I Heart Edmonton

The Other Festivals By Emil Tiedemann I would be remiss if, in a town rightfully recognized as “Festival City,” I didn’t mention all of those other exciting and enticing festivals that happen all year round here in Edmonton. The 101 Reasons Why I Heart Edmonton book includes individual entries for the Fringe , Folk Fest , the Street Performers , Heritage Fest , and collectively the film festivals (‘The Cinema’), but there are so many others that deserve to be praised, and this list simply wouldn’t be complete without them. So, in alphabetical order, here they are from A to Zoofest... ALL IS BRIGHT FESTIVAL (since 2013) 124th Street and High Street light up for one vibrant Saturday night in November, as All Is Bright celebrates the coming of the winter season by providing illumination, entertainment, food, fashion, and plenty of all-ages fun. It is hosted by the 124th Street Business Association. ANIMETHON (since 1994) Japanese animation fanatics come out for three d...

The Artists By Emil Tiedemann “Driving to work listening to CBC, you get the sense that people here [in Edmonton] seem to have a larger, more established appreciation for the arts,” saxophonist Ian Smith told the Calgary Herald a few years back. The Calgary-born musician moved to Edmonton shortly before he made his observation, which seems to be a similar experience for many newbie Edmontonians.    Award-winning photograph of Fort McMurray scene, by Edmonton artist Paul Swanson . There is a profusion of innovative and thought-provoking artists of all capacities throughout Edmonton, pouring their hearts and souls out into paintings on the cafe walls, sculptures in the parks and plazas, or murals on the sides of historic buildings. Anything is a canvas here and there’s no shortage of talented maestros ready to transform whatever it is you got, from electrical boxes to back alleys.  Some of Canada’s most praised and applauded painters, photographers, sculptors...

124th Street By Emil Tiedemann Filming of MGM’s iconic The Wizard of Oz began on a lot 2,800 kms away in Culver City, California on October 13, 1938. On that very same Thursday, Edmonton began it’s own cinematic legacy, as the doors of The Roxy Theatre opened up for the first time on the corner of 124 Street & 107 Avenue.  At the time, the Roxy was considered one of the most luxurious movie theatres around, built by I.F. Shacker of Hanna with spring seating, air conditioning, and plenty of legroom! Designed by Edmonton architect William G. Blakey , the Roxy would eventually screen The Wizard of Oz (1939), but the very first feature lit up on the theatre’s marquee was Deanna Durbin ’s Mad About Music , which started at 6:00 that evening.  Eventually, in 1988, the Roxy became a live performance venue, and by 1989 was the home of the Theatre Network and their Nextfest . It remained one of Edmonton’s most beloved venues for local artists up until January 13, 20...

Musicians, thespians, painters, playwrights, dancers, and filmmakers converge for one of our city's most underrated festivals BY EMIL TIEDEMANN What: Multi-format arts festival When: Thursday, June 3-Sunday, June 13, 2010 Where: The Roxy (10708-124 St.) et al 4 00 artists. 11 days. 9 venues. 1 huge party! Now in its 15th year, Edmonton's bountiful Nextfest gets bigger and bigger with every new, anticipated season. From June 3rd to the 13th the celebration will hit up various venues, (mostly) scattered down 124th Street , showcasing (mostly) local music, film, live theatre, dance, readings, and visual art. The Roxy Theatre will be the headquarters, of sorts, for this annual extravaganza that doesn't--but should--garner the attention we lend to the Fringe in Old Strathcona . If you're a Fringer, Nextfest should be right up your alley! Varying events will be hosted at nearby Conrad's Sugar Bowl (10724-124 St.), as well as downtown's theARTery (9535-Jasper A...