Edmonton Events and Festivals
(Edmonton, Alberta - AB, Canada)
With so much going on throughout the year, Edmonton is often known as the 'Festival City', and is home to an array of local events and yearly seasonal festivals. Each year in Edmonton on July 1st, Canada Day is celebrated and there are a range of festivities and popular events throughout the Edmonton area, including a magnificent fireworks display at the end of the day.
Other notable festivals and events in Edmonton are often held at the Shaw Conference Center and include the Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival each February, the International Jazz City Festival at the end of June, the Dragon Boat Festival in August, and the Edmonton International Film Festival every October. Also, each year in August, the region's rich history is celebrated at the Edmonton Heritage Festival, which offers a range of outdoor entertainment.
National Public Holidays
- 1st January - New Year's Day
- Third Monday in February - Family Day (Alberta)
- Monday closest to 17th March - St. Patrick's Day (Newfoundland)
- March or April - Good Friday and Easter Monday
- Monday closest to 23rd April - St. George's Day (Newfoundland)
- Monday before 24th May - Victoria Day
- 24th June - Fete Nationale / St. Jean Baptiste Day (Quebec)
- 1st July - Canada Day (known as Memorial Day in Newfoundland)
- Monday closest to 13th July - Orangeman's Day (Newfoundland)
- First Monday in August - Civic Holiday
- Third Monday in August - Discovery Day (Yukon)
- First Monday in September - Labor Day
- Second Monday in October - Thanksgiving
- 11th November - Remembrance Day
- 25th December - Christmas Day
- 26th December - Boxing Day
Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- Black History Month - January and February, featuring a wealth of events throughout the month, outlining the important part that African-Americans and African-Canadians have made throughout the history of Canada
February
- Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival - mid-February, two-day event featuring endurance races with over 2,500 competitors
March
- Local Heroes International Screen Festival - March, week-long festival featuring the best in short and feature-length films from around the world
April
- Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival - late April to early May, competitions celebrating young musical talent
May
- Northern Alberta International Children's Festival - late May to early June, featuring theatrical performances, concerts, dances, storytelling and puppetry
- Vocal Arts Festival - late May to early July, an impressive musical experience celebrating the joys of opera
June
- Annual Dreamspeakers International Film Festival - early June, a four-day film festival
- Kurimoto Japanese Garden Spring Festival - early June, celebrating Japanese culture with numerous demonstrations and activities
- Syncrude Next Generation Arts Festival (Nextfest) - early June, a ten-day arts festival featuring young musicians
- Giovanni Caboto Day Festival - June, with fine musical performances, arts and crafts displays and mouth-watering Italian food
- Improvaganza - mid June, an exciting four-day extravaganza, celebrating improvised comedy
- The Works Visual Arts Festival - mid to late June, with numerous Canadian and international displays, and exhibits in various downtown locations
- Edmonton Chante - late June, a three-day French song festival, with a variety of entertainment and activities
- River City Shakespeare Festival - late June to early July, impressive festival staging two productions of plays by William Shakespeare, together with Camp Shakespeare, a youth drama camp, held in William Hawrelak Park, Edmonton
- International Jazz City Festival - late June to early July, notable festival with numerous events for the whole family, featuring top jazz musicians
- The Works Art and Design Festival - late June to early July, a 13-day art event with fun for the whole family, featuring a range of events
July
- Canada Day - July 1st celebration, with fun for the whole family, including numerous activities and entertainment, culminating with the spectacular evening fireworks display
- Old Strathcona Silly Summer Parade - early July, crazy summer parade, suitable for all ages
- Edmonton International Street Performers Festival - mid-July, ten-day event featuring the best street performances
- Capital Ex (formerly Klondike Days) - late July, a popular ten-day goldrush celebration, with lots of free entertainment, including parades, races and concerts
- Blueberry Bluegrass and Country Music Festival - late July, a fun weekend for the whole family, with a host of activities including workshops and top musicians
- Historic Edmonton Week Festival - late July, a ten-day historic event featuring a wealth of entertainment, including exhibits, fair, tours, activities and lectures
August
- Edmonton Heritage Festival - early August, a three-day event celebrating Canada's vibrant history, featuring a variety of entertainment and activities
- Edmonton Folk Music Festival - mid-August, four-day folk music event dedicated to bluegrass, jazz and blues, together with numerous family activities
- Cariwest Festival - August, a three-day Caribbean festival, with a variety of lively musical performances and parades
- Fringe Theater Event - mid-August, a popular ten-day festival, with a wide range of entertainment including dance, music, theater and street performers
- Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival - mid-August, an exciting two-day event featuring dragon boat racing
September
- There are no significant festivals and events in the month of September in Edmonton
October
- The Edmonton International Film Festival - mid October, a ten-day film festival including short films and international premiere film screenings
November
- Canadian Finals Rodeo - early November, the Canadian rodeo finals, with a range of cowboy-related displays and competitions
- Farmfair International - mid-November, a popular agricultural show attracting large crowds
December
- Edmonton's First Night Festival - December 31st / January 1st, a popular celebration welcoming in the New Year in true Edmonton style
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