Festivals

Arts festivals are a great opportunity for artists of various disciplines to showcase their work and for spectators to get out and have fun. Typically held outdoors in the summer months, festivals differ from concerts or productions in that they feature a number of different performers and are usually held over a span of several days or even weeks.

Alberta is host to many spectacular festivals, from music and dance festivals to children’s and street performer festivals to literary and film festivals. In fact, during July or August, there is probably at least one festival being held on any given day! As the arts and cultural hubs of Alberta, Edmonton and Calgary have the greatest number of festivals, with Edmonton even earning the nickname “Festival City.” However, the festival scene is alive and thriving throughout the rest of Alberta. Many of the festivals are world-renowned and attract crowds of over 10,000 people.

The diverse range of people in Alberta contributes to its rich festival scene. Through festivals, talented people of various cultural or ethnic backgrounds can keep their heritage alive to the delight of everyone watching.