5 things to do in Edmonton this weekend
Don't let the headline fool you — there are actually 16 things on this weekend's list of things to do in Edmonton.
Culture in Alberta
What: Historic, cultural and artistic sites across the province will be opening their doors free of charge this weekend in honour of Alberta Culture Days. Highlights include:
- An Aboriginal Celebration put on by the Bissell Center in Giovanni Caboto Park on Friday afternoon
- The Edmonton Short Film Festival, which will take place at the Royal Alberta Museum theatre on Saturday
- The Edmonton Opera has scheduled a full day of performances and workshops at Kingsway Mall on Sunday. There will also be facepainting, arts and crafts and a photobooth
- Sunday is also Free Admission Day at a number of participating city attractions — here's the full list
Celebrate the night
What: Technically part of Alberta Culture Days, Nuit Blanche is so big it warrants a separate entry into this list. Fourteen separate art works will be set up around the city for a limited time on Saturday night, with an additional 17 other art events happening within a five-minute walk of Churchill Square. A full map is available here.
When? Sept 26 from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Holy stars collide, Batman
What: Stan Lee. Billy Boyd. Cary Elwes, Eliza Dushku. James Marsters. Will Friedle. I could go on, but if even one of those names made you squeak in your seat, you're probably going to want to check out the Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo this weekend at the Expo Centre. Seriously. The guest list is impressive this year.
When? Sept. 25 to 27
Outdoor adventures
What: There's a couple of unique ways to celebrate nature this weekend:
- Take a nighttime canoe trip across Astotin Lake at Elk Island National Park on Saturday or Sunday evening
- There's going to be a total lunar eclipse on Sunday night and the Telus World of Science is opening up its observatory to the public from 6:30 to 11 p.m.
- Pick a pumpkin and get your fill of all things fall at the Prairie Gardens Haunted Pumpkin Festival
Old school
What: The University of Alberta is putting on two events this weekend that you might not want to miss:
- There will be an old fashioned country fair set up this weekend at the Edmonton Research Station on South Campus, with displays set up about the history of the school and plenty of family-friendly activities (dunk tanks, potato sack races and horseshoes, oh my!)
- Expand your mind Saturday evening at The Next 100 Years — a TED talk-style presentation by notable U of A alumni Kris Wells, Curtis Gillespie, Shawna Pandya and Kuen Tang, emceed by Nerd Nite host Adam Rozenhart. Tickets are $15.
Odds and Ends
What: There's a lot of other stuff happening this weekend, too, so here's your usual grab bag organized by day:
- Thursday: The Culture Collective is holding its fifth variety showcase Thursday night at the Garneau Theatre
- Saturday: The E-Ville Roller Derby girls are back in action at the Edmonton Sportsdome
- Saturday: The Edmonton Eskimos take on the BC Lions at Commonwealth Stadium
- Saturday: Celebrate and support Edmonton's local Etsy contributors with an in-person pop-up market at Latitude 53
- Sunday: Show off your guitar collection at the Edmonton Guitar Show & Sale at the Italian Cultural Center
- Sunday: FC Edmonton plays the New York Cosmos at Joe Clarke Athletic Grounds at 2 p.m.
- All weekend: Like accordions? You're in luck — there's an Accordion Extravaganza going down at St. John's cultural Centre
- All weekend: Getting hitched? The Edmonton Bridal Expo is happening on Sunday at the Shaw Conference Centre
Know of a weekend event happening in the city? Email me or tweet me @CBC_Caitlin
