Summer in Central Alberta

If you live in Central Alberta, and you're looking to have a fun Summer, you're definitely in luck this year!

Apparently a lot happened 100 years ago around Central Alberta, meaning that a number of towns, including Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House, are celebrating their Centennial years. In light of this, there seems to be a record number of great events going on this Summer. So mark your calendar and your maps and check out some of these great events, and some mainstay destinations, during Summer 2013!

Local Events:
June 15th in the Red Deer Artwalk Festival
June 29th and 30th - Red Deer River of Light + Homecoming festival. As part of the Red Deer Centennial Celebrations they are having pancake breakfasts, public picnics, outdoor movies and they will float hundreds of lit up rain barrels down the river for what should be a pretty neat show
July 1st - Red Deer Canada Day celebrations down at Bower Ponds - check out the multi-cultural food booths!
July 3rd - the Mayor's Garden Party at the City Hall gardens
July 7th there's a free concert with Fred Penner! At Bower Ponds in Red Deer
Westerner Days are July 17 - 21 in Red Deer
July 24 - Rocky Mountain House Air Show
CentreFest in downtown Red Deer, the annual Street Performer festival, is July 27-29
August 9-11th is Shake the Lake, a weekend of live music and Action sports in Sylvan Lake
Country Drive - August 10-11th a number of destinations around Central Alberta will step up their activities and services for the day to help showcase some great enjoyment just a short drive away.
August 17 - Pioneer Days Festival at Sunnybrook Farm. Homemade pie, a tractor pull, pioneer breakfast and fun for kids
August 17 - Norwegian Laft Hus Festival - Red Deer - they'll have face painting, dancers, skits, food, etc
August 18th is Fiestaval - a Latin-American themed street festival downtown Red Deer
September 21 there's an old-fashioned fair as one of the Centennial events at Fort Normandeau. Games, crafts, market and entertainment


Places to Go:
The Jungle Farm - u-pick berries and flowers, coupled with an outdoor play area for kids, makes for a fun afternoon excursion!
Markerville Creamery - check out this heritage site for a guided tour where they show you how ice cream and butter are made! Go on Sunday, August 11th during Country Drive for some more activities!
Discovery Wildlife Park - a wildlife facility in Innisfail that is home to a number of 'movie star' animals and daily demonstrations with the trained animals.
Kraay Family Farm - Opening July 26th, visit this corn maze, complete with loads of activities for the kids, ranging from pig races and play centers to a pumpkin blaster and farm animals
Danish Canadian National Museum and Gardens - Beautiful scenery with a fairy tale based Children's garden
Ellis bird farm - mini interpretive center, really pretty walk with lots of birds and flowers, and a tea house

For fun events on a regular basis, check out live music on the Ross Street Patio, weekly activities for kids at the Red Deer Museum, and The Bard on Bower - live theater performance of Shakespeare at the Bower Ponds stage (performance dates to be set)

This list is by no means exhaustive! There is plenty going on around Central Alberta during the summer. For more information, and to find out about more events, check out TourismRedDeer.com

Mrs. VanderLeek ;)