Family Five: Nitro Jam just one possibility in a week full of fun for all ages
SO MUC H TO DO ON CANADA DAY
The nation’s birthday is a gold mine of fun activities for the family at various places in Edmonton and area. Much of the legislature grounds will be taken up with stages for musicians and food trucks; the Alberta Family Stage is set on the Annex lawn, running from noon to 5 p.m., with performances of Peter Puffin’s Whale Tales, Dallas Arcand Jr. and Muggsy the Juggler.
Walk around with the kids and enjoy bouncy castles and balloons, a craft table for braiding bracelets and solving Inuit art puzzles, an antique car exhibit, stilt walkers, and roving musicians.
If you can stick it out, the capper will be fireworks at 11 p.m., viewed best either from the legislature grounds, Victoria Park, Ezio Faraone Park, or Dantzer’s Hill. When: Monday, July 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: Legislature grounds Admission: Free Info: assembly.ab.ca
CITY HALL FUN FOR ALL AGE S
The Alberta Legislature isn’t the only place to get in on the Canada Day celebrations. City hall has an entire program of activities, bands, dancers and ceremonies. Catch a glimpse of the inner workings of city government by signing up for city hall tours, which will take place every 45 minutes.
Outside on the plaza there’ll be temporary tattoos, balloon fairies, bagpipes, aboriginal drummers, music and dancing, and kids crafts over by The Works Festival area on Churchill Square. When: Monday, July 1, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Where: City hall Admission: Free Info: edmonton.ca
CAN’T GET ENOUGH HOCKEY
Arriving just a couple of weeks after the Stanley Cup finals, the 24th-annual Brick Super Novice Invitational Hockey Tournament sees kids aged nine and 10 playing for the Brick Cup. The six-day tournament boasts 14 top novice teams from across North America, all vying to unseat the Toronto Bulldogs from their two-year hold on the championship. Veterans of the tournament include Philadelphia’s Matthew Carle, Pittsburgh’s Ben Lovejoy and Minnesota’s Dany Heatley. Come out and cheer Edmonton’s Team Brick on to victory. When: Monday, July 1 to Sunday, July 7. Check website for times. Where: Ice Palace, West Edmonton Mall
Admission: Free Info: brickinvitational.pointstreaksites.com
CAR LOVERS CONVERGE AT NITRO JAM
Noise levels will be too much for little ones, but older kids will be among the excited fans joining drivers and crews from all corners of North America for Canada’s biggest drag race, the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals. The 11th edition promises to be one of the biggest yet, with a competition involving hundreds of professional and sportsman racers in three days of drag-racing action. Ironman trophies will be handed out Saturday and Sunday. Former Edmonton winners Bruce Litton and Bobby Lagana are renewing their on-track rivalry for the first time in 2013, joining Kyle Wurtzel and Canadian Ike Maier, as well as three-time defending Rocky Mountain Nationals winner and Edmonton native Tim Boychuk. When: Friday to Sunday, July 5-7; gates at 9 a.m. all three days Where: Castrol Raceway, 8336 Sparrow Crescent, Leduc Admission: $35 to $300, available at the website or at the gate. Info: nitrojam.com
STREET PERFORMERS IN THE SQUAR E
World-class street performers from right here in Edmonton and as far away as Argentina congregate for the nearly week-and-a-half-long Edmonton International Street Performers Festival. Head down to Churchill Square to enjoy jugglers, musicians, comedians, magicians and more, as well as face painters, balloon artists, food and vendors. For those interested in learning more about the lifestyle, there’s a Be Your Own Busker workshop and Kids World, for the young and young-atheart. When: Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 14, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Where: Winston Churchill Square. Admission: Free Info: edmontonstreetfest.com