Poet and performer Titilope Sonuga has called Edmonton home for the last 28 years. She first arrived in the city as a young teen, and went on to study civil engineering at the University of Alberta. But her career took an unexpected turn towards the arts. She served as the City of Edmonton’s Poet Laureate from 2021 to 2023, and has penned three poetry collections.
“It is a city that requires you to look beyond the surface to really see it clearly. It is filled with creators and makers who add to its quiet magic,” says Sonuga.
Sonuga’s favourite is the yearly Cariwest Festival, which she has participated in as both a spectator and as a performer, with the Trincan Steel Orchestra. But these days, she’s mostly excited to bring her family to the festival.
Every summer for three days, Cariwest hits downtown Edmonton with the colours and flavours of Caribbean culture, including a parade and entertainment in Churchill Square.
“Starting as a young girl participating in the parade to now bringing my own children to enjoy it just highlights the generational power of Cariwest,” says Sonuga. “The culture, sounds, food and people feel like peak summer to me.”
If there’s anything to be gleaned from this series: we Edmontonians love food and we love being outdoors. When we’re not slurping noodles or lingering over brunch, we’re taking scenic strolls, stopping at dog parks and snapping pictures at river valley vistas. Delve into this year’s list of Edmontonians’ favourite things — with best-loved picks from a variety of noteworthy locals who span the arts, business, sports and non-profit realms — to help build your own summer bucket list. And if you can’t make it beyond your backyard, you can at least follow this foolproof formula and enjoy something tasty in the sunshine.
This article appears in the July/August 2026 issue of Edify
