Sponsored by Lacombe Regional Tourism

Ahhh summer! Everything is green and lush, the days are longer and brighter, and the warm sun makes you want to let loose and have some fun. The summer months always pass way quicker then we want, so Family Fun Edmonton is here to help you make the best of them with our Summer Fun Bucket List! Whether you are planning a roadtrip or looking for adventures in and around the city, there is something fun and exciting for everyone to discover.

Help make the best of your family time together this June through September by reading all the great summer fun suggestions below.

What’s on Our Summer Fun Bucket List?

Lacombe Regional Tourism ThumbnailFEATURED
Plan a summer road trip with Lacombe Regional Tourism!
 Just a short drive south of Edmonton you can find sandy beaches, an amazing water park, delicious eats, farm fun, and more. Head out spur of the moment to take advantage of a sunny day, or plan your adventures around one of the exciting events happening this summer and fall. Either way, you’ll have fun making new memories and discoveries in central Alberta!


Meadow Lake Provincial Park SaskatchewanPlan a Happy Camping Adventure with Tourism Saskatchewan!  Whether you have visited before or have yet to experience all the wonder of the open prairie skies, Tourism Saskatchewan can help you find the perfect family-friendly experience across the province. Read all about our family camping adventures and where to find fun activities like zip-lining, historic fort visits, minigolf, inflatable aquaparks, and a goat walk!


Go East of Edmonton ThumbnailPlay the Go East of Edmonton Road Trip Adventure Game! It’s a win-win as you discover new people and places, make fun memories with the family, and compete for over $6,000 worth of goodies from local businesses. Use the 2023 Go East of Edmonton Travel Guide to find something for everyone whether you are seeking the thrill of a summer carnival, looking for somewhere to relax in nature, wanting to discover the past, or just looking to get a fun Instagram picture in front of the World’s Largest Pyrogy or Mallard Duck!


Calaway Park 2023 ThumbnailPlan the perfect family playcation with Calaway Park! Take a short road trip south to discover tons of amusement park fun including 32 rides, fun carnival games, live shows and entertainment, a Cinemagic 3D theatre and a walk through the Haunted Hotel. This popular Calgary summer destination has been providing joy, excitement and family memories in Alberta for over 4 decades!


Art of the Brick Thumbnail Discover over one million colourful LEGO bricks transformed into one-of-a-kind sculptures at The Art of the Brick at TELUS World of Science – Edmonton! Using standard LEGO® bricks, award-winning artist Nathan Sawaya brings us over 100 different whimsical and awe-inspiring works of art in this contemporary exhibit meant that will inspire the child in everyone.


Kiwanis Safety City Scooter SessionsFind kid-sized fun with Alberta Safety Council’s Scooter Sessions at Kiwanis Safety City! Book a session this Summer for your child to explore this unique miniature city aboard a fleet of battery-powered quads. It is an exciting and interactive way for your 4 to 7 year old to learn more about road safety!


Immersive Cinema Experience Article Featured ImageEnjoy an outdoor movie at ICE District Plaza’s Immersive Cinema Experience. Immerse yourself in your favourite cult classic films with interactive elements such as themed decor, fun food, and beverages, characters from the movie, face painting, and more! Immersive Cinema Experiences are happening on July 15, August 19, and September 9th.


St Albert Arts Heritage Anniversary PicnicPack a picnic basket and join in the Arts and Heritage Foundation of St. Albert’s 25th Anniversary Community Picnic on August 12! Experience history at this free family-friendly event at the Historic River Lots + Grain Elevators. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lunch and blanket to spend time together with an old-fashioned family picnic with face painting, musical performances, and more!


Monster Truck Throwdown ThumbnailThe Monster Truck Throwdown is returning to Edmonton’s RAD Torque Raceway this Summer! Be in the stands August 18-20 to cheer on the drivers of these 10,000 pound, 10 foot tall mammoth machines as they race around the track to smash huge obstacles and pull off some astounding feats!


Londonderry Classic Car Show N' ShineSee all the coolest cars at Londonderry’s Classic Car Show N’ Shine. Start your engines and bring your sweetest ride to Londonderry Mall on Saturday, August 19, 2023. The family-friendly event will include prize draws, BBQ, music, and more!


St. Albert Centre Drive-In Movie NightHave an evening of galactic fun at the St. Albert Centre Drive-In Move Night. The 15th annual event will be filled with action, adventure, and cosmic activities themed to the feature movie Guardians of the Galaxy 3. The pre-show will feature family-friendly activities, photo ops, and other special surprises to get everyone hyped into overdrive before the show!


Summer Camp Guide ThumbnailSign the kids up for a fun summer camp! There’s a camp for every age and interest on our Summer Camp Guide. Enroll the kids in an activity you know they already love or book a week trying something new and exciting. Our guide offers almost 50 different one-day, week-long and overnight camp options to explore.


Family friendly Festivals Guide ThumbnailEdmonton is the city of festivals! Look no further than our ULTIMATE Year Round Guide to Festivals in Edmonton to discover them all. Nearly all summer long you find a festival to suit your fancy. From music and the arts to celebrations of countries and cultures, there’s so much fun (and often learning!) to be had.


Muttart Conservatory Brick by Brick ThumbnailSee LEGO versions of popular Edmonton landmarks during Brick by Brick at the Muttart Conservatory. The newest Feature pyramid features a LEGO Muttart Conservatory, Hotel Macdonald and 24 foot long replica of the High Level Bridge created by The Northern Alberta LEGO User Group.


Summer Parks ProgramDiscover fun activities at your local park with our guide to Drop-In Summer Park Programs. Pack a snack and head out to take advantage of this fantastic FREE programming in Edmonton and Area playgrounds. The enthusiastic program staff are ready to lead your kids through playground games, sports, craft activities, live shows and more – all you need to do is show up and let them join in the fun!


Farm Fun Near Edmonton ThumbnailPlan a visit to the farm! Whether you are wanting to meet some friendly farm animals or get lost in a corn maze, we have several great options for Where to Find Farm Fun Near Edmonton.

We also have a great list of Local U-Pick Farms offering up the opportunity to pick your own farm fresh strawberries, raspberries, haskap berries, and more.


Outdoor Pools ThumbnailSplash into an Outdoor Pool! A visit to a City of Edmonton outdoor pool is fun and inexpensive family activity with FREE admission for all kids aged 12 and under. Plus there are several other great outdoor pools to check out the neighbouring communities of Devon, Stony Plain, St. Albert, Leduc and Blackfalds.


Outdoor MoviesWatch Outdoor Movies together under the stars. Pack the popcorn and blankets and head out to one of the many outdoor & drive-in movies on our list. We’ll be updating the list throughout the summer so check back often for new offerings. The calendar tends to get busiest towards the end of August and September as the sun begins to set earlier.


Try a new flavour of ice cream from our list of Top Ice Cream Spots in Edmonton & Area. We have found ice cream in every form – soft-serve, hard-scooped, rolled, sundaes, and more! PLUS, for a cool and tropical treat, be sure to check out 5 Spots to Get Your Dole Whip Fix in Edmonton.


Find market-fresh goodies at the Edmonton and Area Seasonal Farmers’ Markets. You can enjoy fresh produce and handmade wares from some amazing local vendors almost any day of the week. Plus check out the Kids Sprouts Program at the Southwest Edmonton Farmers’ Market and Little Beans at 124 Grand Market which lets kids pick out their own free produce each week, or the all-new programming and activities offered through the Market Buds at St. Albert Farmers’ Market.

Experience Lacombe Tourism

Hit the lanes with Kids Bowl Free! Registered kids are eligible for 2 FREE games of bowling each day all summer long. Find the program at bowling alley’s in Edmonton, Sherwood Park and St Albert.

Hit the links with Take A Kid to The Course! Tee up together July 3-9, 2023 to take advantage of a free round of golf to kids (16 and under) when accompanied by a paying adult. There are several participating golf courses in Edmonton and area, with many on the list offering kids golf free all summer long even if you aren’t able to participate during the event week.

Head to your nearest library branch and find reading-inspired fun all summer long during Summer Starts at EPL! Kids can take part in 9 weeks of reading challenges, contests, prizes, guest performances, events and more. Earn a button for every 6 hours of reading, plus be entered into the draw for one of four amazing Prize Packs! And that’s not all – there’s also a full line-up of performers, classes and events to be discovered in July & August.

Experience two fantastic Edmonton Summer Festivals together! See the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival and The Works Art & Design Festival side-by-side downtown in Churchill Square on July 7-16. Art, music and creativity collide and thrive in this spectacle of performance and visual art that everyone can enjoy!

Enjoy the thrill of the midway at K-Days 2023! See the Super Dogs in action, find kid-friendly activities in Discovery Hall, take a bounce through the 300 m Monster, or watch a free circus show in the spectacular Cristal Palace Spiegeltent – there’s something for everyone! We also found 5 Ways to Score FREE Admission to K-Days to help keep more money in your pocket for games and mini donuts!

Experience historic fun at Fort Edmonton Park! Give yourself plenty of time to take a ride on an authentic steam engine, learn more at the Indigenous People’s Experience, meet adorable farm animals, enjoy an treat from the ice cream parlor, and take a spin on the beautiful carousel.

Learn more about animal conservation with Little Ray’s Animal Presentations at the Edmonton Valley Zoo! Plan a visit to the zoo between June 7 and September 4 and join the animal experts from Little Ray’s Nature Centre for a close-up visit with their critters while you learn fun animal facts.

Take your family out to a Riverhawks Baseball Game! Edmonton’s newest team is offering family fun all summer long at RE/MAX field in the heart of downtown. Check out the schedule for an exciting new theme every game! There’s fireworks, superheroes, dogs, Santa, mascots and more.

Cheer on the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium! Kids 12 and under get in FREE to ANY regular season football game and The Brick Kids Zone is offering up extra fun with Inflatables, balloon artists, face painters, football mini games, and the Kids Zone Express Train. Plan to get there 90 minutes before the game to take advantage.

Cool off at the movie theatre. There’s nowhere better to be on a really hot day than sitting back in a comfy seat in a dark and air-conditioned theatre. Enjoy super affordable older-run movies during Cineplex Family Favourites or Metro Cinema’s Reel Family Cinema, or see the latest summer blockbusters at a discount with Landmark Cinemas Kids’ Day Sundays.

Grab your tube and go for a relaxing float on a nearby river or kid-friendly water slide park. There are several great options – both in Edmonton and within a 2 hour drive. See it all on our Summer Tubing Guide!

Book a raft, kayak or boat trip down the North Saskatchewan River or on St Albert’s Big Lake. We have found several fun options for enjoying a day on the water including guided raft trips, light-up kayaks and the iconic Edmonton Riverboat!

Hit the Ski Hills for summer adventure! Snow Valley Aerial Park is home to a spectacular 15 m high climbing tower that offers over 100 elements to climb, crawl, swing and step through including a ski bridge, a snowboard balance bridge, bicycle and more.  At Rabbit Hill Snow Resort, you can take a slide down the actual ski hill with the all NEW Summer Tubing.

Visit and feed the lawn-mowing sheep in Fort Saskatchewan! Find the sheep on the Fort Heritage Precinct grounds, play on the new natural playground, then take a walk over to grab some delicious Miller’s Ice Cream at the nearby train station.

Take a walk on the rural side with Alberta Open Farm Days 2023. Albertans are encouraged to head out to the country on August 13 & 14 to meet some of the farmers who grow our food. This is your opportunity to see demonstrations, meet some impressive animals, try delicious farm-fresh foods and hear stories from those in Alberta’s agriculture industry.

See Planes, Trains and Automobiles at local museums. Visit the Alberta Aviation Museum to see an amazing collection of vintage planes and memorabilia housed in the only double-long, double-wide hangar of its type left. Visit the Alberta Railway Museum to walk through and explore over 75 locomotives, cars and railway equipment. Head to Yesterday’s Auto Gallery to find an impressive collection of cars, motorcycles and memorabilia dating from 1926 to present.

Take part in the 10th annual Simply Supper Lemonade Stand Day on August 27, 2023. Register today to hold your own lemonade stand in support of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. All supplies and training is provided for junior entrepreneurs.

Get out and discover a new mini golf course with the family. We recommend the open course at Putting Horse Ranch, a round of glow mini golf at Canada Golf Card Driving Range & Mini Golf, or a road trip to Pigeon Lake to hit the beach and the links at Blackstone Mini Golf.

Discover Dinosaurs Among Us in Onoway or Stony Plain. This traveling exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History is a thrilling journey back in time to showcase how dinosaurs evolved into modern-day birds. Guests can look forward to hands-on fun including quizzes, puzzles and games, multimedia displays, and lifelike models of creatures from millions of years ago.

Enjoy a walk on the artistic side with these Summer Art Walks! Everyone is invited to come watch the artists at work and find something new and inspiring to brighten up their own walls. All the events are family-friendly and often include a variety of other activities like live music, workshops, tours, and food trucks.

Celebrate summer with the Al Fresco on 104 Street Party! Head downtown every Saturday from July 8 to September 9 to eat, drink dance and play with this season’s extended offering of fitness classes, art lessons, dog-friendly programming, dance sessions, and more! There’s a different theme and FREE activities to discover each week.

Want to see your business or event featured in our Summer Fun Bucket List?  Please email: lindsay@familyfuncanada.com.


Lacombe Regional TourismLacombe Regional Tourism offers up a wide range of fun family activities, events, or culinary experiences just a short drive south of Edmonton!

Our top picks include splashing down the outdoor waterslides at The Abbey Centre, sunbathing in the beautiful white sand at Aspen Beach, meeting new feathered friends at Ellis Bird Farm and getting lost in the corn maze at Kraay Family Farm.

It’s all waiting for you to discover with Lacombe Regional Tourism!