Conference & Meetings World Supplement Edmonton | Page 11

After Hours

NATURAL BEAUTY , ART , FOOD , AND A VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE COMBINE TO MAKE EDMONTON A FIRST-CLASS CHOICE FOR AFTER-HOURS ACTIVITIES
ny destination that wants to attract business meetings needs more than just great venues , and here Edmonton comes into its own .
Every year Edmonton hosts numerous large festivals , contributing to its nickname , ‘ Canada ’ s Festival City ’. Downtown Edmonton ’ s Churchill Square is the base of The Works Art & Design Festival in mid-June , which bumps into the Edmonton International Street Performer ’ s Festival in July . The June jazz festival is a worthy competitor to Montreal , although wait a little longer and the folk festival is yours to enjoy .
Other festivals celebrate the gold rush , the world of rodeos , food , art , history , and every kind of music imaginable . It seems that , whenever you arrive , there will be an excuse to party .
popular Whyte Avenue strip has the highest number of heritage buildings in Edmonton , as well as bars , clubs , and restaurants throughout . A combination of business revitalisation and a growing student population has led to a wide range of independent retail operations as well as several live theatre , music , and comedy venues .
For those in search of a quick culture injection , other notable attractions include the Royal Alberta Museum , Muttart Conservatory , Alberta Legislature Building , Art Gallery of Alberta , Edmonton Valley Zoo , University of Alberta Botanic Garden , Alberta Railway Museum , Elk Island National Park & Beaver Hills , and many other natural and manmade attractions . A range of museums also celebrate aviation , weaponry , science , trains , and even telephones .
Of course , there ’ s no escaping the wilderness on the doorstep , which also presents a new dimension of opportunity for planners . Edmonton ’ s North Saskatchewan River Valley constitutes the longest stretch of connected urban parkland in North America , and the city has the highest amount of parkland per capita in Canada . The river valley is home to various parks ranging from fully serviced urban parks to campsite-like facilities with few amenities . There are also numerous neighbourhood parks located throughout the city , to give a total of 111 square kilometers ( 27,400 acres ) of parkland .
Whether your delegates are indoor or outdoor types , Edmonton has the answer .
There are several key areas of nightlife in Edmonton . The
Overlooking Edmonton ’ s downtown in winter
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