Edmonton festivals prepare for heat, changing weather as summer events continue

Festival organizers in Edmonton say they’re prepared for everything from extreme heat to sudden thunderstorms as thousands of people attend some of the city’s biggest summer events.

Visitors packed the grounds at KDays on Saturday despite soaring temperatures, with many bringing fans, hats, umbrellas and sunscreen to stay cool.

“On the rides there’s a bit of wind too. That’s another way. There’s some shade. Love it. Awesome. I love the heat. It’s nice,” said Camille Heppelle, who was attending KDays.

Others said they came prepared for a full day outdoors.

“I brought a fan, you know, just in case. And we’ve got sunscreen already. We’re ready here all day,” said Saybah Joe Joe.

The City of Edmonton has activated its extreme heat response through July 19, although not everyone found the weather uncomfortable.

“It’d be nicer if it were a little cooler with a little more of a breeze, but it’s not terrible,” said Montana Holloway, attendee.

“I like the warm weather because I get a nice tan with it, so I don’t really complain about it,” said Dakota Holloway, attendee.

KDays organizers have installed misting stations throughout the grounds and are encouraging visitors to dress appropriately, stay hydrated and take advantage of indoor, air-conditioned spaces.

“And then inside the Edmonton Expo Centre, there’s 150,000 square feet of programming … and you can do all of that inside the air-conditioned building,” said Tya Waterman, communications and connections director with Explore Edmonton.

The festival also offers water refill stations and a variety of cold food and drink options.

“It’s very hot today, but with the snow cone it’s going to be easy on the rides,” said KDays visitor Ts Kaps.

At Churchill Square, organizers of the Taste of Edmonton say staff are trained to respond to medical emergencies and have created shaded seating areas to help visitors escape the heat.

“Because it’s almost 10° cooler in there than it is on the cement. So there are lots of hidey holes for people to find that shelter. But we do recommend wear a hat, bring an umbrella,” said Donovan Vienneau, executive director of Taste of Edmonton.

Visitors said staying cool was top of mind while sampling the festival’s offerings.

“Anything with the word ice is definitely what I will be getting today,” said Allison Mussil.

“Yeah, anything cold, this is a Dirty Soda Float,” said Luke Forester.

While Edmonton’s weather has shifted dramatically in recent days, with periods of extreme heat and thunderstorms, organizers say they have plans in place to respond to changing conditions.

“This is Year 42 for the Taste of Edmonton. We’re an outdoor event. There’s nothing that has caught us off guard,” said Vienneau.

“We have systems in place to be able to communicate quickly with guests on site if anything changes, and we need to put any of those safety protocols into place,” said Waterman.