{"id":812688,"date":"2026-07-19T19:06:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T19:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/812688\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T19:06:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T19:06:10","slug":"edmonton-festivals-prepare-for-heat-changing-weather-as-summer-events-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/812688\/","title":{"rendered":"Edmonton festivals prepare for heat, changing weather as summer events continue"},"content":{"rendered":"

Festival organizers in Edmonton say they\u2019re prepared for everything from extreme heat to sudden thunderstorms as thousands of people attend some of the city\u2019s biggest summer events.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cOn the rides there\u2019s a bit of wind too. That\u2019s another way. There\u2019s some shade. Love it. Awesome. I love the heat. It\u2019s nice,\u201d said Camille Heppelle, who was attending KDays.<\/p>\n

Others said they came prepared for a full day outdoors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI brought a fan, you know, just in case. And we\u2019ve got sunscreen already. We\u2019re ready here all day,\u201d said Saybah Joe Joe.<\/p>\n

The City of Edmonton has activated its extreme heat response through July 19, although not everyone found the weather uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019d be nicer if it were a little cooler with a little more of a breeze, but it\u2019s not terrible,\u201d said Montana Holloway, attendee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like the warm weather because I get a nice tan with it, so I don\u2019t really complain about it,\u201d said Dakota Holloway, attendee.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then inside the Edmonton Expo Centre, there\u2019s 150,000 square feet of programming \u2026 and you can do all of that inside the air-conditioned building,\u201d said Tya Waterman, communications and connections director with Explore Edmonton.<\/p>\n

The festival also offers water refill stations and a variety of cold food and drink options.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very hot today, but with the snow cone it\u2019s going to be easy on the rides,\u201d said KDays visitor Ts Kaps.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it\u2019s almost 10\u00b0 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,\u201d said Donovan Vienneau, executive director of Taste of Edmonton.<\/p>\n

Visitors said staying cool was top of mind while sampling the festival\u2019s offerings.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything with the word ice is definitely what I will be getting today,\u201d said Allison Mussil.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, anything cold, this is a Dirty Soda Float,\u201d said Luke Forester.<\/p>\n

While Edmonton\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Year 42 for the Taste of Edmonton. We\u2019re an outdoor event. There\u2019s nothing that has caught us off guard,\u201d said Vienneau.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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,\u201d said Waterman.<\/p>\n

\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n

Add CityNews Edmonton as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n

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