Entertainment

Edmonton's entertainment scene is a reflection of the city's diverse population and the diverse interests of its citizens. While it plays host to big-name entertainers from around the world, the city also showcases and takes pride in the people, the history and the spirit that are uniquely its own.

Festivals

It always seems to be festival season in Edmonton, but from May through August, "Canada's Festival City" really comes alive. Music, visual art, theatre, or just plain fun - there is definitely something for everyone.

Late in June, the Yardbird Jazz Festival features jazz and blues artists at various indoor and outdoor venues throughout the city. And, the International Street Performers Festival fills the downtown streets with the antics of clowns, jugglers, magicians, and other performers.

The Gold Rush of the 1890's is revived every July during Capital EX. Kicked off with a parade, and followed by ten days of events that include pancake breakfasts, bathtub races, and a sourdough raft race, this festival makes every corner of the city come alive. Few can resist a night at the midway, shrieking on the rides.

Thousands flock to Hawrelak Park for the Heritage Festival, a delightful celebration of ethnic diversity. The 50 pavilions showcase the costume, music, dance, food, and art of a specific culture.

Edmonton's Folk Music Festival, held every August at Gallagher Park, is recognized as one of the top folk festivals in North America. It has featured well-known performers like Jackson Browne and Joan Baez, as well as Canada's own Bruce Cockburn and Blue Rodeo. When the sun goes down, the lights of downtown start to glow, and the music strikes a chord somewhere within; then you'll know you're having "a folk festival moment."

The end of summer is marked by the Fringe Theatre Festival, a lively event that takes place in Old Strathcona and features all types of "alternative" performances in both indoor and outdoor venues. Music

The nearly acoustically-perfect Francis Winspear Centre for Music is the home of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, which maintains a busy schedule, satisfying a variety of musical tastes through a wide range of programs such as the Masters Series, the Lighter Classics, and Symphony for Kids. The Winspear is also host to internationally renowned singers and musicians. Edmonton Opera performances take place at the Jubilee Auditorium, located on the University of Alberta campus. The Skyreach Centre and Commonwealth Stadium can accommodate larger audiences, and often feature popular rock and pop artists.

Theatre

Edmonton's premiere live theatre facility is the Citadel Theatre, where top actors from across the country perform in a variety of classical and modern plays. There are also several smaller, more intimate theatres, where you can see talented local actors perform.

In every corner of the city you can find a "first-run" cinema, and West Edmonton Mall's super-deluxe Famous Players Silver City Theatres & Imax 3D Theatre complex, complete with fire-breathing dragon, is worth a visit. Two of Edmonton's oldest cinemas, the Princess and the Garneau, both located in Old Strathcona, play a combination of alternative, first-run, and repertory films. Sports

Thanks to Wayne Gretzky, everyone who knows anything about hockey has heard of the Edmonton Oilers, a team that draws a big local crowd during its home games at the Skyreach Centre. Commonwealth Stadium is home of the Edmonton Eskimos, the city's professional football team. There are seldom sell-out crowds at any of these games, which is good news for visitors who want to see these teams in action.

Museums & Galleries

The Royal Alberta Museum hosts world-class exhibits. One of the museum's permanent exhibits, the "Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture," offers a rare insight into the history and culture of America's native peoples.

The Edmonton Space & Science Centre houses an Imax Theatre, a star theatre, an observatory, a discovery gallery for children, and three exhibit galleries, the themes being the environment, forensics, and health.

A museum with a difference is the Muttart Conservatory, located in the river valley. Its impressive glass pyramids house flowers and plants from tropical, temperate, and arid climates.

The Edmonton Art Gallery exhibits the work of Canadian and international artists, and even has a rental and sales gallery. The smaller galleries in the vicinity of Jasper Avenue and 124 Street, along what has appropriately been dubbed the "Gallery Walk," exhibit works mainly by Albertan and Canadian artists.

West Edmonton Mall

This mall is really a one-stop, entertainment, shopping, dining, and nightclub complex. It even has an amusement park, a full-size waterpark, a skating rink, a mini golf course, and a submarine ride. It's a city within a city!