Good Morning, Edmonton! 💛

The sun is shining, the heat is here, and love is in the air…

Later in the newsletter, we have one of the most romantic new brunch and dinner spots in Edmonton that you just have to try. If you can get in, that is! 👀

Speaking of dinners, thank you so much to everyone who responded to the poll last week where I asked if you’d be interested in a River City Lights dinner party event. The response was overwhelmingly positive, so we’re working on that as we speak!

How is your summer going so far? Hit reply and let me know what’s going on, if you’re enjoying the newsletter, or what’s making life special lately. 💌

Have a wonderful Thursday.

—Eric

Edmonton Valley Zoo’s Nocturnal Wing Has Reopened 🦇 The Edmonton Valley Zoo’s Nocturnal Wing is back open after renovations, giving visitors another indoor animal experience to check out this summer. The upgraded space is home to the zoo’s Jamaican fruit bats and is a good little “did you know?” update for families planning a zoo day!

Telus World of Science Could Stay Closed Until November 🔬 Telus World of Science Edmonton is facing months of repairs after major flooding during the July 10 storm. The centre says memberships will be paused, affected bookings refunded, and a safe partial reopening could happen earlier in the fall.

Oilers Open Season Against Canucks 🏒 The Edmonton Oilers will start the 2026–27 season at Rogers Place against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The Pacific Division rivals will also meet again in Vancouver on Oct. 1, with the full expanded 84-game NHL schedule set to be released Thursday at 11 AM MT.

World Cup Final Set After Argentina Comeback ⚽ Edmonton’s England supporters packed Canadian Icehouse in Ice District for Wednesday’s semifinal, but a late Argentina comeback ended the party with a 2-1 win. Argentina now moves on to face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final at 1 PM MT, which you can watch for free in many places around the city!

City Launches Upgraded 311 App 📱 Edmonton’s 311 app got a refresh this week, with new features that let residents upload up to three photos, get AI-powered service suggestions, and provide more accurate locations for issues around the city. Basically: reporting potholes, graffiti, broken park equipment, or other neighbourhood fixes should be a little easier now.

🆓 Green Shack Shows (July 6–August 28) 🎭 Free performances are popping up at parks across Edmonton every Monday to Friday, with shows at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Expect puppetry, magic, music, theatre, drumming and more from local performers, with locations changing throughout the summer.

🆓 Taste of Edmonton (July 16–26) 🍴 Churchill Square fills with local restaurant vendors serving bite-sized dishes alongside live music, food demonstrations and other entertainment. Admission to the festival is free, with food and drinks available to purchase using tickets, which you can get here!

🆓 The Corgi Derby (July 18) 🐕 Century Mile hosts its first-ever corgi races during an afternoon of live horse racing, food and family-friendly entertainment. Admission and parking are free, making it an easy outing for dog lovers and racing fans of all ages.

🆓 Summer Block Party on Rice Howard Way (Every Saturday) 🎶 Rice Howard Way transforms into a pedestrian-friendly gathering place for a Saturday edition of the downtown summer block-party series. Stop by to enjoy live entertainment, patios, local businesses and a lively afternoon in the heart of downtown.

🆓 World Cup Final Watch Parties (July 19) ⚽️ Catch the tournament’s biggest match alongside fellow soccer fans at watch parties around Edmonton, including free, all-ages screenings at ICE District Fan Park and Manchester Square. The final kicks off at 1 p.m., with both locations opening early for fans to settle in!

🎟️ Zach Top: Cold Beer & Country Music Tour (July 16) 🤠 One of country music’s fastest-rising stars brings his traditional honky-tonk sound to Rogers Place, joined by special guest Lukas Nelson. Expect old-school country influences, modern favourites and a full-scale arena concert experience. Any tickets left are here!

🎟️ Campio x Irrational Brewing Cask Beer Streetcar (July 16) 🍺 Ride Edmonton’s historic High Level Bridge Streetcar while sampling exclusive one-time casks created by Campio and Irrational Brewing. Tickets include pours from both breweries, light snacks, scenic river valley views and another select beer after the ride. Tickets while they last!

🎟️ KDays (July 17–22) 🎡 Edmonton’s largest summer fair returns with midway rides, carnival games, over-the-top food vendors, live music and indoor attractions at the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Visitors can choose from general admission, ride-all-day packages and multi-day passes. Buy them here.

🎟️ Neon Skies Music Festival (July 17–18) 💖 The inaugural pop festival takes over Fan Park at ICE District for two nights of major performances. Friday features Conan Gray, Myles Smith and Natasha Bedingfield, followed Saturday by Kesha, Slayyyter and Heidi Montag. Get your tickets!

🎟️ Great Outdoors Comedy Festival (July 17–19) 😂 Kinsmen Park hosts three days of outdoor stand-up featuring some of comedy’s biggest acts, including Aziz Ansari, Pete Davidson, Matt Rife, Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng. The lineup also includes Adam Ray’s Dr. Phil Live, Jessica Kirson, Jordan Jensen and more. Passes here!

Hawrelak Park: The River Valley Park That Almost Became a Neighbourhood 🌳

Before Hawrelak Park became one of Edmonton’s best-loved gathering places, the land was part of a much different vision for the river valley. In the early 1900s, the area was planned as part of two residential subdivisions: Mayfair and Windsor Terrace.

Those plans never really took off. After Edmonton’s pre-war real estate boom cooled, the land eventually came under City ownership, sat largely undeveloped for decades, and was later used as a gravel pit before becoming part of a bigger dream for Edmonton’s river valley.

That dream eventually became Mayfair Park, later renamed in honour of former mayor William Hawrelak. Today, with the park newly refreshed and open again, it’s worth remembering that one of Edmonton’s most familiar summer backdrops exists partly because a neighbourhood never got built.

Lift Me Up on the Lake 🍋

Speaking of Hawrelak Park, they’ve brought romantic lakeside dining to the city.

Lift Me Up on the Lake by Tiramisu Bistro is now open inside the park, serving brunch, sandwiches, tapas, pasta, pizza, pastries, and coffee with a bright dining room overlooking the water.

A lovely add-on for your next walk, picnic, or slow summer afternoon in one of Edmonton’s best-loved parks. Be sure to make a reservation, as it’s been full every time I’ve been down there!

📸 @liftmeuplake
📍 Hawrelak Park
🕒 Mon–Thu 8 AM–9:30 PM; Fri–Sat 8 AM–10 PM; Sun 8 AM–8 PM