Alex PattersonWhether you’re busy making some money for tuition or catching up on your credits in class, summer brings enough daylight and pleasant weather to make living life in Edmonton 100 per cent more enjoyable — even if you’re laying concrete or reading a textbook. It’s almost impossible to not be in higher spirits when our beloved frozen wasteland goes through a short thaw, so take advantage of the gorgeous months, get into the river valley, and spend your money on something a little more fun than a night at the bar. Here’s our suggestions for five things to check out this summer (that aren’t Folk Fest or K-Days).
FIFA Women’s World Cup Saturday, June 6 – Sunday, July 5 at Commonwealth Stadium
Canada is host to this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, so if you’re missing the World Cup madness of last summer, you have another chance to get your soccer fix. Edmonton is one of the six cities in the country where games will be played, with eight of the matches happening at Commonwealth Stadium. Teams playing will be determined through the course of the tournament, so if you’re in for a surprise you can pick up some tickets now for a later game. Along with match play, Edmonton will also be hosting the opening ceremony of the tournament, which will include performances by Canadian treasures Sarah McLachlan and Teagan and Sarah.
What the Truck?! Saturday, May 23 at 4 p.m. at Sir Winston Churchill Square
Want to see which food trucks will be trolling the streets of Edmonton this summer? Over 20 trucks will be flooding Churchill Square in late May with delectable treats for all. Grab your friends and bring cash so you can sample as many of Edmonton’s fine mobile restaurants as possible (and then some, there is a truck from Red Deer). And don’t eat too much that day, the food ranges from southern barbecue at the Smokehouse BBQ truck to authentic Indian cuisine at Explore India, so you’ll want to shove as much truck-food into your mouth as possible.
Interstellar Rodeo (Friday, July 24 – Sunday, July 26) at the Heritage Amphitheatre, Hawrelak Park
It turns out, that if Folk Fest or Sonic Boom aren’t for you, there’s an underrated music festival that strikes a good middle ground between alternative rock and folk music. With heavyweights like St. Vincent, Father John Misty and Tanya Tagaq (to name a few), it’s adding to Edmonton’s legitimacy as a music festival capital. While it’s a place to enjoy some chill jams in a park, the festival has banned tarps, so if you have your heart set on staking claim on a large plot of land for the day, go to folk fest instead. While a tarp-free zone, there will be plenty of room for dancing, indoor toilets and a variety of food options to fuel your music-filled day.
Found Festival (Thursday, June 25 – Sunday, June 28) at Various locations
Branch out from the Fringe Festival this summer and experience different forms of art in unconventional places. Preparations are currently underway for the festival, but considering past performances have ranged from concerts on rooftops to a play in a 1997 Dodge Caravan. This year Found Festival has partnered with local improve festival Improvaganza and iHuman to bring the biggest Found Festival yet.
Freewill Shakespeare Festival (Tuesday, June 23 – Sunday, July 19) Heritage Amphitheatre, Hawrelak Park
The Edmonton treasure Freewill Shakespeare festival is back to grace Hawrelak Park with two of Shakespeare’s classic works, As You Like It and Coriolanus. This is the first year in its two decades as a festival that it will be performing Coriolanus, so it’s the perfect time to check out one of Shakespeare’s less popular works. After the Heritage Amphitheatre tent was damaged last year, the festival was forced to relocate to the Myer Horowitz theatre while repairs went underway. But this year, your dose of English culture is back to its spot outdoors, so bring bug spray. As an added bonus, every Sunday is free for students if you show your ID, giving you no excuse to skip out on Shakespeare.
What to bring to have a better time at an outdoor festival:
Sunscreen – skin cancer would put a quick damper on your summer.
Bug spray – it’s Edmonton. There are mosquitoes everywhere. Hat – again, stay safe in the sun!
Water bottle – obviously not for the event where you would have to have your bags checked, but it’s always nice not to pay for water if you don’t have to.
Extra layers – We all know by now that Edmonton weather is unpredictable. Stay warm and dry by being prepared.
Cash – ATM fees at festivals suck.
A positive attitude – if you really want to have a good time, you will.
