There are plenty of events happening around the city from August 14–16, 2026, including festivals, free family activities, markets, outdoor adventures, live music, sports and cultural events.
Whether you’re looking for something free to do with the kids, a weekend festival, a farmers’ market, or an event to enjoy with friends, here are some of the best things happening in and around Edmonton this weekend.
🎪 FESTIVALS & CULTURAL EVENTS
🎭 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
📅 August 13–23, 2026
📍 Old Strathcona
💰 Free to explore; individual shows are ticketed
For more details: Fringe Theatre Festival
Fringe Theatre Festival returns with 11 days of theatre, comedy, music, magic and more. The festival features more than 200 indoor shows, along with free outdoor and community programming. Individual show tickets are $20 or less.
🐉 Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival
📅 August 14–16, 2026
📍 Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
💰 FREE to attend
For more details: Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival
Watch teams compete in exciting dragon boat races while enjoying a family-friendly cultural festival along the river. The weekend includes races, entertainment and dragon dance performances.
Race schedule:
• Friday, Aug. 14 — Team practices and opening activities
• Saturday, Aug. 15 — Races begin at 9 AM; dragon dance performance during the lunch break
• Sunday, Aug. 16 — Semi-finals begin at 9 AM, followed by novice and final races
🎶 Edmonton Love & Unity Reggae Festival
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026
📍 Heritage Amphitheatre, William Hawrelak Park
💰 Ticketed
For more details: Edmonton Love & Unity Reggae Festival
The festival features live performances, food vendors, cultural showcases and family-friendly activities. Indigenous entertainer and world-renowned hoop dancer Dallas Arcand is among the announced performers.
🎨 Edmonton Mural Festival
📅 August 15–September 15, 2026
📍 Various locations throughout Edmonton
💰 Free and ticketed programming
Edmonton turns into an open-air gallery as local and international artists create new murals around the city.
🇺🇦 Ukrainian Day
📅 Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 10 AM–5 PM
📍 Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, 195041 Highway 16 East
💰 Admission applies
Celebrate Ukrainian culture and heritage with traditional music, song and dance at the historic Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.
🚜 OUTDOOR, FARM & NATURE
🌾 Alberta Open Farm Days
📅 August 15–16, 2026
📍 Participating farms throughout Alberta
💰 Free at many locations; some optional experiences may have a fee
For more details: Alberta Open Farm Days
Take a road trip outside the city and explore Alberta’s farms, ranches and food producers during this province-wide open house.
Tip: Check the individual farm listing before heading out, as each participating location has its own activities, hours and policies.
🌿 Little Sprouts Nature Play
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 10 AM–12 PM
📍 51418 Range Road 222, Strathcona County
👧 Ages 2–6
💰 Admission applies
A nature-based drop-in program designed for young children. Little ones can explore, play and discover the outdoors through hands-on and sensory activities.
🏃 Servus Edmonton Marathon
📅 Sunday, August 16, 2026
📍 Edmonton Convention Centre and routes throughout Edmonton
💰 Free to watch; registration required to participate
For more details: Servus Edmonton Marathon
Edmonton’s annual marathon brings runners, walkers and spectators downtown for a full day of races and community energy.
🌌 Perseid Meteor Shower
📅 August 15–16
📍 Dark-sky areas outside Edmonton
💰 FREE
Head outside the city to a darker location and look up for the Perseid meteor shower. Bring blankets, snacks and warm layers for a fun family night under the stars.
🛍️ MARKETS & SHOPPING
🌙 Spruce Grove Night Market
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 4–9 PM
📍 Downtown Spruce Grove
💰 FREE
Head to downtown Spruce Grove for an evening of local vendors, food trucks, entertainment and family-friendly activities.
🛍️ National Thrift Shop Day — YEG Thrift Adventure
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026
📍 Bissell Thrift Shop — 8818 118 Avenue
📍 FIND — 5120 122 Street
📍 The Mustard Seed Thrift Store — 6527 118 Avenue
💰 FREE to participate
For more details: National Thrift Shop Day
Turn thrift shopping into a city-wide adventure! Three Edmonton thrift stores are teaming up for a National Thrift Shop Day Passport Challenge.
Visit at least two participating stores, collect your passport stamps and enter to win prizes from local businesses. You can also check out each location for treats and special deals.
Aug. 15 hours:
• Bissell Thrift Shop: 10 AM–6 PM
• FIND: 9 AM–5 PM
• The Mustard Seed Thrift Store: 10 AM–5 PM
No purchase is necessary to participate. Participants must be 18 or older to enter the prize draws.
🛒Boundary Market
📅 Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 11 AM–5 PM
📍 Corner of 88 Ave and 91 St
💰 FREE
🎨 COMMUNITY EVENTS & FREE ACTIVITIES
🎬 FAVA 2026 Summer BBQ
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 2–11 PM
📍 Donnan Park
💰 FREE
Join FAVA and ELFF for an evening of food, music and community. This is a relaxed option for families and anyone looking for a local neighbourhood gathering.
🎶 Music on Stony Plain Road
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 6–8:30 PM
📍 RioCan Jasper Gates Plaza, 15020 Stony Plain Road
💰 FREE
Enjoy a free outdoor music performance on Stony Plain Road. The Aug. 15 lineup features Winnipeg-bred, Edmonton-based singer-songwriter Ben Sures.
👨👩👧👦 The Childcare Expo
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 10 AM–3 PM
📍 St. Basil’s Cultural Centre, 10819 71 Avenue NW
💰 FREE
Parents and caregivers can connect with local daycares, preschools, dayhomes and early-learning providers all in one place.
🏀 Hoop City 3X3 EFCL Festival
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 10 AM–5 PM
📍 ICE District Fan Park, Downtown Edmonton
💰 FREE to attend; registration required to participate
For more details: Hoop City
Spend the day watching youth 3-on-3 basketball at the Hoop City 3X3 EFCL Festival. The event features youth basketball competitions, shooting competitions, music, food trucks and more.
🎨 Downtown Playdates: Tee Time at Centennial Plaza
📅 Friday, August 14, 2026 | 11 AM–6 PM
📍 Centennial Plaza, behind Stanley A. Milner Library
💰 FREE
Take a break downtown and try your hand at mini golf. DJ Paige performs from 12–3 PM, followed by Golden Child from 3–6 PM.
🎲 Downtown Playdates at O-day’min Park
📅 Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 12–4 PM
📍 O-day’min Park
💰 FREE
Enjoy backyard games and family-friendly activities in the park. Local musician Ross Urquhart performs from 2–4 PM.
🎉 Summer Block Party
📅 Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 9 AM–4 PM
📍 Rice Howard Way Entertainment District, Downtown Edmonton
💰 FREE
Rice Howard Way keeps the marathon-day energy going with live music, family programming and activities throughout the day.
Music schedule:
• 9 AM: Johnny Infamous
• 11:30 AM: Beppie
• 1 PM: Johnny Infamous
• 3 PM: Jordan Hart
Live programming is free to attend. EPCOR’s Glass of the Sask water refill station will also be available, so bring a reusable water bottle.
🎈 Youth Day Edmonton
📅 Saturday, August 15 | 10 AM–4 PM
📍 Castle Downs Park Pavilion
💰 FREE
For more details: Youth Day
Bring the kids for a day of family fun featuring bouncy castles, face painting, a DJ, giveaways, special guests and more. Free food will also be available while supplies last.
⚾ Community All-Star Slo-Pitch Challenge
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 1–3:30 PM
📍 RE/MAX Field, 10233 96A Avenue NW
💰 $15 adults | $7 children | $25 family pass
Watch the Edmonton Police Service take on a Community All-Star Team featuring Oilers and Elks alumni and local media personalities.
🍵 Japanese Tea Ceremony
📅 Sunday, August 16, 2026
📍 University of Alberta Botanic Garden, Spruce Grove
💰 $10
Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in the tranquil Kurimoto Japanese Garden. Guests can enjoy matcha, Japanese sweets and an introduction to the customs surrounding the ceremony.
🐾 Paw Patrol Meet N’ Greet + Kid Market
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 10 AM–2 PM
📍 Currents of Windermere Town Square
💰 FREE to attend; meet-and-greet by donation
Meet Chase and Marshall from PAW Patrol, snap some photos and enjoy a Kids Market featuring products, treats and creations made by young local entrepreneurs. The event will also include face painting, a bouncy castle, complimentary ice cream, games and other family-friendly activities.
📅 QUICK WEEKEND AT-A-GLANCE
Friday, August 14
🎭 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
🐉 Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival
🎨 Downtown Playdates: Tee Time at Centennial Plaza
Saturday, August 15
🐉 Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival
🎭 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
🌾 Alberta Open Farm Days
🎶 Edmonton Love & Unity Reggae Festival
🎨 Edmonton Mural Festival begins
🌙 Spruce Grove Night Market
🛍️ National Thrift Shop Day
🏀 Hoop City 3X3 EFCL Festival
👨👩👧👦 The Childcare Expo
🎬 FAVA Summer BBQ
🎶 Music on Stony Plain Road
⚾ Community All-Star Slo-Pitch Challenge
🌿 Little Sprouts Nature Play
Sunday, August 16
🐉 Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival
🎭 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
🌾 Alberta Open Farm Days
🏃 Servus Edmonton Marathon
🇺🇦 Ukrainian Day
🎉 Summer Block Party
🎲 Downtown Playdates at O-day’min Park
🍵 Japanese Tea Ceremony
Always check the official event website or organizer’s social media before heading out, as schedules, locations, admission and programming can change.
Have a nice weekend, everyone! 😊💙