A record number of Albertans have turned out for the rides, exhibits, entertainment, games — and of course the food — just days before the 2025 KDays ends. Read More
“We’re really grateful and humbled that the city is showing up for the 10 best days of summer.”
“We’re really grateful and humbled that the city is showing up for the 10 best days of summer.”
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A record number of Albertans have turned out for the rides, exhibits, entertainment, games — and of course the food — just days before the 2025 KDays ends.
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“We’re really grateful and humbled that the city is showing up for the 10 best days of summer,” said Ziya Karmali, manager of media relations and storytelling for KDays.
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“It’s been an incredible year so far.”
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The annual festival wraps up Sunday and it’s never been quite this easy to take in the festival atmosphere of Edmonton’s historic tradition that dates back to the pioneer days of 1879.
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With complimentary tickets for everyone from local business supporters and transit users to visitors at Fort Edmonton Park, Explore Edmonton’s been breaking down barriers to attendance.
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“We’ve really focused on inclusivity and accessibility this year,” Karmali said.
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“We really focused on making sure there’s no barriers getting into the festival, and there’s a lot of free programming on the grounds itself. You can technically come to KDays without spending a dime,” she said.
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Attendees can bring their own lunch and fill their water bottles with Edmonton’s locally sourced water, a “Glass of the Sask.”
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Nightly shows on the CKUA Radio stage and main stage, exhibits in the Expo Centre, and agriculture shows — and free crafts, pony rides, Glow Zone, and petting zoo for the kids — bring something for everyone.
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The program has some diversity to it with a Punjabi performing artist and programming of particular interest to Alberta’s large francophone population.
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In addition to the perennial favourite foot-long fries, runaway hits in the snacks department this year have included dill pickle everything, including deep-fried cheese curds and mini-donuts.
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“It’s kind of sweet and salty. You know that that’s always a good mix,” Karmali said.
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High on the must-try list for some is peanut butter-and-jelly chicken, served in a waffle cone.
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“That was fairly popular — a really long lineup for that,” she said. “It’s delightful.”
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For many foodies, Dubai chocolate is all the rage, Karmali said.
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“Dubai chocolate strawberries — and everyone loves a funnel cake, so we’re doing Dubai chocolate funnel cake,” she said.
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The dessert taco won first place for best sweet treat on the grounds, with a cinnamon-sugar torilla shell filled with berries and whipped cream, sprinkles and chocolate syrup.