Heritage Fest, long weekend, and more.
✨ Edmonton Mama’s Weekly Pick
⭐ Top Pick
Edmonton Heritage Festival at Hawrelak Park
📅 August 1–3 · ⏰ 10 AM – 5 PM · 🎟️ FREE
The world’s largest three-day multicultural celebration is back at its original home in Hawrelak Park — 60+ pavilions, 100+ countries, free entertainment on 25+ stages, and global food from everywhere.
🚗 Edmonton Mama’s Road Trip Pick
🚗 Road Trip Pick
Canyon Adventure Park at Canyon Ski Resort, Red Deer
📅 Open daily this summer
A 40-foot aerial obstacle course with 36 challenges, a 500-foot double zipline, rock climbing wall, free fall jump, net park for ages 3+, Alberta’s only alpine coaster, and Western Canada’s longest summer tube slides — all above the Red Deer River valley. Book online ahead of time, weekend slots sell out.
👨👩👧👦 Family Events
🌍 FREE · August 1-3 · Hawrelak Park
Edmonton Heritage Festival at Hawrelak Park
📅 August 1–3 · ⏰ 10 AM – 5 PM · 🎟️ FREE ·
The world’s largest three-day multicultural celebration is back at Hawrelak Park — 60+ pavilions, 100+ countries, free entertainment on 25+ stages, and global food from everywhere.
🧚 August 1-3 · Bon Accord · Kids in Costume FREE
Fairy Berry Festival at Prairie Gardens
📅 August 1–3 · ⏰ 9:30 AM – 6 PM
The end-of-strawberry-season festival with fairy crafts, corn maze, petting farm, pirate ship, and wagon rides. Kids 12 and under dressed as fairies, pirates, or knights get in free. Book tickets ahead — sells out every year.
🐛 FREE · Family Nature Night
FREE Family Nature Night: Crawling Critters
Nature Alberta’s free drop-in evening series explores the bugs and invertebrates living right in Edmonton’s green spaces. All ages, no registration. Confirm location and time at naturealberta.ca before heading out.
🎬 FREE · Shrek 2
Movies at the Mile: Shrek 2
📅 July 29 (Tuesday) · 🎟️ FREE · Free parking
Free outdoor movie night at Century Mile — Shrek 2 on the big screen. Free admission, free parking. A great family Tuesday evening.
🦙 Blooms on 7 · Sherwood Park
Yoga with the Herd at Blooms on 7
📅 July 30 (Wednesday) · ⏰ 7:00 PM · Confirm registration at bloomson7.com
Stretch and breathe alongside alpacas and farm animals at Blooms on 7 in Sherwood Park — one of the most unique wellness experiences near Edmonton. Confirm registration directly before heading out.
🐕 FREE · West Edmonton Mall · 3 Shows
Acro Canine Performance at West Edmonton Mall
📅 July 31 (Thursday) · ⏰ Shows at 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30 PM · 🎟️ FREE
Edmonton’s own AGT acro-dog team — human acrobats and Guinness World Record trick dogs, all air and no admission. Three free shows, catch them before they are back on TV.
🏀 Edmonton Stingers
Edmonton Stingers vs. Saskatoon Mamba
📅 July 31 (Thursday) · ⏰ 7:00 PM
Thursday night CEBL basketball before the long weekend kicks off. Post-game autograph session on the court as always.
🦕 Prehistoric Party · Youth FREE with Adult
Edmonton Elks Prehistoric Party vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders
📅 August 1 (Saturday) · ⏰ The Brick Kid’s Zone 2 hours before kickoff · Kickoff 5:00 PM
Commonwealth Stadium goes 65 million years into the past for a dinosaur-themed Saturday night against the Roughriders. The Brick Kid’s Zone two hours before kick-off. Youth free with paying adult.
PRO TIP – Free Park and Ride with your Edmonton Elks gameday ticket!
🏮 Water Lantern Festival · Book Ahead
Water Lantern Festival Edmonton
Rundle Park
Decorate your own lantern then watch thousands of them glow across the water after dark. Music, food trucks, and lawn games from 6:30 PM. Expected to sell out — book ahead.
🛍️ FREE · 124th Street Night Market
124th Street Grande Night Market
📅 July 30 · ⏰ 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM · 🎟️ FREE
Local makers, artisan vendors, and food in one of Edmonton’s best neighbourhoods. A great Wednesday evening out before the long weekend kicks in.
🏀 Edmonton Stingers
Edmonton Stingers vs. Ottawa BlackJacks
📅 August 2 (Sunday) · ⏰ 4:00 PM
Sunday afternoon long weekend basketball at the EXPO Centre. Post-game autograph session on the court. A great indoor option if the weather turns during Heritage Fest weekend.
🏒 Hlinka Gretzky Cup · Rogers Place
Hlinka Gretzky Cup Opening Day at Rogers Place
📅 August 1-8)
The prestigious U18 junior hockey tournament opens at Rogers Place on Civic Holiday. See the next generation of NHL stars in a big-league building — an affordable and genuinely exciting afternoon. Tournament runs through August 9.
🎸 Road Trip · Camrose · 1 hr SE
Big Valley Jamboree, Camrose
📅 July 30 – August 2
Western Canada’s biggest country music festival — 75,000 fans, five stages, rodeo, midway, and on-site camping. Keith Urban headlining Sunday is a bucket-list moment.
🌊 Open All Summer
Edmonton River Float: Tube the North Saskatchewan
Float the North Saskatchewan through the city — about 2 hours, tube, life jacket, and shuttle all included. The best lazy long weekend afternoon in Edmonton. Book way ahead, August long weekend fills completely.
FREE · Kids All Summer
Free Kids Admission at Royal Alberta Museum
Kids 17 and under free all summer with the Canada Strong Pass. Best rainy long weekend option in Edmonton.
Fort Edmonton Park · Edmonton Valley Zoo
Both open all long weekend. Steam train rides, historical streets, animal encounters, and train rides. Great quieter alternatives to Heritage Fest crowds for families with very young kids.
🍷 Date Nights & Social Plans
🌍 Best Date of the Long Weekend
Heritage Festival Saturday Evening at Hawrelak Park
Wander the park, eat your way through 60 pavilions, catch a dance performance, and linger until close. Heritage Fest on a summer Saturday is one of the best dates in Edmonton all year — and it costs whatever you decide to eat.
🏮 Saturday August 1 · Date Night
Water Lantern Festival: A Magical Summer Evening
Decorate a lantern together and watch thousands of them float across the water after dark. Music, food trucks, lawn games, and one of the most beautiful evenings of the summer. Book ahead.
Edmonton Mama’s Weekly Guide · July 29 – August 5, 2026 · All events verified at time of publication. Always confirm details before heading out.