Cultural diversity brings people from different backgrounds together, sharing their unique traditions, foods, music, and art.
Embracing this diversity helps us understand and appreciate each other and is the backbone of our province’s many flourishing and tight-knit communities.
Unfortunately, racism is on the rise, with 60 percent of Canadians viewing racism as a serious problem in Canada, according to a 2020 ipsos poll.
Racism exists in every province, including Alberta.
In 2020, the province recorded the highest increase in reported hate crimes of 40 percent from 2019 to 2020.
The violent assault of Black Muslim women in Edmonton and attacks on unhoused individuals in Calgary are two examples of prejudice in Alberta.
Alberta is one of the most diverse provinces in Canada, and Edmonton and Calgary are two of the most varied Canadian cities.
Learning about other cultures allows us to understand each other better and is a big step toward combating racism.
Alberta’s cultural festivals in August are the perfect opportunity to enjoy and learn about the many cultures that make our province unique.
These events provide a fun and exciting way to explore the world’s cultures without leaving Alberta. Here are six of the many cultural festivals across the province in August.
Edmonton Heritage Festival (Edmonton)
The Edmonton Heritage Festival is a three-day multiculturalism and diversity celebration from August 3 to August 5 at Edmonton Exhibition Lands and Borden Parks.
The festival showcases the rich tapestry of cultures that call Alberta home. With over 60 pavilions representing more than 85 cultures, visitors can explore the world without leaving the city.
Each pavilion offers a unique cultural experience featuring traditional foods, music, dance, crafts, and artwork.
Food will be a significant focus of the festival, and attendees can expect tasty traditional dishes from China, Colombia, Croatia, India, and other Indigenous cultures, to name a few. A full menu can be found here.
The Edmonton Heritage Festival has received several awards, including over 100 international awards, Edmonton’s Best Summer Festival award, and was labelled an “Intangible Cultural Asset” by UNESCO.
The family-friendly festival offers children educational activities and opportunities to learn about different cultures through interactive exhibits.
Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival (Edmonton)
The Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival is one of Edmonton’s most vibrant festivals, bringing the lively spirit of the Caribbean to the heart of the city from August 9 to August 11.
The festival’s mission is to ensure that the legacy of rich Caribbean culture is passed on to future generations.
Over three days, attendees can experience the colourful and energetic Caribbean culture through a variety of events, including the Friday Night Extravaganza (Friday), Parade of the Bands (Saturday), and Rep Yuh Flag (Sunday).
The Friday Night Extravaganza will start at Sir Winston Churchill Square and features musical performances from music by DJ Ruffwine & Sherman Hype, Caribbean cuisine, and the Costume Extravaganza, a costume competition.
The Parade of the Bands follows a nearly two-kilometre route starting at 108th St and 99th Ave, moving along Jasper Ave, and concluding at Churchill Square.
When the parade reaches Churchill Square, the festivities continue with live performances by local artists and DJs, Caribbean cuisine, and the annual Cariwest Concert.
Rep Yuh Flag invited attendees to dance to reggae and proudly show off their flags.
Visitors can savour authentic Caribbean cuisine, from jerk chicken to roti, and browse the many vendor stalls offering crafts and souvenirs.
Franco Festival Calgary (Calgary)
Franco Festival Calgary celebrates the vibrant French-speaking cultures around the globe at Shaw Millennium Park in Calgary from August 9 to August 10.
Franco Festival Calgary is Calgary’s first multicultural francophone festival, which was created in August 2011.
The two-day festival celebrates many Francophone cultures, from Africa to Europe, through Asia and the Americas, using music, dance, cooking, crafts, and more.
The Franco Festival brings artists, musicians, and performers from various Francophone communities together.
Attendees can enjoy live music from traditional folk to contemporary pop, dance performances, and theatrical acts.
The festival also features a marketplace with vendors selling French-inspired crafts, clothing, and gourmet foods.
Children can participate in fun and educational activities designed to introduce them to the French language and culture.
Marda Gras Street Festival (Calgary)
Inspired by the famous Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the Marda Gras Street Festival transforms Calgary’s Marda Loop neighbourhood into a bustling carnival atmosphere on August 11.
This year, the Marda Gras Street Festival focuses on…the street! The one-day event features a variety of live music performances, from jazz to rock, as well as dance troupes and street performers.
The streets are lined with food trucks and stalls offering diverse culinary delights. Families can enjoy kid-friendly activities, including face painting, bouncy castles, and games.
If you bring your pet, consider signing up for the pet pageant or snap a free picture at the pet photo booth.
Every registration for the pet pageant is donated to Tails of Help pet charity, which helps fund essential veterinary care for ill or injured pets of owners who are experiencing financial hardship.
Who wouldn’t want to dress their pet up and help a fellow pet owner in need?
The Marda Gras Street Festival offers attendees a little taste of Mardi Gras without having to leave Alberta.
Expo Latino Festival (Calgary)
The Expo Latino Festival occurs at Prince’s Island Park in Calgary and runs from August 16 to August 18.
The event is the largest Latin festival in Western Canada, attracting thousands of visitors annually. Held over three days, the festival is a vibrant celebration of Latin American culture.
Attendees can immerse themselves in the rhythms of salsa, merengue, bachata, and other Latin music genres performed by international and local artists.
In addition to music and dance, the festival offers various Latin American cuisines, from tacos and empanadas to ceviche and churros.
Suppose dancing and food aren’t enough to convince you to attend. In that case, the event also has a beer garden, artisans and vendor booths, cultural pavilions, street performers, kids zone, arts and crafts, Zumba workshops, a Salsa dance masterclass and the art zone where artisans will have the opportunity to sell their work to the public.
The festival is introducing its new Latin American augmented reality (AR) experience this year – check that out here!
Attendees can access the AR using a Snapchat filter that brings the Latin American icon Mafalda to life.
GlobalFest (Calgary)
GlobalFest is a world-class multicultural festival that combines cultural pavilions, night markets, and spectacular fireworks displays from August 15 to August 24 in Elliston Park, Calgary.
Each night of the festival, a different country presents its unique cultural heritage through music, dance, food, and art.
The countries showcased at this year’s GlobalFest are Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States, with a grand finale on August 24.
Attendees can enjoy various activities, including stage performances, citizenship ceremonies, cultural pavilions, a night market, passport pursuit, and delicious food offered by 25 food trucks.
The passport pursuit invited participants to download the Clue Solvers app or get an event passport at the park entrance.
From here, participants must visit cultural pavilions, ask questions, record answers in the app or collect stamps in their passports.
After exploring, attendees enter a prize draw, with more significant rewards for visiting more pavilions.
The highlight of GlobalFest is the international fireworks competition, where pyrotechnic teams from around the world compete to light up the sky with breathtaking displays.
These cultural festivals offer a fantastic opportunity to experience the diverse cultures that make up our province.
Enjoy the music, food, and traditions from around the globe in Alberta this August!
