Fun in the festival city

Edmonton has activities and festivals year round

Do you like dance? theatre? street markets? music? Whatever strikes your fancy, Edmonton seems to have it in festival form. This city is Alberta's second largest and has been coined the festival city.

From June 15 to 25, Edmonton’s longest running improv theatre will hit the town with plenty of comedians, improvisers, standups and musicians. The Edmonton International Jazz Festival happens from June 24 to July 3 and music lovers will have the chance to enjoy various jazz music performances from across the globe. Between August 4 and 7, the stars of blues, Celtic, bluegrass and gospel come together for the Edmonton Folk Music Festival in Gallagher Park.

For theatre aficionados, the Freewill Shakespeare Festival brings beloved plays by Shakespeare to life in William Hawrelak Park in the heritage ampitheatre. Between June 28 and July 24, 2011, Othello and Twelfth Night will be performed; these popular plays are not to be missed.

Fawnda Mithrush, the general manager for the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, said this festival was originally created by a group of bachelor of fine arts graduates from the University of Alberta who possessed a desire to bring Shakespeare's work to life. Over the years, many of the Bard's plays have been performed in William Hawrelak Park, drawing thousands.

“It is a dream come true because I get to work with Shakespeare,” said Mithrush. “The talent that gets rounded up for this festival every year is amazing and I believe it is because we have had that artist mentality right from the start.”

For more information on festivals and events happening in Edmonton, visit http://www.edmonton.com/for-visitors/festival-city.aspx.