‘Disturbance’ draws large police presence to Edmonton’s Cariwest Festival on Sunday
Posted August 12, 2026 10:34 am.
Edmonton police are sharing some details about what led to a large police presence on the final day of Cariwest Festival over the weekend.
Videos circulating online appear to show dozens of police vehicles and officers – some walking with riot shields – downtown on Sunday night.
The Edmonton Police Service tells CityNews officers were called to Churchill Square around 9 p.m. for reports of several large groups of people “involved in a disturbance.” Police did not reveal the nature of the disturbance.
Without providing exact numbers, a spokesperson for the service says “multiple” police units were deployed, describing the response as “significant due to the size of the groups involved.”
They say the officers were there to “assist with crowd management and public safety.”
Police claim after officers arrived on scene, several projectiles were thrown towards them and at police vehicles.
“But the situation was brought under control quickly. Individuals were directed away from the area, and the officers safely dispersed the groups through a coordinated response,” an email from EPS reads.
Edmonton police say the situation was resolved without incident, and there were no reported injuries – either to members of the public or officers.
No charges have been laid. Police are continuing to investigate.
