Mercury Opera presents Carmen, the groundbreaking production that immerses its audience in two contrasting locations, the Commodore Restaurant and neighbouring Casa Pedro (Chez Pierre Cabaret), and follows Carmen the seductress through El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. The 18+ show runs August 1 to 15.
Commodore Restaurant, 10712 Jasper Ave, 780-423-3954, mercuryopera.com
The Edmonton Heritage Festival returns August 3 to 5 in Hawrelak Park. It’s a great way to experience art and flavours from places around the world like Pakistan, Fiji and Brazil, to Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, all without leaving the city.
Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Rd, heritagefest.ca
Explore over 60 artifacts and 700 experiments hand-picked by the MythBusters themselves, then engage in interactive experiences for guests of all ages by combining popular scientific facts with innovation and never-before-seen myths saved specifically for this exhibition! Runs until September 2 (walrus moustache and beret optional).
Telus World of Science, 11211 142 St NW, 780-451-3344, telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca
Get a taste of fine local food and explore local markets, historical buildings and breweries on an Edmonton Food Bike Tour every Saturday (and one Thursday) in August.
Various starting points, foodbiketour.com
The Edmonton Valley Zoo is celebrating its 60th with an evening of Zoo Tunes on August 6. Regular admission gets you an evening of music at the Wildlife Amphitheatre.
Edmonton Valley Zoo, 13315 Buena Vista Rd & 87th Ave, 780-442-5311, edmonton.ca
Grindstone Theatre presents an evening of music curated and performed by local singer Heeyun Park on August 7.
Grindstone Theatre, 10019 – 81 Ave, 780-244-9076, grindstonetheatre.ca
Summer’s not complete until the Folk Music Festival in Gallagher Park, August 8 to 11. It’s a jam-packed four days of music and food in one of Edmonton’s best outdoor settings.
Gallagher Park, 9505 96 Ave, edmontonfolkfest.org
Animethon 26 is a full three-day summer festival for fans of anime, gaming and Japanese pop culture, taking place at the Edmonton Convention Centre August 9-11. There’s cosplay, unique artists, vendors and more!
Edmonton Convention Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave, 780-421-9797, animethon.org
Cariwest celebrates 35 years of Carnival with Edmonton’s annual celebration of Caribbean arts, music and culture in Capital Plaza August 9-11. From the Friday Night Extravaganza to the Great Parade on Saturday, there’s food, music, dance and rum in the heart of downtown Edmonton.
Federal Plaza Building, 9820 107 St, 780-427-7362, cariwest.ca
It’s a river rendezvous on August 10 as EPCOR RiverFest celebrates everything to do in our river valley, from Edmonton to Devon, with cycling, hiking and paddling. It’s a great way to enjoy the largest urban parkland in North America.
Edmonton River Valley (Laurier Park and Voyageur Park), epcorriverfest.ca
Edmonton will host the 2019 Canadian Ultimate Frisbee Championships August 11 to 18. See Canada’s best spin their stuff in the Junior, Women’s and Open master’s division all week long.
Ivor Dent Sports Park, 50 St and 4 Ave, 780-442-5311, canadianultimate.com
Come by the Grindstone Theatre with up to five friends on August 13 for Hello Trivia, a night of beers, brain testing questions and prizes! It’s a free event, so save your cash and bring your wits.
Grindstone Theatre, 10019 – 81 Ave, 780-244-9076, grindstonetheatre.ca
Edmonton’s summer theatre institution returns August 15 for its 38th year! Full of innovative theatre performances by nearly 1,600 local, national and international artists, across more than 1,200 indoor performances in the city’s most iconic venues (and many outdoor live performances), this is Edmonton’s marquee theatre fest.
The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, Old Strathcona and Whyte Ave, fringetheatre.ca
Dance and sing and shout at the Edmonton Rock Music Festival, August 16 and 17, as Canadian acts like Sloan and Wide Mouth Mason, and headliners Rick Springfield, Greg Kihn and Tommy Tutone, take the Hawrelak Park Amphitheatre stage. The fest also raises funds for the Centre for Arts & Music (CAM).
Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Rd, edmontonrockfest.com
The North Saskatchewan will come alive August 16 to 18 with the Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival, as colourful dragon boats race along to their drummer’s beat. Cheer on your favourite boat and enjoy this showcase of Asian heritage and multiculturalism in Edmonton.
North Saskatchewan River, edmontondragonfestival.ca
The Edmonton International Reggae Jamboree Festival showcases and celebrates local reggae and Caribbean culture along with international reggae acts at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park on August 17.
Louise McKinney Riverfront Park, 9999 Grierson Hill Northwest, edmontonreggaejamboreefestival.com
Watch planes tailslide, loop and roll at the Edmonton Airshow, August 17 and 18. Celebrate the rich history and modern evolution of aviation as aircrafts of all kinds (including remote controlled planes) take to the sky.
Villeneuve Airport, Highway 633 (approximately 15 km northwest of St. Albert), edmontonairshow.com
The Servus Edmonton Marathon returns August 17 and 18 with family-friendly 1, 5, 10 and 21.1 kilometre run or walk events beginning and ending at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
Edmonton Convention Centre , 9797 Jasper Ave, edmontonmarathon.ca
ZooBrew is an 18+ event in the Edmonton Valley Zoo on August 23. It’s an evening of live performances, craft beer, activities and no kids!
Edmonton Valley Zoo, 13315 Buena Vista Rd, 780-442-5311, facebook.com/edmontonvalleyzoo
The best of the blues returns to the Heritage Amphitheatre for the 21st annual Edmonton Blues Festival, August 23 to 25.
Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Rd, bluesinternationalltd.com
Head to Elk Island National Park to paddle on the still and serene waters of Astotin Lake, with a Haskin Canoe sunset tour on August 24.
Haskin Canoe, Elk Island National Park, 780-922-4324, haskincanoe.ca
NASCAR Super Late Models from all over Western Canada will make 200 laps at the Edmonton Raceway on August 24 as they compete in the NASCAR Super Late Model Show Down.
Edmonton International Raceway, 244047A Township Rd 464, Wetaskiwin, 780-467-9276, edmontonraceway.com
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Under The Sky returns to the Heritage Amphitheatre August 28 to September 1. Hear musical classics, blockbuster film scores and Tchaikovsky’s majestic 1812 Overture.
Hawrelak Park – 9330 Groat Rd NW, winspearcentre.com
The Food Trucks are Coming brings the best food trucks in the region to the St. Albert Grain Elevator Park to serve up all sorts of deliciousness (and cold brews) on August 30.
St. Albert Grain Elevator Park, 4 Meadowview Lane, 780-459-1528, museeheritage.ca
On August 31, create a unique paper lantern and send it out on the Rundle Park water with the others, spreading hope, love and happiness during a night you’ll never forget.
Rundle Park, 2909 113 Ave NW, waterlanternfestival.ca
