Banff 
Labour Day was created to celebrate the achievements of workers by giving them a day off work to reconnect with rest, leisure, and passion.
Oldman River Falls/ Credit: Government of Alberta
2023 Labour day weekend in Alberta is special as the province is celebrating the 1st Alberta Day with grand fireworks and free festivities in Calgary & Edmonton.
So 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.
Alberta Day Celebrations
Alberta is hosting festivities in Calgary and Edmonton, including fireworks and a free concert by Brett Kissel on September 3rd.
Alberta Day celebrations on a smaller scale will also be held in various towns and cities, including Airdrie, Brazeau County, Bawlf, Camrose, Chestermere, Drumheller, Duchess, Edson and more!
You may like: 20+ Ideas For Labour Day Weekend Getaways and Day Trips in Alberta
Fort McMurray’s Annual Duck Race
Fort Mac is excited to bring back their annual Duck Race! This is the 23rd year for the Big Brothers and Sisters event. Running from 11am to 2pm on September 4th, you won’t want to miss your chance to buy a ticket and support the great cause at Syncrude Athletic Park. Details
Scenic Drive
Say goodbye to the last long summer weekend by going on a scenic drive. Driving through the province invites you to discover and enjoy some spectacular scenery, such as the magnificent Rocky Mountains, the beautiful rolling foothills, and the wide-open expanses of grain-planted fields and prairies.
Wood Buffalo Ribfest
Have a jam-packed weekend filled with delicious fall-off-the-bone ribs, beer gardens, daily entertainment, a kids zone and more!
August 31 to September 4 at Snye Point Park Fort McMurray.
Walk Through Geologic Time Trail – Lesser Slave Lake PP
This 300m loop just off the beginning of the Lily Lake Trail lets you experience 4.5 billion years of Earth’s history using time mathematically converted into distance. When did life first appear on Earth? When did the dinosaurs show up? How long has our species been on the planet? Walk on to find out…
Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo – Medicine Lodge
The Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo at Medicine Lodge Rodeo Grounds is an all-encompassing two-day event of fun and exploration! Enjoy catch and release fishing in the ponds or at the McLeod River, paddle boarding, vehicle recovery courses, evening movies, food trucks, live music, and much more!
George Lake Music Festival – Clear Hills County
Bring the whole family to George Lake Campground, Highway 64 and enjoy George Lake Music Festival. There are activities for the kids and bird watching for the nature lover and vendors. September2 & 3, 2023 @ George Lake Campground, Clear Hills County Details
Saskatoon Island Provincial Park
Located just 25 km west of Grande Prairie, Saskatoon Island Provincial Park is Alberta’s second oldest Provincial Park. Hike the trails or plan a camping trip.
Tranquil Escape to Pierre Grey’s Lakes
The park, named for Metis settler Pierre Gris, is where Mr. Gris (Grey) ran a successful trading post throughout the late 1800s. Some remains of the original trading post are still visible today. The blend of history and nature in Pierre Grey’s Lakes Provincial Park easily fills an entire weekend of camping here.
Feast at the Beach – Cold Lake
Enjoy the last days of summer at three-block-stretch of fine sand – Kinosoo Beach – in Cold Lake. You can zipline, play beach volleyball, fly board, zipline and more at this gem of a beach. Plus, Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce is organising a 2-day Music and Food Truck Festival, Feast at the Beach, which is the perfect way to wrap up summer! Enjoy beer gardens, live entertainment, delicious food, a fun kid’s zone and much more! Sept 1 & 2 @ Kinosoo Beach
Explore Lac Ste. Anne County
Explore one of Alberta’s summer destinations – Lac Ste. Anne County – before summer ends. Lac Ste. Whether you like gardens, want to laze around a beach, sky-jump, fish, or see some unique large things, you are sure to find some great places to explore in this county.
St. Paul Rodeo
Enjoy a week of rodeo action at Saint Paul from August 26 – September 3 at St. Paul Ag Corral.
Fort Saskatchewan’s Sheep
Labour day weekend is when one of the most heartwarming and endearing celebrations in the province, Fort Saskatchewan’s Sheep Leaving Parade takes place. Visit Legacy Park and bid adieu to the warm and fuzzy flock until next Spring!
Sweet Corn Fest – Bon Accord
Join Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm for the Labour Day Weekend Corn Fest, celebrating the “season of corn” with a range of activities including contests, mazes, cannons, and husk doll making. Enjoy corny fun and delicious sweet corn in a festive farm atmosphere. Sept 2 to 4.
Star Party – Fort Saskatchewan
Experience the wonder of Elk Island’s night sky. Astronomy Field and ALTASAT Satellite presentation by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Edmonton, stargazing and performances. September 03 @ Elk Island National Park
Le Burger Week – Various Places
Restaurants, diners, and burger joints everywhere need to bring their A-game to this week-long festival, after working all year to develop new dishes, or perfecting fan favourites and old classics. Edmonton & Calgary.
Symphony in the Square – Edmonton
Join the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra under the stars for irresistible nights of music from beloved Disney animated feature films, including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, and more! Fireworks after the show. September 1 & 2 @ Winston Churchill Square.
Cocktails and Jerk Festival – Edmonton
Cocktails and Jerk festival offers Caribbean street food, luscious non-alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails, live music and dance performances.
Delicacies of Africa – Beaumont
Discover the FAIRE LA FÊTE HOMOWO Festival in Beaumont, celebrating African and African Diaspora food and culture. Experience a culinary journey with diverse dishes from regions like North Africa, West Africa, and the Caribbean. Enjoy music, shopping, and activities, including the inauguration of the Black Impact Alliance Foundation.
U-Pick Flowers – Across Alberta
Within Alberta are four farms and gardens dedicated to growing rows upon rows of fresh florals ready for u-pick. The u-pick flower farm experience in Alberta offers colourful florals, often those native to Alberta. You’ll encounter u-pick sunflowers, lilies, tulips, wildflowers, and more. These farms have staff onsite to help educate you on proper care or to provide styling tips for your bouquets. U-Pick Farms/Sunflower Farms
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 2 and 3 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.
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, but it is also a working farm with an extensive bluebird trail and cafe.
Lakedell’s Annual County Fair
For an authentic county fair experience, spend some time with the people of Lakedell as they celebrate the harvest season. For 46 years this festival has been a hit, and this year, the four dat event features fabulous entertainment, a trade show, a spike-pounding competition, … and so much more!
Lazy Float on the Red Deer River
The Red Deer River flows from the Rockies to Rocky Mountain House, through Red Deer, and into the Badlands towards Drumheller. Lazy floating is easy to do through the city of Red Deer with a boat launch and parking on the west at Fort Normandeau, and the same in the east at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. Over 10km of the river flows through Red Deer.
Sylvan Lake Summer Send-Off
Sylvan Lake is all about the summer – sandy toes, hot beach days, and sippin’ drinks on the patio! Head to the town to enjoy the last long weekend of summer. The town is also celebrating Alberta Day with face painting, games and crafts on September 1st.
Abraham Lake Tour
The David Thompson Highway section in Central Alberta, which covers the length of Abraham Lake, is a jaw-dropping turn to make. Drive the highway or explore the area through heart-thumping hikes!
Athabasca River Scenic Float Trip – Jasper
Join the fun on the Athabasca River for a unique perspective of Jasper National Park. Up to 2.5-hour round trip passes through many small sets of rapids and calm stretches, which allows your National Park licensed guide to point out the natural and human history of Jasper. This float trip is safe for the whole family, from toddlers and grandparents to swimmers and non-swimmers.
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 time in the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Open between 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm and with a cafe on site, the views and the heat will give you the energy you need to move into the fall.
Take a boat cruise – Across Alberta
Celebrate the last long weekend of summer by going on a cruise. Options include cruises on the North Saskatchewan River to experiencing the aquamarine waters of Alberta on a boat cruise that takes one on a trip along the majestic views of the Canadian Rockies.
Waynestock – Wayne
Enjoy 3 days of music at this year’s festival. Enjoy musical styles such as roots, rock, country, hillbilly, blues, bluegrass, and more! Camp right on site at the Last Chance Saloon.
Badlands Boogie 7 Music Festival – East Coulee
Celebrate the good things in life this September Long Weekend. Great music, beautiful views, old friendships and meeting new friends as we celebrate life. Proceeds are going to the fund to save and restore the East Coulee Truss Bridge. The bridge is the last remaining wooden Howe Tress train, vehicle and pedestrian bridge in Western Canada.
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.
Calgary Pride
Calgary Pride parade and festival is on September 4 and will feature a variety of thrilling performances, food truck vendors, kid-friendly activities, a vendor marketplace, and a beer garden – all along the beautiful Makhabn (Bow River).
Fiesta Filipino Calgary
Head to Calgary for the biggest and most colourful street party that showcases the vibrant Filipino and Asian Communities in Alberta. Experience the sights, sounds, and taste of Filipino culture and heritage.
Labour Day Classic – Calgary
It’s a longstanding tradition that the football rivalry between the Edmonton Elks 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.
Canmore’s Highland Games
At the entrance to the Rocky Mountains is Canmore and their annual Highland Games. Running from September 3rd to 4th, 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.
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!
Labour Day Parade – Cochrane
Credit: Cochrane Events
Head to Cochrane for the annual Labour Day Parade. Grab your lawn chairs, claim your spot and enjoy pre-parade entertainment starting at 9am. The parade follows at 10am with eye-catching floats down Centre Ave, Railway Street & 1st Street.
Cochrane Rodeo
Running 55 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 17 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.
Canmore Caving Explorer Tour
Discover the amazing, underground world of caves on this half-day, small-group guided cave explorer tour with all equipment included. Follow your guide through the twists and turns of this subterranean world, crawling past prehistoric bones and observing centuries-old rock formations. Choose to explore lesser-travelled places in the cave and wriggle through manhole-cover sized passages (optional) to test yourself in this rugged environment.
Aspen Crossing Train Excursions – Mossleigh
The Mossleigh grain elevators are believed to be the rare few, original elevator rows in Canada. At the Industry peak in 1935, there were well over 5,700 grain elevators dominating the prairie landscape. Today, there are less than 350 remaining across the prairie provinces. Celebrate the railway ties aboard this historical and educational excursion. You can choose from Twilight Dinner Tour, Champagne Brunch Tour or The Great Alberta Prairie Tour.
T-Rex Corn Maze Drumheller
Get lost in a T-Rex shaped corn maze. The T-Rex-shaped corn maze is located adjacent to The Sunny Spot restaurant, a seasonal outdoor eatery in the beautiful Canadian Badlands.
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 camping 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.
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 daily educational events, Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump is as entertaining as it is educational.
Beauvais Lake
Discover the tranquil beauty of Beauvais Lake Provincial Park. This park offers a peaceful retreat with wildlife, photography, and fishing opportunities. The park boasts 180 bird species, diverse trails for hiking and biking, and the chance to explore Mount Albert and other scenic lookouts. Enjoy boating, paddling, and various outdoor activities year-round.
Bellevue Underground Mine Tours – Crowsnest Pass
Gain a better understanding of a previously dominant industry in the Crowsnest Pass area by touring the Bellevue Underground Mine. Each tour is guided by a trained and knowledgeable Heritage Interpreter. Hear the stories of workers, learn all about the revolution of the mining occupation, explore the beginnings of a mine, and more!
Take the Sunshine Trolley – Medicine Hat
Explore the Hat aboard Medicine Hat’s Sunshine Trolley. With your pass, you’ll get one ride around the city to see just a few of the many historic and cultural landmarks.
Centrosaurus Bonebed Hike – Iddesleigh
This adventure is your opportunity to experience the exceptional concentration of fossils that make Dinosaur Provincial Park world-famous. With a knowledgeable guide, you will trek over sandy terrain, over hoo-doo passes, and through grassy valleys to a former dig site (known as a bonebed) that contains the remains of hundreds of horned dinosaurs!
The Patricia Hotel and Water Hole – Patricia
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.
Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur Museum
Explore the Devil Coulee’s Dinosaur Museum & Heritage Site in southern Alberta’s badlands near Lethbridge before the site closes for 2023. Founded in 1987 after a discovery of fossilized dinosaur eggs, the museum showcases paleontological findings and Warner’s history. Tour bone and fossil displays, and join guided site tours to learn about the egg discovery and area’s landscape.
Visit a beach
Send summer off with a beach getaway! Beautiful lakes can be found all over Alberta, you just need to know where to look!
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!