August in Edmonton is for Variety

Better late than never?

• Why not spend an afternoon exploring Edmonton’s outdoors? The City of Edmonton has a few interesting walks that can be printed out to be used as guides (including art downtown and notable Edmontonians in local cemeteries), and the Government of Alberta has a “Rock Walk” map available – noticing the unique rocks and minerals that make up some of the stalwart buildings in the city centre.
• August 8-10, the annual Animethon takes place at the MacEwan City Centre Campus.
• Doors Open Alberta is an event that celebrates the history of public buildings and spaces. Edmonton’s events take place August 9 & 10, and include walking tours, self-guided tours of notable buildings, and a resurrection of last year’s popular Capital Modern Bus Tour.
• My absolute favourite festival of the entire year – the Edmonton International Fringe Festival – kicks off on August 14 and runs until August 24. Head to Old Strathcona for the outdoor buskers, food and craft vendors, and of course, amazing theatre!
• City Farm‘s last Open Gate event of the summer takes place on August 16. Family fun farm activities for free!
• Another family-friendly venue, the Rutherford House is hosting its annual Penny Carnival on August 17.
• Edmonton’s Labatt Blues Festival is billed as Western Canada’s Premiere Blues Event and runs August 22-24.
• Concurrent to the Blues Festival is the Dragon Boat Festival, also August 22-24. Watch the excitement from the banks of Louise McKinney Park!
• The city’s newest (or more accurately, most high profile new festival) is Sherwood Park’s Under the Big Top, with magic shows, puppetry, and physical theatre. Check it out August 25-30.
• Drive-ins may be hard to find, but Churchill Square has been frequently hosting Movies on the Square – family-friendly films projected onto a large inflatable screen. Mack and I went to a screening this weekend, but there are three more opportunities to do so this month: August 29-31, movie titles TBA.
• Hawrelak Park, home of the annual Symphony Under the Sky, will again be filled with the songs of the masters August 29-September 1.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

EDIT:

• Fragapoolza, the largest gaming event/Massive LAN party in Canada is being held at the Northlands Sportex August 7-10.
• Cariwest, another stalwart Edmonton festival, is on this weekend, August 8-10.
• Looking to volunteer? Check out the non-profits and organizations seeking help at Everyone for Everyone, an event free of charge to attend at the Shaw Conference Centre on August 23.