud Park, the John Janzen Nature Centre, and Sir Wilfred Laurier Park.
Events at Fort Edmonton Park
First up on the events calendar this season at the Fort is the May Long Opening Weekend! Enjoy 1974’s harmonious sounds, era-inspired sweet treats, and nostalgic Capitol Theatre memories. This is a perfect time to see what is new at the park in 2025.
Weekends from May to September will feature special programming with interactive experiences.
Another way to explore the historical village is to play Where Dark Things Dwell, Edmonton’s largest outdoor escape room. In Where Dark Things Dwell, you and your fellow travellers are trapped by an ancient curse in a sleepy village. Uncover occult secrets, find the powerful relic, and lift the curse before it consumes you. Teams of four will explore, but only the bravest will see the dawn.
National Indigenous Peoples Day will be celebrated on June 21 with special programming at the Indigenous Peoples Experience.
Plan well in advance for the Halloween event at Fort Edmonton Park, as tickets to this spooky experience sell out quickly. Each October, adult guests are invited to enjoy the Fort after hours with DARK. The ticketed Halloween experience includes haunts, a market, themed food and drink, and a chance to stay at the Selkirk Hotel overnight. This is also a chance to take a paranormal tour at Fort Edmonton. Paranormal Tours run throughout the Fall and Spring.
Every holiday season, the Edmonton Christmas Market takes over the Fort as one of the city’s most significant holiday shopping events. This is so much more than a market, too! The Edmonton Christmas Market features themed cocktails and warm drinks, food sales, horse-drawn wagon rides, and adorable photo ops around every historic corner. The market is held for the first few weeks of December.
Trip Planning: Fort Edmonton Park
What: Fort Edmonton Park is an immersive living history museum and village on the south banks of the North Saskatchewan River.
The park offers replica streets of Edmonton through the years, Indigenous learning experiences, and many ways to get around. Visitors can explore on foot, by train, or by horse and wagon. They can also take a full day exploring the museum, which has several places for on-site dining.
Fort Edmonton offers various additional features and offerings, such as historic venue rentals, day camps, and year-round events.
General admission is open from May Long to September Long Weekend each year, but the park hosts seasonal and holiday events, too.
Where:
7000 143 St NW, Edmonton
Follow Fox Drive west and turn right on Fort Edmonton Park Road; or follow Whitemud Drive north or south, exit on Fox Drive, and then turn onto Fort Edmonton Park Road.
When:
Opening Weekend May 17 – 19, 2025
Saturday, Sunday, and Holiday Monday | 10 am – 5 pm
May and June Hours:
Wednesday to Friday Hours: 10 am – 3 pm
Saturday and Sunday Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
July and August Hours:
Wednesday to Sunday, and Holiday Mondays Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
September Weekends: September 6, 7, 13, and 14 from 10 am to 5 pm
How Much:
Adult (18+): $27.90 (+GST) & up
Child/Youth (3-17): $22.25 (+GST)& up
Senior (65+): $22.25 (+GST)& up
Family (2 adults & up to 4 kids) : $99.00 (+GST)& up
Children (2+ under) are free but do require a ticket to enter the Park.
Animal Rides
Pony rides (10 & under) $8.00
Wagon Rides – $8.00 / 2 & under Free
Admission includes unlimited access to midway rides & games, the train, and streetcars!
For more information
Hi; We are planning to bring a few students at the end of May. I was just wondering the costs of things such as the ferris Wheel, train ride, etc…
I am on your site but not seeing any costs.
Thank you.
Admission includes unlimited access to midway rides & games, the train, and streetcars!