Things to Do in Edmonton in June
June is bustin' out all over Edmonton! We've got festivals for beer lovers, Shakespeare enthusiasts, art aficionados and everyone in between. The sun is shining (we're talking up to 17 hours of sunlight a day here people) and patio season is in full swing. What are you waiting for? Get exploring!
Show Your Pride!
June is Pride Month, when the Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (2SLGBTQ+) community celebrates and reflects on the queer rights movement. Pride is a celebration of people coming together in unity, love, and friendship to recognize the impact that this important segment of our community has had on society locally, nationally and internationally. Here's just a small sampling of events to celebrate in Edmonton this month:
- Pride Month Kick Off (June 3)
- Pride Reunited (June 3-5 and June 11)
- Pride Recharged (June 11)
- PrideFest (June 24-25)
Check out our Guide to Pride Month in Edmonton for a full itinerary of events this month. Put on your brightest colours and let’s celebrate love!
Celebrate Indigenous Edmonton
The month of June is National Indigenous History Month in Amiskwaciy Waskahikan (also known as Edmonton) and across Canada. June 21 is also National Indigenous People's Day. This special day provides Canadians with an opportunity to recognize the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people. Connect with Indigenous experiences like Talking Rock Tours or Wase Saba (Black Bear) Experiences. Savour the flavours of Indigenous chefs at Culina To-Go or Culina on the Lake, then check out Chef Scott Iserhoff's delicious creations at the Edmonton Downtown Farmers' Market (you can even take his online cooking classes through Pei Pei Chei Ow too!).
Visit our guide to Celebrating National Indigenous History Month for even more events and happenings, including the Edmonton Indigenous Peoples Festival at West Edmonton Mall on June 18.
Let's Get Whimsical
The downtown core comes alive during the Downtown Spark festival! Running over two weekends, Downtown Spark will feature free family-friendly (and even pet-friendly) events each Saturday. Ignite your curiosity with art installations, daily musical performances, food trucks, and street parties. Don’t forget to support the local businesses in the area!
May 26 - June 5
Come for the Art, Stay for the Party
Want a glimpse at the next generation of Edmonton talent? Look no further than Nextfest, a festival made up of hundreds of young and emerging artists from a wide variety of disciplines. Nextfest is curated on the principles of youth, creativity and newness. The festival celebrates an electric line-up of performances and installations at the beautiful, brand-new Roxy Theatre.
June 2 - 12
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Dust off your baseball cap and grab yourself a hotdog - baseball is back in Edmonton, baby! Cheer on the Edmonton Riverhawks as they play their home opener against the Portland Pickles on June 6 at RE/MAX field. Get your tickets and enjoy the perfect summer afternoon activity!
June 6
Bringing Sax-y back!
Catch the coolest cats in town as the TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival brings the world’s best jazz performers to Edmonton. You’re sure to hit the right note with the full gamut of jazz sounds on the menu. Swing by and treat your ears to some sultry saxophone, groovin’ baselines, silky voices – all that jazz.
June 26 - July 3
Cold Brews Just for You
Get ready to sip your way across Alberta at the Edmonton Craft Beer Festival! Edmonton's premier food & beer festival features hundreds of premium beers, both domestic and international. Sample some brews to find your new favourite, take part in beer seminars, and sample delicious food from a few of Edmonton’s best restaurants. There’s something for everybody!
June 3 - 4
Let's Ride!
Strap in and get ready for a cycling event like no other. The Canadian Road Cycling Championships are the most prestigious cycling events on the domestic racing calendar and feature some of Canada’s top professional riders, who have the opportunity to race on home soil.
If you want to get in on the action, sign-up for the Urban Fondo Ride on Sunday, June 26! Choose from 28 km, 56 km and 80 km closed-off routes so you can experience riding through Edmonton like a pro!
June 23 - 27
Art in the Heart
Take part in a celebration of music, art, dance, & spoken word! Heart of the City Festival is a free two-day family-friendly festival taking place in central Edmonton. Enjoy performances from local musicians, poets, dancers, and more at Giovanni Cabot Park.
June 4 - 5
Renew Your Excitement
Can you imagine a carnival powered entirely by green energy? Well, get ready because it’s real and it’s coming back to Edmonton this summer! Sustainival is chock full of carnival rides powered by renewable energy (like biodiesel or vegetable oil!) and vendors selling eco-friendly, locally made products. There are also musical performances, educational sessions and technology demonstrations — all powered by renewable energy.
June 9 - 12
Catch a Play in the Park
Get thee to a festival that brings the works of the Bard into the realm of everyone from kids to scholars during the Freewill Shakespeare Festival. This season, they’re bringing back the audience favourite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and for the very first time will present Measure for Measure. Plop thy bum on thy blanket and enjoy Shakespeare al fresco at Hawrelak Park!
June 14 - July 10
Good Tunes and Good Eats
Garth Brooks is hitting the road and coming to Commonwealth Stadium on June 24-25. Venturing into town to catch this icon live on stage? Fill up on great grub from some of the best restaurants in the city before (and after) the big show:
Check out our selection of the best Food & Drink in Edmonton for more great restaurants, including some Discount Passes to help you chow down for less!
This one's for the kids
Over 55,000 children come out to play and meet professional artists from across the country at the International Children’s Festival of the Arts. This magical multi-day festival transforms the banks of the Sturgeon River in St. Albert into a mighty carnival for an event that removes barriers, fosters joy, embraces creativity, and inspires the next generation of artists.
June 2 - 5
Snap and Share
Stop by Whyte Avenue for a truly unique photography experience! At Eyemazy Iris Photography Edmonton, they take a macro photo of your eye and turn it into stunningly beautiful, personal art prints on-site! The specialized technology captures ultra high resolution photos of your iris, letting you see your eye like you've never seen it before. It's the perfect keepsake to celebrate any milestone from graduations to anniversaries to the most unique family portraits. You'll find North America's first studio location right here in Edmonton on iconic Whyte Avenue (10820 82 Avenue).
Looking for more opportunities to snap & share? Check out our blog outlining the city's Best Photo Spots and level-up your instagram feed!
It's All in the Valley
If you haven’t been to Snow Valley, you’re truly missing out. Get ready to hit the biggest and most intricate jungle gym you’ve ever seen at at the Snow Valley Aerial Park. This incredible tower of obstacles and games is the first of its kind in Canada and features dedicated routes for both kids and adults.
If heights aren’t your thing, don’t fret! Visit Whitemud Creek Mining Co to try your hand at gold panning, take a shot at hitting novelty targets at Snow Valley Target Golf, visit the beautiful patio or pitch a tent at the Rainbow Valley Campground. Snow Valley is the perfect summer destination!
Shred it up
Grab your decks and airwalk your way over to the Slurpee Canada Skateboard Open on June 17-18. This free-to-enter, multi-day activation tour is happening in cities across Canada, and Edmonton is one of the stops! Head on over to Collingwood Skatepark and celebrate skateboarding with Canada Skateboard.
Friday, June 17th, is Skateboard Community Day – a full day dedicated to skate games and prizes and getting the public involved in the sport of Skateboarding. Saturday, June 18th, is competition day where participants can compete in the National Series. The series serves as an avenue for Canadian skateboarders who are looking to compete internationally by earning points at each event, with the potential opportunity to represent Canada at international events leading into the Olympic Season! Get ready to show off your moves or head to the park to cheer on your fellow skaters!
Dodge This
Cheer on Canada’s top teams as they dip, dive, and dodge their way to victory at the Dodgeball Canada Nationals! 44 teams from across the country come together to compete on a grand stage to become ultimate dodgeball champions. Catch all the hard-fought, strategic action at the Saville Community Sports Centre!
June 16 - 19