More Than 30 Annual Festivals Earn Edmonton “Festival City” Nickname
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Edmonton sure knows how to throw a big party. In fact, it hosts 30 of them every year.
An estimated 2 million to 3 million people annually attend the major festivals that have allowed Edmonton to proclaim itself as The Festival City.These celebrations run throughout the year and focus on a wide array of disciplines, including dance, film, music, theatre and the visual arts as well as sports and recreation.
“We are a very multi-cultural city and have a lot of pride in that, and each year our festivals celebrate approximately 60 cultural backgrounds,” says Jenifer Christenson, managing director of marketing services for EEDC. “People really get a sense of the city when they attend one of our events. Many visitors come to realize that Edmonton residents are really friendly, have a lot of energy and are enthusiastic about this region.”
There are festivals every month of the year, even in the coldest of months. For example, Ice on Whyte takes place in January with chainsaw and chisel wielders turning blocks of ice into works of art. In February, the Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival has become the country’s premier cross-country ski event.
Then in springtime, The International Children’s Festival is an annual extravaganza that celebrates performing, literary and visual arts for young people. Meanwhile, the autumn months feature the Edmonton International Film Festival and the Edmonton International Literary Fest. “Like most places, summertime is prime time for many festivals, and Edmonton is no different,” Christenson says. “Up to 17 hours of daylight allow organizers to take advantage of lush outdoor settings and late-evening sunsets, with several events devoted to the arts.”
One of those events is The Works Arts & Design Festival, a cutting-edge experience bringing North America the best in contemporary and traditional visual art and design. Other summertime traditions are the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and the 10-day Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival.
“The success of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival – where more than 100 acting troupes provide 1,000 live performances in 10 days – has spawned the Fringe fanatic,” Christenson says. “While the average Fringe aficionado might take in up to 10 plays, true fanatics set their goal of at least 25 to 30. You can spot the Fringe fanatic by their heavily annotated Fringe programs, backpacks and running shoes.”
Other major gatherings throughout the year include the Edmonton International Jazz Festival, Capital Ex, the Servus Heritage Festival and the Rexall Edmonton Indy car race. Christenson says that to smoothly plan and pull off the 30 annual major festivals, a community of 12,000 volunteers has been vital to their success throughout the years.
Story by Kevin Litwin
