A fond farewell to Downtown Spark, but the summer party is just getting started

Edmontonians will remember the delight of spotting giant inflatable monsters peeking over rooftops downtown — moments that sparked joy, curiosity and plenty of selfies. For many, those playful installations were the heart of Downtown Spark, a public art festival born from pandemic necessity and powered by community spirit.

But after four vibrant years, the Edmonton Downtown Business Association (EDBA) is officially saying goodbye to the festival.

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“It’s been an honour and a joy,” said EDBA CEO Puneeta McBryan, reflecting on Spark’s legacy. “Downtown Spark was born out of a really hard time, but it became something truly magical — a celebration of creativity, boldness, and the spirit of Downtown Edmonton.”

From the very first Root 107 pop-up park in a vacant lot in 2021 that offered food trucks, outdoor seating, and even pizza delivery from Boston Pizza, giving Downtown workers and residents a much-needed space to gather, to the whimsical rooftop monsters that turned downtown into a citywide scavenger hunt, Downtown Spark created memories as unforgettable as they were unexpected.

Those installations, however, came at a cost. Each big art installation required tens of thousands of dollars and significant logistical co-ordination. While EDBA had support over the years from the City of Edmonton as well as provincial partners, that level of funding is no longer available.

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The festival was originally supported by COVID-19 recovery funding, and its May timing helped fill a seasonal lull downtown. But with economic recovery funds no longer available and spring now buzzing with Edmonton Oilers playoff energy, the EDBA has made the tough call to retire the event.

“Some of what we were doing with Spark is really outside of our mandate as a business association,” McBryan said in an interview with Postmedia. “As we look at our core mandate and the services that our members really need and things that are sustainable, that are longer term … it became clear that Downtown Spark just wasn’t feasible for us to keep doing it.”

Vibrant summer schedule

That doesn’t mean the vibrancy Downtown is fading. Instead of concentrating activities into a single festival, EDBA will stretch events throughout the spring and summer. The Rice Howard Way Entertainment District, piloted last year, will return as the Summer Block Party Series, with curated experiences planned for June 7, July 19 and August 17, aligning with Pride Month, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival, and the Edmonton Marathon After Party, respectively.

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These smaller, more manageable events keep the spirit of Spark alive, McBryan said.

“A lot of what people were coming down for during Downtown Spark — to see local musicians, to be with the community, to hang out on Rice Howard Way — all of that is still happening,” she said, adding the Summer Block Party Series last year featured 73 local entertainment acts.

The popular Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market is also back this year, kicking off on Saturday, May 17 and running every Saturday until Thanksgiving on historic 104 Street. After stepping in to organize the market at the last minute last year, the EDBA saw more than 18,000 attendees over the season and hosted more than 60 vendors.

This year, with more time to plan and greater public awareness, interest has surged. More than 100 vendors have already expressed interest, promising an even bigger footprint in 2025.

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As for Downtown Spark’s legacy?

“Hopefully people will share their favourite memories and favourite photos of the last four years,” McBryan said. “It’s really been our joy to put this festival on.”

And while Spark may be ending, its spirit will linger — in the music, laughter, and foot traffic that return to the heart of the city each summer day and weekend.

cnguyen@postmedia.com

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