Where the Season Comes Alive, One Festival at a Time
By May, the city is already in motion.
Downtown patios are buzzing, music fills open-air spaces, and the festival season is no longer on the horizon. It’s here.
From now through August, Edmonton becomes a celebration of creativity, culture, and community. Whether you’re drawn to jazz under the stars, global cuisine in the park, or the rush of carnival lights at dusk, there’s a festival waiting for you.
Edmonton’s Best Hotels is where your weekend begins. With more than 50 member hotels across the city and up to $225 in rewards when you book a one, two, or three night stay, we make sure you’re rested, well-placed, and ready to explore every moment.
Here’s your guide to the best festivals of summer 2025, along with the perfect places to stay that make each experience truly unforgettable.
Edmonton International Street Performers Festival
Dates: July 4 to 13
Location: Churchill Square, Downtown
For those who believe the best moments are unscripted.
In the heart of downtown, sidewalks become stages. From fire jugglers and aerial acrobats to silent clowns and beatboxers, this festival turns a casual stroll into a series of spontaneous spectacles.
What to expect:
Spend the day drifting from act to act. No schedule, just the joy of unexpected talent and street-side magic. Stay long enough and you might even become part of the show.
Where to stay:
Hyatt Place Edmonton Downtown
Modern, central, and just steps from the action.
KDays
Dates: July 18 to 27
Location: Edmonton EXPO Centre and Grounds
For those who want summer to feel like an adventure.
KDays is Edmonton’s most iconic fair. Carnival rides, nightly concerts, food trucks, games, and fireworks create a 10-day celebration that mixes nostalgia with nonstop energy.
What to expect:
Grab a bucket of mini donuts, catch a thrill ride, and stick around for a headlining concert and fireworks. Whether you’re there for the adrenaline or the eats, you’ll leave with stories.
Where to stay:
Holiday Inn Express Edmonton North
Located just a 10-minute drive from the Edmonton EXPO Centre, this hotel offers a comfortable, convenient base for your KDays weekend. Enjoy complimentary breakfast, cozy rooms, and easy access to major routes—so you can focus on the fun, not the logistics.
Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Dates: August 7 to 10
Location: Gallagher Park
For those who seek music that moves more than just your feet.
Set in the natural bowl of Gallagher Park with sweeping city views, this festival draws legendary folk, roots, and indie artists to a hillside of lawn chairs, blankets, and good company.
What to expect:
Start your day early to claim a spot. Share bites from local vendors, browse the artisan market, and let the music carry you into the evening with candlelight and connection.
Where to stay:
Matrix Hotel
Stylish and serene, located just minutes from the festival grounds.
Edmonton Heritage Festival
Dates: August 2 to 4
Location: Edmonton EXPO Centre
For those who travel with their taste buds.
This is one of the largest multicultural festivals in the world. Over 70 cultural pavilions come together to share their food, music, dance, and stories in one vibrant lakeside park.
What to expect:
A global food crawl like no other. Sample your way from continent to continent, take in live performances, and celebrate the diversity that defines Edmonton.
Where to stay:
Varscona Hotel on Whyte
While maybe a slight trek from the EXPO centre, the Varscona has a boutique charm and embraces the cultural energy of Whyte Avenue.
Taste of Edmonton
Dates: July 17 to 27
Location: Churchill Square, Downtown
For those who believe the best cities are meant to be tasted.
Taste of Edmonton showcases the city’s culinary scene with small plates from dozens of local restaurants and food trucks. From international cuisine to prairie classics, it’s a flavour-packed event.
What to expect:
Grab your tasting tickets and wander. Try something bold, something new, and something you’ll want seconds of. Stick around after sunset for live music and local drinks.
Where to stay:
Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel by APA
Walkable, welcoming, and close to every dish worth trying.
Freewill Shakespeare Festival
Dates: June 27 – July 20
Location: Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
For those who love stories that stand the test of time.
Shakespeare in the park returns with open-air performances that mix timeless language with modern flair. It’s theatre, unplugged and unforgettable.
What to expect:
Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and let the performance unfold beneath the trees. As the sun sets and the stage lights rise, you’ll find yourself completely immersed.
Where to stay:
Courtyard by Marriott Edmonton Downtown
Overlooking the river valley and just steps from the park, this hotel offers modern comfort and unbeatable access to the show.
Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival
Dates: August 8 to 10
Location: Churchill Square, Downtown
For those who live for music, movement, and colour.
Cariwest brings the spirit of the Caribbean to Edmonton with a vibrant parade, live music, island cuisine, and a carnival-like atmosphere in the heart of the city.
What to expect:
Feel the rhythm of steelpan drums, taste authentic jerk chicken, and dance into the night at the Caribbean Village. Every moment is designed to celebrate life.
Where to stay:
Chateau Lacombe Hotel
Iconic views, classic hospitality, and steps from the festival fun.
More Summer Highlights You Shouldn’t Miss
Edmonton Drag Festival
Dates: May 30 to June 1
A celebration of performance, identity, and bold self-expression in the heart of downtown.
International Children’s Festival of the Arts
Dates: May 29 to June 1
Creative, colourful, and hands-on fun for families of all kinds.
Nextfest
Dates: June 5 to 15
Showcasing Edmonton’s next generation of artists in theatre, dance, music, and film.
Alberta Circus Arts Festival
Dates: June 19 to 22
A showcase of acrobatics, aerial arts, and circus-inspired innovation.
TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival
Dates: June 21 to 29
From classic swing to avant-garde, this festival brings jazz to unexpected places across the city.
Whyte Avenue Art Walk
Dates: July 11 to 13
A beloved outdoor gallery featuring hundreds of artists set up along the sidewalks of Whyte.
Edmonton Fringe Festival
Dates: August 14 to 24
The largest and oldest fringe theatre festival in North America, with performances across the city.
Servus Edmonton Marathon
Date: August 17
Thousands of runners take to the streets for this internationally recognized race.
Plan Less. Experience More.
This summer, let the city lead and let Edmonton’s Best Hotels be your guide. With member hotels across downtown, south, and west Edmonton, plus the exclusive 123 Deal, your festival weekend becomes effortless.
Book a one, two, or three night stay and receive up to $225 in free rewards. Use it for gas, food, or whatever fuels your next adventure.
Start planning your summer getaway
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