Edmonton is steeped in history, and one way it shows it is with K – Days! This ten-day event runs annually in July, five days after the Calgary Stampede ends. It is Edmonton’s largest Festival, attracting 700,000-800,000 visitors each year. It is held in conjunction with another top-rated festival, the Taste of Edmonton. K- Days was founded in 1879 and took place at the original Fort Edmonton. In 2019 K- Days celebrated its 150-year anniversary.

K- Days was originally known as the Edmonton Exhibition until 1964; it was renamed Klondike Days for its association with the Klondike Gold Rush. The city was a stopping point for many prospectors heading to the Yukon Territories, hoping to strike gold. In 2006 to showcase all that Alberta has to offer, it was renamed Capital Ex with recognition from Tourism Canada. Attendance began to drop, and in 2012 a vote by the Edmonton citizens renamed the festival K- Days again.

The K – Days festival was the first exhibition of its kind in the Northwest Territories, with Calgary and Saskatoon following soon after. It attracted over 500 visitors, and it featured locally produced livestock, vegetables, grains, and hand-made goods. Over the years, the Festival has experienced explosive growth, with a humungous list of exhibits, shows, and theme days; it runs for ten consecutive days.

Edmonton’s success led to rapid advances in technology, causing an explosive increase in productivity; the exhibition is a way to show the advances and the best in industry, agriculture, and science. Klondike Days highlight Edmonton and Alberta’s historical traditions with some of today’s best technology and entertainment.

Festival organizers say that the amazing vendors truly put the “WOW” factor into the Festival. There are four areas to experience the vendors and all they have to offer. There are two indoor shopping areas on the fairgrounds, the Food Hall, the Prarie Pine Emporium, and the Independent midway.

K – Days offers something for everyone from the Centre-Stage, K – Days music festival, the K -Days Talent Search, to the fantastic midway jam-packed with games and thrill rides. Keep going and experience the out-of-this-world food and treats, the Kid’s town play area, not to mention the themed days. Homegrown Alberta lets visitors interact with local artisans, check out the agriculture hall, and stay to watch the fabulous nightly fireworks. This is just a start to all the absolute fun and adventure that Klondike days has to offer!

Majorland Midway boasts rides of all kinds from rollercoasters, to a Haunted Mansion, to Niagra Falls Flume, giant Ferris wheel, flying swings, Mega drop, Cliffhanger, and the Zipper, just to name a few. In Kid’s Town, there are over 20 great family-friendly rides to thrill the kids, like the Dragon Coaster, Jeeps, Monster Trucks, Toon Town, and Undersea Adventure.

Live Music is a big part of K Days, and the two stages ( North and South Stage) provide a great eclectic mix of live performances. The Talent Search Contest allows the winner the opportunity to perform at the Festival and take home a two-thousand dollar prize. 

Food is an integral part of Klondike days; from the old-fashioned candy apples to deep-fried corn dogs, chocolate bars, and doughnuts to the adult food and Beer Hall for the prize-winning rib dinner, there is something to make everybody’s mouth water. From comfort food to gourmet dishes, food is the main attraction and one of the highlights each year is to try the new food contest-winning picks like Dragon’s Breath ice cream, Butterbeer soft serve, or Perogie Pizza (all previous winners). Make sure to come hungry!

K – Days still celebrates Alberta’s past with exhibits like Hall A, which houses Explore Agriculture. Farm animals fill the hall, and visitors can participate in interactive displays and shows. Hall C has the Cultural Showcase with performances and demonstrations from Indigenous and various Cultures. Hall G contains the Prarie Pine Emporium where local and Artisans of Alberta can show and sell their crafts with everything from locally baked treats, pottery, or a one-of-a-kind painting.

K-Days is a time-honored tradition, and it continues to be the number one festival in Edmonton. It is ten consecutive days of non-stop fun and entertainment. It is a must-see destination if you are planning a visit to Edmonton during the summer, and a family-friendly Festival sure to please the whole family.

Check out The West Edmonton Mall which is in Edmonton AB too.

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