Hi everyone...considering a first time trip to Edmonton to check out the Folk Festival this summer with a friend...who's been and has some advice? Curious as to where a good place to stay would be that's close by..if transportation is offered daily there...where Gallagher Park is compared to the rest of the city...if one can come and go as they please throughout the day? all tips and advice in general?
Thanks!
cheers,
CC

I think we mean the same event. I was there and drove a rental car where I wanted to go. There was activity all over the place!

By the time the day was over we were tired.

The more popular events require tickets, and they are often crowded. The BC travel authority will give you plenty of good information and guides to the various events.

After you spend a day or so there, drive east to Androssen and the Ukranian Heritage Museum. The Sunday I was there was also a festive occasion. Food galore, music all over, and that wonderful museum to walk through. It is open air and faithfully restored.

The theatrical people who staff the buildings are from the 1930's. They don't know about WW II!! The people in the churches are "modern". I got amused at the fellow in the blacksmith shop.
He did not work in Sunday, but out in the field, the farmers were bailing hay.
Real hay. The machine was giving them trouble and they were having to work with it to get a few bales to drop out.

The blacksmith actor said he would go over there and fix it if it got bad enough. I got the impression he did not know which nut to turn first.

The fellow in the harware store was a hoot. He knew less than most city people about hardware. I grew up for a few years on a farm, so I started asking him questions about nails, staples, bolts, and other farm equipment. He tried to fake it, but not knowing where the 10 penny nails were got me to laughing. As did some other Alberta farmers.

The guy in the jail, who was THE law in that area backin 1933, was a good actor. And he had studied his role well. He knew all the answers. So did the actors in the grain elevator building.

Hi CaptCanuck,
I think bob_brown may have a different festival in mind than the one you are inquiring about. You are asking about the musical folk festival, a series of outdoor concerts correct?

I live in Edmonton but have never gone to the folk fest, although many friends of mine have and rave about it. You will need tickets so I think your best bet would be to contact Travel Alberta or Ticketmaster. Tickets will not be on sale yet, but perhaps they can direct you as to when they will be and how you can obtain them.

Gallagher Park is in the river valley, so it is right smack dab in the middle of the city.
The North Saskatchewan River runs through this area and there are plenty of outdoor activities around (baseball, cycling trails, the Muttart Conservatory, River Valley golf course etc.)

I would suggest staying in the Old Strathcona area of the city as there are lots of little shops to check out and tons of restaurant choices. It would be very easy to get to the folk fest from this area, a short bus trip. You would be south of the river valley if you chose to stay in Old Strathcona.

To the north of the river valley is downtown, but unfortunately, not much seems to happen there. There are other areas of the city that are much more suitable for tourists, such as Old Strathcona. Hope this helps a little, if you have more questions I will try to help.

Hope you decide to make the trip!

Oh ya, check out the link below, gives a little more info about Gallagher Park.

http://www.edmontonplus.ca/portal/pr...rofileID=34701

Found a better link, tells everything you want to know about the Folk Festival.

http://www.efmf.ab.ca/

two hotels in old strathcona area i'd recommend checking into: the met (ask for a room facing the river valley) or the varscona. they are owned by the same company.
i've never been but everyone i know who has, says its great.

The Met Hotel has changed its name to The Mettera Hotel.

We stayed there last summer and really liked it. It's a boutique hotel with personalized service and very well maintained. As I recall, our room even had a Bose radio.

http://www.metterra.com/

Or you could stay in the Fairmont MacDonald (Hotel) - it's right downtown. If you had a view to the south - the river valley - you would also see Gallagher Park from your hotel room (it's just across the North Saskatchewan River). You could even walk from the MacDonald Hotel to the Folk Festival.
By the way - purchase your tickets to the Folk Festival as soon as you can - it tends to sell out fairly quickly.

Tickets usually go on sale June 1 - a full weekend pass is your best bet.

Getting to and from the Folk Fest is always a bit of an issue. It is held in a Park in a Residentail area, and you are not allowed to drive and Park in the adjacent neighbourhoods. There is a Park and Ride Service from varying locations in the city. If you stay in Strathcona, take the #6 bus and ask the driver where to get off to walk to the hill - and get a schedule to note the return bus times.

You can come and go as you please with a weekend pass. Make sure to get there somewhat early in the morning to get a good spot on the hill!