Good Morning, Edmonton! 🍂

We have been spoiled with some hot sunny days and blasted with a couple windy-grey days this past week. Looking like a bit of rain this weekend a some cooler fall temps over the next seven days!

This week there is lots of live music, Broadway Across Canada, AsiaFest, Filipino culture days, and so much more. Plus a personal favourite, Pumpkins After Dark! 🎃

Enjoy, and I hope you have the most incredible week.

—Eric

New Costco Planned for Stony Plain 🛒 Costco has purchased 20 acres in Stony Plain for a new warehouse expected to include a gas bar, separate liquor store, and roughly 1,000 parking spaces. The project is being targeted for a summer 2027 opening.

Keillor Point Faces New Erosion Problems 🌧️ This summer’s record-setting rainfall accelerated slope instability at Keillor Point, the river valley lookout formerly known as “End of the World.” Part of the viewing area has been barricaded while the City continues inspections and considers longer-term options for the site.

U of A Researchers Launch AI-Powered Prosthetics Company 🦾 Prismecha Robotics has spun out of a University of Alberta research lab with a focus on making robotic prosthetics work more naturally for people with limb differences. The Edmonton company is building on years of local research combining robotics and machine learning.

Edmonton Restaurant Named Among Canada’s Best New Restaurant Finalists 🍝 Rita Trattoria has been named one of 30 finalists for Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants, putting the Edmonton spot in the running for national recognition!

Stollery Ranked Among World’s Top Pediatric Hospitals 🏥 Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital has been recognized among the world’s leading pediatric hospitals in Newsweek and Statista’s latest specialized hospital rankings, with its cardiac care highlighted as a standout strength.

🆓 AsiaFest 2026 (September 25–27) 🏮 Currents of Windermere hosts three days of Asian food, culture, performances, vendors, and Mid-Autumn programming in a lively night-market atmosphere. Admission is free, with food and shopping available for purchase.

🆓 EPIC Pinas Kultura Days (September 25–26) 🇵🇭 Stanley A. Milner Library hosts a free Filipino cultural celebration with interactive exhibits, workshops, stories, art, music, and a Cultural Passport experience. Programming runs Friday from 5–8 PM and Saturday from 11 AM–5 PM.

🆓 Play the North Edmonton (September 25–27) 🎲 Pe Metawe Games hosts a three-day free Canadian board-game festival with games from publishers including Roxley Games, facilitated learn-to-play tables, and plenty of drop-in gaming. Hours are Friday 6–10 PM, Saturday 10 AM–10 PM, and Sunday 10 AM–6 PM.

🆓 The Cypher (September 26) 🛹 Downtown Edmonton hosts a free all-ages street-culture event from 3–7:30 PM with live skateboarding, Indigenous art, music, local artists, and family activities. Professional Indigenous skateboarder Joe Buffalo is also part of the lineup.

🆓 Alberta Culture Days at the Royal Alberta Museum (September 26–27) 🏛️ The Royal Alberta Museum is completely free for the weekend from 10 AM–4 PM, including its natural-history and cultural galleries and Children’s Gallery. Since admission is normally paid, this is one of the best freebies of the week!

Presented by our Official Arts Partner: NUOVA Vocal Arts

🎟️ Journey – Final Frontier Tour (September 24) 🎸 Journey brings its Final Frontier Tour to Rogers Place for a 7:30 PM show, giving Edmonton fans a chance to catch the legendary rock band on its farewell-era run. Buy tickets here!

🎟️ & Juliet (September 24–27) 🎭 The hit Broadway jukebox musical takes over the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium with a playful twist on Romeo and Juliet — imagining what happens if Juliet survives the ending. Multiple performances run throughout the weekend. Find tickets here.

🎟️ Edmonton International Film Festival (Starts September 24) 🎬 The 40th Edmonton International Film Festival runs through October 3 with Edmonton premieres, filmmaker Q&As, short films, gala screenings, and more at Landmark Cinemas City Centre and Metro Cinema at the Garneau. Tickets here!

🎟️ Pumpkins After Dark (September 25–October 31) 🎃 Borden Park transforms into a glowing Halloween wonderland with thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, illuminated sculptures, live carving demonstrations, entertainment, and seasonal treats. This family-friendly walk-through experience opens September 25. Get your tickets here!

🎟️ Big Thief – Somersault Slide 360 Tour (September 29) 🎶 Acclaimed indie-rock band Big Thief closes out the week’s major concert lineup with a 7 PM show at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets!

The Story of Borden Park 🌳

With Pumpkins After Dark opening at Borden Park this week, it’s worth looking back at just how much history is packed into one of Edmonton’s oldest parks.

The park opened in 1906 as East End Park and was renamed Borden Park in 1914 after a visit from Prime Minister Robert Borden. By the 1920s, it had become one of Edmonton’s biggest recreation destinations, drawing thousands of people with a swimming pool, zoo, midway, carousel, tearoom, and a wooden roller coaster known as the Green Rattler.

The Green Rattler thrilled visitors until 1935, while the park’s zoo remained for decades before eventually making way for Northlands expansion.

Today, Borden Park is home to gardens, public art, walking paths, a bandshell, and Canada’s first public man-made natural swimming pool. More than a century later, it’s still doing what it has always done best: giving Edmontonians a place to gather, explore, and be entertained. 🎡

Star Quality Pets 🐾 7254 101 Ave NW

There’s a new pet shop in Capilano! Star Quality Pets is a locally owned pet boutique and grooming salon dedicated exclusively to Canadian brands, with an emphasis on small businesses and products you won’t find everywhere else in Edmonton. From single-ingredient treats and supplements to toys, enrichment feeders, chews, and accessories, there’s plenty to discover for your furry family members.

The shop also offers one-on-one grooming with three dedicated stylists and a quiet room for pets who need a calmer environment. This Sunday, September 27, from noon–5 PM, they’re celebrating their grand opening with food trucks, local vendors, free treat samples, a make-your-own pup cup bar, giveaways, raffles, and live mural painting by Edmonton artist Carly Gordon. Admission is free, and pets are welcome!

Stop by for the grand opening, bring your pup, and help welcome this new local business to the neighbourhood! 🐶

📸 @starqualitypets
📍 7254 101 Ave NW
🕒 Grand opening: Sunday, September 27, 12–5 PM