Citadel Theatre celebrates art, film, community for Alberta Culture Days

The Citadel Theatre in downtown Edmonton hosts several activities and free arts programs this weekend for Alberta Culture Days. (Brandon Lynch/CTV News Edmonton)

The Citadel Theatre in the downtown core is celebrating its 60th anniversary season with a weekend dedicated to Alberta Culture Days activities.

“It’s all a bit of a big birthday party for us,” said the theatre’s executive director, Jessie van Rijn, on Friday.

Alberta Culture Days runs throughout September, giving everyone across the province a reason to celebrate arts, culture, heritage, diversity and community spirit.

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A variety of programs run throughout the month, from outdoor performance and Indigenous workshops to free museum admissions, arts talks, film screenings and concerts.

The Citadel Theatre itself is joining the celebrations Saturday and Sunday with activities like wardrobe sales, film festivals, fairy-finding tours and public art.

“The Culture Days is an extra opportunity for different cultural and community organizations to be able to celebrate the arts,” van Rijn said.

“If anybody wants to come in for free programming, just head downtown to the arts district, and there’s tons going on.”

The Citadel is the third-largest regional theater in Canada. The benefit of that, van Rijn said, is that the company produces more than 10 shows a year that collect a multitude of cool costumes.

“So there’s an opportunity for folks to come in this weekend … and buy a piece of Citadel history,” she said.

This includes pieces like the crocodile from the 2006 production of Peter Pan, or vintage clothing, shoes, hats and masks.

“I think the most important thing for Citadel is for folks to know that they’re welcome here as a cultural facility,” van Rijn said.

Full information on programs being run through Alberta Culture Days can be found on the province’s website.