Chow down at these 7 Edmonton festivals this August

By Jana Lee

Nosh your way through August with this mouthwatering lineup of local food and drink events in YEG. Though some events may be a splurge, they all make for a unique dining experience your tastebuds won’t soon forget. [Photo credit: iStock]

The team at EAT purport to have found the best of the best when it comes to food in Edmonton this August. See for yourself by joining them on an August themed tour, which include beer tastings paired with bacon-themed appetizers, Edmonton’s best desserts, the best of brunching and a culinary tour through Canadian cuisine.

Bacon & Brews Tour (18+) 

• When: August 17 or August 31, 6 p.m.
• Where: Yellowhead Brewery 
• Admission: $100
• More event info

Gourmet Desserts Tour

• When: Multiple dates, 2 p.m.
• Where: Meet at City Hall
• Admission: $40
• More event info  

Edmonton’s Best Brunch Tour

• When: August 6, 13, 20 and 27. 9:30 a.m.
• Where: Blue Plate Diner
• Admission: $60
• More event info  

Taste of Canada Tour

• When: August 9 or August 23, 6:00 p.m.
• Where: Italian Bakery
• Admission: $60
• More event info  

Bike and eat on repeat – indulge in some of Edmonton’s finest foods on a guided bike tour. Allow a half day for this event as each spot is approximately 35 minutes between locations. Food bike tours make for an awesome way to not only eat some of Edmonton’s best food, but also venture through our beautiful city.

●  When: August 12, 17, 19 and 26. Various times.
●  Where: See event for location details
●  Admission: $99
●  More event info

Support the development of our local zoo at this year’s ZooBrew event. Stroll through the zoo grounds with a beer in hand and enjoy an evening of entertainment, animal education and drinks! Get your tickets quickly as not many are still available.

●  When: August 25, 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.
●  Where: Edmonton Valley Zoo
●  Admission: $25-75
●  More event info

The Servus Heritage Festival celebrates Edmonton’s multiculturalism through food, culture and art. This massive event features 70 pavilions representing more than 90 countries and cultures. From samosas to empanadas and everything in between, take your tastebuds on an around-the-world gastronomic experience.

●  When: August 5 to 7. Saturday: 12 to 9 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m (ticket sales close at 7 p.m.)
●  Where: William Hawrelak Park
●  Admissions: free
●  More event info 

If you missed out on foods from Edmonton’s festival circuit, fear not! The Edmonton International Fringe Festival features popular vendors serving indulgent event favourites, including funnel cakes, green onion cakes, mini donuts, frozen bananas, donairs, poutines and more.

●  When: August 21 to 27 at 11 p.m.
●  Where: Old Strathcona neighbourhood
●  Admission: free entrance to festival grounds, prices vary for fringe shows
●  More event info

Though this event isn’t in Edmonton, it’s still worthy of a shout-out! Enjoy food from local Sturgeon County producers and experience a true farm-to-table experience. The culinary cookout is a family-friendly event and features cooking workshops for those junior chefs in your family.

●  When: August 11, 4 to 9 p.m.
●  Where: Cardiff Park, Sturgeon County
●  Admission: Free
●  More event info

Participate in this exclusive food experience in celebration of Canada 150, featuring five emerging culinary talents from across the country. Between the beautiful rooftop setting and dishes that exude creativity in both flavor and presentation, Culinary Lab celebrates the love of food. Menu items are a surprise and feature five courses and three wine pairings.

●  When: August 26, 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
●  Where: 27th floor of the Edmonton Tower, 10111 104 Avenue
●  Admission: $150 per person. Note: Tickets must be purchased as a pair.
●  More event info

Treat yourself with a culinary outing to celebrate the last month of summer. Whether you're on a budget to looking to splurge, August sure has plenty of fun, fresh and fabulous food and drink events to choose from!