Summer is here! Get ready to enjoy the sun and wonderful events happening all over Alberta, including jazz and children’s festivals, Pride Month festivities, Riverdance performances, and more.
Start on a high note
All you cool cats who want to take in some groovy tunes are in luck because Edmonton and Calgary are set to host Jazz festivals this June! The Edmonton International Jazz Festival takes place June 21-29 with nearly two dozen artists and groups performing across seven venues. Meanwhile in Calgary, JazzYYC is hosting its Summer Festival from June 23 to 29, with more than 15 shows taking place all around the city. So, get jiving!
Fun for the little ones
This June, there are two great festivals taking place just for the youngest Albertans. From May 29 to June 1, the International Children’s Festival of the Arts in St. Albert invites families to tap into their creativity with world-class performances and hands-on activities, including some epic special events like breakdancing classes and a fairy-finding show. In Red Deer, the Central Alberta Children’s Festival is set to take place June 6 and 7 at Recreation Centre Park and features themed stations like Science World and Pioneer Village.
Take Pride
June marks Pride Month in Canada—a time to recognize and celebrate inclusivity and love. Expect to see hundreds of events that will uplift Alberta’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Highlights include Edmonton Drag Fest from May 30-June 1, the Edmonton Froot Loop Pride Block Party on June 7, plus the Wood Buffalo Pride Festival and Airdrie Pride Festival, both on June 28. Many cities, including Calgary, celebrate Pride through the whole summer, so check out your local Pride societies to explore plans for your area.
Get ready to shuck
Are you an oyster enthusiast? Seafood lovers, rejoice, because Rodney’s Oyster House Calgary is hosting its annual Oyster Festival on June 22. The event, which raises money for The Mustard Seed, invites the whole family to explore food and beverage booths, a live DJ, and an epic shucking competition to see who can dive into delicacy with the most expertise.
Dragons and Zombies
Summer is one of the biggest seasons for blockbusters, and there are some much-anticipated films coming to the big screen this June. How to Train Your Dragon, a live-action remake of the much-beloved 2010 Dreamworks animated film, will see larger-than-life dragons soar to entertain the whole family on June 13. While most characters have been recast, Gerard Butler reprises his role from the animated film as Viking chief Stoick the Vast.
For horror enthusiasts, Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle brings audiences back to an apocalyptic Britain in 28 Years Later (watch out, even the trailer is pretty scary!), the third movie in the series. The new film sees most of the team behind the original cult hit return: along with director Boyle comes writer Alex Garland and actor Cillian Murphy, who serves as producer this time around.
AMA members save on Landmark movie tickets and Cineplex tickets (purchased in-centre), plus earn 5% in reward dollars on Cineplex gift card purchases.
Riverdance
The global sensation Riverdance is visiting Edmonton and Calgary this June, as part of its 30th anniversary tour. The show, which features Grammy award-winning music and Irish-international fusion dance numbers, visits Edmonton from June 20-22, and then Calgary from June 27-29. This world tour, brought to Alberta by Broadway Across Canada, is being dubbed as “The New Generation” because none of the featured dancers were born when Riverdance premiered 30 years ago. AMA members save up to 20% for Broadway Across Canada tickets purchased online.