Good Morning, Edmonton! 🌻

Amazingly, you don’t even have to be near grass to feel the consequences of our record June rainfall; mosquitoes galore, almost everywhere you step. A friend of mine encouraged me to rub a dryer sheet on my skin as an alternative to bug spray…it’s with a heavy heart I report its ineffectiveness.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Canada Day! 🦫 Are you back to work or taking a 5-day weekend? I hope the latter.

We’ve been putting more effort into our socials lately, so please follow our Instagram for contests, giveaways, and all the latest updates.

Have the most fantastic Thursday!

—Eric

Firefighters Rescue Llama From Sinkhole 🦙 Edmonton fire crews pulled off a very unusual rescue after ‘Runner’ the llama got stuck in a three-metre-deep sinkhole! The firefighters used a mini excavator and the Technical Rescue Team to help lift him safely back to solid ground uninjured.

Edmontonians Rally for Venezuela Earthquake Relief 🇻🇪 To help raise funds for earthquake survivors, Sazón Venezuelan Experience is offering fresh empanadas for donations. Owner Esmeralda Leon and Edmonton’s Venezuelan community are calling on the city to support families facing devastating loss and displacement.

Women’s Hockey Trio Joins Oilers Development Camp 🏒 Caitlin Kraemer, Chloe Primerano, and Abbey Murphy became the first women invited to participate in an Edmonton Oilers development camp, joining the team’s prospects for a three-day on-ice session while helping show how far the women’s game continues to rise.

City Opens New Tow Lot for Abandoned Vehicles 🚗 Edmonton has opened a new 150-vehicle impound lot to help clear a major abandoned vehicle backlog, with nearly 400 vehicles still waiting to be towed after the city’s main lot became full earlier this year and towing was temporarily paused. Crews are now moving 10 to 15 vehicles per day while prioritizing public safety concerns.

Rising River Levels Prompt Trail Closures 🌊 Edmonton has closed several low-lying trails and river access points along the North Saskatchewan River due to rising water levels and a provincial High Streamflow Advisory, with residents asked to avoid the water, obey closure signs, keep pets and watercraft clear, and brace for more mosquitoes around wet, low-lying areas.

Arbour x BRiiNE: Pizza Making & Cocktails

Arbour and BRiiNE are teaming up for a hands-on night of Neapolitan pizza, cocktails, and a relaxed Thursday evening on Whyte Ave!

You’ll kick things off with a complimentary BRiiNE cocktail, then step up to the counter with Arbour’s chefs to learn how to stretch your own dough and build your own pizza with fresh ingredients!

While it bakes, grab a seat, check out the custom cocktail menu, and settle in for a night of good food, good drinks, and good company.

Bring a friend (or that special someone 😘)—happening TONIGHT. 👇

🎟️ Grab your tickets here!

🆓 St. Philip Mediterranean Festival (July 1-5) 🥙 Five days of Mediterranean food, live music, dancing, raffles, kids’ activities, hookah, cold drinks, and community celebration! They’ll also be showing FIFA World Cup matches on the big screen, so wear your colours and come hungry 📍 St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church.

🆓 Edmonton International Street Performers Festival (July 3–12) 🎪 Downtown comes alive with buskers, circus acts, comedians, jugglers, acrobats, and street shows all day in Churchill Square! It’s free to attend, but bring some cash if you want to support the performers when they pass the hat!

🆓 Muttstock (Saturday, July 4th) 🐶 A pet-friendly day of live music, local rescues, doggy games, bouncy castles, BBQ, vegan eats, beer gardens, raffles, and more! Bring your pup, meet rescue groups, and support animal welfare at Castle Downs Recreation Centre.

🆓 Horsepower for Hope (Saturday, July 4th) 🏎️ Support the Kids with Cancer Society with a morning rally through Edmonton and a huge afternoon car show at the EXPO Centre grounds. 200+ vehicles, food trucks, family activities, a silent auction, and plenty of horsepower for a great cause! 1-5 pm.

🆓 Historic Festival & Doors Open Edmonton (July 5–12) 🏛️ The 30th annual festival celebrates Edmonton’s history with tours, events, historic sites, and special programming across the region. Explore all that has helped shape the city over the past three decades. Reserve your free spot!

🎟️ Freewill Shakespeare Festival: Something Rotten! (July 1–12) 🎭 Bringing outdoor musical theatre to Hawrelak Park with Something Rotten! running through the week at the Heritage Amphitheatre. Enjoy a summer night outside and take in one of Edmonton’s favourite theatre traditions. Use code ‘FREEWILL10’ for 10% off 2 tickets 🤗👉 Click here!

🎟️ Grindstone Comedy Festival (July 2–12) 😂 The Grindstone Comedy Festival brings stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy together for a week of national acts, local legends, and rising Canadian talent! It’s one of the best chances of the year to discover your new favourite comedian, right here in Edmonton! Get your tickets.

🎟️ World Rugby Nations Cup 2026: Canada vs. Spain (Saturday, July 4th) 🏉 International men’s XV rugby returns to Edmonton with a huge weekend at Clarke Stadium! Sports fans can catch all the high-stakes action, starting with Canada vs. Spain this Saturday! Buy tickets here.

🎟️ Edmonton Stingers vs. Winnipeg Sea Bears (Sunday, July 5th) 🏀 Our Stingers are back at home for a fast-paced CEBL basketball against the Winnipeg Sea Bears! If you’ve never experienced our local basketball team before, expect big energy, quick offence, and a fun night out as the Stingers defend home court! Tickets here.

🎟️ Koe Wetzel: The Night Champion World Tour (Wednesday, July 8th) 🎸 Country-rock takes over Rogers Place as Koe Wetzel brings his high-energy Night Champion World Tour to Edmonton! Doors open at 6:30 PM for a loud, rowdy arena show built for summer concert season! Buy your tickets here.

Edmonton’s First Canada Day Was Royalty (Literally) 👑

On July 1, 1983, Edmonton found itself at the centre of a strange little slice of Canadian history.

The city was hosting the 12th World University Games, and the opening ceremony at Commonwealth Stadium was led by Prince Charles and Princess Diana during their first Royal Visit to Canada together.

It also happened to be Diana’s 22nd birthday and the first official Canada Day, after the holiday was renamed from Dominion Day. A royal birthday, a packed stadium, a major international sports event, and Canada’s newly renamed national holiday, all landing in Edmonton on the same day.

Moons Pancakes 🥞

A sweet new stop is coming soon to West Edmonton Mall! Serving fresh, made-to-order mini pancakes with fluffy bites, premium toppings, signature “clouds,” and coffee or tea!

These fun little desserts are made for sharing, snacking, and treating yourself anytime you’re cruising around West Ed!

They’re opening soon, so we’re trying to help this local business build some momentum! Keep an eye out for the official launch and start planning your first pancake run!

Follow Moons Pancakes on Instagram + TikTok for opening updates, sneak peeks, and all the sweetest details. 😋

Instagram 📸 @moons.yeg
TikTok 🎶 @moons.yeg