Summer is the perfect time to explore Edson and area and its many festivals and local events. Although Edson itself is a small community, organizers go above and beyond to make our festivals memorable and exhilarating every year. Be sure to add these six Edson and area festivals to your bucket list this summer… you will not want to miss them!
1. Dog & Pony Show
On June 4, the Edson Animal Rescue Society (EARS) and Yellowhead Agricultural Society (YAS) are bringing the Dog & Pony Show Fundraiser back to the Edson Rodeo Grounds for its second year!
The Dog & Pony Show is a large outdoor, family-friendly community event that showcases demonstrations from local dog and horse clubs, such as dog agility and horse gymkhana. The event is sure to be fun for the whole family, with attractions like a petting zoo, pony rides, glitter tattoos, silent auction, and adoptable animals from EARS. There will also be a concession, popcorn stand, raffle items and a live auction.
Sunday, June 4 – 11:30 am - 3 pm
2. Robb Centennial
On June 24, the Coal Branch community of Robb will be celebrating their 100th anniversary, and they are inviting you to help celebrate the community!
Join them for food trucks, a children’s carnival, CN Little OBIE, axe throwing, historical displays, geocaching, a buck saw contest, live music, beer gardens and more! A park memorial and time capsule unveiling will wrap up the day, and there will also be special merchandise for sale to commemorate the event.
Free camping will be available at the Robb campground for the weekend.
The event will be a great time to connect with family and friends while helping celebrate the rich history of Robb.
Saturday, June 24 – 10 am – 6 pm
3. Canada Day
Canada Day is a great way to connect and create memorable moments with one another in Edson… and this year will be no different, with tons of activities planned for all ages!
Culminating with the annual pancake breakfast at the Royal Canadian Legion #51, attendants are then invited to RCMP Centennial Park to continue celebrating Canada’s 156th birthday.
Take a fun group photo with friends or family at the photo booth, stop for a bite to eat at one of the many on-site food trucks, let your kids loose in the inflatables, interact with the roving performers, enjoy live music, get your caricature done, and above all, have fun!
Concluding the event is the annual fireworks display, which gets more and more impressive every year.
2023 also marks the 150th anniversary of the RCMP, and a special celebration is also in the works to be celebrated alongside Canada Day. Stay tuned for more details at www.facebook.com/edsoncomserv.
Saturday, July 1 – 9 am – 11 pm
4. Summer Festival
Canada’s biggest travelling carnival is coming back to Edson this summer!
West Coast Amusements will be bringing their popular rides to Edson’s Main Street on July 12-14 as part of the Edson & District Chamber of Commerce’s annual Summer Festival.
Whether you are a thrill seeker that enjoys gravity-defying rides or are more interested in the classic carnival games, there is something for all interests and ages.
Challenge yourself or dare your friends to take on the spectacular rides! The Zipper and Vertigo are perfect for adrenaline junkies and will leave you feeling dizzy but delighted, while carnival lovers can find comfort in the classic Ferris Wheel and Carousel. Let your kids loose in the magical Kiddieland, which features a series of rides specifically made for little ones over 2 years old.
Take part in the quintessential carnival activities such as ring toss and balloon pop for the chance to win prizes, and indulge in a traditional carnival snack like cotton candy or mini donuts.
Grab lunch at one of the great on-site food trucks and be sure to pick up an Elephant Ear on your way out – an Edson staple!
Local artists will be set up along Main Street to sell their works and there will also be great sales and deals available at your favourite local businesses.
For presale wristbands, which will allow you access to unlimited rides, visit www.westcoastamusements.com/event/edson-ab-2023/?fbclid=IwAR2Kc7e5-5ro-O2qhjE533Na7HKsq7mqO3MU-oWdhmLe-v30qnmiGOUStyQ.
Wednesday, July 12– 1 pm – 10 pm
Thursday, July 13 – 12 pm – 10 pm
Friday, July 14 – 12 pm – 6 pm
5. Edson Renaissance Faire
Hear Ye Hear Ye! Thou hast been summoned by the Town of Edson to partake in the first annual Edson Renaissance Faire!
Travel back in time to a place of merriment and song, dueling and dragons, sport and questing from July 21-23 at the Yellowhead Ag Society Rodeo Grounds (901 Range Road 180, Yellowhead County).
On Friday evening, get a VIP sneak peek of the events and enjoy the medieval tunes of The Borch Brothers, an East Coast fiddle band with a mix of folk, jazz, swing, Ukrainian and Celtic music – it is sure to be a hootenanny!
Saturday and Sunday will be a smorgasbord of old-timey fun, with vendors, a mead garden, food trucks, art and music demonstrations, medieval quests and more! The medieval fighting team, Drayton Valley Horde, will be doing heavy armour combat and Red Stags Red Deer will also be in attendance to demonstrate jousting and knight fights.
Dress in your favourite Renaissance-era clothing for the chance to win some great prizes!
This event is great for the whole family and is one you surely will not want to miss.
Get your tickets for the 2023 Edson Renaissance Faire at www.eventbrite.ca/e/edson-renaissance-faire-2023-tickets-567143339997?fbclid=IwAR31BeJAxhvpGLkk_M9tbDrlHDvfyhK34OMmVmSDLA10S4GYykIr1yRQ0PA.
Friday, July 21– 5 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday, July 22 – 10 am – 7 pm
Sunday, July 23– 10 am – 2 pm
6. Wop May Day
Every year, the Galloway Station Museum and the Town of Edson host the annual Wop May Day celebration to honour the contributions of famous RCAF and bush pilot Wilfrid Reid ‘Wop’ May.
In 1919, Wop May was hired by the Edmonton Police Service to fly a detective to Edson in search of a wanted murder suspect. This event went down in history as the first aerial police chase in Canadian history.
This year, Wop May Day will be held in conjunction with Alberta Day on September 2, which is dedicated to celebrating the province’s unique culture and heritage.
There will be many activities taking place throughout the day, such as picnic races, tug-o-war, inflatables, crafts, bannock-making and live music courtesy of the High County String Band.
The popular pie eating contest, which is open to those of all ages, is always a hoot for participants and spectators alike.
Old-timey carnival games will offer tons of fun for the kids, as they will be able to exchange their tokens for some great prizes at the end of the day.
Local artists of a variety of different mediums will be selling their works inside the museum. There will also be a bench show, which encourages artists—from knitters to digital artists and everything in between— to submit their handiwork for judging.
Hungry? No problem! There will be a number of food trucks on site to satisfy your hunger throughout the day.
Come help us celebrate Alberta and Wop May at this free, family-friendly event!
Learn more about Wop May at www.gallowaystationmuseum.com/reports-presentations.
Saturday, September 2 – 1 pm – 5 pm
What festivals will you attend in Edson this year?