Looking for some fun activities to keep your October entertaining? Edmonton and area has lots to offer! Whether you’re looking for laughs, a great film, or a way to scare yourself, there’s something in our list for you.
Have a look and then get out there and enjoy all the incredible experiences Edmonton and area has to offer!
Edmonton International Film Festival
Oct 1-10
EIFF is an OSCAR qualifying festival for SHORT films — Live Action & Animation — and is the final qualifying festival each calendar year.
Each autumn, EIFF celebrates the power of film with more than 150 films on display from over 50 countries. The entries range from short to feature length, dramas to documentaries, and from studio to independently produced. The festival’s primary objective is to encourage and support the appreciation of cinema.
This year the festival will be available in-person at Landmark Cinemas 9 City Centre and broadcast on Super Channel for those with a subscription.
Find out more at https://www.edmontonfilmfest.com/tickets-passes
Dark at Fort Edmonton Park
Oct 1-31
DARK is Fort Edmonton Park’s Halloween scare event for older teens and adults. This year’s DARK will bring a mix of on-site events and accessible, virtual programming available throughout the month of October.
From guided paranormal investigations through some of the darkest corners of the River Valley, to mixology classes where you’ll learn to craft some truly dark cocktails, Fort Edmonton has your spooky October events covered.
Learn more about all the events offered as a part of Fort Edmonton’s Dark at https://www.fortedmontonpark.ca/dark/
Edmonton Comedy Festival
Oct 14-17
2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the Edmonton Comedy Festival with “4 Days of Funny” taking place mid-October. The festival takes place in five venues across Edmonton and will host over 20 performances. There are a range of options available, from five $10 shows for those looking for some cheap laughs, to dinner and a show packages for those interested in making a night out of it.
https://www.atbcomedy.com
Litfest
Oct 15-25
This is Canada’s first and only nonfiction festival, which started as a book fair in 2002 and grew to a small three-day non-fiction festival in 2006. Today, LitFest takes place over eleven days as it brings nonfiction to life through over 50 presentations from authors and presenters from all walks of life.
The festival takes place in a variety of venues throughout Edmonton’s downtown and occasionally in Old Strathcona. Audiences are invited to listen to feature authors discuss their thought-provoking books, speak on panels, perform readings, and start meaningful conversations.
Tickets and more information can be found at https://www.litfestalberta.org
Deadmonton Haunted House
Sept 25 – Nov 13
For the seventh year in a row Deadmonton Haunted House will be available to all those 12 and over. This year, however, they’ve doubled the scare factor and are now offering two haunted houses: one inside their location on Gateway Blvd and the other outside in the surrounding compound.
With the themes of Area 51 and Dusk, both of these events are sure to scare even the most hardened trick or treaters.
https://deadmontonhouse.com/
La Cité Francophone Fall Patio Series
Sept 18 – Oct 9
With La Cite Francophone’s Sumer Patio Series being such a success, they’ve decided to extend the live music performances into the Fall. This is a celebration of local artists and live music that take place in Edmonton’s beautiful French Quarter.
Concerts begin at 6 PM with general seating access at 5 PM. Tickets are $14 and are available on Eventbright now!
https://www.lacitefranco.ca/copy-of-s%C3%A9ries-patio-la-cit%C3%A9-pati
Gateway to the Stars
Sept 18 – Oct 24
Elk Island Park is part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, which makes it one of the absolute best places to gaze at the night sky. On Saturdays and Sundays you can enjoy an evening escape to the park to breathe in a galaxy of stars alongside a park interpreter. The evening ends with a cozy campfire.
The program costs a mere $11.70 per person, though a valid National Park pass is required to enter the park. You can call ahead on Tuesdays and Thursdays to register, and you’ll have to book ahead, as the program is capped at 20 participants each night.
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/elkisland/activ/calendrier-calendar/etoiles-star_1
Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm
October
There’s lots to explore at Prairie Gardens & Adventure farms. From a U-Pick pumpkin patch, to family farm picnics, to a corn maze and a sunflower maze it has everything you could ask for from a prairie farm experience. Bon Accord is just 25 km north of Edmonton, making it a quick trip for anyone in the surrounding area.
The farm itself is a sustainable family farm that grows 35 acres of heirloom and specialty vegetables. Certainly a location worth your time.
https://prairiegardens.org/
Edmonton Corn Maze
July 18 – Oct 24
The Edmonton Corn Maze has been helping folks get lost in the great outdoors since 2001. Every year the maze gets a unique new design, meaning you can return year after year for a new experience. But the Edmonton Corn Maze has grown to offer so much more than a maze. There are pedal carts, the Corn Cob Express, and lots more activities to keep you entertained.
The Farm Market is another attraction, selling locally grown produce and high-quality goods from Alberta food producers, artisans, and crafters.
https://www.edmontoncornmaze.ca/
