How to get to the 2025 Edmonton Heritage Festival

An Edmonton Transit bus advertising the city's annual Heritage festival in an undated photo.

The 52nd annual Edmonton Heritage Festival is billed as the world’s largest three-day multicultural celebration.

First held in 1974, the festival will host 66 pavilions representing different countries in a celebration of food and culture. It is being staged at the Edmonton Expo Centre and Exhibition Grounds – using the former Northlands Park racetrack and infield and the west lot, site of July’s K-Days midway – and the eastern portion of Borden Park.

• Download our app to get Edmonton alerts on your device

The festival’s usual home, Hawrelak Park, is closed while city crews perform rehabilitation work to it. The park is slated to reopen next year.

When will the festival be held?

Saturday, Aug. 2 12-9 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 3 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Monday, Aug. 4 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

How much does it cost?

There is no gate admission to access the festival site. Food costs vary at each pavilion, which will accept payment directly by credit or debit card.

What is the weather forecast?

Environment Canada is calling for cloud and a 60-per-cent chances of showers Saturday and Sunday. The temperature is expected to reach 22 C on Saturday and 21 C on Sunday.

Getting to the site

Transit

Regular fares will apply on all Edmonton Transit services to and from the festival. Children aged 12 and under ride transit free with a fare-paying adult.

LRT

• ETS is increasing Capital Line service over the three-day event;
• Coliseum Station is linked to the Edmonton Expo Centre and Exhibition Grounds by outdoor pedway across 118 Avenue;
• Festival-goers can use Park and Ride lots at Belvedere, Clareview and Stadium transit centres to park their vehicles and take LRT to the site;
• Bus Route 700X will run every 10 minutes between the Heritage Valley and Century Park transit centres to take festival-goers to the latter’s LRT station;
• A shuttle will run from downtown’s Churchill Station to the festival site.

Bus

• Routes 8 and 53 run from different parts of the city to the Coliseum Transit Centre;
• Extra Route 8 buses will run between Abbotsfield Transit Centre and NAIT from 12-7 p.m. each day;
• Route 53 between Clareview Transit Centre and Mill Woods Transit Centre will also have extended service;
• Parking is available for $6 at NAIT lots A/B & D, from which attendees can take Route 8 to the festival while paying regular transit fares.
• Strathcona County will run a shuttle service between the Bethel Transit Terminal and Borden Park every 15 minutes all three days. On Saturday, the service will run from 11:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., when the last bus departs Borden Park. Sunday’s hours will be 9:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., while Monday’s will be 9:45 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Park & Ride

Park and ride bus service will be available every 10 minutes from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday and 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday.

Park & Ride lots:

• Eaux Claires Transit Centre: 157 Avenue and 97 Street
• Lewis Farms Transit Centre: Webber Greens Drive and Suder Greens Drive
• Nakî Transit Centre (St. Albert): 15520 Campbell Road

Driving

Parking will be available at the Edmonton Expo parking lot via the entrance at Wayne Gretzky Drive and 116 Avenue.

• Vehicle charge: $20 for entry with no in-out privileges. Payment will be taken by debit or credit card by machines inside the Expo Centre. Mobile payments can be made via Honk Mobile’s QR codes that will be on display;
• Parking in surrounding neighbourhoods is restricted to residents with permits;
• Handicapped parking spaces will be available for those with mobility challenges.

Passenger drop-off

Passengers can be dropped off at a specified ‘Kiss ‘N’ Drop’ location in the Expo Centre parking lot. It will also be used by Co-op Taxi and Dedicated Accessible Transit Services (DATS).

Bicycle

Bike racks will be available outside the festival site.

E-scooter

Bird will be providing complementary unlocks for after the festival for patrons. There will be no need for a code; no charges will be incurred for renting a scooter from Borden Park. Bird will extend area riding parameters to access the festival.