By Gene Kosowan
Before the festival scene exploded a few years ago, the unwritten rule was to not book an event between Victoria Day and Labour Day to honour the period known as "festival season." That’s all changed now. Today, festival season no longer exists and every month of the calendar is filled with events galore. Here’s your guide to spring festivals in Edmonton to get everyone warmed up in time for summer. [Photo credit: Treehouse TV]
Don’t expect rambling rhyming couplets or pedestrian haiku at this spoken-word festival running at City Hall and at dozens of locations throughout the city. Poetry has come a long way, and you might not even recognize the modern styles and rhythms if your recent exposure to the art form has been relegated to reading Hallmark greeting cards.
Expect the unexpected with such clever wordsmiths as Mary Pinkoski (Edmonton’s former poet laureate), Toronto’s Lillian Allen (considered by many to be Canada’s godmother of hip-hop) and Liam Coady, who will be hosting Birds On A Wire, the poetry party that serves as a festival highlight.
As poetry is highly portable art form, a wide variety of merchants, businesses and restaurants can get involved by hosting a few events. Watch for poetry sessions to sprout up at such places as Audrey’s Books, Café Blackbird, Mercury Room and even Yellowhead Brewery.
Unlike Hollywood, where you need to have an agent to even get a foot in the door, the FAVA (Film and Video Arts) Society of Alberta is open to anyone who wants to make a film. They’ll even supply you with the resources and knowledge to make one yourself if you become a member. Good deal!
Even better, if a jury of your peers like it, you'll get to see your work on the big screen along with a group of lucky local filmmakers when The Film and Video Arts Festival screens homegrown highlights at Metro Cinema. Expect some innovative offerings – usually a result of imagination making up for a minuscule budget. In all, almost 20 works that caught the eyes of the FAVA jury will run.
An additional highlight includes a roundup of eight films that made Sundance, including three entries from Canada. And to cap it all off is the screening of Weirdos, directed by Bruce McDonald (Highway 61, Hard Core Logo) and written by Daniel MacIvor (Bubbles Galore), both of whom are slated to appear at the event.
Formerly known as the Global Visions Film Festival, Northwestfest may have a new name, but its penchant to run edgy and topical documentaries hasn’t wavered. Metro Cinema and other venues open the doors May 5 to 14 to show works that go beyond the headlines and social media posts.
Launching this year’s lineup is Victor Walk, which tells the traumatic story of sexual abuse and how the experience affected NHL great Theo Fleury, who will be in attendance. The festival closes with Hired Gun, the inside story behind the session and touring musicians who accompany music greats from Alice Cooper to Billy Joel into the studio and onstage. Director Fran Stine will field audience questions and introduce some special guests.
Between these two marquee bookends include a look at the effect of small political parties in Canada, writers who make a living writing obituaries, a biopic on the son of Evel Knievel and three films that chronicle the exploits of U.S. President Donald Trump. While Metro will host the lion’s share of films, additional screenings will also take place at the Art Gallery of Alberta, Matrix Hotel and The Needle.
Ask any parent or teacher – it’s tough to get the attention or control the energy of young children for long. That's why the International Children's Festival of the Arts, running May 30 to June 4 in St. Albert, has been a success for more than 30 years.
Highlights include the stars of Treehouse TV’s Splash ‘N Boots singing and strumming their classics, a live production of Madagascar with Alex the Lion and Marty the Zebra and a glow-in-the-dark outer space voyage involving Moon Mouse that Rolling Stone magazine called “absolutely incredible.”
Concessions will be available to reenergize the youngsters just in time to catch the next attraction, as well as a specially-designed metropolis dubbed Toddler Town. Ticket prices range from $13 to $30, though special "Butterfly Passes" are available for $20.
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Discover more fun things to do in Edmonton:
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This venerable beerfest, taking over the Edmonton Expo Centre June 2 and 3, offers more than 400 different brews on the premises. Patrons get to sample and vote for their favourite when all is said and done. Expect a slew of favourite locals such as Alley Kat, Brewsters and Yellowhead to be in contention.
Folks can also take advantage of different seminars, including how to make your own concoctions and how to cook with beer. Speaking of cooking, sample some entrees between sips from the likes of Pinocchio Ice Cream, K&K Foodliner and The Hat on Jasper.
It doesn’t matter what time of year it is – there's always something going on in Edmonton. Whether it's to celebrate what’s in your beer stein or what’s playing right in front of you, spring is a great time to check out a festival in Alberta's capital.
