Yeg This Weekend: August 28-30, 2015

There’s a few attempts at being big this weekend. The World’s Largest Flea Market and human Google Maps marker are two items. If you’re looking to cool down, there’s two great events to enjoy under the stars. And if you like to be entertained there’s a couple of events going on as well. Can you believe August will be over soon?

YEGOLI! (Aug 28) Free

This is the first ever YEGOLI! Festival which seems to have a similar concept to Diner En Blanc, loosely. Similar to Diner En Blanc, the pop-up event is advertised to be a ‘bring your own picnic’, so guests are encouraged to enjoy circus comedy entertainment by bringing their own food, lawn chairs, and blankets. Unlike Diner En Blanc, the location isn’t secretive and it’s free, although the festival will accept donations.

The show is produced by Oliver residents, hence YEGOLI. To attend, be at Oliver Park for the 7:30pm start. More info here.

Human Google Maps Marker (Aug 28) Free

To promote the first Nuit Blanche Festival coming to Edmonton on September 26, there will be a huge human target in Churchill Square. Ok, maybe not a target, but we can say that Edmonton be put on the map. Come to the event wearing red and the first 500 people will receive not only a ‘dronie’ taken of them, but a Nuit Blanche shirt as well. In an attempt to make a world record, participants will come together to create a giant Google Maps marker and have a picture taken from a quad copter.

It’ll be hard to miss if you’re heading down to the square between 5:30-7pm.

 

Alberta & the Great War: Personalities & Perspectives (until Aug 29) Free AfterTourist

With 2014 seeing the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War 1, the Provincial Archives of Alberta’s exhibit on the war will end August 29 after a whole year. Alberta & the Great War: Personalities & Perspectives is a free show exploring the Alberta archives of drawings, pictures, and first-hand accounts of the Great War from an Alberta perspective and how it changed the province, and the world, forever.

You’ll get a chance to visit the archives for the first time. Yes, you. Located at Millgate Transit Centre. Open 9am to 4:30pm Friday & Saturday. Saturday is the last day. View what you missed here.

Viva Italia, Viva Edmonton! (Aug 30) Free

Viva Italia, Viva Edmonton! enters its second year under the Viva Italia District Association on August 30th, 2015. Starting out as a cross-cultural festival with the former Chinatown Little Italy Association, Little Italy isn’t so little anymore. Viva Italia, Viva Edmonton! will technically celebrate its 7th year in a community spanning across 23 businesses on 95 Street near Giovanni Caboto Park.

The event this year, presented by Associazione Giovani Italiani di Edmonton, is a 9 hour celebration spanning from noon until 9PM. Three headline musical performers are scheduled, with other entertainment such as a pizza eating contest, cooking demonstration, wine and cheese… wait, is there a pattern of food here? Of course, you can’t celebrate Italy without having lovely Italian delights. Being Italy, there’s also a soccer tournament and bocce tournament as well. Fireworks will close off the evening.

Here’s a recap of musical highlight of the 2012 event when it was part of the East Meets West Festival.

Symphony Under the Sky (Aug 27-30)

If you missed out on hearing the 1812 Overture played by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in the great outdoors last year at Symphony In The City, they’re closing off the weekend with the 1812 Overture under the Heritage Pavilion at Hawrelak Park.

Every evening of the festival is a theme night. Friday you’ll hear Mozart, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff. Saturday is Hollywood movie music. And Sunday is Bob Bernhardt’s favourite things, topped off by Tchaikovsky’s timeless anthem, although in my opinion Capriccio Italien deserves much more credit. Prices and more info here.

Full Moon Canoe Tour of Elk Island

If you’re in for a last bit of adventure before summer ends, this is one you should book before it’s full. Enjoy the tranquility at Elk Island National Park by touring it on the water. You’ll even see the sun. moon, and stars all on the same tour. Rent a canoe or kayak with Haskin Canoe and see the night sky clearly by the designated Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve.

Remember it’s a public event and under the bright light of the full moon, so don’t be mooning around, even if you’ve got Canadian blood in you. 😉

Prices and more info here.

World’s Largest Flea Market (Aug 26-30)

Nope, it’s not the Flea Market in east Westmount, Northlands will host this jack-of-all-tradeshows this weekend at the Edmonton Expo Centre. The event isn’t all about selling goods and services though, the organizers aim to raise over $100,000 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. It’s expected to have between 800-1000 vendors.

The website has received so much traffic that it is intermittently down. Just head down to the Expo Centre between 10am-4pm Wednesday-Saturday, and 10am-4pm Sunday with $5 for kids, and $7 for adults. Like any flea market, all sales are final.

 

vEGGfest (Aug 29)

Here’s a mention of an event out of town. The giant Pysanka celebrates 40 years in Vegreville. It might be the most eggcelent event coming out of Vegreville this year.