1. E-Town Festival
September 12 -13, Shaw Conference Centre
Astronaut Chris Hadfield and Dragon’s Den star and Lavalife co-foudner Bruce Croxon headline a weekend of speakers comprised of successful entrepreneurs from business, film, web, technology, and other sectors. The panelists are ready to share ideas about building solutions to pressing challenges, and to help like-minded entrepreneurs think of new strategies for success. Registration is required; $299 two-day pass.
Read more information on our blog.
2. Kaleido Family Arts Festival
September 13 – 15
This festival showcases over 200 musical and performance acts, visual artists and artisans from both the professional and emerging arts. Performances take place throughout the weekend, utilizing all spaces of Alberta Avenue including, rooftops, vertical surfaces, alleyways, playgrounds, and more. The festival is open to the public and admission to the festival is free, though donations are accepted.
More Info: kaleidofest.ca
documentaries being screened at EIFF this year!
3. Edmonton International Film Fest
September 26 – October 5
The always-exciting Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF) returns with over 150 engaging short and feature-length films. The EIFF is an opportunity to see some excellent lesser-known films from around the world that engage the dynamic features of film-making: strong scripts, motivated acting, and provocative plots. This will be the first time many of the films are being shown in Canada — you may be discovering the next Academy Award winner! Don’t miss the Canadian premiere of The Good Son, a documentary featuring interviews with Mickey Rourke and Sugar Ray Leonard about lightweight boxer Ray Mancini and the fatal 1982 fight that changed professional boxing forever.
More Info: edmontonfilmfest.com
will play Edmonton’s Up + DT Festival
4. Up + DT Festival
October 12 – 13
The inaugural year for this multi-venue music and arts festival showcases independent artists from a variety of genres, including everything from hip hop to alternative, electronica to folk, heavy rock to jazz. Weekend passes are $80 and let you see as many shows as you want and access all festival venues; single tickets are available for Whitehorse (Polaris 2013 prize short-list winners) and Plants and Animals (altnerative rock group from Montreal). Discover some new music and support some fantastic Canadian talents!
More Info: upndowntown.com
5. Comedy Festival
October 16 – 19
SNL alum Tim Meadows — famous for performing the character “The Ladies Man” — headlines this festival that celebrates all styles of comedy and features performances by over 20 comedians from all over North America.You’ll recognize more than a few famous faces: Sean Cullen has performed on The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show, and The Ellen Degeneres Show, and Pete Zedlacher has appeared in numerous shows like Rookie Blue, Little Mosque on the Prairie, and Degrassi: The Next Generation. Plus, the hilarious, internationally-acclaimed duo Atomic Improv? That’s Mark Meer and Donovan Workun, the voices behind CBC’s national radio program The Irrelevant Show. Inspired by these personalities to try and get a laugh? Sign up for a free comedy workshop on Saturday, October 19, hosted by one of the touring professional comedians!
More Info: www.atbcomedy.com
6. LitFest: Canada’s Nonfiction Festival
October 16 – 27
LitFest is Canada’s only creative non-fiction festival, promoting and celebrating local talent through a variety of panels and discussions. Author, “Savage Love” relationship columnist, and founder of the Emmy-winning “It Gets Better” anti-bullying campaign, Dan Savage headlines LitFest with a talk about many diverse issues including healthcare, gun control, and marriage equality with his signature brash humour and provocative insight. Festival passes are $100 and include access to all LitFest events, though individual tickets are available for separate events.
More Info: www.litfestalberta.com
