3 Days of Peak Summer in Edmonton: An Itinerary Built for Sun, Street Food & Summer Vibes

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August is when Edmonton comes alive. Festival season is in full swing, sunsets stretch past 9 p.m., and the city buzzes with food trucks, art walks, patio beats, and riverside adventures. Whether you’re here for the weekend or making the most of a few extra summer days, this 3-day itinerary is your guide to the best of Edmonton in its sunniest season.

From outdoor eats to cultural treats, we’ve mapped out a weekend that delivers full-on summer energy without the stress of overplanning. And if you book your stay through Edmonton’s Best Hotels, you can get up to $225 in free gas, cash, or meal cards with the 1-2-3 Rewards Deal — so your experience goes further.

Let’s make it count.

🌅 Day 1: Friday Vibes & Festival Feels

Afternoon: Arrive and Check In
Pick a centrally located hotel like:

Varscona Hotel on Whyte – Boutique charm and walking distance to Whyte Ave
Delta Hotels by Marriott Edmonton South – Great for drivers and festival-hoppers
Staybridge Suites West Edmonton – All-suite comfort with easy access to the city’s west side

Drop your bags and get ready to explore.

Late Afternoon: Roam Whyte Avenue
Start your trip with a stroll through Old Strathcona — Edmonton’s artsiest district. Browse indie bookstores, vintage shops, and galleries. Stop for coffee at Block 1912 or catch street performers along the avenue — the area buzzes with creative energy all summer long.

Evening: Summer Patio Dining & Live Entertainment
August evenings in Edmonton are made for patios. Start with dinner at Dadeo, Dorinku Osaka, or Tzin Wine & Tapas, then enjoy rooftop cocktails at Alchemy Bar. Afterward, check local listings for live music in Old Strathcona or Downtown—many venues offer free or low-cost shows on summer weekends. If you’re looking for a more laid-back night, cap it off with local beers at Campio Brewing Co.

🚴‍♀️ Day 2: River Valley, Markets & Summer Fun

Morning: Nature and Coffee
Start your day at Little Brick Café, tucked in the Riverdale neighbourhood — perfect for a relaxing breakfast in a heritage home garden. Then rent a bike or scooter and explore the River Valley trails, North America’s largest urban parkland.

Want more zen? Book a float with RiverWatch Feast & Floats (running Fridays and Saturdays) and experience a gourmet long-table dinner after rafting down the North Saskatchewan River.

Afternoon: Markets & Local Flavours
Explore the vibrant markets that keep Edmonton’s summer buzzing:

Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market (Saturdays)
124 Grand Market (Saturdays)

Both offer fantastic local food, handmade goods, and a lively atmosphere.

Evening: Music, Comedy & Summer Nights
Check local event listings for live music and comedy shows around Edmonton this August — many venues feature free or affordable performances that capture the city’s summer vibe. Whether you’re in the mood for a local band, a comedy night, or a quiet evening on a rooftop patio, there’s something for every taste.

🥞 Day 3: Wind Down Like a Local

Morning: Brunch & Botanical Beauty
Treat yourself to brunch at Toast Culture or PIP on Whyte. Then walk off your pancakes at the Muttart Conservatory — four glass pyramids filled with tropical, arid, and seasonal blooms. (Be sure to check for special exhibits before you go.)

Early Afternoon: Markets & Museums
Looking for one last adventure?

Browse the Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market (Sundays)
Visit the Royal Alberta Museum or the Art Gallery of Alberta (check websites for free or discounted admission days)
Or head to West Edmonton Mall for last-minute shopping or to hit Galaxyland or World Waterpark before heading home

Before You Go: Pick Up a Local Treat
Swing by Duchess Bake Shop for road snacks or souvenirs that don’t suck. Their lavender shortbread and macarons are a local favourite.

💸 Make Your Summer Go Further

When you book your stay through Edmonton’s Best Hotels, you unlock real rewards:

The 1-2-3 Deal gives you up to $225 in free gas, cash, or meal cards — just for booking a 1, 2, or 3-night stay. It’s like getting paid to enjoy Edmonton.

👉 Book your stay and claim your rewards

Edmonton in August Is Everything

From sizzling street food to cool river breezes and unforgettable live shows, this city knows how to summer. Make the most of it with a 3-day escape that mixes festivals, flavour, nature, and local character — all powered by your own curiosity and a little help from Edmonton’s Best Hotels.

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Rockin Thunder Festival Bucks, 2025
Terms and Conditions

The Offer

The Rockin Thunder Festival Bucks offer is valid for hotel stays from Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, July 13, 2025. Hotel bookings must be made through Edmonton’s Best Hotels booking platform at www.edmontonsbesthotels.com

The Festival Bucks offer will close on Monday, July 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. NO ROCKIN THUNDER FESTIVAL BUCKS OFFERS WILL BE PROVIDED AFTER THE JULY 7, 2025, CLOSE DATE.

If you book a hotel stay for July 10 to the 13^th, 2025, and choose a non-Festival Bucks reward, the value of the Festival Bucks is not transferable to the other rewards.

If you do not use all your Festival Bucks, no refund will be provided. In the event of a cancellation due to an act of God, no refund will be provided, and no exchange will be offered for other rewards through Edmonton’s Best Hotels program.

The Festival Bucks offer is:

Book a one-night hotel stay and receive $75 in Festival Bucks.

Book a two-night hotel stay and receive $175 in Festival Bucks.

Book a three-night hotel stay and receive $250 in Festival Bucks.

HOW DO I RECEIVE MY FESTIVAL BUCKS: PROCESS:

STEP ONE: You must check into your hotel first.

STEP TWO: You will receive your Festival Bucks Voucher at the front desk of your hotel upon check-in.

STEP THREE: Redeem your Festival Bucks voucher at Rockin Thunder’s Will Call Booth, which is located at the festival site. You will need to provide your letter to them. They will cross-reference your letter with the registration list that we provide to them. NO FESTIVAL BUCKS WILL BE SENT ONLINE, BY POSTAL SERVICE OR BY COURIER.

Festival Bucks can be used for concessions and merchandise on-site only (no online sales) at the Rockin Thunder Festival on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12, 2025. Festival bucks are non-transferable and non-refundable.

Terms and Conditions of the Offer

Guests must be at least 18 years of age at the time of redemption.

Reservations must be made through Edmonton’s Best Hotels’ booking site (www.edmontonsbesthotels.com). Reservations made directly with hotelsare not eligible for Rockin Thunder Festival Bucks.

Multiple reservations are not eligible for Festival Bucks.

Multiple reservations for the same person for the same night(s) from July 10-13, 2025, are considered double bookings, and only one of those bookings will be eligible for Festival Bucks. (For example, if a guest books two nights during the July 10-13, 2025, period and then makes another two-night booking during that same period at the same hotel or another hotel, EBH considers this a double booking and will honour only one of those bookings.)

Cancelling and date changes to reservations.

If a guest wants to cancel, they must contact Edmonton’s Best Hotels directly. Do not cancel the hotel directly. To cancel, please contact info@edmh.ca. We will cancel your booking and send you a cancellation number for your records.

If a guest wants to change the dates of their reservation, they must cancel their reservation with Edmonton’s Best Hotels first, then re-book. Edmonton’s Best Hotels does not make changes to reservations.

Cancellation rules vary by each member hotel. Consult the hotel you are interested in staying at to inquire about their cancellation policies.

Terms and Conditions

The “1,2, 3 Pick Your Rewards”, Terms and Conditions and Blackout Dates

Rewards Program campaign dates

Reward package available to book from January 5, 2022 for stays to December 31, 2025 for rewards except for possible blackout dates. At present there are no blackout dates scheduled.

Rewards are subject to while supplies last. Substitutions of equivalent kind, value may be made as necessary. Rewards are non-transferable, no cash value, no cash back.

Rewards are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, have no cash value, no cash back.
Rewards cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.
Reward deal is net non-commissionable.

Blackout dates

At present there are no blackout dates scheduled.

In the event blackout dates are scheduled, any guest who makes a booking for a hotel stay during the blackout period prior to the blackout period being named will receive the rewards they are booked for.

Rewards Program offerings

Book one night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of three $50 rewards excluding blackout dates:

$50 Gas Card or
$50 Prepaid Mastercard, or
$50 Ultimate Dining Card

Book two night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of five reward packages excluding blackout dates:

$150 prepaid MasterCard, or
$75 Gas card and $75 MasterCard, or
$75 Gas card and $75 Ultimate Dining Card, or

Book three night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of four reward packages excluding blackout dates:

Three Night Reward 1: $225 Prepaid Mastercard
Three Night Reward 3: $75 Ultimate Dining Card + $75 Prepaid Mastercard + $75 Gas Card

One choice of reward per stay.

Guest must be 18 years of age or older at time of redemption.

Virtual Prepaid Mastercard offer three convenient ways to shop. You can use it for online purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted, add it to your mobile wallet for contactless in-store payments, or request a physical card after activation for traditional in-store purchases.

Rewards distribution

Rewards will be emailed directly to guests within 48 hours of Edmonton’s Best Hotels confirming their check-in. Rewards are not provided by the hotel’s front desk. All rewards are sent electronically.

Reservations

Guest must reserve a minimum of 24 hours prior to arrival.

Rewards are NOT available for reservations made less than 24 hours in advance of arrival.

Reservations made directly with hotels and not through Edmonton’s Best Hotels are not eligible for rewards. No exceptions. Rewards are only provided to guests who book through Edmonton’s Best Hotels online booking platform. Booking reservation confirmations will have Edmonton’s Best Hotels branding on them. Rewards not provided for hotel reservations during specified blackout dates.

Reservations cannot be extended by hotels for additional rewards.

Guests may add a night to an existing one-night deal reservation and receive additional rewards if the request is made a minimum of 24 hours in advance of arrival.

Booking terms and conditions

Rewards provided for more than one night, must be for consecutive nights under one registration under one name at one property. In addition, no more than up to three consecutive nights will be honoured. If a guest checks in for three days and then checks out and re-checks in for the next day, this is considered a consecutive night booking even if the second booking is made at different hotel.

There must be a minimum of three days between bookings.

Multiple reservations for the same person for the same night(s) is considered a double booking and only one of those bookings will be eligible for rewards. For example, if a guest books two nights on x and y date and then makes another two-night booking for the same dates at the same hotel or another hotel, EBH considers this a double booking and will honour rewards for only one of those bookings.

Is there a limit on the number of bookings I make on different dates? Edmonton Best Hotels welcomes repeat business. Some of our guests visit Edmonton every month. Please note as stated earlier there must be a minimum of three days between bookings. Please also note stated blackout dates.

Cancelling and date changes to reservations

If a guest wants to cancel or change the dates of their booking.

What if I want to cancel my booking? Edmonton Best Hotels must cancel your booking (not the hotel). If you want to cancel, contact info@edmh.ca and let us know. We will cancel your booking and send you a cancellation number for your records. Please do not cancel directly with the hotel.

What if I want to change the dates of my booking? You must contact Edmonton Best Hotels at info@edmh.ca and let us know you want to make a date change. Your original booking must be cancelled first. You will receive a cancellation number for your records. Then, you must rebook for your new dates. The hotel nor Edmonton’s Best Hotels cannot make date changes to the original booking. Please note this does not guarantee you will receive the same hotel rate when you rebook for different dates.

Any questions, please contact Edmonton Best Hotels at info@edmh.ca