By Gene Kosowan
Thank striking typographers in Toronto for sparking the initiative for Labour Day in 1872, which led to Prime Minister John A. Macdonald granting workers a 54-hour working week. Labour Day has since been officially recognized since 1894 – here’s how folks in Edmonton plan to party in style. [Photo credit: iStock]
The official Labour Day picnic takes place in Giovanni Caboto Park Sept. 4 across from the Italian Centre Shop, where guests will get to line up for free burgers and hot dogs as well as live entertainment all afternoon.
Admittedly, Labour Day is more of an urban celebration, since farmers have to take advantage of whatever weather allows them to bring in the crops this time of year. In recognition of that, Fort Edmonton Park stages its annual tribute to local harvesters Sept. 2 to 4 with demonstrations going all the way back to 1846 when fur traders grew gardens to ensure their winter food inventory kept them going. Also watch for agrarian workshops, cast iron chef competitions and walking tours.
About a half-hour drive northeast of Edmonton, Prairie Gardens invites you to get lost and explore the giant corn maze that takes up plenty of real estate on site as part of the celebration of all things corn-y Sept. 2 to 4. Other activities include a petting farm, haunted house, corn-eating contest and live music entertainment.
One sure sign of summer's end is most evident in Fort Saskatchewan, just a few minutes northeast of Edmonton. For roughly a quarter-century, the city has employed the talents of some 50 sheep to keep public lawns trimmed. With their jobs done for the year, the public gets a chance to bid them farewell with a procession that starts in Legacy Park Sept. 4.
Edmontonians have the chance to go on their hometown equivalent of the Tour De France during the 20-kilometre Velothon Edmonton course that starts and finishes at Churchill Square Sept. 1 to 4. Depending on the date, the course is open to all locals in varying classes of ability – not only offering them a chance to try the circuit for themselves, but even ride with the pros.
The official end of the festival season goes out with a bang every September – usually via a cannon that fires at strategic points during Tchaikovsky’s William Tell Overture – and closes out Symphony Under the Sky at Hawrelak Park. Throughout the rest of the festival, running August 31 to Sept. 3, the amphitheatre comes to life with the 56-piece orchestra performing the works of Nat King Cole, Tchaikovsky, Wagner and more.
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More fun things to do in Edmonton:
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With the 2017 Fringe Festival in the books, here’s a chance to catch some highly-lauded productions you may have missed. On Sept. 1, at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, check out The Receptionist – described by The New Yorker as a “poisoned Post-It Notes of a play” – followed by Barrymore, in which Patrick Treadway assumes the role of arguably the finest actor in the business.
Teatro La Quindicina, one of the city’s most offbeat theatrical troupes, presents a 60-minute outing by local playwright Stewart Lemoine that’s been one of the most requested works in the company’s prolific history. The organization’s artistic director Jeffrey Haslam plays Zachary Teale, an outwardly normal bachelor who finds his entire set of values taking a tilt when a mysterious woman enters his life and asks him, “Are you satisfied with what you know?” Catch how Zachary deals with the question at The New Varscona Theatre Sept. 2.
Influenced by the late Patsy Cline, this Kitimat native turned Edmonton resident shows off her rustic country roots via a new CD release bash Sept. 2 at The Needle Vinyl Tavern. The project, Diary of A Housewife, is a slice of Nixon's life balancing domesticity with the music business.
This combination game show and mini-music fest pits acts against each other in a quest for some green Sept. 4 at The Buckingham. Here’s the catch, though –between eight to 10 bands are booked for the evening and the audience is kept from knowing the lineup until the show starts. After each band plays two originals and a cover, they get a chance to spin the wheel to take home what they earned – risking to win anywhere between $200 to $1,000 for their efforts.
We all spend our weekdays working hard, which makes us appreciate the extra days off just a little bit more. There's plenty to see and do in Edmonton this Labour Day long weekend – but for those who still are hard at work to entertain us, make sure you show your appreciation.
