Festival Season, Part Two

Dateline: 04/03/00

Edmonton has a wide variety of Festivals.

There are way too many festivals in Edmonton to discuss in one sitting, so here are some more events heading our way.

Klondike Days is a celebration of Edmonton's history as a major stop-over for men on the way to the Klondike eager to get rich panning for gold. However, the main draw of Klondike Days is the exciting midway with rides and games. But if you are adventurous, you can pan for gold in the Chilkoot Mine.

When it is time for Jazz City, all of downtown knows it -- you can hear the music taking place at Winston Churchill Square echoing through the streets. The shows in the Square are free, but there are many top-name acts who come to town to perform at venues around the city.

The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is by far one of the most popular events in the city. Every year in Gallagher Park tens of thousands of folkies come to see the likes of Emmylou Harris, Blue Rodeo, and other Canadian and international acts perform on the main stage, and also at workshops held throughout the day.

Another major event is the Fringe Theatre Festival, featuring a plethora of independentally written and produced plays. Most of the performances take place in the Old Strathcona area, and go from the mid-afternoon until well into the wee hours.

A sometimes-overlooked, yet vibrant vibrant cultural group has a festival that highlights their importance in the multi-cultural fabric of the city. The Caribbean community has CariWest, featuring a parade through Jasper Avenue -- those colorful costumes are blinding!

Finally, a festival that has evolved in recent years is Harvest Moon, a one-day celebration of Christian music. Some of the acts that have performed include Hokus Pick, Cindy Morgan, and local talent The Splendourbog.

Previous Features