City officials want you to know Downtown Edmonton is a safe place to be, and to prove it, they’re putting on more than 1,000 free events over the next seven months.
With a three-piece band playing in the background in the park next door, the city’s summer Turn Up Downtown campaign officially launched on Friday at Michael Phair Park.
“We are seeing a substantial increase in foot traffic,” said Downtown Edmonton Community League president Cheryl Probert. “We’re overall very pleased with the updates to the Edmonton Police Service community police approach. We’re seeing a lot more presence on the street, it’s creating a sense of safety.
“The more people from outside of the core come down here, the better off the whole city is.”
Among the events being put on over the summer are Salsa and Tai Chi lessons at Churchill Square, family-friendly games at O-day’min Park, the Downtown farmer’s market and live music throughout the city centre.
A complete list of events can be found on the city’s website.
Fundamentals over fun
Downtown Revitalization Coalition chairwoman Cheryll Watson welcomed the initiative, but noted the city needs to follow through with the basics to make sure the actual experience of being Downtown is a pleasant one.
“The same focus and urgency needs to be applied to the fundamentals that shape people’s day-to-day experience — cleanliness, safety, accessibility, and the overall condition of public spaces,” she said. “Festivals can attract people Downtown, but the basics determine whether they return.
“For many visitors, festival season is their first experience with Edmonton’s Downtown. First impressions matter. We want people leaving our city talking about a vibrant, welcoming, and well-managed Downtown — not distracted by issues that should be addressed through routine maintenance and operations.”
Percussionist Bramwell Park of the Gadjo Collective played in Beaver Hills House Park as part of announcement about new programming and events in the heart of our city.on Friday, May 29, 2026. Photos by Shaughn Butts – Postmedia
Her sentiments were echoed by Edmonton Chamber of Commerce executive director Akanksha Bhatnagar, who said the city needs to invest more in keeping the area clean.
She noted if people have a bad experience they won’t come back.
“We need to see beautification as a whole, ” said Bhatnagar. “You can’t have all these events Downtown and then there’s nowhere to park and there’s garbage everywhere.
“We’re already having a hard time getting people to come here, so how can we up our cleanliness standards?”
Mayor Andrew Knack pointed out there is enough parking capacity Downtown to cover an Oilers playoff game, so if someone wants to park there, space is available.
There has been an increase in daytime economic activity after some levels of government mandated employees back to offices after several years of working from home following the COVID-19 pandemic. But the union representing city workers was able to secure work-from-home into their collective bargaining agreement, so for now the city’s focus is getting people to live Downtown.
With contract negotiations coming up next year, Bhatnagar said the city needs to begin talks with the union about what workers need to come back to the office.
“Is it transit passes? Is it an ergonomic desk? Is cleaning up their Downtown offices?” she said. “We just want a plan.”
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