Things to Do This Week

• Kick off the holiday season at All is Bright (124 Street and area)
• All Is Bright 2026: Winter Festival, a FREE, family-friendly event celebrating winter, community, and local businesses along 124 Street & Area, returns as a 2-day festival this weekend Friday Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14. The Friday night activities include ~20 ice sculptures being carved throughout the neighbourhood. Some of the inflatable planets from Galactic Atmosphere will also pop -up at Helen Nolan Park! Saturday’s event includes the annual outdoor light-up celebration (124 Street from 107 Ave to 110th Ave) plus live entertainment & more interactive experiences. Plan to dine in the area too!
• Manchester Square also is hosting a Winter Wonderland market as part of All is Bright on Nov. 14.
• A Very Indigenous Holiday Market & Cultural Gathering (11410 Kingsway Ave.)
• The largest and longest-running cultural showcase & Indigenous market A Very Indigenous Holiday Market & Cultural Gathering returns Nov 13-15 to the Alberta Aviation Museum featuring 100+ Indigenous vendors, live entertainment, drumming, dancing, a fashion showcase, and more. FREE admission! They are also accepting donations of new & gently used clothing, outer wear and shoes, as well as new, unused socks/underwear, toiletries and feminine hygiene products.
• Take in the Broadview International Film Festival (Metro Cinema, 8712 109 St.)
• Broadview International Film Festival runs November 12-14 at Metro Cinema, celebrating and amplifying the works of women filmmakers. Reading the film synopses, there’s some very interesting and intense stories.
• Cheer on the Edmonton Elks in their historic Grey Cup game (various locations)
• The Edmonton Elks football club is headed to the Grey Cup for the first time in over a decade! We watched the Western Championship Final at Commonwealth Stadium last weekend and it was such a thrill when they won. Although the match is in Calgary, there are a few different Watch Parties happening in the Edmonton area including an all you can-eat-buffet at the River Cree Resort and Casino. Check out this list and plan your party!

Here’s a few more events in Edmonton you may be interested in:

• There’s still a few tickets left to The Hip Experience: Canada’s #1 Tribute Band to The Tragically Hip on Fri, Nov. 13 at Pure Casino Yellowhead.
• The Taboo Show, Canada’s adult lifestyle & wellness expo, returns Nov. 13-15 to the Edmonton Expo Centre.
• Bringing the Nation, FREE live music, culture, and good vibes that celebrates Canadian culture takes place in downtown Edmonton, November 13-15.
• Schmoozy 53 at Latitude 53 kicks off Nov. 13 and runs until Dec. 12, featuring works for sale by local artists.
• Cineplex Community Day is Nov. 14 featuring a morning of FREE (select) movies and $3 concession.
• The Edmonton Underground Film Festival takes place on Nov. 14 featuring 75 short films “which excude creative freedom, energy and experimentation.”
• The Edmonton Potters’ Guild Annual Show & Sale takes place Nov. 14 with works from 80+ artists.
• The Knottwood Holiday Craft Fair runs Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• The Winter Art Market at Orange Hall is also on Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Hello Pretty Holiday Market runs Nov. 14 & 15 and includes free sleigh rides.
• The Cottage is on at Varscona Theatre until Nov. 29 (not to be confused with the Heated Rivalry Cottage lol).

Plus: some early event picks for next week:

• There are very few tickets left to Broadway Across Canada’s Beauty & The Beast which runs Nov 17-22 at the Jubilee Auditorium.
• Bay 1 Gallery’s annual The Box & Bowl Show kicks off Nov. 20.
• Downtown Winterval, a free downtown holiday experience, kicks off Nov. 21.

Food To Eat This Week

Eat this week! Wine & Tapas, Vietnamese/Japanese in the most gorgeous setting, Green Onion Cakes and more!

• Order the ‘Feed Me’ from TZiN Wine & Tapas (10115 104 St.)
• *FEED ME!!!* That’s all you need to say when you step into TZiN Wine & Tapas in Edmonton Downtown, and they’ll take real good care of you. No really, lol it’s an actual “order” on their menu. “Feed Me: Close your menu. Tell us how hungry you are. Enjoy!” Price varies but can work out to approximately $60 per person, chef’s choice. I had a great time here with my friend last week, the albacore tuna, sablefish, and paella were stars, and I always love their iconic “The Bacon” pork belly. Lovely owner Kelsey, super talented Executive Chef Corey McGuire and the whole team always deliver a beautiful dining experience. I am also always impressed with what the kitchen cranks out given how small the space is. Reservations are highly recommended because it is a tiny space!
• Grab Edmonton’s original Green Onion Cakes while you still can (9132 118 Ave.)
• Green Onion Cake Man, widely credited as the creator of Green Onion Cakes in Edmonton, has announced their lease ends in April. They’ll close up the 118th Avenue location at that time. You will likely still be able to find them in markets but be sure to stop by the restaurant while you still can and say hello to Siu To, who brought Green Onion Cakes to Edmonton nearly 50 years ago.
• Dine at the only Edmonton restaurant featured in Open Table’s 2026 Top 100
• There is only one Edmonton restaurant featured in OpenTable’s 2026 Top 100 Restaurants is SABOR! Congratulations! Nobody has a bad meal at SABOR, known for bold, seafood-forward cuisine from Portugal and Spain.
• Enjoy Vietnamese/Japanese cuisine at Volcano Restaurant (4226 Gateway Blvd.)
• I had a really nice lunch at Volcano Restaurant last week. They’ve been around a decade but somehow this was my first time trying their food, which includes Vietnamese and Japanese menu offerings. They have some nice lunch specials (banh mi sandwiches, rice bowls). My friend and I shared pressed salmon sushi which is always a hit, and my Vietnamese pork chop on rice with egg hit the spot. The interior of this restaurant is also STUNNING. Makes a gorgeous event space with all of the flowers!!

And a few food events you may be interested in this week:

• Hot Chef Cool bEATS culinary fundraiser is Nov. 18.
• The next NAIT Alumni Series Dinner at Ernest’s is on Nov. 19 with XIX Chef Joseph Vuong.
• Frank’s Community Pub turns two on Nov. 21 and they’re throwing a party!
• Dagu Rice Noodle is offering a rotating daily All-Day Combo - appetizer, main and drink for just $18.99 all November!
• Old Beverly Cafe has launched a new brunch menu you may want to try.
• After fire damage, Mauritius restaurant Cafe Bel-Air has reopened with a new menu where most items are just $10. Plus for November, get a free vanilla tea.
• VI-NAM Vietnamese Kitchen in Old Strathcona are celebrating one year in business! Pop by to celebrate the milestone.
• Delavoye Chocolate Maker’s chocolate experiences sell out! Check their event dates and book for January before they’re gone.
• The Rooftop Fondue Dining Experience begins this weekend and runs through March on the heated sixth floor patio above Boxer.

November 15 is the Early Bird Deadline for tickets to a 10-course Banquet Meal & Fundraiser on Dec. 5 supporting Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau Vietnamese-Edmonton Cultural Society, the Vietnamese non-profit I co-founded. If you’ve never been to a 10-course banquet meal (food shared family style!), this would be a great one to attend. 100% proceeds help our organization continue to create Vietnamese arts, culture and heritage programming in Edmonton. Thanks to all who have purchased tickets so far!

Learn More & Get Tickets

A few updates from local non-profits!

I’ve partnered with Creatives Empowered to highlight their new YEG Anti Racism Videos project, featuring five Edmonton-made films with five different perspectives on racism, identity, mental health and belonging.

The films are created by talented local Indigenous, Black and People of Colour (IBPOC) filmmakers. From everyday prejudice and workplace discrimination to the pressure of navigating identity and belonging, and more, these powerful stories invite everyone to reflect on these lived experiences and impact of racism that aren’t always visible.

The series is intended to encourage anti-racism reflection and help shift perspectives on racism in society, something that unfortunately is ever-present (even if you don’t see or experience it yourself!) They’re quick and meaningful watches, and if you take their short audience feedback survey you get a chance to win a $25 Visa gift card!

Learn more & watch the films