Tag: festivals

Ten Things to Love About the Fringe

My long list of love, in honour of the 28th incarnation of the Edmonton International Fringe Festival that runs August 13-23, 2009.

  1. Online Ticketing: the public at large was in arms when online ticketing was introduced two years ago, particularly because beloved at-the-door sales were sacrificed in the process. Since then, door sales have returned to front of house and some have finally embraced the convenience of the online system. Not surprisingly, I am one of them, and have been since the beginning. Being a crazy planner, I have most of my line-up identified within days of the program’s release, so ordering tickets for me is just the final step. Though I know some prefer spontaneously choosing a show, it’s still hard to argue against a system that reduces on-site lineups and encourages on-line exploration prior to the festival.
  2. Line-side Flyering: in my first few years of attending the Fringe, it amazed me that artists came out from behind the curtain to corral patrons the old-fashioned way – by doling out flyers themselves. Up until then, I thought there was a grand line of demarcation separating theatregoers from those that graced the stage, but at the Fringe – everyone is on the same level. Beyond that – I remember reading a quote a long time ago that referred to flyering as the truest form of advertising – who better to promote a show than those starring in it?
  3. Chatting with Fellow Patrons: when all of Edmonton’s theatre-loving public converges in the same area, you can expect some good conversations about theatre. It may seem odd at first to chat up strangers, but knowing that everyone has the same love of theatre in common breaks down many perceived barriers. I love finding out from those lining up next to me what they’ve seen and what they’re looking forward to seeing – the best reviews and recommendations are from fellow patrons.
  4. The Plays: perhaps this one is too obvious, but the Edmonton Fringe needs your help to break the ticket plateau of 77,000+. While that number seems like a lot, and did help us earn and keep the title of the largest North American Fringe for many years, we have now been surpassed by Winnipeg, who amassed over 81,000 in ticket sales this year. Given the maximum you will pay for a ticket is $14 ($12 of which go directly to the artist), it is not only a steal for some of the best theatre to hit the streets, but also $6-$10 cheaper than comparable productions in the city throughout the year.
  5. Outdoor Shows: a big draw for many who attend the Fringe are the outdoor performances. I think they really help set the tone on the grounds, as their amplified enthusiasm travels for miles around the stages. With the multitude of food vendors surrounding the performers, there’s no excuse not to grab something to nibble on, settle down, and enjoy.
  6. KidsFringe: I have no children, nieces or nephews to speak of, but KidsFringe holds a special place in my heart because it was where my Fringe experience began as a volunteer. You would be hard pressed to find an area of the grounds that becomes as lively as Adventure Park (christened “Revolution Park” this year) so early on in the day. From face painting to reader’s theatre, it’s a place for kids and their caregivers alike to enjoy some free fun.
  7. The Food: did you think I wouldn’t get around to mentioning food? I won’t claim that any of the booths are unique to the Fringe (the ubiquitous mini doughnut, green onion cake and chicken bhoona vendors frequent the summer festival circuit), but every Fringe-goer has their outdoor standby – mine is Funky Pickle Pizza. It seems the festival organizers have acknowledged the current economic situation as there is actually a page of food coupons in the program. Score!
  8. The Vendors: though craft shows may be all the rage now, I still love to stroll the vendor-lined alleys for handmade treasures. Whether it be jewelry, fashions or keepsakes, there are always interesting booths to be explored at the Fringe.
  9. Old Strathcona: even as the boundaries of the Fringe expand (even further north than last year’s New City BYOV – this year, a venue on Alberta Avenue joins the fray), the heart of the festival will always be Old Strathcona. The area’s businesses – retail and restaurants – are as much a part of the Fringe as the stages are. The festival doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and it’s always a delight when the shops offer special menus and sales in tandem with the Fringe.
  10. The Atmosphere: dodging crowds and buskers, overhearing snippets of reviews, resisting the temptation of deep-fried dough…there is something intangibly irresistible about just being on the grounds, immersed in the people, the smells, the sounds. There is a frenetic energy in the air and a palpable thirst for theatre. Can you feel it?

And although I listed ten different aspects to love, the truth is, the festival is a frenzy of it all rolled up into ten days. The Fringe is when Edmonton comes out to play.

See you at the Fringe!

Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2009

It took Sarah McLachlan’s first Edmonton concert appearance since 2004 to drag me to the grassy knoll of Gallagher Park to finally experience the Edmonton Folk Music Festival.

Endowment concert ticket

I’ve seen the massive line-ups, winding their way down Connors Road. I’ve heard the stories about the great grub that volunteers feast on. I’ve viewed the photos of patrons doing their best to stay dry under impossible circumstances. But I didn’t understand, until Wednesday, what the draw was of a festival that is a summer tradition to many since its first incarnation in 1980.

Tickets were a pricey $70 for non-pass holders, but May and I decided it was worth the splurge. We had attended Sarah’s last concert at Rexall a few years back, and had enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

I met up with May downtown after work, and we took the bus down the hill. We had checked the website FAQs for some guidance as to what to bring. Besides ruling out our camp chairs that were probably too high, friends advised us to bring a tarp, comfortable shoes, and layers. I know those who have been to festivals past are likely well-versed in the lottery/line-up procedure and what to bring, but I would have appreciated a more blunt guide for newbies (perhaps similar to what the Fringe has developed) – complete with photos of acceptable chair examples (yes, I am very much a visual learner).

Off the bus, we encountered patrons that seemed to be wandering aimlessly, and without any signs to guide us, we approached a volunteer to direct us to the appropriate line. She told us that there were two possibilities with a sort of half-laugh, so we joined the line that we could see – the one that wound its way down Connors Road. We hoped it was the right choice.

Entering the grounds in an orderly fashion

After this pre-entry confusion, I am happy to say that the rest of the night went much more smoothly. Yellow ropes marked thoroughfares down the hill and towards the concession area at the bottom, and though there was the chaos of thousands of people jostling for the best spot, it was controlled by civility and a respect for personal space.

Our view of the stage

We lay down our tarp, while others more keenly prepared pegged their tarps into the ground (seriously, why didn’t we think of that?). And though the sky threatened to rain a few times, we were blessed with a dry first experience. Still, throughout the night, we added to our growing Folk Fest Survival List:

  • Low-to-the-ground folding chairs (examples here, as sold on-site at the Campers Village tent for upwards of $45)
  • Tarp and pegs
  • Colourful space marker, and/or flare gun (we nearly couldn’t find our way back to the tarp after our visit to the concession)
  • Umbrella, hat and poncho
  • Shoes with good grip
  • Snacks and lots of water
  • Sweater, scarf, gloves and blanket or sleeping bag
  • Flashlight (though we never used the porta potties, we wondered if they were lit inside)

After setting down most of our stuff, we joined the crowd flow down the hill for some sustenance. There were quite a few food vendor tents, but only a handful open on this special concert evening. We opted for butter chicken from India Palace, a booth that had travelled all the way from Winnipeg. It was a pricey $11.99, but offered quite a full serving, and the samosa in particular was very good. On a side note, I had no idea that the Folk Fest instigated a $2 plate deposit on the main days, mandating a sound environmental policy – I have to wonder why other local festivals (Taste of Edmonton and Heritage Days in particular) haven’t followed suit.

 

Butter Chicken with Naan and a Vegetarian Samosa

The view from the bottom of the hill was a sight to see – in daylight, thousands upon thousands of colourful specks, and after nightfall, waves of candlelight, all the way up the slope.

 

So many people!

 

May and I

It was definitely a family-friendly event, with more children than I could count. The festival, at least from where I was sitting, also seemed to be less overtly corporate than, say, the Fringe. Some advertising was present on the columns next to the stage, but every tent and seating area hadn’t been renamed to include a sponsor name.

Besides being my first time to the Folk Fest, this was also my first time at Gallagher Park. It is a great venue for an open-air concert, with the natural stadium seating provided by the hill, and a spectacular view of downtown Edmonton. I’m sure more than a few come for the picturesque setting alone.

 

Downtown Edmonton from Gallagher Park

And the concert? Wonderful. Tracy Chapman surprised me with her sense of humour, imagination, and oh, her voice. I am glad she chose to sing one song acapella – it absolutely hushed the crowd. Compared with Sarah McLachlan, she was actually the better entertainer in terms of providing richer anecdotes and song introductions. At one point, she mentioned how cold she was, and someone from the top of the hill actually tried to pass down handwarmers – unfortunately, they never reached her, but it was a thoughtful gesture.

 

Tracy Chapman

 

Candlelit ovation for Tracy

Having seen Sarah in concert before, she delivered what I expected her to – haunting and soothing melodies that almost always sound better live. She was particularly self-deprecating that night, without need to be.

 

Sarah McLachlan

I am happy to have finally experienced the Edmonton Folk Music Festival – I will consider joining the throngs of happy music lovers again in the future.

August in Edmonton is for Celebrating the Outdoors!

  • Latitude 53’s annual 12-hour Drawing Marathon runs from noon to midnight on August 1, and will offer family-friendly activities during the day, and music and bar service in the evening on their rooftop patio.
  • It’s BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair), as always, to the latest Movies on the Square instalment on August 1. They will be showing Kung Fu Panda.
  • An Edmonton mainstay, Heritage Days, runs August 1-3 at Hawrelak Park. Remember to bring a donation for the Food Bank! I wrote about our visit last year here.
  • It really shouldn’t be on this list, but I know many people are looking forward to the grand opening of Southgate Shopping Centre, August 5-9.
  • Another city favourite, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is on from August 6-9, but the only tickets still available are for the special Sarah McLachlan and Tracy Chapman on August 5 – I’ll be there!
  • Cariwest, which bills itself as “the hottest fest in de west” runs August 7-9 and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! Join the party to sample some food, dance to lively music, and of course, catch a sensational parade.
  • Animethon is in its 16th year, and boasts the distinction of being the longest running anime festival in Western Canada. It all goes down at the MacEwan City Centre Campus, August 7-9.
  • Who doesn’t love free? The Winspear Centre is hosting a free noon hour concert on August 12.
  • My absolute favourite of the city’s festivals kicks off mid August – the Edmonton International Fringe Festival brings 10 days of theatre madness into Old Strathcona from August 13-23. Check out a play or two this year if you can.
  • The Rutherford House is hosting its annual penny carnival on August 16.
  • Louise McKinney Park is always a nice place to visit, but all the more so when there’s a race on the North Saskatchewan – catch the Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival on August 21-23.
  • Also August 21-23, the Heritage Amphitheatre is hosting the Labatt Blues Festival.
  • Edmonton will see the dawn of a new festival on August 22 – the East Meets West Festival will be closing down 107A Avenue from 95 to 97 Street to accommodate fashion shows, a street sale and market and a talent contest. It sounds like it will be a good time!
  • Under the Big Top, a festival “for the whole community to gather, learn, and experience magic, puppetry, and physical theatre” continues in its second year in Sherwood Park, and includes theatre shows and a free puppet picnic on August 23.

Capital Ex 2009

No particular reason drew us to the Capital Ex grounds on Thursday, except perhaps a sense of homegrown duty to visit the city’s annual excuse for gluttony. Although we enjoyed ourselves last year, the attractions were somehow less interesting this year.

Sand sculptures

That said, I do still enjoy the sights and sounds of the midway – the exhilarated screams from thrill-seekers, enthusiastic pitches from the amusement carneys, the wafting smells of deep-fried everything and flashing neon lights that never fail to transport me to nights of Ex’s past.

Midway

We did make a point to go see the Cirque Shanghai troupe. Entertaining, we were surprised at how young some of the performers were. We also walked through the Sip! wine and food experience, but decided not to sample any of the food. Though we arrived too late to see David Adjey in person (I was curious to see if his arrogance held up off the screen), we did see Brad Smoliak and Mary Bailey in their nightly “dessert and nightcap” feature. Their dessert of a ginger cocktail and sautéed nectarines with mascarpone cheese and amaretti cookies was quite nice (and best of all, free!).

Mary Bailey and Brad Smoliak on the CookTop stage

Dessert

Chris’ extensive inventory of Ex eats was helpful in knowing what was available (and what to avoid). We opted for the tried and true favourites, namely – Those Little Doughnuts, corn dogs, and Deli Manjoo custard-filled treats.

Mack hearts corn dogs!

Deli Manjoo cakes

We stayed for the fireworks that night, and were quite impressed! While not as spectacular as the Canada Day offerings, the show at least exceeded our expectations.

Ferris wheel at night

It’s hard to avoid one of Edmonton’s most popular summer festivals – but I wouldn’t want to. Despite it’s shortcomings (and year-to-year fluctuations in interesting acts), the Ex is an Edmonton institution of frivolous fun.

Lunch at Taste of Edmonton 2009

I was reluctant to go to Taste of Edmonton this year because not only is the value for dollar not there, but I’ve been shown the light for tasting events (in the forms of Taste of Summer and Indulgence). That said, it’s undeniable that the festival is ingrained in the city’s culture (it celebrates it’s 25th anniversary this year), and sampling small plates outdoors on Churchill Square can be the cure for the common lunch. So when a few coworkers asked if I wanted to join them, I gave in.

I decided to buy just 10 tickets ($1 per ticket), and planned my meal accordingly. While I admit it isn’t the best way to go about the event, I was looking for a full stomach as opposed to the full experience.

I decided on the sweet potato fries from Zen and the cheese empanada from Roma Bistro, both only 3 tickets each. The sweet potato fries were good, particularly with the accompanying dip. I couldn’t complain about the portion size either.

Sweet Potato Fries from Zen

I actually remembered to pull out my reusable container for my second course, and was pleasantly surprised when the attendant at the Roma Bistro booth took the time to cut the empanada so it would fit into my container. The deep-fried pastry didn’t lack cheese, but it wasn’t anything special either.

Cheese Empanada from Roma Bistro

With 4 tickets left, I could have gone for something slightly more substantial (the dry spicy chicken from The Lingnan was tempting), but I ended up with a dessert. On the Rocks’ apple crumble with Jack Daniels caramel sauce won my vote because of the ice cream. It melted much too fast for me to enjoy it, but some fruit was a nice way to end an otherwise deep fryer-heavy meal.

Apple Crumble from On the Rocks

Have you made it to Taste of Edmonton? What were your favourites?

Taste of Edmonton runs until July 25.

June in Edmonton is for Festivals

  • I’ve always wanted to go on a tour of downtown Edmonton led by the Core Crew, but the times have always clashed with my work schedule. In any case, tours will be hosted in the summer every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-2pm starting in June. Details here.
  • The Edmonton Food Bank is marking National Hunger Awareness Day on June 2 by hosting a screening of Affirming Diversity: Rural Images and Voices on Food Sovereignty in Rural India.
  • A free screening is taking place on June 6 at the Royal Alberta Museum with a film titled Will the Real Alberta Please Stand Up?, followed by a panel discussion. Details here (scroll to the bottom).
  • Interested in the possibilities of solar power? Think about taking part in free tours of some eco-solar homes on June 6.
  • The Heart of the City Festival on June 7 will see non-stop entertainment and activities for families. Drop by Giovanni Caboto Park (95 Street & 107 Avenue) for the fun.
  • June 9-16 will see the city’s second annual Creative Age Festival, recognizes “the vital contributions of the arts to lifelong learning, creative expression, health and well-being in later life.” Check out the website for listings of many free and low-cost events.
  • NextFest, a celebration of theatre, dance, visual art, music and film, bills itself as “the precocious teenager of Edmonton’s festival family,” heh. It runs June 11-21.
  • The Age of aQUEERious Pride Week is on June 12-21, kicking off with the Pride Awards on Friday night and Pride Parade and Celebration on Saturday afternoon.
  • June 13 kicks off Western Canada’s largest outdoor farmers’ market in St. Albert! Over 250 vendors will be expected to showcase their wares this year.
  • deVines Wines is organizing a very cool event on June 13 – they’re calling it “Al Fresco on 104th Street” to benefit the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters. Among other things, the street will play host to food vendors, a fashion show, an outdoor movie screening and of course, an open door wine tasting. I’ll be there!
  • Edmonton’s annual River Day kicks off on June 13 with a pancake breakfast, and follows with a whole host of other family-friendly activities, including fishing activities and opportunities to ride in a canoe or raft.
  • Celebrate Africa Day at the African Centre (13160 127 Street) on June 13-14 with activities such as a fashion show, “Taste of Africa”, and African dance and drumming. Call (780) 455-5423 for more information.
  • A free concert titled “That’s Edmonton for You” featuring leading members of Edmonton’s indie rock scene is taking place on June 14 at noon at the Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. Local musicians have composed songs that address the notion of community and sustainability – should be interesting.
  • On June 14, from 10:30am-2pm, the BLIA (10232 103 Street) is organizing a Vegetarian Food Fair, which will offer more than 50 different samples of Asian cuisine. If it’s anything like the vegetarian lunch I had there recently, I’m sure it will be a great event. Call (780) 424-9744 for more information.
  • Activities commemorating National Aboriginal Day will be taking place June 15-22.
  • InterVivos is hosting Jessie Radies of the Blue Pear at Von’s Steakhouse on June 16 for a talk titled “Stick it to the Recession” that will address the importance of keeping consumer dollars in the local economy. I’m sure it will be great.
  • Pecha Kucha is already in its fourth iteration in Edmonton, and will be in its biggest venue yet at the Shaw Conference Centre on June 16. Get your tickets soon if you’re interested – it will undoubtedly sell out early. Check out Mack’s write up of PK3 for a taste of what to expect.
  • Improvaganza will host the best improvisers from around the world during its 10-day event, June 17-27. I haven’t been in a few years, but I’m hoping to check it out again this year.
  • The Dreamspeakers Film Festival, which offers a venue to explore Aboriginal culture, is now in its eighth year and runs June 18-21.
  • Love beer? You’re in luck – the third annual Edmonton Festival of Beer on June 19 & 20 will showcase your favourites alongside entertainment and food.
  • June 19-July 1 will see the Works Festival take over downtown Edmonton with displays and performances of art.
  • June is Bike Month, which means it’s time for Bikeology, a month-long festival to celebrate cycling culture. It all cumulates on Bikeology Festival Day on June 20, with free activities at Beaver Hills House Park.
  • “Find your jazz” at the Edmonton International Jazz Festival, June 26-July 5. I love that they have a glossary of jazz terms up on the site.
  • The Muttart Conservatory opens after extensive renovations on June 27. I haven’t been to the pyramids in a while, but I’m eager to see what they’ve done to the place!
  • The Feats Festival of Dance is on June 27-July 5.
  • The Freewill Shakespeare Festival kicks off its previews on June 30, and runs at Hawrelak Park until July 26. This year’s plays: Comedy of Errors and the “slasher” (or so billed by Chris Bullough) Titus Andronicus.

Enjoy all the city has to offer!

Edmonton Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009

My sisters and I decided to have attend the last Edmonton Fashion Week show on Thursday, partially because we were curious to see what this year’s incarnation would look like, and partially because of the more convenient south side location (as public transit users, the hangar at Kingsway was not appealing).

My only other taste of Fashion Week was in the fall of 2007, where we scored front-row seats in a tented venue on Churchill Square. The Arts Barns was a marked improvement venue-wise, as we were able to wait inside the lobby to avoid the spring chill. Unfortunately, the doors didn’t open until twenty to 8pm, and given that this was about forty minutes later than advertised, we weren’t impressed. Moreover, line control was sorely lacking, which meant as soon as the doors opened, the haphazard crowd randomly crushed their way inside the theatre. As someone used to the hat-drop efficiency of the Fringe, the front-of-house organization was poor.

Sisters! (I am indeed the least fashionable of the three)

Once inside, we settled in our third-row seats (which, combined with our point-and-shoot camera, explains the quality of the photos below), and admired the lovely transformation of the black-box theatre. I loved the dramatic, lush, red velvet curtains and the two beaded chandeliers hung above the runway. Three projection screens had also been set up at the head of the stage, and during the show, would mediate between images of the name of the designer and a runway camera – I’m still on the fence about the use of multimedia – it was an interesting perspective (and gave it a metropolitan feel), but I wasn’t sure it was entirely necessary.

The show was undoubtedly sold out, but as with the show two years ago, I had to wonder why organizers continued to sell more tickets than seats available. As a patron who paid full price, I would be annoyed at the need to stand, particularly when nothing on the ticket indicated the possibility of limited seating. I suppose their system of selling individual advanced tickets that can be used for any show date might need some retooling.

An unrecognizable CityTV personality (whose name I forget, and for the amount of presence he had, it wasn’t important) and Sandra Sing Fernandes hosted the show. Though Fernandes should be commended for spearheading the fashion festival in Edmonton (and based on the age range of attendees, seems to have helped bubble the city’s excitement about local designers to the surface), it appears to be self-serving for her at times – for example, the cover of the week’s program was a picture of a model wearing one of her designs.

Fernandes and CityTV personality

Whatever tone was established by the setting of the fashion show was destroyed by the opening performance by Kimberly Spears, a country singer. It ensured the audience reminded that the show was firmly ground in a prairie city.

The show as a whole wasn’t bad – Sarah Shell’s 442 McAdam, a collection of bags, got redundant really fast. Nokomis was fairly blasé, in Amanda’s opinion. Serendipity by Kelsey McIntyre, on the other hand, presented a stunning array of dresses, including a few wedding gowns. She definitely got the loudest applause from the audience, and I appreciated that the models incorporated umbrellas into their walk – it played off of the musical selection, Duffy’s “Rain on Your Parade”. Jessica Halabi showed both spring/summer and fall/winter collections, while Joeffer Caoc, presented by My Filosophy had a few sophisticated pieces, albeit some that badly needed steaming.

442 McAdam

Serendipity

Serendipity

Serendipity

Joeffer Caoc (it was a little much that all models finished with My Filosophy shopping bags)

As a whole we enjoyed the evening. Though they have a few things to improve on, I’m sure Edmonton Fashion Week will become one of the city’s festival staples. Fall/winter will run September 17-24, also at the TransAlta Arts Barns.

If you want a bit of fashion to tide you over until then, I suggest you check out my sister’s blog.

Winter Light 2009: Illuminations

After dinner at Hardware Grill, Mack, his parents and I walked over to Churchill Square to take in the last event in Edmonton’s first Winter Light festival. Called “Illuminations”, it was billed to be “a spectacle of light and fire”.

The only other event I attended over the course of the festival was the opening ceremonies (although I have been to Ice on Whyte in past years). Based on the vibrant performances, free food, and bustling crowd out on that cold January night, I really was expecting more from Illuminations.

Beautiful flower installation optimistically ushering in spring (photo by Eclectic Blogs)

Lantern installations, a large bonfire, and drumming in tipis made up the bulk of the “activities”, though to be fair, we didn’t stay long enough to witness the fireworks. Musicians cycled through the makeshift stage on the north side of the Square, but the performances were fairly low-key. We brought our own reusable mugs for lukewarm, I mean, hot chocolate (disappointed that they didn’t continue their bring-your-own-cup mantra), but the event definitely could have benefited from more vendors.

Musicians (photo by Eclectic Blogs)

Bonfire

Floating decorations

 

Me and Mack (photo by Eclectic Blogs)

I largely agree with Mack’s criticisms of Winter Light as a whole – there was just something missing. I’d be interested to see if City Council green lights another year, but at least there’s something to improve on.

You can take a peek at Mack photo set here and Martin’s photo set here.

Winter Light 2009

When I first heard about the new Winter Light Festival, an initiative to make the most of our longest season, I was skeptical about the interest that a cold weather festival would generate. But as more details were released about some of the events that would take place over the ten weeks, I started to get excited – the Fringe started off small, didn’t it?

Churchill Square

Mack and I headed down to Churchill Square this evening for the opening ceremonies. We missed the blessing fire, but wandered through the Square to see what other outdoor fun was to be had. We wandered past a warming tepee, a spiral maze built with mounds of snow, a number of warming stations, and a tent distributing hot chocolate. The latter required that a reusable mug be presented, or else one could be borrowed for $4 – I liked this environmental acknowledgement.

Outside City Hall

As it was –30 with windchill that night, it wasn’t surprising that the most lively place was in fact inside City Hall. Of course, free samples of comfort foods, cooked up by students from the NAIT Culinary Arts program, didn’t hurt matters either.

The samples they distributed were quite generous, and really, it was probably a shame that we had eaten dinner just before. Four items were up for grabs: medley of three perogies with traditional garnishes, chipotle bison chili, Alberta pulled pork slider with slaw, and bannock with local honey. The chili was definitely my favourite (so much so that I went back for seconds) – I loved the sweetness of the corn added to balance out the spiciness. Mack loved the moist and tender pork sliders.

Pork Slider and Bannock

My only disappointment was that disposable plates were used. Though NAIT was likely responsible for the food, the organizers still could have alerted them to the pro-environment ideal, and at least have encouraged people to reuse their plates and cutlery.

We stayed and watched some of the entertainment for a while, including Andrea House and Le Fuzz. Though it was a cold night, I think I expected the attendance to be higher. Understanding that the festival kicked off on a Thursday to make the most of the Friday news cycle, the hours probably made it difficult for families with school-aged children to attend.

City Room festivities

Based on the opening ceremonies, I’m cautiously optimistic about the rest of the schedule. Up next: the Deep Freeze on 118 Avenue, and Ice on Whyte. Go check it out!

Mack’s post on the opening ceremonies is here, while his photo set is here.

October is for Seasonal Activities

  • Curious about the upcoming Citadel season? Check out the Citadel’s Open House on October 4, complete with actor meet-and-greets, videos about this year’s productions, and family-friendly activities.
  • Join the Somali Canadian Cultural Society on October 4 for a family-friendly celebration of Eid at the African Centre (13160 – 127 Street) from 2-6pm.
  • The latest Edmonton Film Society series continues this month with its theme of intrigue and suspense. Check out their weekly line-up here.
  • Every Wednesday until the end of November, enjoy a free noon hour musical concert at McDougall United Church (10025 101 Street).
  • The Edmonton Corn Maze is open every day until the middle of the month, fun for all ages. For those interested in something less tame, look for the Farm of Fear event offered at the end of October.
  • The Edmonton International Lit Festival runs October 16-19.
  • Need an excuse to check out some of the city’s art collections? The Fall Gallery Walk may be just the event you need to get you there, on October 18 & 19.
  • The annual ABC Head Start fundraiser in the form of the Scarecrow Festival runs October 17-19.
  • I missed the Soapathon, but won’t be too sad, as Die-Nasty begins its 20th season on October 20.
  • Kick-off Halloween early with the Deadmonton Horror Film Festival, October 24-26.
  • The Art Gallery of Alberta offers a free lecture once a month in the Atrium in Enterprise Square. This month’s session is scheduled for October 30.
  • There’s tons of great theatre around the city, but if you’re looking for something frightening, look no further than Northern Light Theatre’s annual Urban Tales, October 31 – November 1 (it’s also being webcast live if you can’t make it down to the Third Space).