K-Days opens Friday and runs for ten days, which sets the tone for the rest of July. The quieter stuff is where this weekend gets interesting though: World Triathlon Cup racing in Hawrelak, the Alberta Summer Games at Rundle, and a river valley full of free drop-ins. Eleven things to do, most of them outside.
World Triathlon Cup and Do North Triathlon
Sports
International-level triathlon in Hawrelak, Thursday through Sunday, and free to watch. The lake loop means you see the field come past again and again rather than once. Park at the top and walk down: the lot fills early on race mornings.
When: Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19
Where: William Hawrelak Park
Cost: Free to spectate
Instagram: @donorthevents
K-Days
Festival
Ten days of midway, exhibitions and nightly fireworks at the Exhibition Lands. Opening weekend is the busiest it gets outside the closing Saturday. If the midway is the whole reason you are going, a weekday afternoon later in the run is a different and much better experience than this Saturday.
When: Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 26
Where: Exhibition Lands
Cost: Tickets at k-days.com
Taste of Edmonton
Festival
Churchill Square fills with restaurant stalls for ten days. Entry is free and you buy tickets for the food, so you can walk through for a look without committing to anything. Lunchtime Friday is the calmest window in the whole run.
When: Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 26
Where: Sir Winston Churchill Square
Cost: Free entry, pay per item
Instagram: @tasteofedm
Alberta Summer Games
Sports
Young athletes from across the province compete at Rundle over the weekend, free to watch. This is the one on the list most likely to have someone from your neighbourhood actually in it.
When: Saturday, July 18 to Sunday, July 19
Where: Rundle Park
Cost: Free to spectate
Instagram: @albertagames
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival
Arts
Three days of stand-up in Kinsmen Park. Outdoor comedy lives and dies on the weather, so check the forecast before you commit, and take a layer for after sundown. It cools down beside the river faster than people expect in July.
When: Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 19
Where: Kinsmen Park
Cost: Tickets online
Instagram: @greatoutdoorscf
Root for Trees drop-in
Outdoors
The city's tree planting program runs a themed drop-in at Louise McKinney on Saturday. No registration, nothing to bring. Good with kids who would rather have a job to do than a thing to look at.
When: Saturday, July 18
Where: Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
Cost: Free
Summer E-Bike Demo Tour
Outdoors
Mud Sweat and Gears bring e-bikes to Gold Bar for the day and let you ride them. If you have wondered whether an e-bike solves the river valley hill problem, this answers it in about ten minutes and costs nothing.
When: Saturday, July 18
Where: Gold Bar Park
Cost: Free to try
Multiple Miles for Myeloma
Community
A fundraising walk and run out of Hermitage on Saturday morning. You can register on the day if you did not sign up in advance. Flat route, stroller friendly.
When: Saturday, July 18
Where: Hermitage Park
Cost: Registration at multiplemyeloma.ca
Chalk it Up
Arts
Street chalk art on 118 Avenue, Saturday. The listing is thin on detail, so check with The Carrot for hours before you head over.
When: Saturday, July 18
Where: 118 Avenue
Cost: Free
BBQ Street Eats
Community
Running most weekends to the end of August on 118 Avenue. Small, neighbourhood scale. A reasonable stop if you are already on the Alberta Avenue side of town, rather than a reason to cross the city.
When: Saturdays through August 30
Where: 118 Avenue
Cost: Pay per item
Library programming at Centennial Plaza
Free
EPL runs outdoor programming on the plaza late Sunday morning. Free, no card needed to join in, and it is next door to Taste of Edmonton if you want to make an afternoon of it.
When: Sunday, July 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Centennial Plaza
Cost: Free
Instagram: @epldotca
Editor's Pick
The triathlon. K-Days will still be there next weekend and the one after, but World Triathlon Cup racing in Hawrelak is a one-morning thing, it is free, and standing on the lake path while the lead pack comes through beats anything the midway has.
Know an event we missed? Tag us @culturealberta or email hello@culturealberta.com.
