Grande Prairie hosts the disc golf nationals for the first time this weekend, and it is free to watch. The rest of the list is built for a warm northern weekend: the world-class Currie Dinosaur Museum, the indoor Saturday market, a free water-safety day, and Muskoseepi Park's spray park running late into the evening. Six things worth leaving the house for.
Canadian National Disc Golf Championships
Sports
The nationals come to Grande Prairie for the first time, with roughly 450 of Canada's best players competing across three courses. Thrill Hill in Muskoseepi Park is the most spectator-friendly — you can follow the lead cards on foot for free. Bring bug spray for the creek-valley holes.
When: Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26; champions crowned Sunday
Where: Thrill Hill (Muskoseepi Park), South Bear Creek Park and the Co-op Community Course
Cost: Free to spectate
Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum
Arts
The museum in Wembley, about 20 minutes west, sits beside the Pipestone Creek Bonebed — one of the densest dinosaur bonebeds on Earth. Ask staff about the day's lab and gallery tour times when you arrive; weekends can be quieter than the camp-filled weekdays if you want the galleries to yourselves.
When: Open all weekend, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 9301 112 Avenue, Wembley
Cost: Adults $15, kids 4 to 17 $8, under 3 free, family $40
Grande Prairie Farmers' Market
Food
The market runs indoors year-round at the Big Red Barn, so it's rain-or-shine — go early Saturday before the fresh baking and produce sell out. There's a smaller Friday-evening session too.
When: Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; also Friday, July 24, 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: The Big Red Barn, 10905 100 Street
Cost: Free entry
Instagram: @grandeprairiefarmersmarket2020
World Drowning Prevention Day Celebration
Community
A genuinely useful free family afternoon: "swim in your clothes" and cold-water challenges at the outdoor pool, plus free lifejacket fittings and paddle-skill sessions at Eastlink Centre. Wear long sleeves and pants for the in-water challenges.
When: Saturday, July 25, 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: Eastlink Centre and Aquatera Outdoor Pool
Cost: Free
Instagram: @cityofgp
Grande Prairie Museum & Heritage Village
Arts
The open-air Heritage Village comes to life in summer with pioneer craft demonstrations, and it's free — combine it with a spray-park stop since both are inside Muskoseepi Park.
When: Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26, 12 to 6 p.m.
Where: Grande Prairie Museum, Muskoseepi Park
Cost: Free
Muskoseepi Park
Outdoors
The park's free spray park runs until 9 p.m., later than most in Alberta, so it's ideal for cooling off after a warm day. Bear Creek Reservoir at its heart is a calm spot to launch your own kayak or canoe — the city doesn't rent boats, so bring your own.
When: All weekend; spray park daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Muskoseepi Park, central Grande Prairie
Cost: Free
Instagram: @gptourism
Editor's Pick
The disc golf nationals. It's the first time the championship has come to the city, it's free to watch, and following a lead card around Thrill Hill on foot is a better way to spend a summer morning than most things with a ticket price.
Know an event we missed? Tag us @culturealberta or email hello@culturealberta.com.
Comments
Conversation