EDMONTON'S BEST THINGS FAMILY-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK - AUGUST 18-24
We’re edging in on back to school season, but that doesn’t mean summer fun has to end. This week is packed with summer fun, for you to get out, enjoy and learn something new about the world around you during a drop-in nature session, or enjoy one of the last outdoor movies of the summer.
Here’s what’s cool/trending for parents in Edmonton right now
- LAUNCH PARTY! Get ready to celebrate! Join Treble Makers Musical Games at Farmer Daughter Toy Shop for the Scale Runner Launch Party.
- FREE THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST. Find the best FREE Things to do with kids in Edmonton in August - we’ve updated the full list, right here.
- There are still SEVEN outdoor movies to catch on the big screen this season in Edmonton.
- August 24 is the next FREE Lego Make & Take at the LEGO Store. Build a Box of Crayons during this Mini build Make & Take.
- FREE Disney Concert with Symphony in the Square. This Churchill Square is an annual staple, and a must do August 30 and 31.
Here are the best things to do in Edmonton this Week
August 18, 2025
- Movies on the Square: Sonic the Hedgehog | Free
- Movies on the Square features free outdoor movies in the heart of downtown Edmonton. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the fabulous pre-movie entertainment before taking in the blockbuster hit that will be playing on a huge screen.
- Storytime at St. Albert Botanic Garden | Free
- Make Your Own Theme Song Workshop | Free
- Create a theme song for a favourite show, book or game using GarageBand on iPad. We’ll cover rhythm basics and kids will experiment with drums, add prerecorded loops and remix their theme song. Bring your iPad or we’ll provide one. Recommended for ages 8–12.
August 19, 2025
- Ardrossan Play Day | Free
- Play Days are hosted by Everybody Gets to Play to allow kids to instinctively, creatively and energetically have fun.
August 20, 2025
- Drop in Bugology | Free
- Is a Lady bug really a bug? Some may think they are creepy crawlies, but insects and other invertebrates are fascinating critters with amazing adaptations! Come over and look at the secret lives of some of our tiniest park animals.
- Trash Day at Broadmoor Lake | Free
- Come learn about our waste system in Strathcona County and enjoy family friendly activities.
- Family Nature Night | Free
- Join for a summer celebration with our yearly festival-style event at Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park and Big Lake! Learn all about wetland water with Alberta Lake Management Society, and the bogs of northern Alberta with Wagner Natural Area.
August 21, 2025
- Poop a Palooza | Free
- Join us to find out how your furry friend can reduce their carbon paw print. Find lots of prizes and educational material to learn about recycled pet products and much more.
- Create an Interactive story of Kindness | Free
- We invite kids ages 6–10 and their families to imagine what kindness means to them by making their own interactive storybook on iPad. They’ll draw, record sounds, add fun 3D shapes and more as they dive into the world of creative storytelling. Devices will be provided.
- Ellerslie Crossing Block Party | Free
- Food, games, fun and connecting with the friends you haven’t met yet.
- Residents around the Ellerslie Crossing park will be hosting a supper block party to celebrate our community and get to know one another.
- Drop in Walk in the Darkness | Free
- Up for exploring in the dark? Join us for a stroll through Miquelon at night! We’ll learn what makes Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve so special as we look in the skies for bats and stars, and listen in the trees for hooting owls.
- DIY Thursday at Reuse Centre | Free
- Create a beautiful floral wreath from reused materials. This weekly workshop encourages sustainability, for all ages.
- Outdoor Movie in Stony Plain | Free
- Join us for a fun-filled evening under the stars! We invite you to enjoy free, family-friendly movie on the big screen. Bring your lawn chair, gather your favorite people, and settle in for a memorable night of entertainment in the fresh summer air.
August 22, 2025
- Outdoor Movie & Fireworks | Free
- It’s the harvest fair, outdoor movie and fireworks in Millet. Just thirty minutes from Edmonton, this is a fun, two-day fair with all of the classic entertainment options for families.
August 23, 2025
- Outdoor Movie at Terwillegar Spray Park: How to Train Your Dragon (Live Action) | Free
- Sunset is 8:43 pm, and the movie will start as soon as it is dark enough. Bring your own seating and bug repellant, and dress for the weather. The show will be cancelled if it rains or if the air quality is poor.
- Outdoor Movie Night: The Minecraft Movie | Free
- Join the fun Saturday, Aug 23 at 8:30pm in Lymburn Park (Hall 2, 18740 72 Ave NW) for a blocky adventure under the stars! Enjoy free hot dogs, popcorn & water (while supplies last)
- Manchester Square Summer Loving Festival | Free
- Enjoy lawn games, extended patio areas, live music, food trucks, gelato, bubble tea and soda at this celebration of all things summer with activities for the whole family in Manchester Square.
- Catch the Edmonton Pride Parade | Free
- Enjoy Pride Parade + PrideFest kicking off at 1PM, followed by food trucks, beer gardens, and hundreds of performers @ FanPark
- Try Something new at Chinatown After Dark | Free to $
- This is our version of a Chinatown Night Market where we transform our back alleys into our patio and play space, bringing in seating, entertainment, activities and good vibes while allowing patrons to buy food tickets and curate their dinner spread from over 20 Chinatown restaurants. Imagine Taste of Edmonton but in Chinatown!
- Workshop: Learn to Draw with Stillwater | Free
- Families, come experience the harmonious world of Stillwater. Enjoy scenes from the Apple TV+ show, then use your imagination to create a drawing in Pages on iPad with Apple Pencil Pro that showcases how you can help the earth. Devices provided.