The Edmonton Downtown Business Association is pleased to announce the return of Downtown Spark taking place May 26 to June 5 across Downtown. In its second edition, the festival will feature impressive large-scale inflatable sculptures from UK-based Designs in Air and a new installation from Edmonton-based Vignettes.
“We’re thrilled to build on the success of last year’s Downtown Spark festival, because events like this contribute to downtown’s vibrancy. We hope to just keep adding to the growing number of innovative and unique cultural events happening in Edmonton. It was important to us that we focus on attracting world-renowned artists while also working with local creatives to create unique and remarkable experiences downtown ,” says Puneeta McBryan, Executive Director of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association.
Rice Howard Way, Alex Decoteau Park and Yellowhead Brewery are the three sites selected this year to host art installations, along with free weekday and weekend programming. On Saturday, June 4, Reuben & The Dark with The Bullhorn Singers play a free outdoor show at the Downtown Spark Block Party at Rice Howard Way. Other acts to perform on June 4 include local musicians Cypress and Maddie Storvold.
On May 26, the EDBA presents Bark & Brew a FREE dog-friendly party at Alex Decoteau Park, featuring live music, a dog photo booth, agility demonstrations and a beer garden. Alex Decoteau Park will also feature performers daily and food trucks on the weekends to create an unforgettable experience for visitors.
Downtown Spark debuted in 2021 as a COVID recovery initiative to support local businesses during the pandemic while attracting people to the area. Last year’s series of exhibitions and activations, which included Fantastic Planet by Amanda Parer (brought in by Edmonton Arts Council) and wâpos by Jason Carter and Bridgette Ryan (commissioned by the EDBA), saw more than 48,000 people attend across the core.
Visitors are encouraged to walk, bike or scoot from site to site – Rice Howard Way, Alex Decoteau Park and Yellowhead Brewery – to enjoy all of this year’s art and musical programming and discover Downtown.
Downtown Spark is presented by the Edmonton Downtown Business Association and partners, the City of Edmonton, Explore Edmonton, Enbridge Centre and West Anthem.
Schedule and details are available at edmontondowntown.com/Spark
For information or to arrange an interview, contact Tracy Hyatt, thyatt@edmontowndowntown.com