CAPITAL EX AND TASTE OF EDMONTON FESTIVALS
COMBINE FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT

Story and photos by Barb & Ron Kroll

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For 10 days every July, Alberta's capital city hosts two festivals, A Taste of Edmonton and Capital EX. They are two of Edmonton's largest summer celebrations.

Capital EX parade. Clown on bicycle. Edmonton, Alberta.

Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

Taste of Edmonton was previously held after the annual Klondike Days Festival. The huge food festival takes place in Sir Winston Churchill Square, downtown, while the location for Edmonton's Capital EX is Northlands, in the northeast section of the city.

Taste of Edmonton menu items

Visitors can sample nearly 80 dishes from more than three dozen Edmonton restaurants. Menu items for Taste of Edmonton range from Fairmont Hotel Macdonald's wild mushroom bisque and Korean Village's vegetable tempura to Brewsters Brewing's lobster and shrimp rotini with sweet potato fries and Zen Sushi & Grill's teriyaki salmon. Desserts include Bailey's mocha pie from Globe Tap Bar & Grill, coconut ice cream with fresh fruit from The Gas Pump and chocolate peanut butter chunk from Traamici Café.

Menu items cost one to five tickets. Taste Tickets cost $1, but you can buy them at discounted prices in advance from TIX on the Square.

A taste of wine

A separate tent, located at 102 A Avenue, serves different wines daily from international wineries. Red and white wines are arranged in best buy, very good and outstanding categories. By the end of the festival, visitors have had the opportunity to sample 54 wines. Performers provide entertainment on the Wine Stage.

A Taste of Beer tent serves Alley Kat, Molson and Sleeman beers to visitors in the Taste Patio. Local and national musicians perform rock, country and bluegrass on the Taste Stage.

Sunday in the City events

Pancake breakfast. A Taste of Edmonton. Alberta.

Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

Held in Sir Winston Churchill Square and surrounding avenues and streets, Sunday in the City is a highlight of Taste of Edmonton. The Sunday afternoon event features a Vintage Car Show, community exhibits and a Sunday in the City Tea Party, at Edmonton City Hall, with entertainment.

Kids enjoy crafts, a sports zone, petting zoo and the Mascot Follies, where they meet costumed characters.

Things to do in the Greater Edmonton Region

Each morning, except for Sunday in the City, there's an inexpensive pancake breakfast at a different Edmonton Safeway store. The pancake breakfast is held at Sir Winston Churchill Square on the first day.

Visitors and locals fill their plates with pancakes, maple syrup, sizzling bacon and sausages, accompanied by coffee and juice. Musicians entertain the crowds.

Also at Sir Winston Churchill Square is A Taste of Edmonton Street Market, where you can shop for arts, crafts and jewelry. Night of Artists brings painters and sculptors with their works to the square. Festival contests offer prizes ranging from phones and groceries to gift certificates for restaurants and gas.

Sourdough River Race

Other events are held just prior to the Taste of Edmonton. Spectators can watch decorated rafts, sponsored by Edmonton businesses, float along the North Saskatchewan River between Terwilligar Park and Rafter's Landing.

Sourdough Raft Race. Edmonton, Alberta.

Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

The mayor invites seniors to enjoy a picnic and entertainment on the Wednesday before the festival at Shaw Conference Centre.

Capital EX entertainment

Rollercoaster. Capital EX. Edmonton, Alberta.

Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

You'll find Edmonton's Capital EX entertainment and midway rides at Northlands. Exceptions are the Capital EX pancake breakfast on the Southside Legislature Grounds and the Capital EX parade.

The downtown kick-off parade is an extravaganza of marching bands and RCMP officers, floats, acrobats and flag-bearers on horseback.

At Northlands ED Fest stage, you can watch big-name Canadian entertainers perform for free, with your admission ticket. Telus Stage showcases family entertainment during the day and popular singers and bands during the evening.

You won't be bored. There's a chuckwagon derby, a shopping zone and an international marketplace with food, souvenirs and entertainment from around the world. An activity area, mini-farm and daily fireworks draw children and families.

Deals and passes

Anyone who buys tickets for events at Rexall Place receives complimentary admission to Capital EX.

For midway ride bargains, check out the Ride All Day Passes. A Super Flexible Family Pass gives holders multiple gate admissions and midway credits for $60.

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TRAVEL INFORMATION

Where to stay and eat in Edmonton:
Edmonton's Fairmont Hotel Macdonald Welcomes Celebrities

Edmonton's Capital EX: www.capitalex.ca

Taste of Edmonton: www.eventsedmonton.ca

Other things to see and do in Alberta:

Calgary Stampede - Parade, Rodeo and Chuckwagon Races