A Weekend of Laughs & Leisure: Your 3-Day Itinerary for the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Edmonton

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Get ready to laugh under the open sky! From July 18–20, 2025, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival transforms Edmonton’s Kinsmen Park into a one-of-a-kind, open-air comedy club. With a star-studded lineup—including John Mulaney, Martin Short, Kumail Nanjiani, Nick Kroll, Fortune Feimster, and more—it’s a weekend built for belly laughs, chill vibes, and big summer energy.

Whether you’re attending one show or the whole festival, why not turn it into a full weekend getaway? Edmonton is bursting with summer experiences, and when you book your hotel through Edmonton’s Best Hotels, you can unlock up to $225 in free rewards with the 1-2-3 Rewards Deal. That’s gas, cash, or meal cards in your pocket—just for booking your stay.

Where to Stay: 5 Great Hotels Near Kinsmen Park

These handpicked hotels offer both comfort and convenience—perfect for walking or ridesharing to the festival.

1. Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

📍 10065 – 100 St NW | Downtown
An Edmonton icon with river valley views, elegant architecture, and lush gardens. Stay here for a luxurious experience just minutes from Kinsmen Park.

2. Chateau Lacombe Hotel

📍 10111 Bellamy Hill | Downtown
This downtown gem offers panoramic city views and easy trail access right down into the river valley. A favourite for travelers who want walkability with a view.

3. Delta Hotels by Marriott Edmonton South

📍 4404 Gateway Blvd NW | Southside
Modern amenities, comfortable rooms, and close to some of the best eats on Edmonton’s south side—plus a quick drive to the festival grounds.

4. Varscona Hotel on Whyte

📍 8208 – 106 St | Old Strathcona
Old-world charm meets boutique comfort in this stylish hotel in the heart of Whyte Avenue. You’re just minutes from the park, surrounded by cafés, shops, and artsy character.

5. Metterra Hotel on Whyte

📍 10454 – 82 Ave | Old Strathcona
Sleek and contemporary, Metterra combines natural materials like wood and stone with global design touches. Enjoy proximity to Kinsmen Park and a vibrant local scene.

🎁 Book your stay through Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive up to $225 in FREE gas, cash, or meal cards.
👉 Book & Get Your Rewards

Friday, July 18: Arrival & Opening Night Laughs

Morning
Ease into your Edmonton adventure with brunch at Rooster Café & Kitchen, where retro vibes meet hearty plates and great coffee.

Afternoon
Stroll along Whyte Avenue, Edmonton’s artsy, bohemian shopping district. Browse indie boutiques, grab gelato at La Carraia, and soak in the summer energy. Then, check into your hotel and get festival-ready.

Evening – Festival Option
Kick off the weekend with Tony Hinchcliffe & the Killers of Kill Tony at Kinsmen Park. Grab a lawn spot, hit the food trucks, and enjoy an unforgettable evening of comedy under the stars.

Evening – Explore Edmonton Option
Not heading to the show tonight? Book dinner at WOODWORK, a downtown hotspot known for its wood-fired cuisine and standout cocktails. End the night with a crafted drink at the stylish Bar Clementine.

Saturday, July 19: Daytime Exploring & Big Laughs by Night

Morning
Start your day at Little Brick Café in Riverdale. Tucked in a historic brick house with garden seating, it’s the perfect spot to sip coffee before a walk through Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.

Afternoon – Festival Option
Catch Trailer Park Boys & Jeremy Piven live at Kinsmen Park, complete with music and the hilarious Bubbles & the Shitrockers.

Afternoon – Explore Edmonton Option
Wander the Downtown Edmonton Farmers Market, or take in Indigenous and Alberta history at the Royal Alberta Museum. For lunch, enjoy handmade pasta at Café Amore Bistro—a cozy, family-run Italian favourite.

Evening – Festival Option
Tonight’s lineup features Anthony Jeselnik, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Che, and Nick Kroll. Gates open early, so arrive with time to grab a drink and claim your spot.

Evening – Explore Edmonton Option
Skip the show? Treat yourself to dinner at RGE RD, a must-visit for Canadian farm-to-table cuisine. Then head to The Confederation Lounge at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald for nightcaps with a view.

Sunday, July 20: Easy Mornings & a Grand Finale

Morning
Start slow with fresh pastries and espresso at Bread & Butter Café, or go plant-based with a peaceful brunch at The Moth Café, a local favourite with dreamy interiors.

Afternoon – Festival Option
Laugh into the afternoon with sets from Fortune Feimster, Matteo Lane, and Ali Macofsky, hosted by Karla Marx.

Afternoon – Explore Edmonton Option
Enjoy an Edmonton Riverboat Cruise for scenic skyline views or take a guided Segway tour through the river valley with River Valley Adventure Co.

Evening – Festival Finale
Don’t miss the closing show: John Mulaney & Martin Short, joined by Matt Wright and DJ Molly Fi. A perfect sendoff to an unforgettable weekend.

Evening – Explore Edmonton Option
Wrap up your weekend with dinner at Tzin Wine & Tapas, known for creative small plates and expertly paired wines. Or go casual at MEAT in Old Strathcona, where smoky brisket and bourbon are always a good idea.

Get Paid to Stay: The 1-2-3 Rewards Deal

Why just book a hotel when you can get rewarded for it?

With Edmonton’s Best Hotels’ 1-2-3 Deal, the longer you stay, the more you earn:

Book 1 night – get up to $50
Book 2 nights – get up to $150
Book 3 nights – get up to $225
In free cash cards, gas cards or meal vouchers—yours to spend during your stay.

It’s like getting paid to stay in Edmonton.
Book Now & Claim Your Rewards

Make the Most of Festival Weekend

From world-class comedians to scenic river trails, artisan eats to downtown patios—Edmonton in July is electric. Whether you’re laughing until your face hurts or sipping sangria by the river, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival weekend is your chance to discover the best of the city.

Some shows are still available—don’t wait!
Rooms are going fast—book your hotel today and get rewarded.

Know someone who loves Rockin’ Thunder? Share this post with them!

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

A Weekend of Laughs & Leisure: Your 3-Day Itinerary for the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Edmonton