“One of the neat things about Edmonton is the variety of festivals that take place year round – there’s really something for everyone,” says Ken Fiske, Vice President of Tourism and Special Events for the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation. Celebrating everything from music and theatre to sports, film, and even winter, these festivals highlight local artists and encourage a unique sense of multiculturalism within the community.
A short one-hour flight will get you to Edmonton, Alberta’s capital, for the day, the weekend or a longer stay, depending on how much you want to see while you’re there. Before you go, visit Edmonton Tourism online:
www.Edmonton.com for a listing of events and vacation packages. Then choose from one of five daily flights between Kelowna and Edmonton, and let your adventure begin!
THINGS TO SEE AND DO WHILE YOU’RE THERE
If you’re travelling to Edmonton in October, plan to take in the 19th
Annual
Scarecrow Festival from October 14 through 16 at the Edmonton Expo Centre. This family event celebrates all things spooky and will scare the pants off young and old alike. If you prefer a good laugh to an all out scream, then take in the Edmonton Comedy Festival that runs from Oct 19 to 23, showcasing comedians from Alberta, across Canada and around the world. On Oct 21 and 22, the Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Festival takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre. Now in its tenth year, this festival is all about good taste. Enjoy samples from a fine selection of spirits, wine and beer as well as gourmet foods, including decadent desserts, from Edmonton’s top restaurants.
Cultural connoisseurs will love the selection of art galleries, some of which can be seen on the Gallery Walk. This 12-block area is the first of its kind in Canada and promotes Canadian artists and their work. Located just west of the downtown core on 124 Street, the Gallery Walk also features several unique restaurants, clothing boutiques, bookstores, live theatre venues and more. The Art Gallery of Alberta is also a must see. Located on Sir Winston Churchill Square, the 85,000 square- foot gallery features three floors of original exhibitions of contemporary and historical art.
Edmonton is also known for its eclectic music and live entertainment scene and offers music lovers a vibrant mix of genres. This fall, a number of live performances will take place, including Foo Fighters on October 28 and Gordon Lightfoot on November 25. Joan Rivers, William Shatner, Kathy Griffin and the Amazing Kreskin will also be performing at various venues throughout the city. The much anticipated Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil will kick off the month of November, with shows on November 1 and November 2.
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The Alberta Ballet launches its new season this fall, and will perform Wonderland on November 4 and 5, and The Nutcracker from December 9 through 11. If you love live theatre, be sure to visit Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, and pick up tickets to such popular performances as Death of a Salesman, The Rocky Horror Show and A Christmas Carol.
Those with a penchant for history will enjoy the Royal Alberta Museum, which showcases Alberta’s history through four unique collections (which combined contain an astounding 10 million objects!) Or, take a tour through the Father Lacombe Chapel, built by Father Lacombe in 1861, and recognized as Alberta’s oldest building. The Alberta Legislature building, overlooking Edmonton’s river valley, also offers tours, an interpretive centre and interesting monuments throughout the 23 hectares of parkland. And watch for various events taking place at Fort Edmonton Park, Canada’s largest living history museum. Although it closes for the season the end of September, live theatre performances, murder mysteries and various special events take place throughout the fall and winter.
Canada’s largest eco-museum, Kalyna County, is located just east of Edmonton and is known as Alberta’s multi-cultural capital. Visit a variety of churches, museums, shops and galleries, or stop to visit a number of roadside attractions, like the world’s largest Easter egg. Elk Island National Park is also a popular stopping point and is home to herds of plains bison, wood bison, moose, elk and deer, and more than 250 species of birds.
For those who enjoy the rough and tumble, hard hitting action of the rodeo, then be sure to book your tickets for the Canadian Finals Rodeo, which takes place November 9 through 13 at Rexall Place. While you’re there, visit Farmfair International, an agricultural showcase that runs from November 5 through 13 and features cattle and horse shows, stock sales, the Dodge City Western
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