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Your Last-Minute Long Weekend Guide to Alberta
HOW is it almost the August long weekend already?! If you’re anything like me, this weekend somehow manages to sneak up on you every year. It’s not until someone inevitably asks ‘Any plans for the long weekend?’ that I realize I’ve failed to see it coming yet AGAIN, as I answer ‘This weekend is the long weekend?? Well I guess I have no plans!’
So while I do think there’s a lot to be said for the ‘no plan-plan’, it’s not too late to make some actual plans for the upcoming weekend. And no matter where you are in the province, there’s something great happening- here are just a few!
Polynesian Days at Alberta Beach
For over four decades, Alberta Beach has hosted Polynesian Days (Poly Days) over the August long weekend. Over 20 great locally-sponsored events occur throughout the weekend, with the main attraction being the Alberta Beach Music Festival, located in Gazebo Park and running all afternoon and evening on Saturday! There’s also a great kids area featuring face painters, balloon artists, slides and bouncy castles!
JAWS at the Lake – Sylvan Lake
Imagine watching the movie JAWS… while in the water! Well you can on August 6th when the Town of Sylvan Lake, in partnership with Fresh Air Cinema and Movies on the Beach presents Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic. So be sure to bring your floatie, or if you’re more of a cautious type, the double sided screen lets you watch from dry land too. The event is FREE, dependent on the weather and JAWS is rated PG13. There’ll be food trucks on hand for when you get hungry and and special deals from Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash!
Loud as Hell Festival – Drumheller
The Loud As Hell Metal Festival in Drumheller is one of the top underground music festivals in Canada and is celebrating year 6 for 2017! Organizers say ‘We encourage everyone to camp and probably consider booking Tuesday off to recover your ears, livers and lungs. We’ve got our best lineup yet, ready to melt your face and kick off our biggest festival to date!’ The event is all ages but keep in mind there are licensed beer gardens as well, so organizers just ask that everyone respect those around them.
The Edmonton Heritage Festival is a three-day event where you can try delicious food, watch dozens of great performances and truly experience the multiculturalism of Canada! Make sue you bring your walking shows when you take in the tastes, sights, smells and sounds from 100 countries and cultures at 71 pavilions. Exploring the festival and enjoying the entertainment is free and food tickets can be purchased on site. Check out the menu here!
Hike to the Drive Lanes: Moon of the Buffalo Rut – Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump
On Saturday August 5, take in some fascinating history as you hike to ancient buffalo drive lanes accompanied by Blackfoot guides! You’ll hear stories of how the plains people hunted the mighty buffalo as you navigate this amazing World Heritage Site. You’ll need to be prepared for an off-trail hike and you should dress appropriately for inclement weather. You’ll also want to bring lunch and water bottle along. Register in advance as space is limited. This program is not recommended for small children.
Crowsnest Pass Open Doors and Heritage Festival
The Crowsnest Pass is excited to launch its 12th annual Doors Open and Heritage Festival weekend! The theme is Lawmen: Rum Running in Crowsnest Pass. Throughout the weekend, the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre and the community of the Crowsnest Pass will be highlighting the story of the Rum Runners. You’ll enjoy guided hikes, presentations and events highlight the Crowsnest Pass and the amazing stories of Emilio Picarello, the Red and Black Routes and the Whiskey Six, just to name a few. The Crowsnest County Market, Car Show, Teddy Bear Picnic, and Coal Miners’ Picnic are just a few of the great events taking place over the weekend- click here for a full list of events!
Pigeon Lake Music Festival – Mulhurst Bay
To commemorate it’s 30th anniversary, Hilah Ayers Wilderness RV park will be hosting the inaugural Pigeon Lake Music Festival on August 5th &6th- visitors, campers and music-lovers alike are invited to attend what is sure to be an unforgettable affair! An impressive roster of emerging, iconic and talented musicians has been assembled guaranteeing the weekend will be filled with memorable performances and good times. Organizers say the outdoor ambiance, intimate & interactive setting, and event exclusivity will create an experience you’ll be talking about for years to come. Click here for the full line-up.
That’s just a handful of things happening over the next several days- for even more check out these great resources:
Whatever you end up doing this weekend, have lots of fun and stay safe!
February 14, 2025 – Alberta, Canada – A compelling new documentary, Cooking with Hot Stones: 200th Anniversary of Fort Assiniboine, is set to air on Wild TV, RFD TV Canada, Cowboy Channel Canada, and you can click here to stream for FREE on Wild TV’s streaming service, Wild TV+. This engaging one-hour feature will take viewers on a journey through time, exploring Fort Assiniboine’s rich history from 1823 to 2023.
Fort Assiniboine is a significant landmark in Alberta, playing a crucial role in Indigenous history, the fur trade, and the western expansion of Canada. This documentary captures the spirit of the region, illustrating how it has evolved over two centuries and how it continues to shape the cultural fabric of the province today.
Wild TV will make the documentary free to stream on Wild TV+ on February 14th so that it can be easily accessed in classrooms and other educational settings throughout the region, ensuring the historical significance of Fort Assiniboine reaches a wider audience.
Produced by Western Directives Inc., Cooking with Hot Stones: 200th Anniversary of Fort Assiniboine brings historical moments to life with vivid storytelling, expert interviews, and breathtaking cinematography.
“We are very excited to partner with Wild TV as part of our one hour documentary production. Based in Alberta, we respect the hard work and quality programming that Wild TV brings to a national audience. With the broadcast opportunity, Wild TV gives our production the ability to entertain and educate Canadians across the country on multiple platforms,” said Tim McKort, Producer at Western Directives.
Scott Stirling, Vice President of Wild TV, also expressed enthusiasm for the project: “At Wild TV, we are passionate about telling Canadian stories that resonate with our audiences. This documentary not only highlights a crucial piece of our nation’s history but also celebrates the resilience and contributions of Indigenous peoples, traders, and settlers who shaped the land we call home today. We are proud to bring Cooking with Hot Stones: 200th Anniversary of Fort Assiniboine to our viewers across Canada.”
Airtimes for Wild TV can be found here.
For airtimes on RFD TV Canada, click here.
For airtimes on Cowboy Channel Canada, visit CCC’s schedule.
L to R: Cindy Jefferies, Susan Knopp, Lane Tomalty, Bre Fitzpatrick
Photo credit: The SnapHappy Photographer
After a decade of leadership under Cindy Jefferies and Susan Knopp, 100+ Women Who Care Red Deer (100+ WWCRD) is proud to celebrate 10 years of supporting local charities and the announcement of Bre Fitzpatrick and Lane Tomalty as its new co-leaders. This marks an exciting new chapter for the group, which has made a significant impact on not-for-profit organizations in Central Alberta.
Cindy and Susan have led 100+ WWCRD with vision, dedication, and a commitment to empowering women to lead and inspire change. Under their stewardship, the organization has raised over $630,000 for local charities by hosting 4 annual 1-hour meetings. Since 2015, more than 36 local charities have received funding through the group.
Reflecting on their tenure, Cindy and Susan stated:
“Leading 100 Women has been an honour and a privilege. When we began this journey, we didn’t know where it would go – we simply loved the simple, elegant, and fun ‘100 Who Care’ concept and thought it was a great fit for our community. We are grateful to the many women who have stood with us. They are the magic of the organization! We are confident Bre and Lane will steward this leadership role well and we look forward to supporting it – just not from behind the microphone!”
Bre and Lane bring a dynamic energy and fresh perspective to the organization. Both have been involved with the group and have been mentored by Susan and Cindy over the past year. They are eager to continue the collaboration, connection, and local support this team of women have established in Red Deer.
In their joint statement, Bre and Lane shared:
“We are humbled to step into this role and build on the incredible foundation Cindy and Susan have laid. Many needs are at the doorstep of our community and in the hearts and minds of our members. We know a powerful, caring, and united group of individuals can play a huge role in driving change and breaking barriers.
To celebrate this milestone and leadership transition, the 100+ WWCRD hosted the final meeting of 2024 on November 25th at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club. The evening featured reflections from Cindy and Susan, the selection of the Salvation Army as the charity of choice, an opportunity for members to connect with Bre and Lane as they outline their vision for the organization’s next chapter, and a toast to 10 years.
For more information, please visit www.100womenreddeer.ca
About 100+ Women Who Care Red Deer
100+ Women Who Care Red Deer is a network of compassionate, empowered, and dedicated women who make a direct, immediate, and positive impact in Red Deer and area. We support local non-profit and charitable organizations that work every day to make our community a better place to live. 100% of funds donated go to the selected charities – there are no
administration fees, and all costs are covered by the generosity of sponsors. Collectively, we make a difference.
The group meets 4 times annually for 1 hour. Non-profit and charitable organizations are nominated by members. After hearing 3 randomly drawn pitches, the members vote to select their top choice. The group with the highest number of votes receives the members’ donations. Each member or team commits to donating $100 at each meeting. Since 2015, the average raised has been more than $15,000 per meeting.
Membership is open to all women In Red Deer and area. We invite you to join us! The first meeting of 2025 will be on Monday, February 3, 2025.
Founded in February 2015, the organization currently has about 150 members. We are committed to uniting this powerful group of 100+ women who care and lifting the amazing non-profits and charitable groups they support.
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