Good Morning, Edmonton! 🌦️

We have a wonderful group of things for you to check out this week, plus some interesting KDays history as we get ready for the return of the midway.

Do we have any restaurant owners reading? 👀 I’ve been thinking about hosting a small River City Lights dinner party soon; good food, good people, and a chance to bring readers together in real life. If you own or run a local spot and would be interested in chatting, reply to this email!

And for everyone else, I’m curious…

Your input means a lot! We want to bring Edmonton together and do all sorts of interesting things around the city as time goes by. Thank you. 🙏

Enjoy this week’s newsletter.

—Eric

One Last Snowbirds Flyover? ✈️ The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are set to fly over Edmonton on Wednesday, July 15, in what could be their last local flyover for several years with the current aircraft. The team is expected to pass over central Edmonton between 12:15 and 12:45 p.m., with suggested viewing spots including Hawrelak Park, City Hall Plaza, the Legislature Grounds, and O-day’min Park.

50 Street Bike Lane Plan Hits a Detour 🚲 After pushback from residents in Fulton, Capilano, and Goldbar, the City of Edmonton is adjusting its 50 Street bike lane plan. The updated design would keep on-street parking for about half of the originally affected stretch, while still adding bike infrastructure. It’s expected to cost about $4.9 million, up from the original $4.2 million plan.

Chinatown Gate Artists Want Community Input 🏮 Emily Chu and Halie Finney have been selected to create artwork for the north panels of Edmonton’s new Chinatown Gate, which is expected to be completed in 2027. They’re asking Chinatown community members to register for engagement sessions by July 15, encouraging the local community to have a say in what they produce.

Meta’s $13B Northern Alberta Data Centre 💻 Meta is planning a massive new data centre in Sturgeon County, just north of Edmonton, marking its first in Canada. The project is expected to bring thousands of construction jobs, hundreds of full-time roles, and major local infrastructure upgrades. It’s also raising familiar questions around power demand, water use, and what Alberta’s growing AI/data centre push could mean for nearby communities.

Edmonton’s Growth Is Spilling Beyond the City 🏘️ A new Avison Young report shows the region’s population boom is reaching well beyond the city limits. Beaumont led the Edmonton region with 6.3% growth, while Leduc County and Spruce Grove also posted strong gains. In other words: Edmonton’s growth story is increasingly becoming a regional one!

🆓 The FOUND Festival (July 9–12) 🎭 FOUND brings theatre, visual art, poetry, film, music, and pop-up performances into unexpected spaces around the city. It’s free / offer-what-you-will, making it easy to drop in and discover something a little different!

🆓 Whyte Avenue Art Walk (July 10–12) 🎨 Old Strathcona turns into one big open-air gallery for the weekend, with artists creating in real time and hundreds of original works to browse along Whyte Ave. A classic summer stroll for art lovers, casual wanderers, and anyone looking for a free day out!

🆓 YEG Greek Festival (July 11–12) 🇬🇷 Celebrate Greek food, music, culture, and community at the Edmonton Hellenic Community Centre! Admission is free; come hungry and stay awhile! Saturday 12-8 PM, Sunday 12-7 PM.

🆓 Edmonton Jerk Festival (July 11) 🌶️ Queen Mary Park hosts a full day of Caribbean food, music, culture, and community celebration from 12 PM to 8 PM. A great Saturday stop for jerk chicken, good music, and a lively outdoor crowd!

🆓 Beppie: A Concert Especially for Families! (July 15) 🎶 Two-time JUNO-nominated children’s musician Beppie brings her playful, family-friendly music to Edmonton. Her songs celebrate the curiosity, creativity, and imagination of childhood; a great one for the kids next week! Anglican Parish of Christ Church @ 7 PM.

🎟️ Edmonton Elks vs. Ottawa Redblacks (July 9) 🏈 The Elks host Ottawa at Commonwealth Stadium for a Thursday night “Salute to Service” game. Tickets start at $24.25, making it an affordable summer sports night under the lights! Tickets here.

🎟️ Rocky Mountain Nationals (July 10–12) 🏁 RAD Torque Raceway fires up for a weekend of drag racing, nitro, noise, and high-speed action. It’s one of the biggest motorsport weekends of the summer for anyone who likes things loud and fast! Get your tickets.

🎟️ Rockin’ Thunder Music Festival (July 11–12) 🎸 The Edmonton EXPO Centre / Exhibition Lands hosts a big rock weekend with Three Days Grace on July 11 and Creed on July 12. Loud guitars, big crowds, and a full festival feel! Tickets.

🎟️ Edmonton Riverhawks: Kiddos Crash the Park! (July 12) ⚾ The Riverhawks take on the Marion Berries at RE/MAX Field for a family-friendly afternoon at the ballpark, complete with hot dogs, cold drinks, and summer baseball energy with a focus on the kids! Grab your tickets.

🎟️ Broadway Across Canada: Clue (Starts July 14) 🔎 The classic murder-mystery board game comes to life on stage with a fast-paced comedy whodunit. You’ll see familiar characters, suspicious twists, and a theatrical night of chaos at the Jubilee! Tickets available here.

KDays: From Edmonton Exhibition to Klondike Days to Now 🎡

Before it became ten days of midway rides, fried food, concerts, fireworks, and candy apples, KDays started in 1879 as the Edmonton Exhibition. Held by the Edmonton Agricultural Society at the old Fort Edmonton site, it was originally a showcase for agriculture, industry, science, and new technology.

By the 1960s, the fair leaned into Edmonton’s connection to the Klondike Gold Rush and became Klondike Days, bringing old-timey outfits, parades, community breakfasts, and plenty of “Klondiker”-type fair to the city.

The name has changed a few times since then, from Edmonton Exhibition to Klondike Days to Capital Ex and finally KDays, but the idea has stayed the same: a big summer gathering place for Edmonton and Northern Alberta. This year, KDays runs July 17–26 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre & Exhibition Grounds.

Made in Palestine Culture Café 🇵🇸☕ Oxford Landing Plaza

A new north-side café bringing Palestinian coffee, desserts, culture, and community under one roof! 

Located in Oxford Landing Plaza at 15166 127 St, the space is part café, part boutique, with traditional drinks and sweets alongside Palestinian goods, gifts, apparel, and cultural pieces. 

This was such a nice spot to grab coffee, try something sweet, browse the shop, and take in a space built around hospitality, heritage, and local connection. Give them a follow and a visit!

📸 @madeinpalestine.ca
📍 15166 127 St NW
🕒 Mon–Tue, Thu–Sun 9am–10pm; Wed 9am–12am