As the sun stretches its stay and the city sheds its winter layers, Edmonton comes alive in the summer, bursting with festivals, food, music, and multicultural flair. Whether you’re new to the city or simply rediscovering it through your family’s eyes, the warm season brings opportunities to connect, explore, and make lasting memories.
Here’s your all-access pass to Edmonton’s most exciting summer events in 2025 from must-try eats and global arts to carnival fun and late-night music under the stars.
1. The Works Art & Design Festival
📍 Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square + citywide pop-ups
📅 Dates: June 21 – July 1, 2025
💡 Vibe: Free, artsy, hands-on
Kicking off Edmonton’s festival season is this beloved downtown tradition. The Works brings visual artists, designers, and creatives from across Canada into the city’s core for almost two weeks of interactive art installations, live music, and family workshops.
Expect giant murals in progress, art demos for kids, and the iconic Works Patio Stage featuring emerging Canadian musicians. It’s approachable, inspiring, and a great way to introduce children to public art and creativity.
2. Edmonton International Street Performers Festival
📍 Location: Churchill Square
📅 Dates: July 4–13, 2025
💡 Vibe: High energy, hilarious, crowd-powered
For over 40 years, StreetFest has transformed downtown into an open-air stage. World-renowned street performers, from fire jugglers and stilt walkers to beatboxers and clowns, entertain audiences for free (tips appreciated).
Family-friendly shows run throughout the day, and the “Be Your Own Busker” area invites kids to try spinning plates, hula hooping, and chalk art. It’s chaotic in the best way — spontaneous, energetic, and endlessly fun.
3. Downtown YEG BurgerFest
📍 Location: Participating restaurants citywide
📅 Dates: July 2–6, 2025
💡 Vibe: Gourmet meets casual dining
For the foodies in the family, BurgerFest brings together top chefs and local diners for a week-long celebration of Edmonton’s most creative burgers. From wagyu patties with kimchi to plant-based innovations, restaurants compete for best-in-fest bragging rights.
This is a fantastic way to explore new eateries with the kids while supporting small businesses. Many venues offer patio seating and takeout picnic options.
4. K-Days
📍 Location: Edmonton EXPO Centre & Grounds
📅 Dates: July 18–28, 2025
💡 Vibe: Carnival, concerts, and childhood magic
Few summer traditions are as iconic as K-Days. Think: amusement park rides, mini-donuts, nightly concerts, magic shows, and a full-on midway. New this year? A Family Discovery Zone with STEM activities, baby animal petting zoos, and interactive shows.
Whether you’re a thrill-seeking teen or a toddler obsessed with tractors, there’s something for everyone. For many Edmonton families, K-Days is summer.
5. Taste of Edmonton
📍 Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square
📅 Dates: July 17–27, 2025
💡 Vibe: Culinary culture, al fresco
Running concurrently with K-Days, Taste of Edmonton turns Churchill Square into a culinary playground with over 50 of the city’s top restaurants and food trucks offering tasting-sized bites. Entry is free; tickets are used to buy food and drinks.
Live music, local beer gardens, and a wide-open plaza make it a great evening out for couples and families alike. Don’t forget the stroller — the outdoor layout is ideal for young families.
6. Rockin’ Thunder Music Festival
📍 Location: Exhibition Lands Racetrack
📅 Dates: July 11–12, 2025
💡 Vibe: Classic rock, country, and all-night good times
This newer addition to the festival scene has made big waves with its retro rock energy and family-friendly crowd. You’ll catch acts like Trooper, Kim Mitchell, and other Canadian legends, along with food vendors and beer gardens.
Parents can enjoy the nostalgia while kids dance to the beat. Ample parking and LRT access make it a low-stress summer night out.
7. Edmonton Heritage Festival
📍 Location: Hawrelak Park (or alternate site during renovations)
📅 Dates: August 3–5, 2025
💡 Vibe: Global cultures, community pride
One of the most unique multicultural festivals in Canada, Heritage Fest brings together over 70 countries through food, dance, music, and crafts. It’s fun, educational, and inclusive — from pierogis and pad thai to West African drumming and Ukrainian folk dancing.
Families receive “festival passports” to collect stamps and learn fun facts about each culture — a hit with kids and a great way to teach global citizenship.
8. Edmonton Folk Music Festival
📍 Location: Gallagher Park
📅 Dates: August 7–10, 2025
💡 Vibe: Laid-back, soulful, scenic
Set on the grassy slopes of Gallagher Park with downtown as the backdrop, Folk Fest is one of the most beloved music events in Canada. Families can bring blankets, snacks, and lawn chairs to enjoy soulful music, artisan markets, and food trucks.
The festival’s daytime programming includes kids’ performances, storytelling, and activities. It’s an Edmonton summer bucket-list essential.
9. Cariwest Caribbean Festival
📍 Location: Downtown – Churchill Square & Jasper Ave
📅 Dates: August 9–11, 2025
💡 Vibe: Colourful, energetic, rhythmic
This high-energy event brings the vibrancy of Caribbean culture to Edmonton with a carnival parade, live music (soca, reggae, calypso), and Caribbean food vendors.
Kids love the costumed dancers and steel drums, while adults can enjoy pop-up rum gardens and late-night DJs.
10. Movies in the Park & Pop-Up Events
📍 Location: Rundle Park, Hawrelak, Castle Downs & more
📅 Dates: Fridays & Saturdays, July–August
💡 Vibe: Chill, nostalgic, family-first
Throughout the summer, the City of Edmonton hosts free outdoor movie nights under the stars. Movies begin at dusk, and pre-show fun often includes lawn games, food trucks, and local vendors.
Bring your lawn chairs and snacks — or grab dinner from a food truck and enjoy a mini date night with the kids.
Summer In Edmonton: More Than a City, A Lifestyle.
For young families, newcomers, and upsizers, these summer events offer a chance to do more than just fill your weekends — they help you feel at home. Whether you’re watching your child light up at a parade, tasting international cuisine for the first time, or reconnecting with local music in the park, these are the moments that shape a sense of belonging.
