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Alberta’s 7 Best Festivals You MUST Experience at Least Once in Your Life!
Alberta is no doubt one of the most joyful places in Canada because it’s home to some of the best festivals in the country. These festivals celebrate various art forms, traditional rodeo shows, and rich cultures, all of which will give you a deeper appreciation of the province.
The festival that did this for me was—hands down—Calgary Stampede. I still remember being in the stands and watching rodeos with my family and having fun even though I had the slightest idea of what was happening.
It was the sense of community that stood out to me, as everyone felt like one huge friend group on that specific day. To this day, I still see this in various festivals, and it would be selfish of me to keep it from you!
They’ll also provide you with more things to do in Alberta that aren’t ice skating, sledding and other winter-related activities!
Check out these fun-tastic festivals and schedule your trip to their dates for an unforgettable trip.
So, don’t book that ticket until you get to the bottom of our list!
Calgary Stampede
Media credit: calgarystampede
Address: Stampede Park, 1410 Stampede Trl SE
Contact details: +1 403-762-1566
Date: July (10-day event)
Website
Rates:
- Stampede Park General Admission:
- Adults (13 to 64 years): CAD25
- Seniors (65 and above): CAD17
- Children (7 to 12 years): CAD16
- Children (6 years and below): Free
- Rodeo Tickets: CAD45
- Parking: CAD15
The Calgary Stampede is a yearly 10-day event in the city, dubbed the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” It’s hard to dispute this moniker either, as it’s been around for over a century, and thousands are still attending it come July every year.
One of the main highlights of this festival is the rodeo shows, which see talented local cowboys and cowgirls put on competitive but fun shows. Speaking of shows, there are also musical acts that take centre stage to put on amazing concerts, further ramping up this party.
Moreover, this festival isn’t just limited to the Stampede Park! Instead, various establishments across the city will start decorating their places with Western designs—some will even provide free breakfast pancakes!
Pro tip:
Make sure to also stop by the midway, which is where you’ll find tons of stores selling unique local dishes and exclusive merch! You can also find various rides, like the carousel and the 150-foot Ferris wheel.
Edmonton International Fringe Festival
Media credit: edmontonfringe
Address: Edmonton
Contact details: 780-448-9000
Date: August (10-day event)
Website
Rates (estimated show prices): CAD9 to CAD20
If you want to be immersed in the rich culture of arts in Alberta, the Edmonton International Fringe Festival should be on your radar! This festival welcomes all types of art forms from all walks of life and celebrates them across multiple venues across Edmonton.
From musical to theatrical performances, and everything in between, these shows will give you an idea of how creative Edmontonians can get. There are even parades held in various streets that feature creatively dressed artists who are “on the fringe”.
The great thing about this artsy festival is that every member of the family can take part—even the little ones! In KidsFringe at Light Horse Park, you and your children can enjoy multiple entertaining shows specifically targeted towards kids for free!
Pro tip:
Check out their official website to learn how to fringe, and the different ways you can celebrate the festival. This is also where you can purchase tickets for the theatre shows and audio tours!
GlobalFest
Media credit: globalfestyyc
Address: Elliston Park, 1827 68 St SE
Contact details: 403-569-9679
Date: August
Website
Rates:
- Nightly Tickets: Starts at CAD12.50
- Five-day Passes: Starts at CAD50
GlobalFest celebrates different ethnic groups in Calgary through the most extravagant fashion—with fireworks shows! This beautiful symphony is held at Elliston Park, it’s the best venue for a show like this because the lake beautifully reflects the bright colours.
Every year, pyro-musical artists from countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, China, etc. showcase their beautiful light shows with the hopes of winning the title for the year. It’s a great competition for them, and an amazing show for us, bystanders—win-win!
Furthermore, the overall experience is a fun family bonding activity thanks to the park’s accessibility, food stalls, and overall festive vibe. There are three different areas you can choose from too, namely: the VIP Village, the Premiere Viewing Bowl and the General Admission.
Pro tip:
Once you’ve decided to participate in this festival, we recommend getting them as early as possible to get exclusive pre-sale prices! The closer you book to the event, the more expensive the rates will be.
Edmonton Beer Festival
Media credit: yegbeerfest
Address: Edmonton Convention Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave NW
Contact details: 403-569-9679
Date: April
Website
Rates:
- Weekend Pass: CAD38.35
- General Admission: CAD22.01
- Ale Pass: CAD40.96
- BeerGod: CAD79.91
Sometimes, visiting Alberta’s top distilleries isn’t enough to appreciate the province’s specially crafted concoctions. Fortunately, Edmonton does a yearly Beer Festival that puts over one hundred breweries under one roof!
Here, you can sample over 500 beers, each of which features different notes, flavours, malts, and everything in between. Aside from the beer, the main highlight here is the talented local and international musical acts that keep the guests moving while sampling different beers.
The festival is a 2-day event, and it’s recorded to have over 25,000 visitors every year, which goes to show how much Albertans love their beers! Lastly, you can also score cool Beer Festival merch as well as unique beer-based products like their Harry Potter Butterbeer candy!
Pro tip:
If you want the ultimate Edmonton Beer Festival Experience, we recommend opting for the BeerGod Pass. It comes complete with exclusive merch and products, as well as early entry to the Festival Grounds!
SnowDays Festival
Media credit: dustin_mac
Address: Banff
Date: January
Website
Rates (National Park):
- Adult: CAD10.50
- Senior: CAD9
- Youth aged 17 and below: Free
Come wintertime, you should book a ticket to Banff because it’s one of the best places that gets tons of snow. This is also the reason why it’s the place that holds the annual SnowDays Festival, as the city’s streets become winter wonderlands.
This festival is celebrated throughout town, but one place you MUST stop by is the Play Zone, located in Banff Central Park. The zone offers plentiful activities that both kids and adults will enjoy, like curling, hockey, fat biking, and snowball fighting!
The Bear Street Hub is another spot that gets the most attention during these festivities, as it holds various performances from local acts. It’s also where you’ll find incredible ice and snow sculptures in full display!
Pro tip:
If you want to stay in the most joyful areas, we recommend booking a room at Elk + Avenue Hotel in the Downtown area. It offers spacious suites, good food, and a heated pool!
Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Media credit: edmfolkfest
Address: Gallagher Park, 9505 96 Ave NW
Contact details: 780-429-1899
Date: August
Website
Rates: Tickets prices will be revealed on June 7th here
The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is one of the most immersive musical events in Alberta. Consisting of 4 days, this event will make you fall in love with the diverse folk scene of the province.
It’s a great event to check out if you’re looking to discover new artists to add to your daily playlists as well. It features the best local and international folk acts in the current music scene in a fun and festive setting.
Furthermore, it features a sense of community that brings together vendors, artists and volunteers.
Pro tip:
Before or after attending the shows, check out the nearby Strathearn Drive Lookout to catch stunning unobstructed views of the city.
Big Valley Jamboree
Media credit: thebvj
Address: 4250 Exhibition Dr, Camrose
Contact details: +1 888-404-1234
Date: July/August
Website
Rates:
- 3-Day Event Ticket: CAD245
- 3-Day Pit Pass: CAD610
- Kick Off Party: CAD55
- Reserved Seating: CAD365
- Reserved Plus: CAD465
- VIP Seating: CAD860
- Single Day Ticket: CAD130
- Camping: CAD195: CAD360
If country music gets you up and moving, then you shouldn’t miss out on Big Valley Jamboree. Also known as the BVJ, it’s the biggest and most exhilarating country event in Canada, featuring international and local artists as well as beautiful fireworks shows.
They’ve had some big names on the main stage over the years, including Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean, just to name a few. Moreover, the opening acts are great to watch too, as they mostly feature promising up-and-comers!
Pro tip:
Dress in layers, or at least bring a spare flannel or two. Alberta weather can be unpredictable, and you don’t want to be out there freezing!
