Alberta Events

Each year from May through October Canadians celebrate the season. Western Canada offers a rich menu of festivals and events from living history and theatre festivals to music events and harvest celebrations. Unique to the region and often representative of the area's culture, the venues enhance vacations, making one-of-a-kind memories easy to create. Stay at a KOA nearby and enjoy some of the best celebrations in Canada.

Calgary Stampede. (07/07/2006 - 07/16/2006) Who hasn't heard of this one? It is big and can be overwhelming without a plan. The exhibition halls alone could take two days to view. The midway is grand and colorful. The arena schedule is continuous from about noon each day. The nightly rodeo events are always exciting and action packed. The Chuck Wagon Races are thrilling to follow and like nothing else in the world. Between competitions while the raceway is cleared there is a variety of entertainment. (1410 Olympic Way SE, Calgary. toll-free 1-800-661-1260 or www.calgarystampede.com)

Calgary Folk Music Festival. (07/27/2006 - 07/30/2006) Magical musical moments can be found in a variety of settings as this weeklong celebration presents local, national and international folk music. Held in beautiful Prince's Island Park the festival will feature 55 artists from 14 countries in concert and jam/round-robin sessions on seven different stages. Prince's Island Park is located in downtown Calgary, just north of the Eau Claire district, and south of Hillhurst/Sunnyside. (The Folk Festival Society of Calgary. 1(403) 233-090 or www.calgaryfolkfest.com)

Jasper Heritage Rodeo. (8/16/2006 - 8/19/2006) Beginning in 1926, the Jasper Heritage Rodeo started as a way to encourage the breeding of suitable horses for mountain trails; by 1991 the rodeo became a professional event, attracting locals and tourist alike. BBQs, dances, the Copper Creek Shoot Out, Stick Pony parade, Jail'n'Bail, the ATCO Children's Rodeo, and of course, the rodeo itself, make this a summer event sure to add some kick to your vacation. (Various venues in Jasper. 1(780) 852-4622 or www.jasperheritagerodeo.com)

Banff Summer Arts Festival. (05/01/2006 - 08/26/2006) This summer in Banff will be filled with more that 150 arts events guaranteed to make visitors thrilled with the arts. There will be live jazz, exhibitions and open studios, cultural journalism, Banff Mountain Film Festival screening, a festival dance and young dancers in performance, Mozart's opera The Magic Flute, and even a Playbill concert series. (Various venues in Banff. 1 (403) 762-6301 or www.banffcentre.ca)

25th annual Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. (08/17/2006 - 08/27/2006) Held in Edmonton's historic Old Strathcona district the Fringe is one of North America's largest alternative theater festivals. It's also one of the largest arts events in Western Canada, hosting more than 1,200 performances of 140 productions held on 30 stages, in the parks, and on the streets. The shows include established plays and new ones, as well as dance, music, and mime acts from Canada, the United States and around the world. (Edmonton. 1(780) 448-9000 or www.fringetheatreadventures.ca)