Known as Festival City, Edmonton continues to live up to this stellar reputation as the host to an array of summer festivals and events. From fireworks to street performers, car racing, multiculturalism, music and more, this year’s festivals offer something for everyone.

Opera Nuova Presents
Vocal Arts Festival
May 23 – July 2
See Canadian opera’s future professionals at Opera Nuova’s Vocal Arts Festival. Started in 1999, Opera Nuova was created as a vehicle to bridge the careers of young opera performers with the professional opera scene. Opera Nuova provides a five-week training program to young performers with some of Canada’s top opera instructors and performers. This year features operas, starring Opera Nuova’s star instructors, while spotlight performances feature young performers. Festival passes range from $59 - $99, with tickets available for individual sessions ranging from $8 to $35. For more information, visit http://www.operanuova.ca/vocalarts. Or call at 487-4844.

The Works Art and Design Festival 2008
June 20 – July 2
Attracting artists worldwide, The Works Art and Design Festival returns for its 23rd year. The Works creates a venue for art and design from traditional to cutting edge, as well as offering workshops and seminars. Many sites in Edmonton are transformed into galleries for the event. Sir Winston Churchill Square is the hub of all the excitement with free activities, displays, food vendors and The Works Street Stage featuring live music. For more information, visit their website: http://www.theworks.ab.ca or call at 426-2122.

Feats – Festival of Dance
June 27 – July 13
Celebrating the world of dance in Edmonton. Alberta Dance Alliance presents Feats – Festival of Dance. This multi-disciplinary dance festival includes dance performances by some of Alberta’s most renowned and talented dancers, special events and programs of education and awareness, all revolving around the genre of dance. Visit their website at: http://abdancealliance.ab.ca for ticket and venue information or call 422-8107.

Edmonton International Street Performers Festival
July 4 — 13
As Canada’s oldest celebration devoted exclusively to street performances, the Street Performers Festival features world-class performers entertaining audiences with spectacular productions, and all at no charge. In addition to its 1,500-plus performances that take place in Sir Winston Churchill Square, the festival also features a variety of food vendors, kid’s activities and Arts and Craft vendors. For more information call 425-5162 or visit their website at www.edmontonstreetfest.com

A Taste of Edmonton
July 18 — 27
Sir Winston Churchill Square plays host to this delicious celebration of Edmonton culinary arts as it celebrates its 24th season. Thirty-nine restaurants will be cooking up 78 menu items compliments of 40 different restaurants, for the festival-goers who take part in the event this year. Augment your samples with wine-tasting or beer-tasting and season your visit with a helping of main-stage entertainment. Ticket prices are $1/Taste Ticket. For more information call 423-2822 or visit their website at www.eventsedmonton.ca

Capital Ex Festival
July 17 — 26
This is Edmonton’s biggest celebration of the year. Hop on the midway, eat some cotton candy, and take in many of the special events including the three separate trade fairs that feature fine arts, multiculturalism and gourmet foods. New this year is the Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory, a Cirque du Soleil style performance, or you could take the family to the Family Fun Town or rock out to some top music acts at EdFest - all included in the price of admission! Gate admission $10/adult and $5/youth, children under 6 are free. For more information on what there is to see and midway ticket information call 471-7210 or visit their website at www.capitalex.ca

Visualeyez ... A Festival of Performance Art
July 18 — 28
VisualEyez is the only annual festival of performance art in Canada and it brings together over 15 artists from Canada and the world to Edmonton for 10 days of cutting edge and innovative programming, which helps to create opportunities for artists in the field and the audiences get a chance to experience and interact with performance artists. The theme for this year’s festival is “Justice”. For more information including ticket prices call 423-5353 or visit their website at http://www.latitude53.org/visualeyez.

Leonard Cohen
International Festival
July 23 — 28
The 2008 event will feature concerts, open-mike performances, poetry readings, and a visual arts display as well as a wide variety of participant activities all in honour of the late poet, singer/songwriter and novelist Leonard Cohen. The highlight of the event is the Festival Gala Concert at the Winspear with headliner Jann Arden. For further information icluding ticket prices call 710-1644 or visit their website at http://www.cohenites.blogspot.com.

Rexall Edmonton Indy 2008
July 24 — 26
For three days each summer, the Edmonton City Centre Airport is transformed into a race track, using 11000 ft. of concrete to make this grand event come alive. The newly renamed Rexall Edmonton Indy features the much anticipated Indycar Race series, as well as The Cooper Tire Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda event and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. If you like speed, this event will blow you away! Three day passes range from $125 - $225. For more information call 488-8812 or visit their website www.edmontonindy.com

Edmonton Heritage Festival 2008
August 2 — 4
For the 33rd year, Edmonton's multiculturalism comes alive at the Edmonton Heritage Festival where, in 2008, over 60 pavilions representing over 75 cultures from all over the world will be participating. That means there will be an abundance of food choices to sample, entertainment hourly and even a Kids Corner that has stilt walkers, balloon people and a cartoonist. While free to attend, festival-goers are encouraged to bring a donation for the Edmonton Food Bank - a local charity that the Heritage Festival is the single largest food and fund raiser for. For more information call 488-3378 or visit their website at www.heritage-festival.com

Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2008
August 7 — 10
In its 29th year and going strong, once again the Folk Music Fest welcomes some of music's finest in the genre. This year enjoy the sounds of Serena Ryder, The Duhks, Colin Hay, Martyn Joseph, Dervish and The Sadies, among others. All performances take place in beautiful downtown Gallagher Park For more information on this festival and ticket prices call 429-1899 or visit their website at www.edmontonfolkfest.org

Cariwest — Edmonton's
Caribbean Arts Festival
August 8 — 10
Enjoy the feel of the Caribbean culture in this colourful three-day event. Start with the Global Costume Extravaganza which includes the crowning of the festival's King and Queen. Take in the parade downtown, dance up a storm at the Saturday Night Fete featuring the best Caribbean entertainment in Alberta, then wrap things up with more Caribbean music, food, and arts and crafts. For more information call 421-7800 or visit their website at www.cariwestfestival.com

Edmonton International
Fringe Theatre Festival 2008
August 14 — 24
Known internationally as one of the biggest and best Fringe Festivals around, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival features more than 130 shows from around the world. In the spirit of the Fringe, these productions have no boundaries, providing audiences with a unique theatre experience. Patrons to this event can also enjoy an abundance of food, vendors and craftwork from local artisans. For information including theatre show ticket prices call 448-9000 or visit their website at www.fringetheatreadventures.ca.

Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival
August 22 — 24
The 12th annual Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival - a family-friendly event free to spectators - will see 55 teams of 22 people competing at Louise Mckinney Riverfront Park, with the Breast Friends Pink Ribbon Challenge and ceremony taking place on Sunday. Other features include an entertainment program, silent auction and beer gardens. For more information call 493-8158 or visit their website at www.edbfa.com

Blues International Presents ­— The 10th Annual Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival
August 22 — 24
If you've got the blues, or even if you don't, you’ll have a great time at the 10th Annual Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival. Top local, national and international acoustic and electric blues acts perform everything from funk to zydeco. All performances take place at the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park. For more information including ticket prices call 708-7230 or visit their website at www.bluesinternationalltd.com

Ukrainian Cultural
Heritage Village Presents: Friend’s Ukrainian Music Fest
August 24
Featuring a gathering of some of the region’s greatest Ukrainain musicians, this music fest encompasses an abundance of entertainment, cultural displays and delicious food. Activities include old-fashioned historical games and wagon rides at the historic village. For more information call 662-3640 or visit their website at www.tprc.ab.ca/uchv.

Symphony Under the Sky Festival
August 29 — September 1
Edmonton’s Symphony Orchestra takes to the river valley for four days of al fresco classical music. From Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Bach classics to performing alongside original members of Broadway sensation Beatlemania and even throwing in a little Hollywood movie music, whatever the genre, the ESO Symphony Under the Sky is always a hit. A weekend pass ranges from $82-$120/adult and $0 - $54/child. For more ticket information call 428-1108 or visit their website at www.edmontonsymphony.com

Now that you know a little more about the amazing festivals Edmonton will host this year, we encourage you take advantage of the warm weather this summer by checking out as many as you can. Hope to see you there!

Publication Date: 7/2008