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"Edmonton's Summer Festivals: Jazz, Crafts, and Culture Clash!"
"Edmonton's Summer Festivals: Jazz, Crafts, and Culture Clash!"
Get ready for Edmonton's summer festivals! Jazz, crafts, and culture await 🎶🎨🌟
Edmonton Buzz Team :)
Jun 18, 2026
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Trivia Question❓Which Edmonton-born pizza chain claims to have invented the "Donair Pizza"? Answer at the bottom of the newsletter |
Happy Thursday! 🥂
Jazz fest is here...and this one looks good..
Dig in...
The Edmonton Buzz Team 🐝 |
Our featured story | ||
In the news this week |
Edmonton's summer is alive with festivals, headlined by the Edmonton International Jazz Festival from June 19 to 28, 2026.
The city’s top venues, including the Winspear Centre, Yardbird Suite, and Horowitz Theatre, will welcome international jazz stars, homegrown talent, and national acts. Hiromi’s Sonicwonder takes center stage June 26 at the Horowitz, bringing her acclaimed, genre-blending sound that fuses jazz, classical, and funk.
Sungazer, led by Adam Neely and Shawn Crowder, joins the lineup with their innovative fusion of jazz, progressive metal, and electronic music.
Beyond jazz, Edmonton buzzes with even more events. The Edmonton Summer Craft, Food & Vendor Festival at the EXPO Centre, the enchanting Freewill Shakespeare Festival in Hawrelak Park, and the impactful Rainbow Visions Film Festival all ensure there’s something unforgettable for every taste.
Summer in Edmonton means music, arts, and shared celebration across the city. Read More... |
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What's happening? | ||
Things to do this weekend |
1. Outdoor and Nature |
Night Market at the River: The fourth annual Night Market returns as Canada's largest outdoor Indigenous market, with food, vendors, and live performances by the water. Date: June 19 – 21, 2026 Summer Block Party on Rice Howard Way: The first block party of the season brings live music from DJ Kena Leon, Maria Dunn, and Shawnee Kish, plus patio activity and local businesses downtown. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026 River Valley Bike Ride: The River Valley Alliance leads an 18 km, mostly flat out-and-back ride following the North Saskatchewan River through the heart of the city. Date: Weekend of June 20 – 21, 2026 Naija Market Day: An outdoor African market with food, music, dancing, and shopping. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026 Sunday Night Sunset Yoga: An outdoor evening flow timed with the sunset to close out the weekend. Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026 |
2. Shows & Entertainment 📺 |
Rainbow Visions Film Festival: A lineup of new and retro 2SLGBTQIA+ feature and short films, plus panels, running all weekend for Pride Month. Date: June 18 – 21, 2026 Alberta Circus Arts Festival: Four days of Canadian contemporary circus from Firefly Theatre and Circus, with aerial and acrobatic performances plus free try-it workshops in juggling and stilt-walking. Date: June 18 – 21, 2026 NE-YO & AKON: Nights Like This Tour: The two R&B and pop headliners share the stage at Rogers Place. Date: Friday, June 19, 2026, 8:00 p.m. Freewill Shakespeare Festival: Much Ado About Nothing: Outdoor Shakespeare from The Free Will Players at the Heritage Amphitheatre. Date: Now through June 28, 2026 42nd Street by Elope Theatre: A Broadway musical about Times Square and the world of show business. Date: Weekend of June 19 – 21, 2026 |
3. Arts, Crafts & Culture 🎭 |
The Works Art & Design Festival: North America's largest free outdoor art and design festival opens with 19 exhibits at Churchill Square and performances across downtown. Date: June 20 – July 1, 2026 Edmonton International Jazz Festival: Ten days of jazz with international, Canadian, and local performers across venues throughout the city. Date: June 19 – 28, 2026 National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration: Hosted by the Canadian Native Friendship Centre with support from the City of Edmonton, a family event marking the cultures of Indigenous Peoples on Treaty 6 territory. Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026 Thousand Faces Festival: A multidisciplinary arts festival on Alberta Avenue featuring dance, music, poetry, and theatre, plus free ice cream. Date: Weekend of June 19 – 21, 2026 Latitude 53 Summer Market Art Show: A craft market of local artists working in ceramics, prints, jewellery, and beadwork, with all sales going to the artists. Date: Weekend of June 19 – 21, 2026 |
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Father's Day Car Show: Edmonton's largest free Father's Day family event, with classic cars and activities for all ages. Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026 Royal Canadian Circus: An all-new 2026 production with acrobatics and family entertainment at West Edmonton Mall. Date: Weekend of June 18 – 21, 2026 Seize the Day Family Fun Day: A free family event with games, activities, entertainment, food, and community resources supporting the epilepsy community. Date: Weekend of June 19 – 21, 2026 Children's Makerspace Drop-In: Tinker with a loose-parts wall, code a robot, try the green screen, and make music at the DIY DJ booth. Date: Weekend of June 18 – 21, 2026 Little Sprouts Nature Play: Child-led outdoor exploration for ages 2 to 6 across nine wonder spots in Strathcona County. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026 (morning) |
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transcenDANCE: A Trans Pride Party: Trans DJs, drag artists, and go-go dancers take over all three floors of EVO, following the night's drag superstar qualifier. Date: Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 p.m. Y2GAY: 90s vs 2000s Dance Party: A throwback dance night at Grindstone Theatre. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:30 p.m. No Cover Saturday at Evolution Wonderlounge: DJ Otter Nonsense and DJ Pengwen open the Summer of Pride, free if you are in before 11 p.m. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026 MARTA: A late-night set at The Starlite Room. Date: Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:30 p.m. Jeune Studios: Summer Is Here!: A summer kickoff party at Pawn Shop Live, formerly Union Hall. Date: Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 p.m. |
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Edmonton Elks vs. Montreal Alouettes: The CFL home opener at Commonwealth Stadium. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
Energy City Cactus Rats vs. Fort McMurray Giants: Summer baseball just west of the city. Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026, 1:35 p.m.
St. Albert Soapbox: Young racers take to the hill in homemade soapbox cars, a free event to watch. Date: June 19 – 20, 2026
5th Annual Drag Me Out to the Ballgame: A Pride-themed afternoon at RE/MAX Field combining sport and drag. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 12:00 p.m.
Horses & Hounds Dachshund Races: The annual dachshund races make for a fun Sunday afternoon at the track. Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026 |
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NASCA Summer Social: A relaxed afternoon social at a local Irish pub. Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
4th Annual Gay AF Market: A community market with vendors, artists, and food. Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026, 12:00 p.m.
Behind the Unseen: Eid Game Show: A community game show event open to all. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
She Rises Women's Connection Evening: An evening built around reflection and genuine connection in a small group setting. Date: Weekend of June 18 – 21, 2026
The Edmonton Social Activities Group: A rotating series of casual meetups citywide, from board games to restaurant outings, good for meeting new people. Date: Ongoing |
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Our Food & Drink, and Happy Hours sections are now featured exclusively in our sister publication Edmunchie.com : Click here
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It's getting cold... | ||
This Week's Weather |
🌤️ Edmonton Weather Forecast: June 18 – 21, 2026A changeable weekend with showers on either side of a warm, sunny Friday. Thursday and the back half of the weekend lean wet and cool, so plan outdoor events around Friday if you can, and keep rain gear handy for Saturday and Sunday.
📅 Thursday, June 18, 2026
📅 Friday, June 19, 2026
📅 Saturday, June 20, 2026
📅 Sunday, June 21, 2026 |
In coming... | ||
Related stories from Edmonton Scoop |
💡 Answer to Trivia Question:
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