20 Things to do in Edmonton this Weekend - August 15-17, 2025

The peak of Edmonton summer festivals are here - and it’s your chance to get your hands on more than fifty shows on stage. From the Dragon Festival to exploring Alberta through Open Farm Days, music festivals and outdoor symphonies, it’s an incredible weekend for festivals in Edmonton.

Here are the BEST Things to do in Edmonton this Weekend

Friday

• Anne Zander is Mother at Edmonton Fringe | $20
  Laugh through the postpartum experience on stage with Anne Zander at Edmonton Fringe Festival. The performance is “raw and primal and side-splittingly funny” (BroadwayWorld), and you have seven chances to relate deeply or have your mind blown wide open, and then laugh until you pee a little (we won't judge your pelvic floor strength here), starting August 15th in Edmonton. Buy tickets for Anne Zander is MOTHER

• Explore Alberta Open Farm Days | Free to $
  As part of Alberta Open Farm Days we are swinging open our farm gates for you to come and enjoy the countryside. On hand will be Alberta Biosphere Project, Steve Rickett’s photographic display, assorted farm equipment. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy. Chicks n Chaps Farms BarOA Farms

• Edmonton Dragon Festival | Free to $
  From dragon boat races on the North Saskatchewan to fiery lion dance finales in Chinatown- Edmonton’s Dragon Festival 2025 brings sport, culture, and community together in a thrilling 10‑day celebration! From Dragon boat races to lion dances and cultural experiences, you can celebrate it all at Edmonton Dragon Festival.

• Edmonton Mural Festival | Experience a burst of colour and creativity throughout the city as local and international artists turn Edmonton into an open-air gallery! Feast your eyes on stunning murals, engage in hands-on art experiences, and join the vibrant community events, culminating in an unforgettable closing party. This festival promotes inclusivity and inspires future artists with every brushstroke.

• After Hours at Muttart with SeaChange Brewing | $30
  Escape the ordinary and immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind fusion of craft beer and botanical beauty! Join us for an exclusive evening at the Muttart Conservatory, where the vibrant glass pyramids set the stage for a tasting experience featuring the exceptional brews of Sea Change Brewing Co. ​Explore the lush landscapes of the tropical, arid, temperate, and ‘Imagination’ feature pyramids—each a world of its own, while sipping on a Sea Change beer or a refreshing Shiddy’s booze soda.

• Afro Music Fest | $40
  Afro Music Fest is Edmonton’s signature celebration of Afro-Caribbean music, culture, and community. Featuring top artists from Canada and beyond, the festival delivers vibrant performances, delicious cuisine, and energetic dance experiences. It brings people of all backgrounds together to celebrate the rhythm, diversity, and spirit of Africa and the Caribbean.

• Where Dark things Dwell a Fort Edmonton Park | $35
  Stopping in the sleepy Village of Edmonton for a night’s rest, you and your fellow travellers soon find yourselves caught in the grip of an ancient curse. The townsfolk, once kind and welcoming, now mutter in riddles, their eyes vacant, their minds unravelling. With only lantern light to guide you, you must journey through the town, exploring multiple historic buildings, uncovering cryptic clues, and solving interconnected puzzles. This isn’t a typical escape room: you’ll journey across the village, meeting both helpful villagers and those already lost to madness. 

• Elisapie on Stage | $25
  Elisapie’s unconditional attachment to her territory and her language, Inuktitut, remains at the core of her creative journey. Elisapie is an emblematic Canadian Inuk singer-songwriter. On her fourth solo record Inuktitut, she covered 10 classic rock and pop songs translated into her mother tongue. The result is an emotional, autobiographical soundtrack where each song is associated with a loved one or an intimate story.
  

Saturday

• Take a Chinatown Dinner Tour | $25
  As you savor authentic dishes prepared by family-owned eateries, you’ll also explore the rich history woven into the streets of Chinatown. Walk beneath the iconic Happy Arrival Gate, a symbol of hope and new beginnings, and discover the hidden meanings behind the beautiful murals that bring the neighborhood’s history to life. Along the way, our guides will share personal stories of resilience, migration, and the cultural traditions that continue to thrive here today.

• Roller Disco at Rogers Place | $35
  For one night only, Rogers Place is transforming into the roller disco paradise of your dreams! Groove under the scoreboard disco ball, skate to throwback beats and soak in the electric atmosphere of Edmonton’s most iconic rink—this time with wheels, instead of blades.

• Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Outdoors | $
  The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra musicians are on the move! This summer, join members of your ESO in your community through ESO Outdoors. Curated groups of ESO members will perform delightful renditions of memorable songs spanning multiple genres, including classical, pops, and Hollywood film scores. Admission is by donation for these family-friendly evenings.

• On Stage: Magic Dropout | $10 - $20
  The fun magic show about failure! Join Rob Teszka, almost-PhD, for tongue-in-cheek tricks about everything from Mai Tais to burnout. Experience surprising magic research, escape from the academic maze, and laugh in the face of failure! 

• Catch Bump & Grindhouse Burlesque on Stage | $20
  House of Hush is back with a show that goes bump in the night. From scream queens to marvellous monsters to real life scares – this thrilling burlesque show celebrating horror is sure to give you chills. Join the award winning Belinda Cornish and some of Edmonton\’s best burlesque dancers, but beware… it may haunt your dreams.

Sunday

• Sweet Side of Chinatown Dessert Tour | $10
  As you savor authentic dishes prepared by family-owned eateries, you’ll also explore the rich history woven into the streets of Chinatown. Walk beneath the iconic Happy Arrival Gate, a symbol of hope and new beginnings, and discover the hidden meanings behind the beautiful murals that bring the neighborhood’s history to life. Along the way, our guides will share personal stories of resilience, migration, and the cultural traditions that continue to thrive here today.

• Sourdough Raft Race Hits the River | Free to $2
  Enter a raft into the floating water fight down the river, or come to the river bank & watch the festival take place as the creative-designed floats make their way down the river.

• Wander Through a Local U-Pick Flower Garden |
  Featuring over 35 varieties of flowers and greens, a visit to our U-Pick garden is full of joy and discovery! In addition, our flower market is bursting with foliage and flowers for you to find the perfect bloom, both from the farm and sourced from other Canadian growers.