Eat outside this summer at these Edmonton festivals
Summertime in Edmonton is one of my favourite parts of the year. There’s never a dull moment. Pretty much every weekend, there’s something to do, or something going on. And, of course, along with these festivals and events comes FOOD! Here is a list of my favourite festivals and events in Edmonton during the summer. [Image credit: iStock.com/Ivanko_Brnjakovic]
Churchill Square
PO Box 2359, Edmonton, AB T5J 0K1Located in Churchill Square, Taste of Edmonton has been around for 32 years. It’s become a tradition for me and my friends to go every year. It’s fueled by a lot of community involvement and is a great activity to attend as a family, with a friend, or even just a date. It features local Edmonton restaurants from all over the city, all conveniently placed in one place! The Lingnan’s dry spicy chicken is definitely a crowd favourite and is a popular item every year! This year’s festivities take place July 21 to 30, 2016.
William Hawrelak Park
9330, Groat Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2A8Heritage Festival is another festival that’s been going strong for a long time now – 41 years, to be exact! It’s held at Hawrelak Park, which is a great venue for this festival. There’s lots of grass and space, and it’s big enough for all kinds of entertainment. There’s dances, performances and, most importantly, FOOD! It features many different cuisines from countries around the world. If you’ve always wanted to try Indian food or Vietnamese food, why choose? Here, you can check off a lot of cuisines your bucket list! Dig in July 30 to August 1, 2016.
Fringe Theatre Adventures Society
10330 84 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 2G9Fringe Festival is more of a performance-oriented festival, with lots of street acts, theatre shows, sketches, et cetera. I really like just walking around the grounds, watching people perform and looking at all the different kinds merchants. There’s always a few food trucks and vendors at Fringe, which is great because nothing beats watching some talented people performing while eating some delicious street food! Also, it’s a great place for mini donuts without the commitment of paying for admission, like K-days! The Fringe takes over Old Strathcona August 11 to 21, 2016.
Northlands
132-2693 Broadmoor Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 0G1K-days is also one of the classic things to do as a kid while growing up in Edmonton. It’s filled with rides, games, music and, of course, fair food! What does this entail exactly? It’s hard to say, because K-Days is known for coming up with new and outrageous food items every year. In the past, it was glazed doughnut grilled cheese, pulled-pork sundaes, lobster corn dogs, and scorpion pizza. They haven’t released anything new for 2016 yet but you can expect it to be adventurous! K-Days takes place at Northlands July 22 to 31, 2016.
Cariwest Western Carnival Development Assn
100-11230 119 St Nw, Edmonton, AB T5G 2X3Cariwest Festival used to be a part of K-days, but it’s grown into its own event. It even has its own parade! There’s a lot of energy and vibrant colours, and it’s a great way to learn about Caribbean culture. At the end of the parade, they end up at the ‘Caribbean Village,’ which is set up at Churchill Square. There’s dances, activities and, as always, food. There are a lots of different vendors and food featuring Caribbean culture, but my absolute favourite thing to eat are the Jamaican beef patties. Cariwest Festival happens August 5 to 7, 2016.
City Market Downtown
Edmonton, AB T5J 0Z9Last but not least, is Edmonton’s City Market Downtown. It’s one of my all-time favourite things to do during the summer in Edmonton. I love the atmosphere, the friendliness of all of the vendors, and the overall vibe. This market is more than a century old and remains an integral part of Edmonton’s culture. The market moves into City Hall during the winter, but the summertime is really where it’s at. There’s lots of food, vendors and fresh produce! It’s one of my favourite places to get kettle corn and eat outdoors. Also, there’s often some musical performances!
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